| Game Reviews From a Parental Perspective! | |
|
|
|
| Home | Forums | Review Archive | Columns | Feature Articles |
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath Of The Darkhul King
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us Scroll down for our Kid Factor. Joss Whedenﾒs Buffy The Vampire Slayer was one of the most beloved and talked about TV programs ever produced. The showﾒs internet fan base is huge even though the final episode aired last May. From my informal poll of dedicated message boards and newsgroups, itﾒs just ahead of Highlander, and Stargate SG-1 and just behind Star Trek and Star Wars in sheer volume of loyal fanatics. The show mixed a fantasy tone, ﾓdreamyﾔ vampires, ﾓSlayer-Mythosﾔ and teenage angst all into one tight-package wrapped-up with one of the most talented and best-looking casts ever assembled.  It didn't stop there. The writing was an amazing concoction mystery, horror, comedy, and pop-culture, intertwined with a realistic view of young adult-life. Even though it was a fantasy/sci-fi show, I rate it second only to Freaks And Geeks for itﾒs realistic, portrayal of teens, their attitudes, and their concerns. Besides itﾒs name, THQﾒs Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Wrath Of The Darkhul King is side-scrolling beat-em-up, with nearly nothing to do with itﾒs source material. There are a few references to plot points from the 4th season of the series, but since the 7th (and last) season just ended, they seem wildly out-dated. You play Buffy, fighting with kicks, punches, and various weapons through 16 levels of henchmen, vampires, demons, and other assorted beasties. The levels are inter-cut with rather crude cut scenes created with stills from the TV show. There is nothing new to the game play, and it should seem instantly familiar to anyone who has played one of the hundreds of similar titles from the 8 and 16-bit eras. Buffy walks with the gamepad, and with two quick presses right or left she stars running. She jumps with the R button (double jump by pressing R twice), kicks with the B button, and either punches or uses a readied weapon with A. All the expected elements are here: boxes to break, fire to jump over, ropes to hang-on, little hearts to restore health, platforms, jumping puzzles, mindless enemies etc. Itﾒs almost like a ﾓscrolling beat ﾒem upﾔ construction kit was used to create this game, with Buffy-suitable (for the most-part) sprites added to service the license. Most levels are short, sometimes surprisingly-so. On the easier difficulty settings the game should only take a few hours to complete. However, those hours might be can be an altogether frustrating experience. Seemingly to make the game last longer, the levels are filled with ﾓexact-pixelﾔ jumping puzzles , that are mostly exercises in trial and error. Any mistake sends you back to the beginning of the level so you can do it all over again. Some levels are split into sections, which comes as some relief. Mercifully, you get the option to save the game at the end of each level. Buffy has three lives to start, but this makes little sense, as you can simply continue the game if they all run out. In most cases, the graphics are fair-to-good, while the animation is a bit on the stiff side. The music is bland, and sound effects are truly generic, having appeared in dozens of other GBA titles.  THQ is the king of licensed GBA games. Their roster includes Star Wars, Spongebob, Monsters Inc. Hot Wheels, Lego, Jimmy Neutron, Power Rangers, and of course, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, just to name a few. Most of these games are low-cost, quickly produced, and based on tried-and-true, mass-market game formulas that will appeal to kids and adults who enjoy only the most generic contests. However, when you attach a name like Buffy The Vampire Slayer to a title, you are creating the expectation that the game will somehow hold-true to the lore and history of the beloved franchise that spawned it. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Wrath Of The Darkhul King is not a horrible game, itﾒs just generic, dull, and braindead. Instead of spicing-up the proceedings, the Buffy The Vampire Slayer license only further highlights the flaws of this title. Itﾒs completely uninspired plot would have never made the first-cut of any Buffy writers meeting, and this will instantly show-through to any fan who plays it. This is a mildly diverting game for a couple hours, and that is all it is. Anyone who is itching for a Buffy title to fill the void left after the show ended should pass and wait for something that stays closer to itﾒs primetime roots.  Kid Factor: For younger kids, the controls for this game will be very difficult. Any use of the L and R buttons are tough for the younger-set (3-6). As well ,the game has a T-Teen rating, and the subject matter might be a bit too scary for little kids. Older kids will appreciate the horror theme, and should be able to master the game quite easily. However, the play mechanics are so-outdated they should quickly tire of the game. Age: 8+ ESRB: T ﾖ Teen Producer: THQ 
For younger kids, the controls for this game will be very difficult. Any use of the L and R buttons are tough for the younger-set (3-6). As well ,the game has a T-Teen rating, and the subject matter might be a bit too scary for little kids. Older kids will appreciate the horror theme, and should be able to master the game quite easily. However, the play mechanics are so-outdated they should quickly tire of the game.
Kid Factor by Steve Fulton
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath Of The Darkhul King |
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
|
Please Note: GamerDad is not intended to be read by anyone under 18. We stay clean, but be warned! Content Management System developed by Redbird Solutions. |
