Previous Next

Not only has it been a long cold winter's hibernation, but Yogi Bear, culprit of many a picnic hamper heist, has woken to find a chemical plant bang on his doorstep. Jellystone National Park, Yogi's natural habitat, is threatened by ecological destruction, and Ranger Smith must be warned! Along the way, our smarter-than-the-average-bear has the added task of alerting his forestry friends and making sure they get to safety.

From high in the snowy mountains, through the treacherous gold mines, and into the forest, it's platform action all the way. Each stage is split into levels packed with furry friends and foes alike. During the course of his quest, ol' Yogi can better his chances by picking up time bonuses and pieces of cake to keep up his strength. But with Yogi only making the occasional guest appearance on the Hanna and Barbera Christmas special, and the action based on good old fashioned platforming, does this have enough to make it smarter than the average cart?

Yogi and Boo-Boo became overnight stars when Hanna and Barbera first dreamt them up. The game is based on this highly successful series.

Guide Yogi through Jellystone Park to warn his fellow forestry inhabitants of the threat from the chemical plant that is nearing completion.

To keep up his strength on the way to warn Ranger Smith Yogi carries a ticky and chunky Victoria Sponge. But as luck would have it, those cheeky woodland wanderers, also recently woken from wintertime slumber, are more than happy to relieve Yogi of his burden. On the downside for poor Yogi, if the small animals manage to nab all of his cake he has to go back home to pick up a fresh batch, or so the theory goes. But as fortune would have it, Yogi is blessed with a friendly baker who deposits slices of gateau throughout the levels, just so Yogi can stock up mid mission.

Yogi's not superhuman, and like everyone else he needs his beauty sleep. However, our chubby bear friend happens upon a four-poster, it's not necessarily a rest, because, with a bat of an eyelid, Yogi's off to dreamland. In the realm of dreams, Yogi has a time limit in which to find a piece of the elusive clock that allows him to continue his quest. Also, when Yogi completes a stage Boo-Boo invites him to take part in a challenge with 1-ups as prizes.

It really is a crying shame when titles like Yogi hit the store shelves. I mean, let's face it, level after level of identical backdrops, pointless pick-'em-ups, and gameplay that is more stodgy than Grandma Yob's extra thick treacle pudding, isn't the receipe for the 1990s.

A few years ago, Yogi may have been passable as a pretty average platformer, but these days it can be classified as nothing more than factory line mass-produced pap. Even if you are a household of younger gamers, you would be wise to look elsewhere for something more substantial, and to put it quite simply, with more playability.

Brings new meaning to the word mediocre.

It's funny, but to look at Yogi Bear and Infogrames' Smurfs game, you'd be forgiven for getting the two mixed up. Both are aimed at the younger player, both feature mine cart levels, snowy bits and leaping on foes - in fact, they are almost identical in content.

However, when it comes down to the playability, Infogrames' little blue blighters could have Yogi any day. Yogi Bear is of the 'decidedly average' school of platforming, where no risks are taken and where no excitement is the by-product.

Everything in Yogi has been seen countless times before, and it doesn't even have the playability to raise it to average. If you have a younger family member, opt for Smurfs instead - it's more innovative and a damn sight more playable.

Graphics 62%
P. Reasonably polished on face value.
N. But stodgy, lacking animation, unoriginal, and far too repetitive in backdrops.

Sound 59%
N. Some of the worst in-game music that I've ever heard! Would sound far more at home on Supermarket Sweep.

Playability 55%
N. Yogi's controls are sluggish and unresponsive. There doesn't really seem much to play for.

Lastability 50%
P. The challenge is quite tricky at times.
N. You'll only want to play it for about as long as it takes to work out that all the levels in the stages are almost identical.

Value For Money 40%
N. Your money would be far better spent, or saved, for a title with real quality and challenge.

Overall 51%
"Oh dear, we seem to have developed a crap game. Hmm, I know, let's say it's for younger gamers." Sound familiar?!