Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2 (Game Boy Advance) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Like most people my first encounter with Ty the Tasmanian Tiger was with last year?s console versions, which eventually went onto to be a hit both in Europe and its native Australia. It's fair to say that the game brought little new to the gaming world but its mix of humor and Outback locations won over a legion of younger gamers. Inevitably there was going to be a sequel but it did come as a bit of a surprise when a GBA version was announced at E3 2004. Concerns are always raised when a 3D platformer makes its way on to a handheld format and after the recent crowd pleaser Asterix and Obelix XXL there's a fair amount of pressure to deliver a competent and well-rounded experience. So after a long wait it's here now, being one of the few all-format releases that actually shipped on the same day. We already know there's no GameCube link-up facility but what does the game play like on the GBA?

Gameplay

If you've played the original GameCube version you'll remember the evil Boss Cass who terrorized the outback before being stopped by Ty and sent to a high security prison. Well, he's escaped and like all crazy, power hungry er... birds he's back and wreaking havoc once again. It's up to you, playing as Ty, to trawl around the Outback rectifying the Boss? evil doings. The tasks here are actually quite varied with our favorites ranging from herding a collection Crocs, which have escaped their enclosures, to discovering a handful of spies amongst the many Koala Bear workers. False noses and glasses always work in cartoons. Again Ty's weapon of choice is a boomerang. Not just one but a whole suitcase full with each 'rang possessing very different properties. One turns things to ice for example while another allows you to swing from the many 'sky hooks' you'll find floating around. Our favorite is still the exploding ?rang but you really have to see that in action to truly appreciate it. Like most things in life, however, your Boomerangs have to be purchased from your local shop and this costs money. Fortunately there are more than a few ways to earn some cash and while the driving sections offer you the opportunity to acquire some loose change, you can really accumulate some wealth during the other levels.

New to the Ty universe are the Bunyips and while these sound like some cuddly sidekick they're actually a collection of Robot Armour. Like the boomerangs they aren't all available at the game?s start and you will have to purchase licenses off resident inventor Julius. Once you find a Bunyip lying around a level it's simply a case of jumping in and using its unique capabilities. These range from the ability to pick up heavy objects to extinguishing fires and another important bonus is that they give you more protection. Outside of the platforming there are also the occasional driving sections. These appear once you exit the Bush Rescue Compound and only when you encounter one of the many Lizard Bikers driving around the outback. While this is a welcome distraction from the main game it's not nearly as deep or engaging as it could have been because simply bumping the bikers so they crash into the road sidings is incredibly easy. This is clearly a huge missed opportunity, which could have easily been exploited and used as a mini driving game. All the work appears to have already been done with only minimal extra coding required to add this feature. From a gamer?s point of view we can only assume that there were valid reasons preventing this from happening.

Controls

Thankfully the main control system is incredibly responsive which you'll really appreciate when you?re chasing a pesky critter or swinging from some of the many 'sky hooks'. The driving sections too require little thought making them accessible to all. If you do happen to forget what you are doing simply retracing your steps to ask a fellow Bush Rescue member always straightens things out.

Graphics

The developers have done a stunning job of converting the lush 3D landscapes to the more limited GBA hardware and you really do get the impression you're in the middle of the Australian Outback. This is mainly achieved with the multi-parallax scrolling backgrounds creating a wonderful illusion of depth. In addition to this the animation is great and occasionally exceptional with everything from the 'dunnies', which pop out of the ground in Tex Avery fashion, to Ty himself appearing smooth and fluid. Cut screens are far more 'comic' based and while this may not be as pleasing as the other visual styles it still complements the overall gameplay perfectly.

Sound

While the soundtrack has garnered criticism from some reviewers we loved it as the traditional themes create a wonderful atmosphere in which to explore the Outback. The sound effects are less impressive and one of our big disappointments was not hearing Ty celebrating by gleefully shouting 'ripper' at the end of each section.

Final comments

Whilst Ty 2 is a well-rounded and varied platformer it does suffer from not fully exploiting several of its other gaming elements. The driving sections in particular could have been given far greater depth or even a multiplayer mode. Hopefully this will be sorted in the next sequel, although that no doubt depends on sales of this one. Even so the game is both challenging and great fun and once you've finished the main adventure there's still a fair amount of extended game play and exploration to be indulged in thanks to its non-linear design. This is because while you can see what you need to do in the early stages you won't always have the equipment you need which, of course, costs. Probably one of the best recommendations for Ty 2 though is the fact that it's been released as a budget title generally retailing at up to a third lower than other GBA titles. Normally this would have reduced quality and gameplay written all over it but not in this case and if you've not encountered this Tasmanian tiger before now is a great time to become acquainted.

Pro: Great Animation and Visuals
Con: Pointless Driving Sections
Final score: 7.9

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