Pocky & Rocky 2

• Title — Pocky & Rocky 2 • Developer — Natsume Co., Ltd. • Composer — Hiroyuki Iwatsuki Kinuyo Yamashita Haruo Ohashi Asuka Yamao • Platform — Super NES • Released — August 1, 1998 (Nintendo Power) • Genre — Shoot 'em up • Series — Pocky & Rocky • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer

• Illustration — Gameplay screenshot The game is played in a top-down view, featuring many elements from classic shoot 'em up games but giving the player free eight-directional movement. Player one controls the main protagonist, Pocky, who attacks by throwing ofuda talismans (referred to as "cards" in English versions). Pocky can pick up items to improve her attack power and new clothes to protect herself from damage, as well as throw player 2's character and use magic. Player 2 assumes a supporting role as one of Pocky's friends each possessing a unique attack and unlimited lives. If there is no second player, the supporting character will be CPU-controlled. Pocky can use Player 2's character as a utility in various ways. Using "magic", she can force herself into her partner's mind and control their body for a short time, enabling unique abilities depending on who she possesses. Additionally, she can throw her partner at enemies to attack, doing massive damage to the enemy but temporarily killing the thrown character. This exploitation of player 2 is a departure from the previous game, in which player 1 and player 2 had similar powers and were equally valuable.