A quick boat race offers light relief from the struggle through the levels

The evil Baron Dante's back and harassing Gobbos for sport. The green one's looking sharp in the resplendent chic of his school knapsack but can he save the wee creatures from a life of misery? And should you care?
Gideon Kibblewhite

Many buffalo have crossed the river since young Croc made his debut, and for his fans the wait has been a long one. Luckily all the disreputable reptilians out there haven't pined in vain for scaley action because, despite some irritating flaws, Croc's second yarn is a big improvement on the first. In fact, in many ways it's actually quite delightful (which is a shame, because this fact prohibits the use of the 'pile of old croc' gag).

Croc part two is bigger and more beautiful then part one, enhanced by the Mario-esque freedom you're given to explore. The island Croc visits is split into four virtual Gobbo villages, each containing a number of tasks he must perform.

Each time he passes a Gobbo they spin him a tale of woe, and it's up to Croc to set things right - be it finding a missing sandwich or a Gobbo that's been carried off by Dante's infernal henchmen. You can complete the tasks of each village in any order you like - which is welcome relief if you find yourself stuck.

As well as brushing up on hot new jungle skills (he can swing from vines) Croc has more options open to him these days. The crystals he collects can be exchanged for power-ups in the village 'swap-shop' and if all are garnered from every level (no mean feat) there's even an extra mystery village on offer.