who doesn’t?), then get ready for Tak and the Power of Juju. It’s based on
some Nickelodeon property that most gamers have never heard of before
(including myself). The box art shows a picture of the starring character,
Tak, who looks like he’s wearing purple eyeliner (did I mention that Tak is a
he?). And when necessary, Tak will even don a chicken suit. Is this a
nightmare waiting to happen? In most cases it just might have been. But this
is far from your typical licensed property. Underneath the frightening
exterior is a game that’s entertaining enough to get adults hooked.
Tak begins his adventure
with the usual list of gameplay explanation. They’re so silly (example: "To
walk, push the control stick") that even the tour guide makes fun of them. As
predicted, the tour guide is female, and is of a different species than the
main character. She’s a spiritual thing called a Juju, and will help you in
your quest from time to time. Her words a bit annoying at first, but be
patient, because she will shut up after you’ve progressed to a certain point.
As you test out the
controls and figure out all that this game has to offer, your eyes will be
impressed by the organic level designs. From the sky to the ground,
everything is treated with the nicest of textures. Facial expressions and
mouth animations are better than most of the big-budget, ultra-realistic games
we see on the PC. That’s partially because Tak uses lip-synching software
that helps developers match the words more accurately. However, it is a
little choppy in comparison to Jak II or Ratchet and Clank.
Also worth mentioning is
the variety of characters, their designs, and their animation. You’ll
encounter lots of different kinds of animals, including a guerilla who like to
bend trees. If you stand on the branch of a bent tree and wait a few seconds,
the guerilla will let it go, catapulting Tak into the air. This gives Tak a
quick and easy way to jump back and forth between platforms, especially those
with huge gaps.
The gameplay is classic
3D adventuring, but it’s not at all the Mario knock-off that you’d expect.
There are items to collect, like big teeth (which act as four keys to
unlocking a new area) and Magical Nubu Plants, but that’s not what the game is
about. The levels are on more of a set path than the ones in Mario or Jak II,
but the game is not nearly as linear as Crash Bandicoot. What you end up
having is a game that is somewhat open-ended, but presents the player with a
clear and fairly easy path to decipher.
It’s not always easy
though. The enemies are a bit more vicious than most kiddie games. The
Magical Nubu Plants aren’t too difficult to beat since they stay in one place
at all times. Rat-like creatures are more common though, and they follow Tak
wherever he goes, mumbling creepy words just to taunt him. Several may attack
at once!
Boss battles are another
threat. The first boss fight is broken down into three separate battles with
three giant Nubu plants. They’re impervious to standard attacks when their
neck is fully erect, and are impervious to jump attacks when their neck bent.
The strategy to defeating them is not a hard one to figure out, but completing
the task is far from easy. It’ll take more than good timing to beat these and
the other bosses in the game.
While Tak and the Power
of Juju plays like an action/adventure, Tak’s attack moves are more like
Link’s from The Legend of Zelda. He starts out with a club, swinging it back
and forth like a sword but with less precision. Tak is then quickly awarded a
Blowgun, followed by a weapon called the Spirit Rattle. The Blowgun is a
great alternative to the club. For starters, Tak can use it to whack enemies
to death. It’s a stronger weapon, so enemies die even faster. Second, the
Blowgun is a blowgun! Hit the Y button to switch to the first-person view,
pick a target and shoot. Very Zelda-ish, wouldn’t you say? Third, the
Blowgun changes Tak’s jump from a single or double hop to one giant leap. He
uses the weapon to launch himself higher into the air. He can reach further
distances with this new jump technique as well.
As you should fully
understand by now, this kiddie game is so much more than a childish exterior.
Truth be told, the sound effects really aren’t that annoying. Adding to the
surprises is the music, which turned out to be well worth listening to. It’s
so deep and involving, just like the music of a game should be. Even the
voice-overs, which are geared at children, are not done in the usual,
ultra-cheesy way that turns gamers off. Best of all, the gameplay is
entertaining all the way through. This is a worthwhile experience for all
fans of the genre.
Gameplay: 8.4
Not at all what I
expected. I didn’t expect this game to suck, but never in my wildest dreams
did I expect a game based on a kiddie property to be able to compete with the
big boys. This game was developed not with haste. It was created by a
dedicated team who really knew what they were doing. That is evident
throughout the game.
Tak’s
control mechanics are simple (duh, this is an action/adventure), but the game
is not a weakling in the difficulty department. Whether it’s a tough boss
battle or just a series of relentless rat-like creatures who wish to taunt and
chomp, Tak and the Power of Juju is a fairly challenging game.
The
magical Juju powers add even more Zelda-ness to the game. Eagle Eye, one of
the Juju powers, can turn the Blowgun into a telescope. Another Juju power
adds the essence of thunder to your attacks. Still another works as a compass
and points you in the direction of the nearest magical item.
Whether
you’re a kid by age, a kid at heart, or not a kid at all, you’ve got to play
Tak and the Power of Juju.
Graphics: 8.5
Mario Sunshine
aside, you won’t find a prettier action/adventure on GameCube. It doesn’t
pull off any new graphic tricks, but it packs several of the effects you’ve
seen spread out in a number of other GameCube games. Overall the game has a
very polished look.
Sound: 8.5
Shock upon
shock! It was one thing to be entertaining, but to have good sound was out of
the question. Or so I thought. The music is very fitting to the mood. This
could be the first game that makes younger gamers realize how important music
is to gaming, and how good it can be when done right.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.5
Tak and the Power
of Juju is anything but an average marketing ploy. This game builds brand
awareness and expands it into a market that was previously unaware of its
existence. But unlike the average movie or TV-based game, Tak is fun! And
unique. And addictive. It’s what an action/adventure should be. Like Vexx
but with less frustration and more creativity.
Overall: 8.4
Calling all
parents: when you go to the store to pick up a surprise game for your child
this Christmas, consider the power of Tak. Tak and the Power of Juju appears
to be a kiddie game, but it’s much more than that. It’s safe for the kids but
it doesn’t play like A Bug’s Life or any other kiddie game. When the kids are
sleeping you might want to carefully open the game, play it for a few minutes,
re-seal it and stick it back under the tree. Or you could just leave it open
and tell the kids that Santa brought it for you. Whatever you choose to do,
chances are you and your family will really enjoy this game.
