E for All 2007: Nicktoons Attack of the Toybots Impressions

By Shawn White / Thursday, 18 October 2007

Rob Galbreath, Editor-in-Chief Before games like The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay and The Godfather: Blackhand Edition, it was pretty much common knowledge that any video games based off of television or movie licenses would be doomed to failure. Developers were typically more concerned with making a quick cash-in on the success of their respective franchises than making a game that is compelling in its own right. Games based off children's franchises were usually the worst because of their poor controls and shallow gameplay, making them little more than vain attempts to make money. Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots isn't shallow, but it's certainly frustrating. It felt like a very challenging version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance with a nicer method of jumping and clearer text. In fact, Shawn and I grew quite frustrated in trying to finish a level without dying. The game is quite the platformer. While there are a slew of toy robots coming out to destroy you, there's also very well-timed jumps and rotating gears to pass through a stage. Quite seamlessly, both players had to jump on to separate platforms very distant from one another and conquer the platform-progress timing on their own. Both players had their own routes to survive, ensuring that one person would not claim all the glory.   When activating a switch on one end, the other player was permitted to pass through laser doors. When the other player made it to a switch, the first player can continue. Players work together, but they are not always close to each other on screen. It's distantly reminiscent of ToeJam and Earl, but without the split screen. In any case, the game offers interesting means of cooperative solitude. Why did we fail so often? When one player falls into a pit, both players need to restart. If anything should happen to the other player, everything must be redone again. It seems a fairly steep penalty, also pretty discouraging, but we managed to dedicate a good amount of time to it. For Nickelodeon fans, this game might be worth a shot. Still, the game is a lot like Marvel Ultimate Alliance. A really nice version, no doubt, but the cartoonish feel and platform problems of a not-so-great second player could ruin the experience.