Jumanji
a game by | Atomic Planet Entertainment Limited |
Platform: | Playstation 2 (2007) |
Editor Rating: | 5/10, based on 1 review |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Arcade Games, Puzzle Games, Old School Games, Top Down Games, Movie-Based Games, Retro Games, Many-in-one Games |
It was only a matter of time before we saw a video game adaptation of Jumanji. The game attempts to capture the essence of the movie's adventurous spirit, translating Jumanji's chaotic and unpredictable world into a digital format. It mimics the film's premise of a board game that comes to life, thrusting its players into a dangerous, wild world filled with danger at every turn.
Players will survive the jungle's hazards and complete various missions that draw directly from the movie's most memorable moments. With its nostalgic appeal and the promise of adventure, Jumanji seeks to immerse players in the movie's enchanting universe, offering a blend of excitement and challenge that mirrors the film's journey through the unknown. Will it deliver? We all know how video game adaptations of movies usually pan out.
Back to the Jungle
Jumanji offers a mix of puzzle-solving, exploration, and action to keep players engaged with various tasks. The puzzles are cleverly designed, often requiring thoughtful strategy and quick reflexes. However, the execution sometimes falls short of modern gaming standards, with controls that can feel clunky and unresponsive, detracting from the overall experience.
Graphically, Jumanji captures the lush, vibrant jungle environment with a level of detail that is commendable for its time. The character models and animations do a fair job of bringing the movie's characters to life. However, they don't always meet the polish seen in other titles from the same era.
The narrative of Jumanji tries to stay faithful to the source material, offering players a storyline that parallels the movie's plot. While it succeeds in recreating some of the film's most thrilling moments, the game struggles to develop a coherent narrative flow, often feeling disjointed as players move from one challenge to the next. This episodic nature can make the game's progression feel erratic, with little sense of a cohesive journey or character development.
One of the game's strengths lies in its cooperative play, allowing friends to join in on the adventure, reminiscent of the camaraderie in the movie. This feature adds a layer of enjoyment and replayability, as players can work together to overcome the game's challenges. However, the lack of online multiplayer functionality, a standard in many games of the era, is a missed opportunity to broaden its appeal.
Not Much of a Beast
Jumanji offers a nostalgic journey back to the beloved movie, providing fun and excitement but ultimately falling short of delivering a fully polished gaming experience. The game captures the essence of the film's adventurous spirit. Still, it is hindered by technical limitations and a lack of narrative cohesion.
Comparing Jumanji to another movie title, such as The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, highlights its shortcomings. The latter successfully translates various movie universes into engaging, cohesive gaming experiences that appeal to game-savvy audiences and adults. While Jumanji taps into the nostalgia and adventurous themes that fans of the film will appreciate, it does not achieve the same level of accessibility, polish, and universal appeal as we'd expect.
Round-Up - Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Captures the movie's adventurous spirit and iconic moments
- Offers cooperative play for shared fun and challenges
- It is a decent graphical representation of the jungle environment
Cons:
- Clunky controls and a lack of fluid gameplay
- Disjointed narrative and episodic progression
- Will disappoint fans of the film
Download Jumanji
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP