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Vicarious Visions handles the GBA version. Activision has released Shark Tale for all three consoles but it has also released a handheld version for the Nintendo Advance. While the game is simpler than its console iteration, it still sports pretty solid sidescrolling gameplay.
In Shark Tale, you control Oscar, a playful little fish who spends a bit too much time playing around and not completing his responsibilities. About halfway through the game Oscar senses the opportunity to make a name for himself by claiming credit for something he did not do and grabs the opportunity by the horns. The game follows the movie’s plot and suffice to say that Oscar’s little adventures brings some difficulty for him later on.
All of the sixteen missions (split up into four chapters) in the game take place in a side-scrolling matter. Most of the missions in the game have you swimming around going from point A to point B while collecting subway tokens and solving other rudimentary goals. You’ll also need to avoid or fight with the game’s many enemies with a rather polished combat system. Oscar is able to pull of a number of different strikes and kicks to help himself against the many enemies. Additionally, some of the missions are “races” where you’ll need to beat the clock while going from point A to point B while others force you to avoid guards as you travel.
Like the console version, the GBA version has a number of mini-games as levels. In one variety, you’ll have Track and Field-like events where you need to mash the A button while sometimes jumping with B to avoid obstacles. In these levels, you’ll be in a race or running away from a shark, for example. The game also has a number of rhythm games, where you’ll need to press the appropriate button at a particular time. You’ll use this rhythm to complete silly tasks like evading attacks or cleaning a whale’s mouth. You’ll also have a bit of a fight, where you’ll get to pull of your combo and practice your evading skills.
The game’s visuals are pretty good for GBA. The backgrounds feature a good bit of detail and accurately portray their source material. The characters look pretty good and animate smoothly, as well. You’ll find the environments full of destroyable crates and cans, and the underwater atmosphere is furthered by bubbles that appear as you swim and dash about. Lastly, the story is told through good looking stills.
The game’s audio isn’t as noteworthy. The background music is cheery and appropriate, I suppose but way too repetitive and not all that charming to make it good. You’ll hear a few sound bytes (“ow!”) here and there, as well as a few sound effects. Nothing special.
Overall, Shark Tale is a respectable GBA entry but nothing out of the ordinary. Vicarious Visions usually pulls through with their GBA games and Shark Tale is no different… it just doesn’t try to wow you. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Oct 1, 2004
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