Unfold and Reveal Your Path to Zen in Kami 2

Visually speaking, Kami 2 is downright gorgeous and stunning. The game revolves around an origami theme, so there are a ton of fine details that make the game beautiful to behold. Kami 2 showcases a fine paper texture throughout everything, from the levels to menus, and the patterns range from simple to intricate and complex. The color palettes used feature a myriad of tones, from earthy, muted hues to soft pastels to bold and vibrant shades. The smooth and fluid animations in the game are one of the biggest reasons to check it out, as it’s hypnotic to watch the colored paper fold and unfold on the screen, and then have the “Perfect” sticker slapped on when you complete a stage is just so satisfying. To top things off, there’s a soothing atmospheric soundtrack and the realistic sound effects of folding paper is delightful. It goes without saying that State of Play Games has another hit on their hands.

Like many other puzzle games, Kami 2 is level-based and features about 19 chapters with six stages in each, giving players over 100 puzzles to start off with for free. While you get access to six levels at a time, you must complete all of the puzzles in a section before the next chapter becomes accessible, so the game is still fairly linear in that aspect. In case the amount of regular stages is not enough, there is also a daily challenge puzzle to solve, and this time around, Kami has a level editor so players can create, share, and download their own unique stages with players all over the world. Regardless of how you choose to play, the goal of Kami 2 is the same: fill the screen with a single color in as few moves as possible. Things start out simple enough but get much more complicated as you progress in the game.

The controls in Kami 2 are straightforward and intuitive. At the bottom of the screen will be a color picker that features all of the colors that are in the current stage. Just tap on a color to select it. Since the goal is to fill the screen with one color, just tap on the other colored sections to fill them in with that chosen color, and watch the paper fold and flood the pattern with it. There is a limited number of moves that are allotted to you for every stage, which is shown in the bottom corner, along with the restart and hint buttons. You will start out with a limited number of hints, but once they’re used up, you have the option to get more through in-app purchases. However, each puzzle can be solved through trial-and-error, so if you’re stuck, just be persistent.

While you are able to browse player created levels from the get-go and save your favorites by tapping on the heart, you do have to clear the first 12 stages of the Journey (regular levels) to unlock the level builder. This gives players a reason to go through the main game, even if it’s just for the first 12 levels. If you aren’t the creative type and just want to check out what others have made, the gallery is well organized and easy to peruse through. You can see what’s popular (determined by number of favorites) or the latest submissions, and then check out your bookmarked favorites for easy access. The Daily Challenge showcases several puzzles at once, and you can see how many global attempts at each stage there are so far, as well as the number of people who perfected the puzzle solution.

KAMI 2 is definitely a game that lives up to its predecessor. The game packs in amazing, realistic graphics that make you feel like you are truly unfolding paper on the screen, and the music puts you in a state of zen. The puzzles are challenging enough for everyone, and never too frustrating. There are a lot of puzzles to go through in the game, so you do get your money's worth, and the new level editor lets players run wild with their own imaginative creations.

While some sequels end up being disappointments, KAMI 2 definitely does not fall into that category. If anything, the only negative about KAMI 2 is the fact that it is just more of the same, so if you don't care for relaxing puzzle games, then you won't enjoy this one either.

I’m still in the early stages of Kami 2 myself (some of the levels can be tricky), but so far I’m loving the experience. The game is a fantastic follow-up to the original, which I adored. The visuals make the game look and feel like genuine origami, the sound is amazing, the puzzles are challenging enough without being too overwhelming, and the wide variety of included levels as well as daily challenges and user-made stages keeps everything fresh and interesting, even if you beat the main game. This is another fantastic puzzle game from State of Play Games that I will be keeping on my device for some time.

I recommend checking out Kami 2 if you are a fan of the original, or just enjoy zen-like puzzles. You can find Kami 2 on the App Store as a free universal download for your iPhone and iPad with in-app purchases for hints and special color palettes.