Tron 2.0: Killer App (Game Boy Advance) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Believe it or not Tron was the very first movie I saw on a VCR. Back in the early 80s when the average size of one of these machines rivaled any household appliance (cookers, freezers, etc) a new business idea was born: the video rental. As you'd expect Disney were incredibly quick to identify this latest cash cow and, as a result, Tron found a whole new audience. It wasn't just this though that would allow this strange hybrid of live action and early computer animation to stand the test of time because there were also games. Not home computer or console games, as you'd expect today but arcade cabinets, which can still be found in the odd retro gathering across the world. Killer App is based on last year's popular PC title and while this type of conversion hasn't always produced the best in handheld gaming we're pleased to see that none other than Digital Eclipse are taking charge of coding duties. Enough with the nostalgia trip though; let's get on with the review.

Gameplay

Playing as Tron or Mercury (a Light Cycle Pilot from the PC version) it's up to you to locate and clear a rather pesky computer virus that has found its way into 'the system'. Interestingly choosing either of the two characters will take you on different paths through the game's storyline, meaning that if you did enjoy it first time around and crave more, you can simply select the other character. Whichever one you do decide upon though the game's main objectives remain the same and early on this is all about exploration, collection and of course, puzzle solving. What you are searching for are a series of chips that will enhance your power, which later becomes essential for battling against the stronger and more intelligent programs. You'll also quickly discover that your friends are few and everyone else is out to stop you. Talking to your allies (or programs) is essential as these will not only point you in the right direction but also give you valuable items, information and, more importantly, keys. Combat here is simple yet effective and there'll only be a few occasions (such as being attacked from multiple angles) that you're likely to have to restart to reconsider your tactics. It's not all about running around though and fans of the film will be delighted to learn that not only do you get to control the Tanks but also the more maneuverable Recognizer. You can't avoid these sections either as they're woven into the game's plot but why you'd want to is anyone's guess.

In addition to the exploration and vehicle sections there are also some mini-games, two of which are available on start-up. Without detracting from the main game you really should take a look at these, as the developers have wisely included the original 1980s arcade games from Bally/Midway which retain the same charm and playability as they did then, albeit in a scaled down version. The others become available as you encounter them in the main game, the most frustrating of which has to be the 'security' where you must place a series of shapes across a grid in order to bypass security. The problem is that for such a simple gaming concept the section can be drawn out for some considerable time when you unknowingly setting off alarms at almost every attempt. The others are generally far more enjoyable although not nearly as well designed as we've come to expect from Digital Eclipse. Multiplayer fans are also in for a treat as there's also the opportunity for you and up to three other players to battle it out in the Light Cycle arena. Arguably this has been done better and cheaper (there are a handful of freeware clones available) since the film's release but there's nothing quite like sampling the original.

Controls

Thankfully the developers have managed to keep the controls very simple regardless of what you are controlling. This is mainly due to on screen instruction preceding each new section whether it be a puzzle or new mode of transport. It's all suitably responsive too and while this won't seem important when you're controlling the cumbersome tanks you'll quickly realize just how useful it is when you step into the Light Cycle arena.

Graphics

Given that Tron was one of the very first movies to even attempt to use computer generated images you can imagine that the original source material was simplistic at best. What's interesting here though is that some sections, such as the cut screens, are actually far more detailed than those contained in the, now over two decades old, film. This is because these are lifted from the PC version and do a wonderful job of pushing the main story along. The rest of the game is far more basic with the lion's share going to a three quarter perspective but still pleasing enough given the game's origins. Other sections, such as the Tanks and Light Cycles, take place in a basic 3D environment and are just as you remember them with vibrant colors built up on a black background. The end result is some way from what we know the GBA is capable of but for fans of the original movie, it'll be just as you remember it.

Sound

While the music and sound effects are pleasant enough they're not nearly as impressive as the huge amount of spoken dialogue that accompanies the cut screens. This is all thanks to Bruce Boxleitner who appeared in the original movie as Tron. It's all a little compressed however and there are occasions where it's difficult to hear what's being said but Digital Eclipse have always been incredibly ambitious with regard to what can fit onto a standard GBA cart and as already perfected FMV they no doubt thought they'd have a stab at audio.

Final comments

It seems that Digital Eclipse have done it again proving that not all games inspired by movies need be complete tosh and Tron 2.0 could easily be added to the team's earlier Lilo & Stitch as a demonstration of just 'how it should be done'. Quite simply everything's here and if you ever wished you could actually be in the original movie then this is just about as close as you're likely to get... in handheld form anyway. The game's not without its problems though and the occasional section suffers from sloppy and frustrating implementation but given the varied and entertaining nature of the bulk of the game this is easily forgiven. The highlight though remains the inclusion of the original arcade games and with all things retro rather desirable at present the cart may be worth a purchase for this feature alone for some arcade enthusiasts. This isn't what we've come to expect from Buena Vista Interactive but for once they've surprised us in the right kind of way producing a game, which will no doubt set a new benchmark for just how good movie tie-ins can be.

Pro: Includes Original Arcade Games.
Con: Occasional Clumsy Gameplay
Final score: 7.6

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