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by
THQ
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Now I enjoy a side
scrolling platformer as much as the next person, but there really has to
be something new to the experience for me to really get excited. Playing
this game had all of the excitement of watching reruns. Even when its a
good rerun, you know how its going to end and you feel like you can
turn it off at any point without really missing anything. There was no
sense of urgencyno real reason to complete the game.
The plot is the same as
the console version which is a shame. The Pupanunu peoples beloved Moon
Juju has tragically fallen and it is up to you with the aid of the
village shaman to battle the evil Tlaloc and restore the Moon Juju to
her proper place. To make matters worse everyone in the village has been
turned into benign sheep. They could have used the handheld version to
expand upon the characters and the story. I found that I actually
enjoyed the world that was envisioned in the console version, and
instead of a new experience, I got the same experience-- only watered
down and two dimensional.
Not as charming as its
Gamecube counterpart, the game was nevertheless entertaining in some
spots. There were a few frustrating aspects to the side scrolling
action. There are dangerous plants that you have to avoid, but they
blend into the background so well that it makes it hard for you to see
them. The blowgun weapon can be a little tricky to aim, but for the most
part you seem to get around just fine. If you have younger children,
they may find this game a little frustrating which is a little ironic
considering that its obviously aimed at the younger set.
It seems easy to get hurt
while playing the game which can be somewhat frustrating, but there are
so many health feathers peppered throughout the game that you manage to
make do. Youre supposed to collect sheep on each level. Theres a
counter up at the top of the screen to check off all of the livestock
youve found, but as far as I can tell, there is no discernable reward
for doing so. Unless the warm fuzzy feeling you get from rescuing mutton
is its own reward.
Reading the above, it
seems that I didnt like the game at all. Actually, there was a lot that
I did like about the game. The graphics are bright and detailed, and
when I first turned on the game, I was filled with a sincere sense of
hope that the game would be fun and entertaining. There is a little
strategy involved, and I have to admit that I enjoyed the chicken suit
(however, it was more entertaining in the console version)
It is not a bad game. Some parts were actually quite fun, and I know
its not fair comparing the console version to its handheld counterpart,
but it was just so unsatisfying. They were obviously under pressure to
complete the game in time for the release of the console version, which
is too bad. Theres really nothing about this game that sets it apart.
So, if you have no intention of investing in the more elaborate version
of Tak, this game should suit most platformer fans just fine.
GamesFirst Staff (12/15/2003) |
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Snapshot
Ups:
Basically fun
Downs:
Not innovative
Platform:
GBA
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