Introduction
Heard of Bob The Builder? He's from England. From a BBC animation series set in Bob's Yard in the town of Brixwood.
The TV series features a gang of five all-talking, all-action building machines which are under the control of
their absent-minded owner, Bob the Builder. Bob's always in his signature yellow construction boots and hard hat.
The machines, well, they certainly are a mischievous bunch with really cute big expressive eyes and cheeky looks.
I could go on and on about this... I'm a Bob The Builder fan and with my 5 year old nephew, we take on the task
of reviewing this game so that other younger gamers can delve into the world of GameBoy knowing what to expect
out of just one of the many kiddy games Nintendo has to offer them.
Gameplay
A series of mini games each featuring a different character. You get to control all the characters you see in the
show, one at a time of course. So if you're a construction fan, this is one rare opportunity from a handheld game.
Everything's straight forward. There is no need for any manual to be read. All the instructions are on-screen and
in simple "kids" English. The object of the game: "Bob and Wendy are planning a picnic by the river
for everyone but before they go, there's work to be done...." Your job, to help Bob and his friends go about
their tasks and then after it's all done, visit Scoop who will go with you and your construction friends on the
picnic.
It's all about mini games. Platform style ones with which Bob must climb up and down buildings to search for roof
panels or parcels, and even mend fences. One which as Bob you venture through the woods and find Herring to feed
Pilchard your Cat. Another where Bob has to pick up music sheets that have blown off the bandstand. A game which
requires Roley to be steered around obstacles as he levels the road. A game of skill where Lofty has to lower his
crane and save ducks from washing downstream. Plus yet another of Dizzy catching apples for the picnic basket.
Oh! And you also have to use Muck to help farmer Pickles mend his wall. So much to do but it's all worth every
effort when you finally get to go on that picnic!
To add some puzzle element to the platform type mini games, hidden keys can also be found. Use these keys to access
secret passages. This my nephew, Andrew, found out on his own. Surprised me even!
What a busy day it will be for you the moment to start the game. There are 9 jobs to be done and when each task
is completed, it's recorded in a job sheet so you know just about when it's gonna be time for your treat with your
friends the machines.
The jobs are easy, child's play if I may say. But to add to the excitement, there's also a time limit given just
so it's that more challenging. Don't finish the job in time and you'll have to start over. Watch the time bar at
the top of the screen but you need not worry too much about it if you're resourceful, you can pick up time packages
along the way to extend your time.
Controls
Minimal maneuvering required so it's easy for children who aren't too quick
on their reflexes yet. Sure Bob can run and jump but there's no necessity for him to do so with great timing because
there aren't obstacles which will hamper his progress in any way. Just simple up and down, forward and backwards
and the occasional "pick up" or "do" command with the "A" or "B" buttons
are all that's needed to be done.
Graphics
Colorful. To put it simply, it's just line drawings with basic vibrant colors. Attractive
and pleasing to the eye. Nothing cluttered... nothing to distract the child's attention.
Sound & Music
The Bob The Builder TV theme song at the beginning intro and throughout
the game, happy tunes that make the tasks all that more enjoyable.
Final Comments
It's definitely a kids game but I had good fun with it too. It's not one
game that I'd keep in my collection but I must say it's one game that my nephew enjoyed so much that he's now asking
for his own GameBoy. I asked him for his comments on this game:
"What would you tell your friends about this game?" I asked.
"Fun to play.." he replied, "But I don't want to share!". |
