Jackie Chan Adventures

Based on the animated TV series of the same name, Jackie Chan Adventures is one of those rare licensed games that are actually pretty damn good. This was released on the PlayStation 2 and it is a fun game that I feel is a bit of a hidden gem on the console. I am sure this is the kind of game that the majority of people would just pass over, but those who have played it all tend to enjoy it.

Knowing The Show

I watched the show on Fox Kids here in the UK back in the day and thought it was great. Uncle was my favorite character, that dude was hilarious! The story of Jackie Chan Adventures the video game is based on the first two seasons of the show and follows the major plotlines pretty well.

Shendu is the leader of the Demon Sorcerers and they were all banished many years ago. Now an organization known as The Dark Hand and their leader, Valmont have found a way to unleash these demons on the world and only Jackie and the gang can save the day.

The Gang Is All Here

One of the most impressive aspects of the game is that they were able to get the majority of the voice cast to reprise their roles for the game. That includes Jackie Chan himself which is pretty awesome. The vocal clarity is a little on the quiet side, but the quality of the actual voice acting is done rather well.

An Animated Show From 04, You Know What That Means!

Jackie Chan Adventures has a cell shaded art style and I feel that fits the show perfectly. The thing is during this time cell shaded games were the in thing so the game never really stood out from the crowd. I think the style they used has made the game hold up pretty well over the years and even now it looks decent.

Things may not be extremely detailed, but you can still tell what everything is supposed to be and the fact they kept it all very authentic to the show is great. As this was a game made before the pre-HD days, things can look a tad washed out on a modern TV. I know it would never happen, but a remaster of this would be awesome.

Go Jackie Go!

The most surprising aspect about Jackie Chan Adventures is just how much fun it is to play. Around this time, we got a Futurama game and a game based on the 2003 Ninja Turtles and I loved them both, but I would say you had to be big into the shows to enjoy them. With this, while being into the show is certainly a plus. I think that this actually stands on its own as a damn fine game.

It is a 3rd person action and adventure game where you control Jackie Chan. He can use all kinds of attacks and pick up weapons along the way as well as using special attacks too. He controls great and the gameplay feels very smooth. There are a few light puzzles here and there, but overall, the game moves along at a pretty brisk pace.

Pros:

• I like how it follows the first two seasons of the show
• They got the majority of the cast to reprise their roles
• The gameplay feels great and is very responsive
• It is the kind of game that is just a lot of fun to play

Cons:

• The cell shaded graphics can look a bit washed out on a modern TV
• The voice acting can sometimes be a little quiet