| Introduction
There's already a Gameboy Color Atlantis game out
this year, and with Disney obviously trying to appeal
to a new and older audience, here's the Advance version.
The hardware alone in the new GBA should bring a great
Disney gaming experience and that's before we even mention
what it can do graphically. These are, however, two
very different games and were created by separate software
houses. We've already reviewed the GBC version which
scored very highly in both presentation and gameplay.
Can this match or even better it, or should you save
your money?
GamePlay
Atlantis is played over ten levels although the first
eight are very similar in a number of ways. At the beginning
of each mission you will be given an objectives screen
and, although these can vary from rescuing crew members
to escaping a submarine, they're basically all the same.
In addition to your primary objectives you also have
to collect a given number of crystals and a bonus letter.
These are not essential to completing the level but
you're promised a special hidden surprise if you do.
Once actually in the level it's usually a case of
getting from 'A' to 'B' and that's it. There's no clever
or interesting gameplay and the only real exploration
you do in a level is when you're seeking out the bonus
letter. This is a platform game in its most basic form
and although you will be required to pick up tools on
occasions such as wrenches, dynamite and drills but
the puzzles involved are so obvious it's insulting.
Most of the enemies you meet along your journey show
no intelligence either, leaving you to wander through
with little or no trouble. The penultimate level will
have you sawing a chain whilst avoiding a henchman and
the final (which is possibly the most entertaining)
one will require you to place missing stones in huge
statues. Yes there are crumbling and moving platforms,
switches and keys, there are even teleportation pads
but there really isn't anything you haven't seen before.
If all this wasn't bad enough the password system
is also rather irritating. At the end of each level
completed you'll be given an 8 digit save code. I know
this probably contains information on lives left and
crystals collected but that's what battery backups are
for. We really shouldn't still have to be doing this,
carrying paper and pens around to jot down passwords
does not make for a great portable gaming experience.
Controls
The controls are pretty basic for a Gameboy Advance
title and resemble those of the far less powerful, standard
Gameboy. As you'd expect the 'D-pad' controls direction
both on land and whilst swimming and the 'A' and 'B'
are jump and action respectively. The 'R' and 'L' shoulder
buttons have been relegated in their inportance to simple
'look up and 'look down'. All this does however resemble
the gameplay. Simple.
Graphics
I'd heard many rumors surrounding this game and for
some months we were promised FMV from several 'unofficial'
sources. This never happened but what you do get is
the next best thing and 3d6 Games have done on outstanding
job with the cutscreens. This is achieved by scrolling
the backgrounds whilst scaling the sprites in the foreground.
The overall effect is wonderful and is without doubt
the graphical highlight of the game. The in-game graphics
are a different story and, while the animation of the
Milo is fine, the environments tend to be quite bland.
There's also little variety and the first three levels
are all played on the same submarine.
Sound & Music
The music that greets you at the title screen is
a great interpretation of the movie score and through
headphones is very atmospheric. There are even some
crystal clear samples from Kida. The actual game soundtrack,
however, is just not up to the same standard but the
developers have fortunately allowed for this in the
options menu and both sound effects and music can be
altered or turned off.
Final Comments
This is not a great start for Disney on the GBA and
all your worst fears of movie tie-in's are here in one
cart. Bland graphics, uninspiring gameplay and only
10 levels. Even with the promise of hidden features
on collecting crystals will not have you going back
for more. The real surprise here is the contrast between
this and the GBC version which is far superior to this
and one of the best titles of its kind released this
year. If you really do want to experience Atlantis stick
with the GBC version. Don't waste your time or money
on this.
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