News

• Reviewed on: Nintendo DS
• The Good: Cool soundtrack; improved graphics.
• The Bad: Environments and gameplay both a bit bland.
• The Verdict: Ultimately gimmicky integration of the DS fails to take advantage of the system's capabilities.
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REVIEW:

Last year's Kim Possible 3: Team Possible for the Game Boy Advance proved that not all "girl games" are vapid pieces of fluff wrapped up in pink boxes. On the contrary, it was actually a decent platformer with solid gameplay mechanics, interesting puzzles and a host of cool gadgets to play around with.

That's why Kim Possible: Kimmunicator (the series' first foray onto the Nintendo DS dual-screen handheld), is a bit of a let-down. In spite of the improved graphics and groovy soundtrack, the series takes a downturn in the gameplay department.

The game begins with the mysterious disappearance of Kim's buddy Wade — the one who usually tells Kim what to do next after using his computer to analyze the situation. Kim suspects that Wade has been kidnapped, and decides to try and infiltrate Jack Hench's hideout to learn what has happened to her pal. Unfortunately, with partner Ron Stoppable away on a mission in Norway, Kim's all on her own this time.

Ron's presence is sorely missed, since it was the interplay between the two, switching between Ron and Kim to use their respective special abilities to solve puzzles and make it to the end of levels, that made Kim Possible 3 so appealing.

Instead, we're given the gimmick of the "Kimmunicator" - a.k.a. the Nintendo DS dolled up as a high-tech gizmo that the player must use to guide Kim through missions - taking the place of Wade and his trusty computer. Basically this amounts to directing Kim through the platformer levels, giving her health power-ups at the correct times, and so on. In other words, despite the cool spy-gadget premise, the Kimmunicator is actually nothing that we haven't seen before — the younger children at whom the game is aimed might find it fun, though.

Overall, Kimmunicator is simply not all that dynamic. Environments aren't that interesting, filled with repetitive corridors and robot enemies that Kim can dispatch with a few hits (or simply leap over and ignore if the player is so inclined). Kim can perform her usual move-set, which includes wall jumps, double jumps and her signature cartwheels. The control isn't as tight as it could be, however, owing to the fact that Kim doesn't stop on a dime, which can be awkward when trying to line up jumps and so on.

Kim's accessories also don't seem to be all that integral to the game. Kim's grapple gun — a cool device that permits her to swing from the ceiling and over large gaps — is sadly underused, as are the night goggles and the hairbrush lockpick. Ron has at least left his pet, the naked mole rat Rufus, behind for Kim to use, but the Rufus levels are equally uninspired, requiring the creature to simply navigate maze-like corridors to gnaw the appropriate wires.

It's also a shame that the DS's second, touch-sensitive screen isn't implemented in any meaningful way. For much of the game, it functions as an inventory screen.

There are some inspired moments, like the harrowing escape from an enemy's self-destructing hideout after battling a half skunk-half scorpion creature, which segues into a superb hang-gliding sequence where the player must navigate Kim through a twisting cave using the L and R buttons while blowing into the DS's microphone to provide lift.

Another neat touch is that there are different outfits for Kim to unlock, and if the player owns any of the three previous Kim Possible games for GBA, they can be inserted into the DS's Game Boy cartridge slot to unlock further exclusive outfits (each cartridge unlocks one extra outfit).

As well, all the familiar villains from the Kim Possible T.V. show put in an appearance, including Frugal Lucre, DNAmy, Shego and Drakken, which is sure to please KP fans. This, in fact, sums up the game well. Where its predecessor Kim Possible 3 would probably engage most gamers in the intended 'tween age bracket, this latest instalment is a game for the fans only owing to its relative blandness.