Introduction: Released by Full Fat, 'The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy' (TGAoBaM) is a fun beat-'em-up game based on the Cartoon Network TV series of the same name. Players face story-based challenges or all-out battles using each character's unique moves and special powers. Up to four players can choose one of 15 characters from the series and a multitude of bizarre weapons and arenas to immerse themselves in the grim world of Billy, Mandy and Grim. The weird and whacky neighbourhood from the TV series is recreated on the Gameboy Advance console, and the game is therefore a whole lot more fun if you are familiar with the series and know the characters and their quirky personalities.

GamePlay: The game is split into two distinct modes - 'Story Mode' and 'Mission Mode'. Let's start with Story Mode, as this is the less challenging, and therefore less interesting, part of the game. The introduction explains that Grim's Mojo balls have been released into the town, wreaking havoc. Uh oh. Grim, Mandy and Billy have to fight their way through swathes of bouncy, freaky baddies to collect the Mojo balls. The end of each battle climaxes with a really bad guy called a 'boss' - these are the actual bad guys from the TV series. The stories seem to have a beginning and an end, but the bit in the middle is pretty much pure and simple button mashing to music. Fine, as long as you're not expecting a plot. I found this mashing Story Mode a tad more entertaining if I kind of danced to the music a bit at the same time - in fact I think I created a whole new kind of dance where my legs co-ordinated with my mashing fingers. You should try it.

The Mission Mode, on the other hand, did not need added dance moves. There are six tiers of Mission, each getting progressively more difficult. The final tier requires a massive 53 Mojo balls to unlock; this took me so long that just before I got to this tier, my eyes exploded and I never got to finish the game. Better gamers will probably not suffer such injuries, and will in fact relish the variety of the levels. The types of mission vary widely - some are races against time, some are about surviving for as long as possible. And the baddies are many and varied, with all sorts of peculiar powers that you have to figure out. Even the settings are refreshingly diverse, ranging from Billy's House (like your house) to Toadblatt's Coliseum (not at all like your house).

Control: If (like me) you can't be bothered to read the manual, there is a useful tutorial section on the menu. It takes you step by step through the controls, and won't let you move on to the next one until you've mastered each one. The controls are pretty easy to learn, as you'd expect from a game where you basically move and/or fight. The buttons respond well to your mashing, and you'll soon be rushing around, flinging yourself everywhere with panache. Unsurprisingly it's Mission Mode where players will be most challenged, as each player has unique moves requiring a combo of buttons.

Graphics: Basing a game on a cartoon has got to be a head start for a graphics developer. It should be hard to get it wrong, right? You'll be pleased to hear that Grim Adventures does not disappoint. Interactive environments and characters that are taken straight from the TV series mean that the 'real' world of Billy and Mandy is faithfully represented on your screen in all its weirdness. The characters have cute little faces (aaaah) and can even do different moves each time they are fighting, so you don't get bored of their special moves too quickly.

Sound & Music: Part of what we love about cartoons is the sound effects that communicate as much as the visual animation. This game makes full use of these sound effects, against a background of cartoon music that is pretty much what you'd expect for a game based on a spooky cartoon. You wouldn't want to listen to it while you go to sleep at night, but it satisfactorily complements the world of weirdos you're surrounded by.

Final Comments: If you like 'The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy' (TV), you'll love 'The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy' (GA). You know how you get all familiar with your favourite cartoon characters? You think about them during the day when you're working, you dream about them at night, you sometimes wish you could be one of them, you start asking people to call you 'Billy' etc. etc. No? Maybe it's just me. Well anyway, if you're the sort of person that rushes home to catch your favourite cartoon, and that cartoon happens to be TGAoBaM, you will LOVE this game. If you're after a reasonably entertaining beat 'em up game with some great graphics and diverse and wacky characters, you'll also like this game. Mission Mode in particular has enough going for it to make the game worthy of its price tag; with its interactive environments and its array of unique characters and special powers, Billy and Mandy's world will entertain even the grimmest of gamers.

Pro: Zany enough to be interesting.
Con: Story mode lacks any real story.
Final Score: 6.9



Reviewed by: Jeremy Barham