Game Review Data
 


Game Title

Scooby Doo - The Motion Picture
Publisher
THQ
Features
1 Player. Battery Save.
Format
Adventure/Exploration
Reviewer
Andrew Blanchard


RATING

Playable!


Ratings Scale:

Excellent!

Good!

Playable!

Ho-Hum!

Yuck!


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Introduction

Scooby Doo is one of the few cartoon characters to have truly endured the test of time and despite a dip in popularity when the incredibly irritating Scrappy Doo was introduced, the famous Scooby Snack munching canine has pretty much been on TV constantly since the 1970s. Subsequent video games based on the cartoon, however, have not seen the same success and the last GBA title which was inspired by a "full length" cartoon, was truly appalling in every department. In contrast, the GBC version was an enjoyable "point and click" adventure and it's possibly for this reason and the fact that this is the movie's central theme, that the developers have returned to this gaming type. It's always interesting to see a departure from the usual movie tie-in platformers but has it all paid off? Read on and see...

Screen Shots

GamePlay

As with the other Scooby Doo titles this one allows you to control all of the five various characters although not all at once. This is important as everyone has very different skills so choosing the right person for the job is the secret to success. This could be Fred moving heavy objects, Velma's ability to solve puzzles or maybe even Scooby Doo as he can cover ground far faster and more efficiently than anyone else. Every level is mission based and as a result it's important to chat to everyone on your travels, as you never know who can be of help. These people may demand some type of payment, or item, for information so picking up tokens from both the floor, and through success in the games, is a must. You'll notice that there are many things that will sap your energy such as rats and demons so it's important to keep an eye on this as once it's gone it's 'Game Over'. Fortunately food, like tokens, is lying around everywhere so collect it up and use it wisely.

In addition to the exploration part there are also four sub-games, which are neatly woven into the plot of the game in various ways. Firstly there's 'Unlock the Chest' where you must match coloured circles in order to gain a prize. 'Repair the Pipes' is a little like the old classic 'Pipemania' where you must construct a complete pipeline before time runs out. 'Lights Out' is not based on the classic of the same name but rather a simple case of running over light switches whist staying within the grid. 'Musical Mayhem' is a 'Parappa the Rappa' type of affair were you must use the GBA's controls to replicate the on-screen ones. They're all actually very entertaining and the developers have also wisely allowed you to play each one via the options menu for extended fun even after you've completed the main game.

The whole adventure is neatly wrapped up with 'The Narrator' who aids you in your quest and comes up with constant cheesy lines to keep you entertained. Keep listening though because if you get really stuck there's a very good chance he'll point you in the right direction. His most important role, however, is to automatically save the game at key points which is very helpful as nearly all of us forget this until we lose a life.

Controls

This could have completely destroyed the game had it not been designed with the average gamer in mind. The result is a very easy to use control system which you'll feel comfortable with in no time at all. The main reason for this is that almost everything can be done with one or two button presses, which minimizes frustration and never interrupts the flow of the game.

Graphics

Most of the visuals are isometric based and the developers have done a great job of recreating the various scenes form the movie whilst employing very little graphical repetition. The animation of the various characters is incredibly well done whether they're walking or running and although they're all really small they're sufficiently detailed. Outside of this you have the menu systems which are always clear and informative and very easy to navigate through. Finally there are the various sub-games and while these are very simple in design they're also well executed so you'll never fail at a game because you simply can't figure out what's going on.

Sound & Music

The background music is great and will have you harping back to the days when you used to watch it on TV as a kid and it was actually creepy. There's some wonderfully atmospheric music, which accompanies all of the areas, and fans will be pleased with the GBA's rendition of the TV series theme. Disappointingly missing are any voice samples of the gang from the movie. I can only assume this is for contractual reasons but some clips of Scooby Doo's famous quotes would have been a bonus.

Final Comments

"Scooby Doo - The Motion Picture" is a huge game which you'll be playing it for some time. Unfortunately this is not due to the puzzle solving but rather the exploration. The whole game plays more like a well-constructed interactive storybook than a true adventure. There is a lot to do, however, and the sub-games are a bonus which help detract from the endless wandering around. As movie tie-ins go this certainly isn't the worst we've seen and it's always good to see something a little more original than yet another platformer.

@ EAGB Advance 2002. All rights reserved.