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| Title: |
Survival Kids (Stranded Kids) |
| Publisher: |
Konami |
| Features: |
GameBoy and GameBoy Color Compatible, Three Save Slots. |
| Format: |
RPG |
| Reviewer: |
Jason Sunrider |
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Introduction
First off, the version of the game I played is the European Version. The
only differences are the title (it was called Stranded Kids), and the ability to choose either English, French,
or the German language.
The premise of this game is that you're a kid, and apparently the sole survivor of a shipwreck. You wake up, stranded
on an island, and the object of the game is to survive. Thus the title(s) of the game.
Gameplay, Graphics, and Controls
After choosing the sex and name of your hero, you're presented with a stunning cut scene. With the level of colors
and detail in the graphics, you'd swear you were watching an Anime. That is, if it wasn't for the lack of complex
animation.
During the cut scenes, you''ll be introduced to the hero and you'll see the ship he's on get wrecked and the hero
washed up unconscious on an unknown shore. A little monkey wakes him up and the game begins.
Survival Kids is essentially an RPG (role playing game), and so it plays similar to Pokémon or the Final
Fantasy games. With it's use of menus, however, I'd say gameplay for Survival Kids is a lot closer to Final Fantasy.
During your quest, you'll be able to pick up all sorts of objects like sticks, berries, rocks, leaves, tree sap
and more. You'll also have a trusty knife to cut through long grass á la Zelda, and a knapsack to keep any
items you've found.
Initially, the stuff you collect might seem like useless junk, but if you combine some of the items, you'll be
able to produce useful things to help you survive like a bow, ax, fishing rod, torch or even kindling (bits of
dry wood or other easily lighted material for starting a fire).
You can even make items which have no purpose at all. This means you'll have to think a lot more in Survival Kids
than you would in a lot of other GameBoy games, as most of the puzzles in the game require not just intelligence
but common sense to solve. At the end of each day, the game displays how long you've survived for.
The in game graphics are pretty much standard for a GameBoy RPG, but I must admit that Survival Kids has a colorful
palette that displays nicely on the GameBoy Color. I've yet to see it on the Classic or Pocket GameBoy, but from
the screen shots presented on the back of the game pack, it looks pretty good.
Final Comments
This is a great game that will challenge even seasoned RPGers. The puzzles are not necessarily obvious and nothing
seems unrealistic or far fetched in the things that you'll need to do to survive alone on an island. If you are
a survivalist, however, or jungle trained, then the puzzles would seem obvious. But to the majority of city-bound
folk like me, it can be quite a challenge.
Younger kids, however, might get frustrated with the game, especially for those unfamiliar with the notion of "survival".
This could account for the European title change to "Stranded Kids" as opposed to "Survival Kids",
as the latter does denote something rather harsh and unpleasant.
So, as I've said, younger players who have never camped in the wilderness or showed any interest in the Boy Scouts,
might find their hero dying all the time. Luckily, there is a save feature in the game, so remember to use it often.
Aside from its entertainment value, Survival Kids is also a great educational tool (Arggh! I said the "e"
word) since it teaches some basic jungle survival techniques. If ever you're lost somewhere in the woods, you'll
know from playing the game that you should never eat any strange berries or mushrooms as they could be poisonous.
All in all, Survival Kids is a game I'd heartily recommend, especially for those 10 years or older. As I've said,
it's not only a fun game, but one that actually stretches your creativity and in the process, teaches you something
that you might never get to learn in an urban classroom. |
