Reviewed: October 9, 2005
Reviewed by: Brendon Hivner
Publisher
THQ
Developer
A2M
Released: September 12, 2005
Genre: Action
Players: 1
ESRB: Everyone
4
5
9
3
5.9
Supported Features:
Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)
Scooby and the gang at Mystery, Inc. are back, and are getting ready to visit Fred’s cousin Jed. But when they arrive at the Monstrous Fright and Magic special effects company, Jed is nowhere to be found. The company’s top-secret formula of Mubber (allowing the Monstrous Fright and Magic to create the world’s most realistic costumes) also disappears, and Jed is the prime suspect. It’s up to Scooby and the gang to clear Jed’s name, and solve the mystery.
THQ has been really good showing off their devotion to fans of the Scooby TV show(s) with their Scooby-Doo games. Even though there isn’t a whole lot of actual game to be found, the fan service is usually pretty acceptable, and Scooby-Doo! Unmasked is no exception to this rule. As a game, there’s nothing particularly noteworthy, as it’s really nothing more than a big fetch quest with sprinkled bits of un-intimidating platform elements. But the gameplay is dressed into a Scooby movie in game form, making the tediously easiness of the game tolerable, and something that Scooby fans (or kids) may want to check out.
The Scooby games are far from challenging by any stretch of the imagination, and Unmasked is perhaps even less challenging than its predecessors. As Scooby, your job is to basically run from end of a level to another, collecting doo-dads to either power up or solve some pretty easy puzzles, like opening a locked door. From there, you move on to the next section of the level and start again.
The clues you gather are to be taken to Velma, which essentially “unlock” your next objective. The game itself holds you by the hand (paw?), actually leading you to the next area by following a trail of Scooby snacks that appears as soon as you finish talking with Velma.
Scooby can use the Mubber formula to create different costumes, all of which give Scooby powers. Each does something unique, and these costumes are sometimes needed to solve a puzzle or defeat certain enemies.
Unmasked works well mechanically primarily because of how good it controls. Rarely will you feel cheated if you fall from a jump because the controls are pretty fluid and on the mark, which is usually a problem in 3D platform games. In part, the good feel of the controls attributes to the game’s ease, but aside from a few camera instances now and then, the game itself plays very well. It’s just that the formula is tired and predictable, and though the game is meant for kids, children of all ages will have no problem getting around this game’s ultra-easy approach.
Unmasked uses cel-shading for its main graphical touch, and it would look great if it weren’t so jagged. The cinemas reveal more flaws than in-game, but each character has a black outline that’s either jagged or missing in some spots. The environments are done a bit better, but are also using a different style. They look alright but are nothing special.
Unmasked uses many of Scooby-Doo’s classic monsters for enemies and boss fights, and all look like their cartoon counterparts. The framerate stutters now and again, but the game remains playable throughout.
Even with these missteps, the cinemas (thanks to the script and sound departments) really bring you into the Scooby-Doo world. Each plays out like segment from the show, and keeps fans interested where you might normally start yawning.
Together with the cinema segments, the audio is where Unmasked shines brightest. The voice work here is spectacularly done. Adam West (original Batman TV series) lends his voice, as well as the fantastic sound-alikes for each of the main characters. All supporting roles are also excellent, as well as all the classic Scooby-Doo sound effects. Even the laugh track returns, which does wonders for the atmosphere.
Don’t expect much playtime in Unmasked. This single-player game doesn’t have much to offer. Even trying to get 100% will only give you a bit more playtime, and those meddling kids will have this mystery wrapped up in about four hours.
The extras don’t add anything to the game and are pretty bare bones. There’s no multiplayer, and no reason to ever play again after you’ve finished it. Unmasked is a $30 game, and seeing that there’s no replay value to a four-hour (or less) title, the reduced price isn’t such a reduction after all.
Scooby-Doo! Unmasked is no technical marvel, it’s incredibly easy, the graphics are only so-so, it ends far too soon, and there’s no reason to ever play it again once you’re finished. That said, if you’re a fan of the previous Scooby-Doo games, you’ll like this one too. It really does play out like an episode of the show.
It’s difficult to recommend this at the $30 price tag, even to big Scooby fans. But if you’re a fan of the subject matter, wait for it to hit the bargain bin, and you’ll enjoy yourself without worrying about wasting your money.