Gamezebo Rating:

There's always an alligator, there's always water, and there's always dirt separating the two. The infinite loop of Swampy's bath time in was charming and challenging, generously packed with levels and updates that made its 99 cent price tag an absolute steal. Its first non-spin-off, direct sequel, Where's My Water? 2, has slashed that initial price down to nothing, but actually costs much more: players' time, trust, and patience have been sold down the freemium river.

The good news: if you like any of Disney's Where's My games, there's plenty more to love here. Where's My Water? 2 plays out like all of its predecessors: swipe trenches in dirt to direct water to its destination. Along the way, you'll need to activate switches, avoid acid, collect duckies, and complete many other puzzle-based maneuvers. Swampy is still our primary water-target, waiting patiently for his bath to runneth over, but both Cranky and Allie have been upgraded from bonus level pack characters to main game integrations. Cranky's ducks and goal require acid instead of water, and Allie is still in need of steam to power her pipe organ. Their levels now appear alongside Swampy's, providing a refreshing change of pace for players who get bored with alligator monogamy.

While playing with Cranky and Allie will be a new experience to players who dropped Where's My Water? before 2012, the basic puzzles in Where's My Water? 2 will not be. Very few changes have been introduced, and many levels feel more redundant than nostalgic. There are pipes and switches, acid and quick-growing weeds, nozzles and movable platforms. Despite the introduction of an overworld map and "locations" like the Soap Factory, every stage still takes place underground. When playing the first iteration of a level, veteran players will rarely encounter something new.

Thankfully, every level features multiple iterations, known as Challenges. Completing the basic version of a level will unlock the next one on the map--allowing for forward progress--as well as the first Challenge available in the finished level. Challenges play out like a standard level, but take place on the same stage and contain special rules. For instance, on an "Avoid It" stage variation, you must get the water/acid/steam to its destination without collecting any duckies. On "Driller" stages, you can dig through rock but are not allowed to use switches or pipes. And on "Melody" stages, you must collect five music notes in a specified order instead of the three rubber ducks. There are an impressive number of other Challenge types, and all are a fantastic addition to Where's My Water? 2; they provide fun variations on each stage as well as unique mechanical changes to the series as a whole.