| Introduction
Games aimed at the younger GBA players seem to be
getting very popular, and Matchbox, like LEGO, has been
a firm favorite for some years now. Both companies appear
to have fully embraced the digital format, releasing
a handful of games for various consoles. This isn't
the first Matchbox showing on the GameBoy, and I have
to admit that this title didn't exactly enthuse me when
I played a demo some months ago; however, the completed
version deserves another chance.
GamePlay
As you'd expect from a game featuring a fire engine
on the box art, ‘Matchbox: Cross Town Heroes' is all
about putting out fires and rescuing people & animals.
You start off in an isometric landscape with your quota
of fires to be extinguished and animals to be rescued;
this information appears at the top of the screen, and
while the fires require a little water, the animals
are actually rescued by running over them.
The various environments are reasonably large, but
if you really do get lost an arrow will indicate where
the remaining emergencies are, cutting down the minor
frustration of trying to locate that final hapless hound
for what can seem like hours.
Other sections include a horizontal scrolling game
where you must use your chosen vehicle to extinguish
fires in various buildings, and a top-down affair where
you must collect fireworks while avoiding other dangers.
Both of these require you to hit certain completion
criteria before you can move on, which can be a little
tricky initially, but a little patience will pay off.
In addition, success in any of the areas will gift
you with one of the many emergency vehicles waiting
to be unlocked, and there really are quite a few hidden
throughout the game. And for once, the password system
actually appears to appreciate the age range the title
is aimed at, using a simple four-digit code that saves
your progress for future gaming sessions.
Controls
The control is incredibly simple and responsive,
regardless of the mode you're playing in. The isometric
stages give you the option of playing either 'Rookie'
or 'Chief', with the latter allowing you to actually
drive the various vehicles rather than simply moving
them around the course. The other two modes simply ask
you to move left and right or faster and slower whilst
usually trying to put fires out. Overall, the control
systems appear perfectly suited to the demographic,
and it's encouraging that the developers appear to have
done their research in this most important of areas.
Graphics
Visuals in children's titles seem to be getting more
and more alike and this isn't the first title I've seen
with bizarre graphical rules. Simple, bold, and colorful,
with absolutely everything completely out of scale and
perspective. Usually I'd be critical of this sort of
thing, but the weird thing is that it seems to work
in the context of this title. Everything is incredibly
clear and you'll rarely get lost or frustrated as the
various sections of the game have been designed to provide
the player with all the information and guidance they
require.
Sound & Music
The soundtrack that runs throughout the game is an
upbeat, optimistic type affair, which will no doubt
please the intended audience. It is all brought together
with the expected sound effects such as engine noises,
water and various animals. It's another case of a purely
functional audio section, and while it's in no way a
standout, it does its job in a satisfactory manner.
Final Comments
This is another of the increasing number of titles
aimed at very young gamers, so if you're reading this
and you're over the age of ten, then this is definitely
not for you. What Matchbox: Cross Town Heroes does deliver
is a subtle mix of education and entertainment in one
neat and tidy package. The learning aspects are more
about control, discovery and lateral thinking than any
level of direct instruction, and the entertainment aspects
lie in the fact that it's just fun to play. There are
a growing number of individuals seeking out non-violent
titles, so if you have children and are finding the
mindless shooting or blowing up of things a little too
much, then this could be just what you're looking for.
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