Mini-Retro Review: Croc - Legend of the Gobbos (Saturn)
Foreword: In last weeks Nerdcast (#4) we mentioned some new features that we were planning on introducing. One of them being the idea of ‘Mini-Retro Reviews’. In a nutshell it will be a quick round up of the reviewers views on a retro title, either made by Sega or on an old Sega system. The reviews will be quick for us to write (so we can get them out to you quickly) and more importantly, they will be quick, for you (the reader), to read and get an overall opinion about the game.
Quick Outline: Guide Croc (a crocodile) through a 3D world, on his quest to save his peace-loving Gobbo friends from the grasp of the evil magician, Baron Dante, and his devil-like assistants, the Dantinis.
Gameplay: For one of the first 3D platform games of the 32 bit era, the game does play pretty darn well. The levels are not big and open, like in Mario 64 or Spyro, but are rather made up of smaller, enclosed areas and random floating platforms (above large bottomless pits). Croc himself does feel a little ’slippy’ at times, making sharp turns can be awkward. Also due to Croc ’slipping’ some precision jumps become mighty annoying. This becomes even worse when you reach the ice levels. The gameplay can also start to get boring at times, even though they have very different settings and locals, the levels do feel very similar and play starts to drag somewhat. - 7/10
Graphics: Again for an early 3D title, the graphics are good. Lots of bright colours and good textures, although, due to it being an early 3D 32bit title, you do get a fair amount of blocky objects, plus some glitchy and grainy graphics. - 8/10
Sounds: The music is generally light hearted- but what else would you expect from a cute, cartoony style platform game? The sound effects are good, just not amazing. The similar grunts and painful yelps that you get with many platform characters are all there. - 7/10
Presentation: One thing that can be said, is that the game is pretty welll presented. Easy to follow menu systems, bright, colourful, eye-catching menus which no doubt will draw many younger gamers to play. - 8/10
Worth Buying now? Yes. The game may feel a little dated now, and compared to all the 3D titles around these days, it’s not so impressive. But the gameplay hold up really well and it is such a gem of a title. If you can find it. Get it! 8/10
Summary: A good game, though really not brilliant, nor groundbreaking by any means. Some niggling moments, mainly with jumps. The biggest problem is that the levels do start to feel a tad too familiar, with not a lot of variety involved with the overall designs. Sure they have grassy levels, ice and fire levels, but it is essentially the same style of play all the way through with nothing to mix the action up. And this can make the 40+ levels start to drag a bit. still, definitely not a bad game, but there are better 3D platfom games out there, though (unfortunately) not many on the Saturn.
Total Score: 7/10
     
     
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