Camp Lazlo: Leaky Lake Games
- Publisher: Crave Entertainment
- Developer: Crave Entertainment
- Genre: Free-Roaming Action / Mini-games
- Release Date: Fall 2006
Taken from the
Cartoon Network series created by Joe Murray (Rocko's Modern Life), Camp Lazlo follows the exploits of Bean Scouts Lazlo, Raj and Clam, who wreak havoc on the tightly structured Camp Kidney. Although Crave is calling this an action
platformer mixed with mini-games, the demo seemed to be more of a free roaming action game connecting levels and mini-games. As you journey between missions you can interact with fellow campers and choose which of the challenges you go on. Creating a free-roaming environment such as this for the GBA is quite a task, but the demo was impressive with enjoyable gameplay.
Charlotte's Web
That's some pig! Before
Babe started ordering around sheep and
Gordy yammered his way to success, there was the first talking celebrity pig, Wilbur, from the classic children's book Charlotte's Web. Now
Nickelodeon and
Paramount Pictures are bringing to life a big-budget live-action version to theaters. Unlike many movie licensed titles where the GBA is an aside to the console game, SEGA will only be releasing Charlotte's Web for the GBA and
Nintendo DS systems. As Wilbur, whose best friend happens to be the smartest spider in history, you work your way through this mission based platformer interspersed with mini-games. The demo at the show had Wilbur exploring the farm, collecting Charlotte's missing spider eggs. The movement of Wilbur is smooth and unique, and the transition of converting the Zuckerman farm to a series of platform levels is creatively executed. Game developers Backbone made a big splash last year with their hit Death Jr. for the PSP, so it will be exciting to see how the game turns out when it is finished.
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Based on the
Cartoon Network animated series created by
Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls), this is a mission based adventure platformer where you can play the two main characters of the show, a little boy Mac and his trouble making imaginary friend Bloo. Each level is based on a scenario from the show with a mix of mini-games. One of the more striking features of the game is the character design which is dead on with its animated counterpart. The show is designed to look like children's book illustration which translates very well to the GBA. The gameplay was fun but nothing we haven't seen before. That being said there is nothing wrong with a fun, old school platformer.
Noddy: A Day In Toyland
- Publisher: The Game Factory
- Developer: TBA
- Genre: Side-Scrolling Adventure
- Release Date: Holiday 06
The Game Factory has made a big name for itself over the past few years by creating kid friendly games starring popular children's characters and are the only GBA publisher to release
EC – Early Childhood rated games which are geared at players younger than the age of six. Now they are brining the popular UK star of books and cartoons,
Noddy, a little wooden boy, to the GBA. In order to match the style of the current computer generated Noddy television series, the characters have been rendered in 3D, a rarity for the GBA. The quality balance of gameplay and design appears to follow that of The Game Factory's previous GBA release
Babar – To the Rescue. If the game continues along the path shown on the floor it will prove to be a great game for younger players that they will be able to quickly understand and enjoy.
VeggieTales - LarryBoy and the Bad Apple
From the Christian based
VeggieTales computer animated home video series comes a game inspired by the feature length animated DVD release of
LarryBoy and the Bad Apple. This is VeggieTales fist video game and the second religion based GBA title from Crave, who previously published
The Bible Game. Crave chose to tone down the spirituality of the VeggieTales series and simply create a fun platform adventure with a strong moral theme that illustrates how to avoid temptation and to be a good person. In doing this Crave may have very well created the first non-violent super hero game.
