Disney’s Kim Possible 3: Team Possible – GBA – Review

Last year,
Disney and A2M teamed up to produce Kim Possible 2, a solid platform
game that embodied the spirit of the TV show quite well.  Kim had all kinds of
cool moves, including wall-jumping, swinging on poles and grappling hooks, and
even skating. With Kim Possible 3, A2M has kept all the elements that
made the game so good, and has added some new features, which have increased
the game’s replayability.

Now, instead
of playing as just Kim, players will play across the levels as both Ron and
Kim, each of whom has distinct abilities. Kim still has her incredibly useful
grappling hook, and Ron has power boots, which enable him to shoot up into the
air from the ground. They have other gadgets that become available in later
levels, as well, but these are used to take out enemies. Playing as two
characters doesn’t change the gameplay all that much; it mostly means that the
levels are played through twice, as each character has to get to the next save
point. The main affect has to do with the puzzle element of the game, wherein
only one of the characters can get across a certain area (usually Kim), who
then will do something to enable the other character to get across the area.
Rufus makes a showing every now and then, as Ron can pop him out of his pocket
at places that are only accessible by Rufus, who can crawl up walls and
squeeze into small crevasses.

There is
also a multiplayer mode, which requires two GBAs and a cable. Players can play
simultaneously as Ron and Kim. This, along with the mini-games that can be
unlocked by collecting special items in each level, definitely add to the
longevity of the game.

As to be
expected with the same development company, the characters look pretty much
the same as in the previous game, which is to say, they look pretty sharp. The
characters move fluidly, and it’s really fun to watch Kim swinging along on
her grappling hook. Kim, Ron and Rufus all appear the same as on the TV show,
and the game’s environments are consistent with the show, as well. The
backgrounds are good, too, but there’s not that much contrasting detail. In
the jungle, for instance, there’s mostly just bland greenery and trees, no
flowers or other decorative items. The music is the same as in the previous
game, and can get annoying. I played with it turned off, mostly.

Alas, while
the new content is nice, it would have been even nicer if some problems from
Kim Possible 2 had been addressed, namely the difficulty of some of the
areas. It’s just too hard for Kim to get across some levels, and younger
players will end up frustrated by their lack of progress. It does seem that
there are more health points scattered around, and more save points, but that
still doesn’t help get Kim through the level. Another peeve is the difficulty
of hitting the vines just right; if the character doesn’t catch  a vine
correctly, he or she will fall off and have to try again, which happens too
often. One note, the wall-jumping seems to be easier. Despite the difficulty
for younger players, older kids and adults may find the challenge a plus in
making the game more interesting.

A2M has come
out with another winner, one that combines a super-cool TV cartoon character
with interesting gadgets, and lots of challenging platform action and puzzle
elements. While the game can be too difficult at times for young children, the
numerous save spots and plenteous health points available take some of the
pain away.

Review Scoring Details for Disney’s Kim Possible 3: Team Possible

Gameplay: 8.0
This is exactly
what a good platformer should do: offer a good challenge, interesting puzzles
and gadgetry, and lots of exciting action. The buttons are easy to use, too.

Graphics: 8.0
Nice graphics,
although a trifle bland across some levels.

Sound: 7.0
The sound is Ok,
but I found it annoying after a while. Others may not find it so.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
This game, while
easy enough in some parts, is not for the faint of heart in others.

Concept: 8.0
A2M has kept the
same successful elements of last year’s game, and added some new content which
is implemented well.

Overall: 8.0
This is one of
the few platforming games designed around a children’s show that is actually
any good. While there are only three worlds, each of these worlds is huge.
Having to run Kim and Ron through each level makes them even longer. The
gameplay is well-designed and executed, and the multiplayer modes and
mini-games increase the replayability.  A great game for any family’s library.
Best for kids ages 10-up.