Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams
Developer(s)Avalanche Software (GCN, PS2, Xbox)
Helixe (GBA)
Publisher(s)THQ
Producer(s)Nickelodeon
Writer(s)Randolph Heard
SeriesTak
Platform(s)
Release
  • NA: October 11, 2004
  • AU: March 11, 2005[1]
  • EU: March 24, 2005
Genre(s)Action-adventure, platformer
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams is an action-adventure platform video game developed by Avalanche Software and published by THQ for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to Tak and the Power of Juju and is the second installment of the Tak and the Power of Juju series. The PS2 version was ported to PlayStation Network as a "PS2 Classic" on November 29, 2011, but it was later taken off the store due to THQ's bankruptcy in 2013.

Plot

Following the events of the first game, Tak is trapped in the Dream World as Jibolba and Lok ponder how to awaken him. The Dream Juju tells Tak that he must fight the Dream Guardian and retrieve the Staff of Dreams to escape the Dream World.

During his quest, Tak periodically escapes the Dream World via rifts, enabling Jibolba to accompany him. The two rescue Jibolba's brother JB, who helps Tak enter the tower where the Dream Guardian resides.

Tak obtains the Staff of Dreams, but the Dream Juju reveals himself to be his old enemy Tlaloc and the princess to be his henchmen, Pins and Needles. Tlaloc obtains half of the staff, the Staff of Nightmares, while Tak gets the other, the Dream Shaker. This power causes all to enter the real world, and Pins, Needles, and Tlaloc escape. Tak chases them, but is knocked out.

The Moon Juju visits Tak and empowers him to battle the villains. Tlaloc is killed in battle, but he returns as a nightmare creature and transforms into a monster resembling the Dream Guardian. After Tak defeats Tlaloc, the Dream Guardian returns him to the real world. Afterwards, Jibolba and Lok wake Tak up, telling him that the previous events were a dream. The three walk off while being spied on by a sheep from Tlaloc's army.

Gameplay

The gameplay is almost identical to the first game, with differences being that Tak's weapon is always on hand, and that mana is represented by a feather count and not a meter. Tak gets aid from animals, a number of which did not appear in the first game. In this game, Tak's juju magic is triggered by holding down one button and pressing combos of other buttons. Tak also earns juju powers gradually throughout the game instead of having to seek them out.

Reception

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams was given "generally favorable reviews" for the GameCube version, "mixed or average reviews" for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions, and "generally unfavorable reviews" for the Game Boy Advance version, according to Metacritic.[21][22][23][24]

The game shipped nearly 1 million units.[25]

Sequel

Main article: Tak: The Great Juju Challenge

A third sequel to the series, titled Tak: The Great Juju Challenge was released for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2005.[26]

References

  1. ^ van Leuveren, Luke (December 5, 2004). "Updated Australian Release List - 05/12/2004". PALGN. PAL Gaming Network. Archived from the original on June 22, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Mason, Lisa (November 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 139. GameStop. p. 146. Archived from the original on December 9, 2004. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Davis, Ryan (October 22, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams Review (GC, PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "GameSpy: Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. November 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Romano, Natalie (October 30, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. ^ The Bearer (November 1, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Bedigian, Louis (November 1, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  8. ^ Harris, Craig (November 3, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (GBA)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Casamassina, Matt (October 11, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Killy (March 31, 2005). "Test: Tak 2: Le Sceptre des Rêves (GBA)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Romendil (March 30, 2005). "Test: Tak 2: Le Sceptre des Rêves (NGC, PS2, Xbox)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams". Nintendo Power. Vol. 186. Nintendo of America. December 2004. p. 146.
  13. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. January 2005. p. 106.
  14. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. December 2004. p. 82.
  15. ^ a b Marriott, Scott Alan (October 27, 2004). "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams Review (GC, PS2)". X-Play. G4techTV. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  16. ^ a b c Wilcox, Mike (April 9, 2005). "Tick, Tak, d'oh!". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 11, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams for GameCube". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 11, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams for Xbox". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams Critic Reviews for Game Boy Advance". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams Critic Reviews for GameCube". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams Critic Reviews for PlayStation 2". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams Critic Reviews for Xbox". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  25. ^ "THQ Reports Record Fiscal 2005 Third Quarter Results". gamesindustry.biz. February 2, 2005. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  26. ^ "Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams - IGN". Archived from the original on 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
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