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Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius
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Score: 95%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: THQ
Developer: THQ
Media: Cart/1
Players: 1 - 4
Genre: Platformer
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Graphics & Sound:
Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius may be the luckiest little boy in the world right now, with a TV show on Nickelodeon, a movie in theaters and a videogame to boot. Although success in every arena is far from guaranteed, kids who take home the Game Boy Advance version of Jimmy's adventures won't be disappointed. These graphics pop right off the screen with a look that falls somewhere between claymation and clean computer animation. Each character is big with lots of really excellent animation, especially Jimmy's dog Goddard. This robot dog uses a jetpack, he shoots grappling hooks from his body and hangs from the ceiling, and he even can use that rope/hook arrangement to swing around like a virtual canine Tarzan in tight spots. Jimmy has fewer tricks, but just watching his big head bob around the screen is enjoyable. The locations look awesome, from backgrounds and buildings to enemies and items. Everything just stands out visually, with a look that betrays every bit of GBA's 32-bit power. Various musical themes run through different areas of the game, and since most of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius works on a 'hub' system around multiple platform levels, recurring music gives an audio cue of where you are in the game. Weapons and special items like the jet pack are matched to sound effects that come through nicely, even on the small speakers. This is one that you'll really enjoy with a set of headphones.
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Gameplay:
Not only do we have a very solid Platformer here, but a great multiplayer mode. The backstory behind Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius is that he's a kid whose big brain (fit precariously into that oversized head) gets him into all kind of crazy adventures. He and his loyal mutt Goddard, a robot dog of Jimmy's creation, swing into action to rescue the parents of Retroville who have been kidnapped and taken by Yokians. It's up to Jimmy and Goddard to repair their spaceship, beat down the Yokians and ultimately battle King Goobot to save the helpless parents. The style of platforming here is pure, but the ability to play as both Jimmy and Goddard helps provides a shot in the arm to an otherwise predictable genre. Starting out in Retroville, Jimmy and Goddard will need to gather parts to repair their spaceship. Going through levels with Jimmy amounts to more exploration at first than the kind of twitch reflexes needed for something like Rayman, but more of the fast-paced action is yet to come. Jimmy's main trick is his jetpack, which he can fill up at refueling stations and use to reach out-of-the-way ledges and high places. To gather all items in any level, you'll need to learn to use the jetpack. Jimmy can use a special shrink ray that reduces enemies to a size that makes them powerless against him, but like the jetpack he'll need to be sure he's all powered up before he can use the ray, and watch his level of charge. Goddard has different offensive weapons, but the basic idea remains true, as do controls. Goddard uses a laser and also has jet capabilities, but a special grappling hook is what really sets old Goddard apart. The levels you'll play as Goddard tend to be filled with ledges and tight jumps, but instead of moving around quickly and performing fantastic jumps, Goddard spends much of his time swinging from his grappling hook. The controls are very tight here, and you can climb up or down the rope as far as you need to, using the hook as a way to avoid an enemy on the floor or just to reach a point across the room by swinging. If all these controls sound a bit confusing, a Tutorial Mode helps introduce them before the main game gets underway. In addition to the great single player game, which stands on its own merits, a surprisingly deep multiplayer option also exists. With up to 4 players, each outfitted with GBA, a Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius cart and a link cable, you're able to compete in a platforming level, gather items and use powerups and weapons to win. Special items not available in the single player game are available, and a multiplayer race option is also available. The amount of gameplay available in multiplayer more than makes up for anything missing in the main game, and I hope we'll see other platforming GBA titles pick this up as an option. Especially when link cables are included with almost all the hardware bundles these days, it makes perfect sense to build in some kind of multiplayer gameplay. |
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Difficulty:
Mastering some of the more unique controls, such as Goddard's grappling hook, and knowing when to use them may confound some of the younger gamers, but especially with the Tutorial Mode, nothing should be beyond most gamers with practice. There are times when Jimmy and Goddard can feel a bit sticky to control, but the jetpack more than adjusts for a more active style of gameplay. Sure, there are risks inherent in using the jetpack too much, as you learn when you run out of fuel in mid-air, but there are enough tricks up Jimmy's sleeve that each player will approach areas in a slightly different way, adjusting to meet their needs and abilities. And, isn't that the hallmark of a good Platformer?
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Game Mechanics:
For a game aimed at a young set of gamers, Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius throws some fairly complex controls at you. Moving around and jumping or shooting the shrink ray is a breeze, but coordinating the special items and managing things like health and fuel supply seems tricky at first. Luckily, with the GBA's shoulder buttons, nothing is beyond reason. Get ready to press 2 or 3 buttons in quick succession as you work with Goddard's grappling hook. The basic control is the R button plus (A) to activate the hook, but when you consider that you then have swing left or right with the D-Pad and release with the (A) button, you understand how this could take a little practice. Moving across a ceiling with the hook is truly an exercise in patience at first, but it gets easier. Jimmy has a much easier time managing his jetpack, also done with the shoulder buttons, and refueling either the jetpack or weapons is as simple as going to a fuel spot and standing there while the meter fills up. Health powerups and items are easy to spot and grab, so within the first stage, you'll likely have mastered all the controls. Multiplayer and racing controls are similar, if a little less complex. Mission objectives are always outlined at the beginning of a level, so you don't do much if any wandering around. This is a solidly built Platformer to be sure! Password save is a bit of a drag, especially with some very long passwords, but I guess we can't all be perfect. Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius plays as well as most of the 'big kid' platforming titles out for GBA right now, which is a real compliment considering it aims for a considerably younger crowd. If you like a good Platformer, don't miss a chance to check this one out, even if it seems a bit below your current age threshold. Although there's not the level of brand recognition here that Mario or Spyro may enjoy, nobody can say that Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius doesn't have plenty of juice. |
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-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock |
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