Review

Developed by:Neko Entertainment Published by:Ynnis Interactive Genre(s):
  • Puzzle
  • Stealth
  • Platform:
  • Handhelds
  • Nintendo
  • PC
  • Cost:$14.99 ESRB Rating:EVERYONE Players:1 Release date:November 21, 2013 Reviewed on:PC
    7.6

    The Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths

    What does Inspector Gadget, The Real Ghostbusters, and Captain Planet all have in common? They were all produced by DiC Entertainment back in the day. Yes, this awesome company produced many of my favorite cartoons in the 80’s and 90’s. Apparently they also produced a lot of hit shows in other countries. One in particular, a French-Japanese animated series called The Mysterious Cities of Gold, was very popular with the kids back in 1982. It was so popular that it spawned a movie in 2007 and a new season that aired earlier this year. Naturally, the next step would be to license the show to a developer in hopes of making a popular video game.

    Before I give my opinion of The Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths, I have to confess that I’ve never watched the original show. Despite being released in multiple countries (including North America) the first time I heard about it was a few months ago. With that being said, I did do my research – a long story short, I believe that Secret Paths does a great job of capturing the spirit of the show’s newest season. The story follows the continued adventures of three orphans (Esteban, Zia and Tao) as they search the globe for the last six cities of gold. The first city, found in the original series, was destroyed in a conflict between the children and a rival group. Outside of gold, these cities each hold ancient technology, powerful artifacts, and other things you wouldn’t want to fall into the wrong hands. Esteban, like his father, is destined to find the cities in order to keep that from happening. There is a lot more to the story of course, but that’s the gist of what’s going on at the start of the game.

    Played from a top-down view, fans of the series will be able to control the kids throughout each level in Secret Paths. Like the show, each character has their own unique attributes and talents needed to solve puzzles. Esteban can activate these totem-like structures using rays from the sun. Zia can fit through small cracks in walls and fences while Tao can decipher ancient writings for clues. You’ll need to point and click your way around a map, occasionally switching between the three children in order to progress through the game. For instance, Zia may need to move through a tight area in order to pull some levers controlling a large bridge. Esteban would need to active a sun totem, raising a stone tablet from the ground which Tao would use to direct Zia on what order each lever should be pulled in.

    As you progress through the game, the levels will become more challenging. Some will feature nasty pirates, bandits or some other group who are looking for the cities. These levels require stealth; sneaking past guards and hiding in bushes or crates. One thing to note is how the guards are logically placed in each level. They aren’t randomly patrolling a corner or intermittently staring at walls, making it easy for you to slip by. No, they are always near points of interest and their gaze stays clear of random walls. In practice it’s best to stay away from them if possible. Once spotted by a guard, you’ll have a few seconds to skedaddle before being captured; the kids have no way to defend themselves. That said, sometimes you can’t completely avoid them. A guard may have a key that’s needed to get through a door for example. Tao has a parrot friend that is able to lift said keys from enemies without them knowing it. In order to send the parrot to get the key though, you’ll have to be in close proximity of the guard.

    Again, as you progress in the game the puzzles become more intricate. Standing on pressure sensitive plates, placing artifacts on corresponding pedestals, flipping switches – you’ll need to do all of these things at one time or another. What’s great is that the puzzles can pose a challenge without being ridiculously difficult. Neko’s goal wasn’t to frustrate fans of the show. Yet, there is very little handholding (besides explanations of new gameplay elements) once you’ve moved past the first few levels. Beyond the puzzles are collectible items and hidden chests scattered throughout the game. Finding them will earn you a higher rating at the end of each level and unlock images depicting environments from the show. Having an incentive to replay levels is always a good thing, especially for a game like this. Speaking of replay value, one of Secret Paths’ unique features is the inclusion of new levels. New levels will freely unlock as new episodes of the show air on TV, giving fans more game over time.

    Going back a bit, the first thing I noticed about Secret Paths was its great visuals. With the simplistic, yet charming character depictions (round faces, small dark circles for the eyes) and bright pastel-like colors, it looks like a modernized depiction of an 80’s cartoon. Even from the top-down view it seems like you’re a part of the show. Going a step further, Neko added clips from the new season that play out as cutscenes in between levels to help along the narrative. This regrettably brings me to my only gripe about the game and its ties to the cartoon. In order to save time (I assume) Neko chose to chop up the clips of the show. So much so that it can be confusing to anyone not currently watching the episodes on TV. One minute the kids are visiting a new country, seconds later Esteban is captured by a group of bandits, who were apparently quite important to the story. Unfortunately, their lack of an introduction at the beginning of that level made them off to be random bad guys.

    Now, you might argue that we should check out the show when it airs. My response to that would be that it hasn’t been dubbed in English yet; it’s currently being worked on. As it stands, there is no legal way to view the new episodes of Cities of Gold in the US. So, it’s hard to know what’s going on when the clips jump from scene to scene at what seems like random intervals. I’m sure you’d get the gist of what’s happening (someone was captured) via a cutscene but the why, the when, and the how are still noticeably absent.

    All and all, Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths is a fun adventure game for fans of the show. Even newcomers like myself can find enjoyment from what’s presented here. I only wish the clips from the show were left intact. That way we could follow along with the narrative like the fans in other countries.

    Gameplay:

    7

    Secret Paths has an interesting story and fun gameplay. It may be hard to follow along if you’re new to the show though.

    Graphics:

    8

    Even though the visuals are based on the newer episodes, it has a nostalgic 80’s cartoon vibe. Overall, it’s very charming.

    Sound:

    7

    The game uses music from the show and voice work is fine.

    What's New:

    8

    Adding new levels as new episodes air is a cool feature.

    Replay Value:

    8

    The new levels should keep fans playing for some time.

    Final Score:

    7.6

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