Kim Possible: Kimmunicator Review

In a move which was bound to happen eventually, Buena Vista has begun releasing games for the DS. Their flagship title for the DS is none other than Kim Possible: Kimmunicator, a title that shows that A2M is well aware of the DS’s capabilities and is willing to use them to their fullest extent.

Graphically, this game isn’t at the forefront of its brethren, but the graphics are hardly bad either. Everything looks like it should, but that extra level of graphical polish that the game would probably have if it were a first-party title is noticeably absent. Still, Kim Possible looks like Kim Possible, and the surroundings also look nice and cheery just as they would in the cartoon. Overall, the graphics are not spectacular, but they are good enough so as not to detract at all from the game.

In terms of sound, the music is all based either directly or indirectly on the TV series, which can hardly be construed as a bad decision since all of it sounds good, if not addictive. The sound effects are not overly impressive, but they get the job done fairly well. Overall, I have no major complaints here except for the fact that there is nothing particularly impressive to speak of.

The gameplay in this game is quite good though, considering the audience at which this game was aimed. Most of the game suffers from the typical two problems of games aimed at young children: lack of length and lack of difficulty. However, the diversity of stuff to do within what length it has makes the game one that never becomes boring and repetitive.

Most of the game is a standard 2D platformer. However, it is one of those 2D platformer that takes place in a 3D world, much like Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. That doesn’t really change the core gameplay though. In some levels you’re trying to just get from the beginning of the level to the end without dying, while in others you’re trying to do so without being detected by the guards. Don’t get the idea that this is Splinter Cell style stealth, as most of it is just knowing where the guards are and avoiding taking the route that goes directly past them.

You have a fair amount of options in these levels, to be honest. Beyond your typical walking, jumping, and attacking, you can also cling to ledges, you can wall-jump, and, after you buy the necessary items, you can pick locks and grapple to higher platforms. When you grapple to a platform or grab certain bars, you can swing back and forth to gain momentum for your jump to the next platform. All of this makes for a game with decent maneuveribility options. The attacks are nowhere near as diverse, consisting merely of punches and kicks, as well as jumping kicks. But they are more than enough to get the job done, even if defeating enemies does seem to be a matter of button-mashing more than skill in many cases.

The touch-screen is well implemented into this game in the form of the Kimmunicator. The game has you taking on what would be Wade’s role in the TV series since the plot of the game has you saving him from Drakken. It is through the touch-screen that you select which item is presently equipped to Kim, or you can also use it to buy items or select other options, such as to return to a previous level to get more of the electronic parts needed to buy items. There is also a mini-game whenever you need to pick a lock where you have to run the stylus along a green wire. So, overall, the touch-screen is well-implemented without taking away from the gameplay. The mic is also implemented in one of the later levels, and its implementation is also decent.

The game also contains a few boss battles, but they are platformer-style boss battles, so you will rarely be attacking bosses directly. The game is only a few hours long, but it is certainly long enough to be decent for a person who is at the age this game is aimed at. If you are a fan of action platformers in general and are not afraid to be caught playing a game that is clearly aimed at young girls, this game might be worth a rental for you also. Only if you are a fan of the show would I say that this game is worth buying, and even then, I’d consider renting it only, since you can probably beat the entire game in a rental period anyway.