Game of the Day: Inspector Gadget: Operation Madkactus (Game Boy Color)
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Developer: RFX Interactive
Genre: Adventure Platformer
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
When I was just a little kid one of my all time favorite shows was Get Smart . I simply loved the wacky gadgets, the light heated espionage and the hilarious exploits of Maxwell Smart, so when one of my friends told me there was a cartoon based on it I flipped! Could it be? Why hadn't I heard of this? That next Saturday I got up early, but instead of watching my usual 'toons, I tuned in to a local UHF station that had terrible reception. What I saw through the snow and blurry lines was one of the greatest cartoon creations of all time, Inspector Gadget.
Over the years Gadget's popularity grew and "go-go-gadget" became a standard in children's vocabulary thanks to the terrific storylines and animation from DIC studios plus the brilliant voice over work of Don Adams. The mixture of humor, espionage and wacky gadgets made the show as much of a classic as its inspiration, Get Smart. With all the crazy powers contained within his body, Inspector Gadget is an ideal candidate for a Game Boy Color game. Ubisoft was awarded the license and with developers RFX Interactive they created Inspector Gadget: Operation Madkactus, a surprisingly terrific game.
What's so surprising is that most movie and TV licensed games are usually sub-par, with the publishers depending on popularity rather than quality to make sales, but that wasn't the case for Inspector Gadget. This is one of the best platformers made for the Game Boy Color, with terrific graphics superior to many GB Color originals, creative level design and fun gameplay. You can also switch between Gadget, his niece Penny and their dog Brain in mid-game, each of which have their own special abilities to help in your fight against Dr. Claw and the henchmen of M.A.D. My favorite feature is the use of Gadget's legs and neck that allow you to stretch your mechanical body parts as you move. This one is definitely a must play. Go-go-gadget Game Boy!
Pack shot © Ubisoft Entertainment