Kim Possible: Kimmunicator (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Disney's Kim Possible has had a few outings on the GBA but this is her first on the DS. For those of you unfamiliar with the TV series of the same name Kim is a kind of animated teen James Bond, if that makes any sense. As usual it's up to our heroine to save the world and it appears that archenemy Drakken is back with a vengeance! This time he has actually managed to kidnap Wade, forcing him to develop Yet Another Doomsday Device and depriving Kim of a key resource in her fight against evil at the same time! Step in as Wade's replacement and help Kim (and Rufus the naked mole rat) go undercover to rescue Wade and foil Drakken's fiendish plans before it's too late! If you understood all that then you're clearly a fan, if not, why not just read the review.

Gameplay

While Kimunicator is a platformer at heart there are a few other strings to its bow but we'll talk about more of these later. As for the main game this involves all pretty much standard activities including running, jumping, collecting stuff and the odd bit of enemy combat. The collecting is probably the most interesting part as the items you amass can also be used as credits, which in turn can be spent at the gadget store that is always available via the menu screen. It's here you can purchase a whole host of add-ons to aid you in your quest. The Grappling Hook, for example, will allow you to swing over patrolling robots so as not to raise the alarm whilst the Hair Brush Pick lock is more self-explanatory.

While most of the game is played as Kim in this 3D environment you will occasionally have to change character in order to shut down an electric obstacle of some description. This is where you call on the skills of Rufus (a kind of Rat Mole) who is small enough to travel around the vents and posesses teeth sharp enough to cut though wires. Saving the best until last, we have the incredible Paragliding section where you must float down into a lava-filled cavern avoiding the ceiling and the odd lava rock as it flies through the air. There's only one of these unfortunately but it manages to be great fun and full of tension at the same time. Fortunately you can revisit this from the main menu which is essential as you'll also have to re-enter earlier levels because you may not have had the gadget to bypass a certain area before hand.

Controls

This can be a little tricky at first but a little practise, and the fact that the first 3 or so levels are all about training, and things should become a lot easier. The combat is still pitched way too high unfortunately so you'll find yourself reaching for the first aid after almost every fight. Still, without this occasional minor challenge there's a good chance you'd fly through the game in no time at all.

Graphics

If you've played The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer, then you'll know exactly what to expect here and while the graphics are in 3D you are always on a fixed path. This works well the majority of the time and some neat touches such as the night-vision goggles help to immerse you in the world of the secret agent. The story is told through a selection of cut screens and on-screen text on the top screen but it would have been much better if these had been FMV or even animated. Overall though the finished product still looks wonderful and perfectly mirrors the standards set by the TV show.

Sound

The majority of the audio is instantly forgettable with only the odd sound effect raising a smile. This seems to have become the standard in many titles although why developers think that this area doesn't warrant the same attention to detail is anyone's guess. To make matters worse there are no voice samples either so you may start to wonder why your DS has speakers in the first place.

Dual screen

Just when we'd almost given up on the whole dual screen thing a developer appears to have rediscovered it and the various gimmicks, such as the 'thumb scan', aside, 2AM do have appeared to have at least attempted to exploit this unique type of gameplay. The first of these is an unlocking system type of game, where you must guide a green atom around a maze in order to open a door much like the first Spiderman on the DS. The other uses the microphone in a kind of paragliding episode and whilst left and right are controlled with the shoulder buttons, more air is supplied by the gamer blowing into the microphone.

Final comments

While the first play through is thoroughly enjoyable the lack of any incentive to pick up the game again once completed, does hurt the overall package, as does its length. It's also a little too repetitive for its own good and some extra game modes and mini-games would have made a good game a great one. On the plus side it still looks wonderful with a style of gameplay that perfectly reflects the TV series. It's also nice to see some developers actually utilising the DS's other features too and while they've only touched on the endless possibilities, at least they have acknowledged their existence. Overall a great effort from developers 2AM which will delight fans of the series and may even convert a few others.

Pro: Looks Wonderful, The Paragliding Level.
Con: Nothing Original, A Little Too Repetitive.
Final score: 7.5

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