Snoopy’s Grand Adventure Review by: Eirinn - 6/10
It's Hard To Beat A Good BeagleYou know those games that come out and you're like "Okay, this game is gonna stink but it's [
insert name or theme here] so I have to get it"? This game was one of those for me. I seriously said that, in fact it was somewhere on Vizzed.
So needless to say I went in with low expectations and I was not disappointed, but I was a pleasantly surprised, if mildly. This game didn't blow my mind or make it onto my top games of all time list, but it provided a light hearted and enjoyable experience. It's all Peanuts through and through, and it's definitely for kids of all ages, especially adults who are kids at heart...like me.
Graphics: 7/10
Very Good.
Snoopy's Grand Adventure is a game that doesn't seek to impress with it's looks. It knows what it wants to do, and that's match the looks of the movie it's based on, and it does that perfectly.
The characters all look awesome in the transition from Schultz' classic art style to modern three dimensional computer rendering. It's a style I never would have imagined for the series, but it works quite well really. The effects are super toony too and that's a good thing as well. I especially love Snoopy's idle animations when he's regular Snoopy and when he's The Masked Marvel. The former makes me smile inside and out, I can't help it, and the latter is just so perfect for this game and sets off any level's appearance, especially those found in the third world.
The levels look nice and really pop with their cartoony vibe. The colors are vibrant and leave the greenery looking lush and wild, the dust bunny temple looking very Indiana Jones rip off (complete with a boulder chase), the Parisian Underground looking... well honestly it looks really slimy in the most literal sense of the word, but in the best slimy way possible. Again, the environments aren't ground breaking, but they are well made and are certain to warm your heart and leave you feeling like a child again as you play through them. This game is just all around happy.
Highlights:
-The characters look great
-The effects are so classic Snoopy you'll smile every time
-The environments look great and fit perfectly in both the game and the Peanuts world
Sound: 7/10
Very Good.
Am I being biased? Probably. Do I mean that rating? Definitely.
The music is what pushes me to rate the sound so high. From the opening tune which is the classic Peanuts melody, you'll be hooked by the game. It sounds just as beautiful, happy, and nostalgia invoking as ever. I love that tune to no end, and it sets the mood for this game right from the title scene which awesomely enough transitions smoothly into the opening scene of the game adding to the immersion.
The level tunes aren't going to wow you and many feel as much like classic or easy listening as they do anything, but again it lends to the experience and fits perfectly with the theme and the main tune. They're all acoustic and heavily piano based as you might expect, and they sound perfect.
The sound effects aren't exactly bad or bland, but they are just kind of "there". Nothing about them is special at all with the exception of Snoopy's laugh which again, makes me want to smile and laugh myself every time I hear it " Ooh ha ha ho!". Yeah, I'm smiling thinking about it.
Highlights:
-The Music is awesome. Perfect score for this game
-That laugh, man
Story: 4/10
Lacking.
Yeah, that about sums it up. Snoopy has fallen a
sleep on top of his dog house as always, and Woodstock is snoozing on top of him. Meanwhile Charlie Brown's friends all decide to come over and play. They choose hide and seek it seems, and as they run to their places, Charlie Brown's jelly beans spill with each step.
Waking up after the fact, Woodstock notices they're gone and sees the jelly beans on the ground. He wakes Snoopy to inform him and they set off to find the kids.
This all happens in the opening scene and it comprises the entire story with the exception of the ending scene which isn't really much of a story scene. So yeah, the story here is weak at best, but again it works for a game based off of Peanuts.
Highlights:
-Classic Peanuts
Depth: 6/10
Good.
Again, a little lenient perhaps, but it does have some good to offer.
The gameplay is simple and classic side scrolling platformer. The goal is get from the extreme left to the extreme right, or in other words, make it through the level from point A to point B. There are no required objectives, and I honestly wouldn't want it any other way.
There are however various side objectives, namely finding all of the Beagle Scouts and jelly beans in each level. These are not always easy to find and will in fact require you playing through the levels multiple times, as some are hidden in ways that make them accessible only after unlocking the correct outfits. Speaking of outfits...
You start the game with basic Snoopy who can run, jump, double jump, and twirl his ears like helicopter blades to glide. These are basic controls for a side scrolling platformer, and as such they feel intuitive. You literally need no introduction to the controls if you've ever played a side scrolling platformer.
However as you progress you'll notice dotted outlines of some sort of chest and there will be a key pictured over it. These are costume changing points that are activated after you unlock the corresponding outfits. These outfits each transform you into one of Snoopy's alter egos, and this might be a good time to mention that the game is all taking place in Snoopy's fantastical imaginary world.
The first outfit you'll unlock is the scout costume. This handy outfit will grant you the ability to climb certain objects that are placed among the backdrops of the level, such as vines on a lattice. It will also grant you a completely useless compass, and take away your gliding and double jump abilities until you change back out of it.
There are other costumes that fans will recognize such as The Masked Marvel, and Joe Cool (which is totally OP by the way), but how many there are and what they do I'll leave for you to find out. Suffice to say there are many new abilities for you to unlock, and if you want to 100% the game you'll have to go back over most of the levels at least once more.
Highlights:
-Several costumes with special abilities to use
-Collecting all jelly beans and finding all beagle scouts adds a considerable amount of depth to the game
-Dat Snoopy laugh tho
Addictiveness: 6/10
Good.
This is hard to rate really, as the game didn't keep me coming back after the 100%ing it, but it did keep me coming back until I got to that 100% mark. It's so easy and relaxing to play that it's never off putting really, but it also becomes a bit of a scavenger hunt looking for all of those Beagle scouts and jelly beans. It takes time and a tiny bit of patience to find them all but it's fun looking for them. It can get a little frustrating at times when you scour a level two or three times before finding that one lost bean, but it's fun nonetheless.
Highlights:
-100% completion keeps you seeking harder for the scouts and the beans than the kids
-Seriously, that Snoopy laugh is awesome
Difficulty: 1/10
Cakewalk.
I normally reserve this rating for games that cannot be lost, but I made an exception for this game because, while you can lose, it's far from likely that you will. And if you do lose a life, you'll probably just continue and beat it the next time. Seriously though I highly doubt any of you will lose a life in this game.
One thing that makes it so easy is the ability to catch your hearts when you lose them. That's right, take a hit and you can just jump up and grab the heart it cost you before it floats away and you're good as new. Also if you play with a friend, they can fly Woodstock up after your lost heart and bring it back to you. Oh and did I mention Woodstock is invulnerable? Yeah, pretty cool.
Finally there are no real challenges and the boss fights are more fun than challenging. And there are plenty of health refills to boot.
Highlights:
-It's super easy, and it should be. It's a Peanuts game
-We now know why Snoopy is laughing. Ooh ha ha ho
Overall: 6/10
Average.
I hate to give this game a six for fear that it'll come across wrong, but really this is close to what I'd say it deserves. It's a solid game and it's mildly entertaining the first time through, but in the end it's the atmosphere and feel of the game and it's awesomeness that'll hold you the most, not the gameplay or fun.
So to buy, or not to buy?
If you're a diehard Peanuts fan then you need this game. Spring for it for as much as $35.
If you aren't really a fan of Peanuts and just want a cute and light hearted game, consider it if it's $25 or less
If you don't care one way or the other about Peanuts or cute and light hearted, and just want a platformer, you would probably do well to pass on this one altogether. But if you really think you want to try it, spend no more than $15 tops on it.
Snoopy's Grand Adventure is a solid enough platformer mechanically, but it fails to be a ton of fun for most, though it has some redeeming qualities such as being a game that makes it hard not to smile or be happy. If you like Peanuts and especially if you grew up with the shows, it's worth a play.
Graphics
7 Sound
7 Addictive
6 Depth
6 Story
4 Difficulty
1
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