Kim Possible 2: Drakken's Demise (Game Boy Advance) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

If you are reading this review from the US you may be contemplating firing off an e-mail informing us that Drakken's Demise was released some two years ago. While this is true for all our readers stateside, this second GBA outing has only just reached our shores on the back of the DS release: Kimunicator. In fact such is the popularity of this female secret agent some regions are currently enjoying her third GBA outing: Team Possible and while the TV series is on rocky ground there appears to be quite an appetite for handheld games. It's at this point I generally rant and rave about how poor most franchised games are but for now, let's just get on with the review.

Gameplay

We weren't expecting much after playing Kim's first outing but, to be fair, you should forget everything about the original as this is not only a new developer but a completely new direction. The gameplay is far less focused on simple running and jumping and the introduction of the various gadgets makes for a more complicated and more immersive gaming experience and that's before we've even touched on the 'other' levels. There is still some standard platforming but this is mostly in the game's early stages, with each new level requiring a greater level of Kim's acrobatics mixed with the latest gadget. The first of these is the rather useful grappling hook which allows the missions a kind of 'Bionic Commando' angle and makes seemingly impossible jumps that much easier. Similarly Glue Lipstick creates a trampoline when applied to the correct areas allowing you to reach otherwise in accessible heights. In addition to this there's the Hot Sauce, Stealth Suit and a Mirror but you'll have to play the game to discover what these are used for.

The 'other' levels include missions both in the air and underwater and whilst the latter simply involves finding the exit, the air bound level is a side scrolling shooter which is not only a great surprise but also very well designed and could be a full game in its own right. Another level places you on the rooftops as you chase one of the many enemies armed only with your acrobatic skills and, here at least, some rather useful jet boots. I say useful but while they provide you with the speed there are no brakes on them, forcing you to jump over and dodge everything at the risk of losing your health and having to start over. Finally as this is platform based there are a number of collectables and, while most of these are fairly standard fare, the collectors cards are worth seeking out as they give you full portraits of the entire cast and add much needed replay value to the whole package.

Controls

The control can be pretty complicated but by the end of the game you'll not only have mastered the art of combat but also five very different gadgets. Fortunately all is explained via a kind of 'ghost' tutorial before each new move or gadget is used although all this is unlikely to aid you during some of the more complicated sections. Problems you may have are rarely down to the controls and more likely due to you requiring more practise.

Graphics

Visually Kim Possible is well up to scratch, although that's the least you'd expect given that this is a Disney TV series, with the main characters fluid animation standing out. Things start off though with a FMV clip of the series intro and while this clearly takes up a great deal of the cart space it does put you firmly in secret agent mode. There are also some nice cut screens, although these are static, with the story pushed along through text. The various backgrounds occasionally appear a little bland when placed along side the rest of the game but given that they still follow the retro theme of the game this is easily forgiven.

Sound

The audio here is provided by Shin'en who once again demonstrate just why they are the choice for many current GBA developers by providing some very pleasing music. The bulk of this is based on music taken from the TV series with the latter levels featuring suitable spy themed scores. The sound effects, while a little on the thin on the ground, still manage to do their job although a few voice samples would have livened things up a bit.

Final comments

While it's accepted by gamers that most movie/TV tie-ins are constructed from the same standard elements the end result can differ significantly. Refreshingly, Drakken's Demise is one of the better examples. Developers AM2 have done an incredible job of not only producing a game which will delight fans of the series but also one that your average platform fan should also take a look at. The reasons are simple, the developer clearly cared about the license and not only is there enough diversity to keep you coming back for more, but there's also a suitable level of challenge. Some areas may seem incredibly tough but they are never impossible. The outcome is one of only a few games of this nature which demonstrate just what can be achieved with a license and definitely one of the handheld surprises of the year so far.

Pro: Lot's of Variety, Can be Challenging.
Con: Average Audio.
Final score: 8.5

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