Zoinks! G-g-g-g-ghosts!
The Mystery Machine is rolling into action to solve the riddle of the haunted
library.
THQ is also rolling out the latest endeavor to feature classic cartoon
characters from the Scooby-Doo franchise with a side-scrolling arcade title for
the Game Boy Advance with Scooby-Doo Mystery Mayhem.
Let’s face it, the cartoon series is predictable. Usually you meet the
perpetrator behind the "terrifying" mystery early and then you collect clues to
uncover the culprit and reason for the madness they created.
With an array of side jokes, and cartoon pandemonium, the gang usually
manages to dodge the nasties and solve the mystery.
THQ has tried to bring that to the GBA. The results are very mixed. While the
game looks good, it banks on the horizontal/vertical scrolling style that lock
the endeavor into a very linear format. You must jump up the platforms to get
the wrench to fix the elevator to zip up to the top – this has all been done
before, and, for the most part, much better.
The game features five levels, beginning with the haunting of the Hambridge
Library, moving to the Milton Brothers movie lot, to a Weird Wild West level,
the Bayous and finally to ShermanTech’s headquarters. The progression is logical
and very predictable.
In fact, that is the hallmark of this game – predictability. There is little
that is fresh, new or exciting.
There are two playable characters in the game, and you can get power-ups
along the way (Scooby snacks, which help Shaggy and Scooby gain back courage).
If you have watched the cartoon series, you will know that the gang usually
solves the mysteries in a very non-violent way. There is slapstick violence, but
you won’t see Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy or Scooby actually battling
effectively. That is carried over to this format.
While the script is a retread, the designers decided to clue in gamers of
what is supposed to be funny by including a laugh track that pops up behind the
text dialogue. A laugh track for a timed joke is a good thing, but when you are
relying on text, the timing can get off. That is what happens here. If you read
too fast, or too slow, the canned laughter comes from out of the blue.
The rest of the sound track relies on some sound effects and midi music
tracks. This does little to enhance the game.
Graphically, the game does a solid job of creating colorful environments and
capturing the character movements of the principles in-game players. Some of the
other animations are a little stilted.
The control elements are very simple to use.
Scooby-Doo Mystery Mayhem is an ordinary little game that tries to charm
players with the Scooby-Doo theme and characters. In regards to the latter, this
game does succeed. However, it does not offer anything that is new or exciting
to the genre of arcade-style scrolling games and is oversimplified. In some
ways, this was expected. When you have a formula-based cartoon show spawning a
GBA game, originality does not seem to be on the top of the game descriptions.
If you are a fan of the show, you may enjoy this title. If you are not, pass
on it.
This game is rated for Everyone.
Gameplay: 6.5
This is a typical side-scrolling game with platforms you have to jump up on
and objects to obtain to test your ability to jump and dodge.
Graphics: 7.5
This aspect of the game is certainly well done, but not overly dynamic.
Sound: 5.8
The music from the series is there, but the game also sports a laugh track.
Aside from those elements and some special effects, this is nothing to get
excited about.
Difficulty: Easy
In fact this game is overly simple.
Concept: 6
There is nothing original here. The interface is designed for simplicity and the
game retreads old ground.
Overall: 6.5
While certainly not a bad title, Scooby-Doo Mystery Mayhem is a retread that
will not challenge GBA veterans but will likely appeal to fans of the cartoon.
The flavor of the cartoon is there, but the game is very typical of the genre.
