Previous Next

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights! Ah, The Muppets... "not quite a Mop and not quite a Puppet" (Homer Simpson). They can currently be seen appearing in a rather spiffy PlayStation game, but the question, of course, is what's the Game Boy Color title like... er, so we'll get on with it!

The Muppets is a rather curious game. To start with, there's a rather big disappointment - where's The Muppet Show theme tune? The Game Boy Color would certainly be up to it as far as sound capability goes - maybe The Jim Henson company wanted more money for it or something?

Anyway, the story goes like this: The Muppet Show is about to begin but there's one small problem - most of the stars of the show have vanished, lost in time thanks to a Bunsen and Beaker experiment gone awry. Now it's up to Kermit and Animal (the only two major Muppets left) to track down and rescue their pals in time for the big show!

The gameplay takes place over six levels, three of which can be accessed by Animal and three by Kermit. The two Muppets also have slightly different abilities, so you need to learn how each of them works. Basically, the game is a simple platformer. It would be easy to criticise because of this but if you give it a chance, it starts to get surprisingly addictive.

The reason or this is that it's basically a more colourful version of the classic 8-bit computer game Jet Set Willy (though the original is still the best). All the creatures on each level have patterns and you need to study them and then time your move past them. It's not flashy, there aren't any fantastic surprises, but this format still works.

I agree with Roy when he says that The Muppets is a return to an old format of game - and it has been done so much better in the past.

That's not to say that The Muppets isn't worth a look. The graphics are colourful, the game is really well presented and it has lots of neat touches, like the old men chattering along at the start of levels. Worth a look!

Graphics 60%
Cute, but average animation.

Sound 40%
Where's the theme tune gone?

Playability 80%
Simple but fun - like the old days!

Lastability 40%
Probably won't last for months.

Overall 75%
A simple adventure with plenty of fun!