The main characters of Pandemonium 2 were given significant and more detailed redesigns from the first game, but these designs were poorly received by reviewers. In particular, Nikki was redesigned from an adolescent tomboy to a sultry seductress in what was seen as an unnecessary attempt to appeal to young male demographics that dominated the video game market, with two outlets comparing her new appearance to that of a younger and "more ambulatory" Peggy Bundy from the TV series "Married... with Children". The magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Nikki's redesign the award for "Worst Makeover" in their 1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide, stating: