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Activision follows up with another solid movie-to-game adaptation. The game is based on the movie of the same name, which stars Jim Carrey and isn’t due for another month or so. The game, like the movie, is targeted to kids, and includes rather straightforward gameplay. Along the way you’ll find that there are a number of unfortunate events that mar the characters in the story. The GBA version is a pretty standard platformer for the most part, but the use of the different characters and the invention-creating aspect do add a smidgen of depth to the game.
The game throws you in control of a trio of orphans – Violet, Klaus and Sunny – who are forced to live with the truly mean Count Olaf after their parents inexplicably die. The story is well told, although a touch pessimistic at times. Nonetheless, it is seemingly accurate to the source material and does provide some motivation for playing the game.
The game allows you play as Violet, Klaus or Sunny throughout the adventure. As Violet, you’ll need to pick up a number of items that will later be used to construct a variety of different gadgets and apparatuses. You’ll also be able to use the Apple Chucker, to throw projectile apples at the many enemies that appear in the game. Violet is also used for ladder climbing, given Klaus’ fear of heights. Klaus isn’t used much in the actual gameplay, as you’ll find that either Violet or Sunny as up to most tasks, but his Water Pump is useful on occasion. Sunny is used for situations where the other two characters could not be used due to their size. She also has a nifty roll ability, and the trademark biting returns for the GBA iteration.
The game has a rather complex object and character interaction system based on the R icon. You’ll use the system to examine, open, pull, tinker or take an object. Similarly, a pretty much identical system is used for characters, where you are given the choice to tease, ask or discuss certain things with them.
The game’s visuals and overall production values are quite solid. In what is becoming a definitive visual style on the Gameboy Advance, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events uses pre-rendered character models which are quite faithful to the source material and all three of the Baudelaire orphans animate very fluidly. The backgrounds are equally impressive with much detail and full of items that catch your eye.
The sound package doesn’t stand out as much but is fitting nevertheless. The soundtrack is dramatic yet provocative and fits the atmosphere very well. The sound effects on the other hand are merely average. There are a few voice quips thrown in here and there but nothing substantial.
Like the console and PC versions it is based on, the Gameboy Advance rendition of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events follows Activision’s standard movie-to-game adaptation, meaning that the gameplay is quite enjoyable if undemanding but fundamentally sound. The different characters manage the spice the game up a bit, and should be enough to satisfy younger fans of the film. -- Jake Wilson, PGNx Media
---- Nov 22, 2004
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