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| Boneyboy by Mobisation |
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For as long as I have been playing handheld games, one of the staples of the format has been the platform game. While I realize that the Pocket PC was not originally intended to be a gaming device, there’s certainly no question it can handle entertainment software, and it’s sad to see the platform genre so neglected. Thankfully Mobisation has decided to help fill the gap with their wonderful game Boneyboy. While not revolutionary by any means, the game provides a solid engine, easy to master mechanics, and an engaging atmosphere to keep you enticed until the end.
The plot behind Boneyboy is rather simple. Your twin brother, Mr. Nobone, has enchanted all the creatures in the jungle. It’s up to you to defeat your brother and rescue all of the creatures from their curse. Heard this one before? You probably have in some manner of speaking. Truthfully, though, the plot really doesn’t matter. As you get into the game you’ll be so eager to complete each level that you won’t really care if there’s a purpose for doing so.
Playing the game is really straightforward. You use the D-Pad to move Boneyboy around the levels. You also have a button for jumping and another for shooting, which can be configured in the Options menu. Your one special maneuver is the hover-jump, which is executed by pressing the jump button twice in a row and holding. This move allows you to float down from a jump rather than falling, which gives you a wider area that you can cover, as well as allowing you to jump higher and reach areas that wouldn’t normally be accessible. Your standard firepower is fairly weak, but along the way you’ll gain power-ups that make your shot stronger, as well as granting you multiple simultaneous shots. You can even climb up and down or slide across vines where appropriate.
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You’ll need all these skills to defeat the many creepy crawlers and traverse the perils in each level. You’ll fend off such varied beasts as spiders, bees and little green trolls. Each baddie can take one to several shots to kill, depending on how powered up you are. In addition, every few levels there are bosses to kill. Unlike many games where you go to a “boss battle” mode, in Boneyboy the boss is simply another creature you have to pass before completing the level. I actually kind of like this philosophy, because there’s no disruption in the gameplay. Traps consist of the usual jungle adventure type perils like pointy spikes, perilous waters, and flames.
The main negative I have towards the gameplay is the same thing that plagues almost every handheld platform game made in the last several years. The levels are just too big. For whatever reason, it seems that some of the few games to overcome this handicap are the Castlevania series for the Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS. I don’t know if it’s because the levels are really that much smaller or because these games provide maps, but I’m sure the combination of both helps out. Some of these levels do get a bit confusing, though there was clearly a lot of thought put into their design. Gameplay as a whole more than makes up for the level length “shortcoming”, however.
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Graphically, Boneyboy is superb. From the brief cut scene at the beginning of the game to the details in the characters and backdrops while playing, it’s evident that a great deal of care went into rendering this universe. The temple levels are nice, but the jungle levels really shine in the details. From lily pads in the water to a little skull and cross-bones sitting next to a sign, no shortcuts were taken in providing the user with a colorful, exquisite playing field. Some of the special effects were pretty snazzy, too. The lightening was cool, though my favorite effect is the temporary haze that comes over your player when you come into contact with a creature. I just wish there were more cut scenes, even if they were just a few seconds in length.
The audio compliments the atmosphere so well. The sound effects are right on, especially when it comes to things like Boneyboy chomping on a piece of fruit. The highlight of the sound effects, however, is Boneyboy’s comments. I don’t know what inspired the developers to choose the voice they did, but it is so not what you’d expect from a Pygmy that it’s perfect. The music was well done also. My favorite track is the one in the temple levels, but it’s all good.
There’s not much to complain about with Boneyboy. While they didn’t do anything particularly new, everything about the game is quite polished and lots of fun. The aesthetics are spot on, and there’s plenty to keep you occupied, especially if your one of those platformer players that loves to collect everything. Unless you have something against Pygmies with a slightly British accent, Boneyboy is definitely a game to add to your collection.
Overall Score: 9/10
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