The Good
- Corrects all the mistakes of its predecessor
- Innovative gameplay using only the directional pads and the jumping button.
- High Quality graphics translate perfectly on the Game Boy Classic.
- Creative level design that makes exciting use of jumping.
- Captures the feel and humor of the Addams Family with story, environments and baddies that make sense, like cute bunny rabbits and sweet birdies.
The Bad
- Serious lack of music takes away the feeling of any fast passed action.
- Sparse audio - No sound effects other than a beep for you jumping and another if you hit an enemy.
Features
- Use Jumping to traverse the levels, battle enemies and grab power-ups.
- Power-ups that allow you to special limited abilities, such as invulnerability and floating down from a jump.
- Stomp on your enemies to jump higher.
- Collect candy as you seek out your family.
The Game
As a hardcore Addams Family fan I’ve seen every incarnation of the ookey Family; from the classic 60s sitcom, both the 70s and 90s cartoons, and even the collections of Charles Addams’ New Yorker comic strips on which they were based; I was first in line for both Feature Films, and even stomached three episodes of the unbearable 1998 New Addams Family show. With such a passion for the Addams I was horribly disappointed with the Addams Family debut on the Game Boy Classic. Based on the feature film and simply titled The Addams Family, what should have been creepy and kooky fun became a buggy test of patience and frustration in the most frustrating and non-user friendly gameplay imaginable. Although I may complain about this disappointing first outing, it’s better to look at the big picture, for had the bad game never existed, it couldn’t have spawned one of the most creative, unique and fun sequels imaginable, The Addams Family: Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt.
Instead of basing it on the movie this is a spin-off of the high quality animated series that aired from 1992 – 1995 (a season longer than the original 60’s program) that stared John Astin as the voice of Gomez, Carol Channing as Grandma and Rip Taylor as Uncle Fester. The game follows the high quality character design of the cartoon, and translated surprisingly well.
Wednesday challenges her demented and portly brother Pugsley to a scavenger hunt. You must find all your hidden family members in an elaborate game of hide-and-go-seek that takes you through numerous levels, each with a creative design that makes the gameplay exciting and unique. Battle your way through cute little critters, ghosts, traps and boss battles using the only weapon you have…jumping.
Yes, an entire multi-level platformer where your only battle move is to jump and land on top of your enemies. Where this may sound like it could get boring fast, the level design and enemies keeps things constantly exciting, challenging and fun. Think of all the creativity of a Super Mario Bros. game with the sole focus on jumping. With your leaps you can squash an enemy, hit triggers to open walls, turn off lights, bounce on enemies to jump higher, hop on moving platforms; and with special power-ups float from a high jump down to safety or become invincible.
The Addams Family: Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt perfectly blends the ghoulish humor of The Addams Family show with fun, engaging and creative gameplay. If you’re looking for a fun little bit of nostalgia to play on a spooky night, then skip the original and go for the sequel.
Parents Tips
Although created before the ESRB went into effect, I am confident that The Addams Family: Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt would get an E for Everyone rating if it were released today. The gameplay is completely non-violent, you have no weapons and don’t kill your enemies, even when you stomp on them; they simply disappear in a puff of smoke. Yes there are spooky surroundings, creepy critters and monstrous fiends, but it is all done with the safe fun and charm of the original 60s sitcom.
Trivia
The artists behind the creative and cartoony graphics of Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt, Chris Edwards and Paul McKee, continue to innovate handheld video game art today in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the PSP.