As a gamer who grew up in the golden age of Nickelodeon and the NES, I must say that Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland has been a long-awaited delight! Having cherished memories of both the show and the games it references, this title feels like a nostalgic dream come true.
In 1991, during the final days of the Nintendo Entertainment System’s popularity, the much-loved animated series “Rugrats” made its debut on Nickelodeon. At this time, the system was brimming with fantastic games based on licenses, such as Konami’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3” and Capcom’s “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”. Strangely enough, “Rugrats” did not receive a game of its own. Now, three decades later, this omission is being addressed with “Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland”, a retro-style adventure that can be played in 8-bit format, or with HD graphics reminiscent of the original animated series.
In my perspective as an avid gamer, the stages in Adventures in Gameland echo the episodes of the Rugrats TV series. Each stage kicks off with a title card (accompanied by that iconic musical jingle), and it’s all about the babies exploring real-life locations around their house, which magically morph due to their vibrant imaginations. For instance, the fridge metamorphoses into an icy realm, while the sandbox in the backyard blossoms into a desert oasis. This approach cleverly maintains the show’s essence and rings remarkably true to the original. Even the game’s adversaries are derived from the Nickelodeon series, ranging from Mr. Tippy, the sippy cup, to hovering Cynthia heads.
In this game, players can pick characters from the main cast – Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil – each with unique abilities. While Tommy is all-rounder, Chuckie excels at jumping higher. Interestingly, the designers have drawn inspiration from the classic NES game “Super Mario Bros. 2”, as Chuckie’s jump resembles Luigi’s jump in that game quite closely. Additionally, Lil has a float mechanic reminiscent of the Princess from “Super Mario Bros. 2”. As an enthusiast of “Super Mario Bros. 2”, I appreciated these similarities, but they do feel somewhat overt. However, if you’re going to honor the NES era, it seems fitting to reference its standout games.
It’s important to clarify that while Rugrats does alter certain aspects, it offers unique features. For instance, gamers have the freedom to interchange the babies in each stage, leveraging each character’s individual strengths. If a baby gets defeated during a level, players are transported back to a nearby spot without having to redo the entire level, but from then on, they can only control the remaining three playable characters. The game doesn’t declare “Game Over” until all four babies have been defeated; instead, it simply requires restarting that specific level from the start. In this sense, Adventures in Gameland is more lenient than most NES games, and players can substitute a damaged character with another, then switch back once they find a life-refilling Cookie or Bottle.
In each phase, players can switch between the game’s two modes seamlessly. While the high-definition graphics are appealing, I found myself drawn more towards the 8-bit version. The visuals resemble later games from the NES era, and the sprite designs are remarkably crisp. Both characters, babies and adults alike, look fantastic, with some remarkable recreations of the adult cast. Interestingly, there are two distinct versions of both the graphics and soundtrack. For me, I preferred the 8-bit audio, but both versions provide a delightful listening experience. The music may not need to be as intense as it is, but surprisingly, it’s quite powerful.
Regrettably, “Adventures in Gameland” concludes rather swiftly, often taking only a few hours to complete. It’s a delight for enthusiasts of vintage platformers and old Nicktoons, but it could be more appealing if the game seemed to offer a fresh take on games that inspired it. The developers appear to have a deep affection for the source material, however, the abundance of other retro-inspired games available on current platforms makes it harder to overlook its shortcomings.
Title “Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland” harks back to both the classic animated series and the NES era, which is surprising considering how long it took for these elements to be combined. More often than not, the blend works well rather than falling short. While it doesn’t strive for groundbreaking innovation, opting instead to draw inspiration from games such as “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers” and “Super Mario Bros. 2”, I found myself appreciating my time spent with this nostalgic Rugrats adventure. This game may not be in the same league as “Shovel Knight,” but “Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland” offers a delightful trip down memory lane for a brief period.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
The game “Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland” is scheduled to release on various platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on September 10th (except Xbox Series X|S which will be available on September 11th). For this review, a code was given by the publisher, and it was played on a Nintendo Switch OLED.
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2024-09-09 18:09