Sesame Street: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

Sesame Street: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland brought the world of Jim Henson's beloved children's TV show to the Game Boy Color in a fun and accessible platforming adventure. As Elmo, players must guide the lovable red monster through eight short but sweet side-scrolling levels to rescue his blanket from the grumpy grouches of Grouchland.

With its charming visuals, easy controls, and faithfulness to the movie it's based on, Elmo in Grouchland offers an Elmo-tastic adventure that both young fans of Sesame Street and their parents can enjoy.

A Breeze to Sesame Street

The game wastes no time getting young gamers into the action with intuitive jump-and-run mechanics that even preschoolers can pick up. Elmo moves smoothly and collects items like cookies to fuel his journey.

Failures are inconsequential as Elmo just pops back to the start of the level, focusing the experience on fun rather than frustration. The levels take only a few minutes to complete, perfect for short play sessions. With its accessibility and lightweight challenges, Elmo in Grouchland captures the breezy spirit of Sesame Street, making it a better intro game for younger players than "heavier" titles like Kirby's Dreamland.

A Grouchy Good Time in Grouchland

Grouchland itself provides a change of scenic that keeps things interesting. Trash-filled environments bring the grouches' junk-covered neighborhood to life and occasional hazards like rolling cans add light obstacles without overcomplicating the action.

Standouts include multiple "investigation" levels where Elmo has to traverse the grouchy streets, adding a more nuanced sense of vertical traversal than what one might expect from a game like this one. These diversions give young players a taste of different gameplay without overwhelming their skills. Overall, exploring Grouchland captures as much charm as the famous street.

The Heart of Sesame Street Shines Through

Most importantly, the heart and soul of Sesame Street resonates strongly throughout Elmo's adventure. Characters like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and, of course, Elmo bring joy and humor to the experience with funny animations and sounds. Even challenges like dodging Oscar the Grouch fit perfectly within the world established on TV. At its core, the game shares Sesame Street's focus on nurturing positivity, creativity, and developmental skills in young fans. Between its faithfulness to beloved characters and inclusive gameplay, Elmo in Grouchland remains as educational and entertaining as the show that inspired it.

Rating: 8/10

In the end, Elmo in Grouchland delivers a winner of an adventure through Grouchland that will have both fans of Sesame Street and parents cheering and bonding together as they discover just how fun video games can be.

Pros:

• Easy for young kids to pick up and play
• Captures the heart and soul of Sesame Street
• Charming sprite-based visuals

Cons:

• Very short overall length
• Simplistic challenges won't hold older kids for long