Total Game Boy


Tarzan
By Activision
Game Boy Color

 
Published in Total Game Boy Issue 05

Tarzan

It's 71 years since the world was first treated to a Mickey Mouse cartoon and Walt Disney is still making movies - not bad for a bloke who lives in a freezer! The latest Disney cinema blockbuster is Tarzan, the classic tale of a young lad who loses his parents in a shipwreck and is raised by apes in the jungle. Whether or not the original author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, approves of the Disney spin on his tale we will never know - his original story was first published in 1912!

"But what about Tarzan the game?" I hear you cry. Well, Activision and Disney Interactive have got together to bring us this piece of platform perfection with added bananas. They have taken the characters from the movie and created the perfect Game Boy Color adventure game, packed with secrets and extras to keep you busy for ages!

Me Tarzan

The cartridge is split into three sections: there's the main game with loads of levels, challenging gameplay and cool graphics; then there's a special Hide & Seek game where you and a friend can take it in turns to hide, or seek; then for those lucky enough to have a Game Boy Color printer there's a special paint and print section where you can make up your own Tarzan pictures - cool!

Disney's Tarzan

As you progress through the levels you will get to play as four characters: the young Tarzan, adult Tarzan, Jane and Tarzan's ape friend Terk. This adds variety, but doesn't make a whole lot of difference to the gameplay - it's all pretty standard platform game stuff. You can run, jump, swing from vines, swim and duck to make your way through the wildlife-infested areas. You're given a healthy supply of lives to keep you going until you've mastered all the moves too - this stops the game being frustrating when you first play.

You Jane

Disney Interactive have a reputation for creating great portable versions of Disney classics, and they've come up trumps again with Tarzan. The game is quite a simple platform adventure, but it's great fun to play and the variety of playing as different characters gives it added value.

Believe it or not, the programmers have even attempted a bit of a movie sequence at the start of the game, with Tarzan swinging through the trees - it's amazing what you can do on the new Game Boy Color! I'm particularly impressed by the Game Boy Printer options - I spent hours tinkering around with this, printing out stuff for my mates. If you're looking for a piece of Disney merchandise that is actually worthwhile, then this is it!

Swinging Printer Zoo

Disney's Tarzan

If you've got a Game Boy Printer then Tarzan has a fantastic extra option for you - if you don't have one, this might persuade you to get one! The Paint and Print option allows you to create pictures using the Tarzan backdrops, characters, animals and props, then print them out!

You can then stick them on your lunch box, on your books, or on your mate's forehead! The possibilities are endless - this, coupled with the cool Hide & Seek game, really makes Tarzan value for money.

Second Opinion

It's good to see game creators doing something different with their Game Boy games these days. At a basic level, Tarzan is nothing more than a platform game, with a few extra secret levels thrown in, but there's so much more to it when you look at the extra features.

Disney's Tarzan

The Game Boy Printer section is inspired, and great fun to tinker with. Just you make sure you send in your creations to us here at Total Game Boy Color - you might even win a prize!

Verdict

Graphics 100%
Bright and colourful.

Sound 80%
Nice jungle drum tunes.

Disney's Tarzan

Playability 80%
The main game is nothing new.

Lastability 100%
The extra options will keep you playing.

Overall 92%
Oozing Disney quality - get it!