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Rocket Power Beach Bandits
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Graphics & Sound:
The boys are back for Summer... well, boys and girl are back. And with Summer in play, the only thing more exciting than a burger at the Shore Shack is the Annual Ocean Shores Surf Classic. The Rocket Power team is primed and ready for some action, but getting to the water may be more difficult than they think. This is a nice conversion of a game we enjoyed on Gamecube, and this license has been a good one in general for Game Boy. Something about these sporty kids and their antics makes for good gaming. Beach Bandits is no exception, and with even more graphic punch. Now, instead of just jamming on their scooters or skates, the Rocket Power crew can actually get involved in some exploration, which means more interesting levels and different scenery to check out. Characters can be exchanged on the fly, which is kind of a staple of the series, since kids want to be able to play their favorite character. And, in keeping with tradition, each character has a unique ride and approach when it comes to taking out enemies. Getting around in each level has a lot to do with your objectives. If you want to collect items, you may find that one of the 2 characters who are initially playable has an edge over the other. Otto and Twister are your only options until the very end, when you have a chance to play Reggie. To fit the beach setting, the tunes are bouncy and suggest the Summer holiday Rocket Power were supposed to get before something went wrong in Ocean Shores. |
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Gameplay:
Since so much of the average day for the Rocket Power team involves riding skateboards, surfboards, scooters or roller-blades, it stands to reason that a good conversion to the video game world would look a lot like other eXtreme sports games out there. But, since kids like adventure and a good story, Rocket Power are now using their skills to solve a mystery in their home town Ocean Shores. For some reason the sand that used to fill the beaches here is gone. And the timing couldn't be worse, since the Surf Classic is right around the corner. Right about the time the kids discover this weird missing sand, a public spectacle is underway. Eric Golem, President of Golem Industries, is standing on a pedestal telling the denizens of Ocean Shores what a great guy he is, and how he's sooooo committed to helping them get the sand back. But, as robots with the Golem Industries logo start appearing mysteriously around Ocean Shores and word has it they're involved in some strange industry behind the scenes, Rocket Power come to the rescue to uncover the connection Golem has to the missing beach. Strap in, because this will be a wild ride. Instead of going for a completely linear, side-scrolling type of adventure, Beach Bandits offers each level as a big playground. You can cruise around collecting items, talk to people to get clues about where you should be looking, or just grind and do tricks until you get motivated. Some of the things you'll need to progress in the game are in the levels to be collected, and health and weapon power-ups are out to be found as well. Robots will usually be found near a pick-up, but you can use a weapon or trick to explode them. When you get on the trail of a lead, you'll usually find yourself in a challenge or on a treasure hunt, and these inevitably lead to mini-games. These can be related to riding and tricks, or just some random challenge that doesn't have much at all to do with skating or scooters. Talking to characters will always lead you in the right direction, and Sam is available with your trusty map when you're not sure which way to go. As you complete the objectives in one level, you'll move on to the next, and 6 distinct levels can be played. Opening up Reggie and taking on a special challenge level is accomplished by beating Eric Golem Jr.'s arcade scores, and Reggie's level is like a big arcade game in itself. The variety between levels could be a little greater, and it's too bad all 4 characters aren't playable, but the pace and structure of Beach Bandits does a nice job of expanding on the promise we saw in the last Rocket Power game. |
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Difficulty:
The extras to be won at the end of the game give seasoned gamers goals they can reach for without leaving more junior gamers out of the picture. Knocking down robots can sure make life easier, but for gamers who prefer to just let robots go in peace, the only things you really earn by demolishing robots are health power-ups. While helpful, they're far from necessary. Some of the mini-games present a challenge, but little tips you get after you fail to complete your objective the first time help you identify where you went wrong.
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Game Mechanics:
For a game that should be simple, Beach Bandits sure does have a lot of controls. There's a lot to do in the game, and options for how you get between Points A and B are plentiful. Twister and Otto both earn power-ups that let them get to new areas in a level and aid them when facing enemies. The weapons don't require much thought, since add-ons get used just like the basic version. When it comes to some of the 'vehicles' the boys can ride (basically hopped up variations on the standard scooter or board), a few extra moves have to be learned. But, the main thing you'll spend time doing is jumping and grinding by using the front buttons, firing your weapon on foot or doing special offensive tricks on your board, and switching characters when necessary. Otherwise, checking the map is simple, and Otto can use a special technique to switch out his hockey pucks. These come in handy, especially the homing variety. Beach Bandits adds enough to the previous game to merit consideration, and for fans of the license there's actually more than a little gameplay behind these colorful kids. What doesn't come through, except for the mini-games, is a sense of variety. Each level looks nice, but fails to provide much new or different action, compared to any other level. At the same time, exploring a level can prove to be lots of fun, and especially if you enjoy all the skating and trick action, you'll find fun things to do everywhere. It's a fan's dream, and for those of us who may only take a slight shine to the Rocket Power crew, we can at least feel satisfied to see some action-packed adventure gameplay and a decent story behind all the marketing. |
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-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock |
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