(The review of this game was done from a gold master of
the final version. I did not encounter any bugs.)

Helloooo Nurse!

I am writing
this review as I and my three sons watch the Animaniacs on the WB. What got me
so interested in the animated misadventures of Yakko, Wakko and Dot (I mean besides
the opportunity to catch another glimpse of Hello Nurse)? Animaniacs–A Gigantic
Adventure by SouthPeak Interactive.

In the past ten years, there have
been innumerable attempts to capture the console magic of side-scrolling platform
games on the computer. Jazzy Jackrabbit and Claw are but a few that
have tried … and failed. Sega and Nintendo have ported over their best-selling
mascots–Sonic and Mario–does anyone actually own the computer versions of these
games? Gex, Bubsy, Glover–the list is almost endless. I wish now to state for
the record that Animaniacs–A Gigantic Adventure is without a doubt the
best side-scrolling platform game created exclusively for the PC that I have played
(and I have tried them all!). If this game were to be ported to the Playstation
or Nintendo 64, it could easily, even though it does not have the maniacal self-contained
franticness of a Crash Bandicoot, match the best that these companies have
to offer. But who the heck are these Animaniacs and exactly what makes this game
so much fun to play?

For those who fondly remember the controlled, calculating
mayhem of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and their cohorts, well, forget it; the Animaniacs
are all of these characters combined–on a sugar high. The animation and joking
references to popular foibles are a throwback to the glory days of big studio
cartoon extravaganzas from the 1930s and ’40s, but this is the lunacy of a new
generation. These are colorful, spastic characters desperately in need of a sedative
for their nerves and our sanity. Their arch-nemesis, Thaddeus J. Plotz (and his
henchmen), has undertaken a nefarious plot to destroy all of the old Animaniacs
films, movie posters and awards. It is up to the Animaniacs to save these treasures
from destruction as they explore the set of the fictional big-budget flick “Gigantic”
(get it?) and then weave a path of confusion through various Warner Brothers back
lot productions. As with any side-scroller worth its salt, points can be earned
by accumulating theme-related objects that are usually just tantalizingly out
of reach. Boxes of popcorn, film canisters and awards that suspiciously resemble
Oscar are just a few of the goodies to be collected. Special powers can be obtained
by finding hearts, cakes, sundaes and atomic balls. And, of course, there are
the inevitable level bosses that must be defeated in order to advance. Before
we go any further, though, let’s make one fact clear, the only adventure in Animaniacs
is in the title. This game is 100% side-scrolling ribaldry.

All of this
craziness occurs over eleven levels of 3D environments that run the gamut from
the different ship levels to movie sets based on such famous films as “Jurassic
Pickings,” “Invasion Earth” and “Frank’s Stein.” Hidden
rooms and warp levels add to the replay value, as does the ability to play at
the three difficulty levels of easy (my level), medium and hard. The game supports
the keyboard, joystick or gamepad and the reaction time from a peripheral is instantaneous,
the best of any PC game I have played. The one feature that will really make Animaniacs
stand apart from its console counterparts will be the ability to compete against
other players on the Internet’s MSN Gaming Zone. Though I was not able to test
this function of the game, SouthPeak promises that two to four players will be
able to compete against each other over the modem in a race against the clock.

The
animation and sound effects could have been lifted directly from the television
show. Colorful, bright, full of vim and vigor–apply all of the usual adjectives.
It is, though, the vibrancy of the graphics intermeshed with the quick but thoughtful
gameplay that brings the game to life. Animaniacs soon becomes that addictive
“one more try before I go to bed” type of game. It was almost embarrassing
to have my children come into the room and ask if they could have a turn (remember
I said “almost”).

SouthPeak has published some extremely fine
children’s titles in the past year–Pinky and the Brain and the Looney
Tunes collections and now Animaniacs–and is poised to be the computer
equivalent of Sony or Sega. More importantly, though, the madcap mayhem of these
titles also appeals to adults and parents wanting to enjoy a game with their children.
If SouthPeak can continue to manufacture side-scrollers of the high quality of
Animaniacs, then maybe the computer market may finally be able to cut into
the highly desirable console market. At a retail price of $24.99, the consoles
will be hard-pressed to keep pace.

Final grade for Animaniacs–A Gigantic
Adventure–A.

System Requirements:
Pentium 166
Windows 95/98
32 MB RAM
Quad speed CD-ROM
Windows
compatible sound card
Mouse, gamepad, joystick or keyboard
DirectX 6.0
(included)