Latest Game Reviews

Grabbed By The Ghoulies Review - Xbox

23rd November 2003 by
75%
Since the beginning of Microsoft's adventure into the console market it has sent shockwaves through the industry. Love it or hate it, it's made great impacts in advancing the way gaming is today. Many questioned the developing power that would be behind the Xbox; of course Microsoft would produce many titles but they couldn't rely on just their own team to create a strong library of games, strong enough to compete with Sony and Nintendo. Then they made inroads with one major signing that made you stand up and recognize. Microsoft's purchase of Rare signaled their intentions, Rare with such a respected reputation behind it because of their great work on the previous Nintendo generation consoles with games like Banjo and Kazooie, Perfect Dark and the incredible Goldeneye 64. Microsoft coughed up the big bucks for this team - was that money bag well spent? We'll see with Rare's first game for the Xbox, Grabbed by the Ghoulies.

Gameplay

Grabbed by the Ghoulies is based around the story of 'Cooper' and his lady friend 'Amber' who have been walking for hours and needed a place to stay overnight, they stumble across a dark old house, Amber was sure that they had to stay there overnight but Cooper wasn't so keen on the idea and it was only when Amber was grabbed by the ghouls of the garden kidnap and take her to the house. Cooper follows and is greeted by an old butler 'Crivens'. Crivens is a character you will see throughout the game giving you helpful hints, a bit like a guide.

Targeted at the younger audience, Grabbed by the Ghoulies' control setup is straightforward to say the least. I'll start with the camera because it can be a problem for many games similar to Grabbed by the Ghoulies. Unusual but it works out well, the camera is controlled by the left and right triggers, whilst the camera sits in its defined position and you rotate the camera to the left using the left trigger and right with the right trigger, it makes it a lot easier for the young gamers to control the camera instead of being all over the shop. It would work well to the audience it is aimed at, but I'm just too used to having full control of the cameras with the thumbsticks from other games. The simplicity of the control setup will allow non-experienced gamers to pick up and play Grabbed by the Ghoulies at will.

The combat system much like the camera system is uncomplicated to a simple directional push with the right thumbstick; this takes some getting used to and can be frustrating in getting it right whilst you're surrounded by numerous enemies on the attack. The slowness of his attacks can be annoying also and can prove to be your downfall in losing health, the different enemies that you have to attack vary in size and stature so when you have multiple opponents of different size it can be (continued next page)

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