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The terrible twosome of yesteryear, that car and mouse duo who hate each other almost as much as they love each other make a somewhat lacklustre debut on the Game Boy Color. What a pity!

Whereas we were once so fond of daft old Tom swallowing dynamite or Jerry famously ice-skating on a frozen kitchen sink, with their latest cyber instalment Jerry has turned into a zombie and Tom occasionally pops up, waves his claws around like he's shooting away a swarm of marauding mosquitoes, then shrivels back down into the trash can from whence his emerged. His appearance, especially in the earlier levels, never really alters from this pattern of popping up from a garbage can. The game should have just been called 'Jerry'.

The style of Tom & Jerry is that of virtually any platform game. Jerry gently ambles his way over platforms, jumps spikes and collects piles of cheese. Falling fruit slams Jezza on the head, ferocious flowers take bites at his rodently ankles and occasionally he jumps into a car (a car? Since when?!) to drive through rows of impassable spikes... and that's his lot.

Admittedly Jerry does make his way through some interesting enough locations such as seedy alleys infested with stray cats and a park with decorative fountains but the action remains permanently stagnant. The Game Boy Color does do it justice mind you, and every environment is perfectly conceived to look like the guys would enjoy their romps around it. It's just a shame you won't, especially after a continuous stream of scenarios that get harder but don't get any more fun. Pity!

Everyone loves Tom & Jerry - their cartoons are always watchable, even if you've already seen them a hundred times over. This popularity means we can look forward to a steady stream of Tom & Jerry games forever, but we can happily live without them all if they all look like this!

Ben's right, Jerry does look like a zombie - he's only got one ear for a start! And after playing for what seemed like ages, I still hadn't come across Tom!! Try before you buy.

Graphics 80%
At least it looks good!

Sound 40%
Annoying... very annoying.

Playability 40%
What playability? It's boring!

Lastability 60%
Lasts long but who cares?

Overall 48%
This is all looks, no play.