Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland

If you were a kid when the Nintendo Entertainment System was dominating the market, then chances are you played one of Capcom’s popular platformers based on the Disney Afternoon. I’m talking about 8-bit classics like DuckTales, Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Ranger and Darkwing Duck. If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if somebody made a Rugrats game based on those NES greats, then look no further than Adventures in Gameland, a loving tribute to the 1990s show that also works as a throwback side-scrolling platformer. I sure hope you brought a few extra diapers, because this is my review of Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland.

Although Rugrats debuted on television in 1991, it took a surprisingly long time for them to make their way to home consoles. In fact, we didn’t see Tommy, Chuckie and the rest of the tiny tykes get their own video game until Search for Reptar hit the PlayStation in 1998, a full seven years after becoming one of Nick Toon’s biggest shows. That means that we never got a chance to see what a company like Capcom could have done with the license on the Nintendo Entertainment System.

That is, until now. Adventures in Gameland is more than just another Rugrats game, it’s also a curious alternate history experience that asks the question: What if Rugrats got its own NES game in the early 1990s? This is a modern game that want to take you back to the heyday of the 8-bit era, when games based on the Disney Afternoon were all the rage. It’s a throwback to the type of 2D platformers that put some of our favorite cartoon characters into fantastical situations, no matter if it made sense or not.

What’s really cool about Adventures in Gameland is that it’s more than just a wannabe 8-bit platformer. One of the most exciting things about Rugrats is that it’s more than just a nostalgia-filled throwback experience, because it’s also a nostalgia-filled modern experience. At any point in the game, players can switch between the authentic 8-bit look and a more modern, high-definition design, complete with hand-drawn characters, amazing new backgrounds and cameos that look like they were plucked straight out of the cartoon. I ended up playing through the game both with the modern HD graphics and the old-school 8-bit look, and it made me wish that more throwback games would take this route.

Now, there is a story here, but don’t get too excited. When the babies see a commercial for the upcoming Reptar video game, they pretend to be in their own video game through the power of imagination. This basically means that they’ll go to what is otherwise a fairly normal place in the house (like a kitchen, bedroom or attic) and imagine a video game world full of enemies, diverging paths and even a recognizable boss pulled straight out of the show. For example, the kitchen level has them butt-stomping their way through a fridged ice stage, all because Didi has the refrigerator open.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland plays like a greatest-hits of all the 8-bit platformers you loved back in the day. A lot of the gameplay feels like it was lifted directly from Capcom’s 1990 classic, Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers. Our four heroes main form of attack is to either jump on or butt-stomp the level-specific enemies. They also pick up and throw blocks, which works as both an attack and a way to reach high up locations. The goal in each stage is to pick up the four coins, grab the screw driver and then unlock the gate, which will take you directly to one of several tough boss fights.

What’s cool about the game is that we can take one of four characters into any of the stages. Each of the babies has their own stats and advantages, with the four characters mapping on perfectly with the heroes in Super Mario Bros. 2. Tommy is your basic Mario character, with good all-around stats. Chuckie can jump real high into the air, not unlike Luigi. Lil not only gets a high jump, but can also float down to the ground, similar to the Princess. And that leaves Phil to sub-in for Toad, a character who may not jump very high, but can pick up crates and ice blocks faster than anybody else. And to top it all off, you can swap between the four characters at any time, similar to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game on the NES.

As a throwback game trying to mimic our favorite games from the late-1980s and early-1990s, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland mostly excels. Between the authentic look, feel and level designs, it wouldn’t surprise me if this game convinces unsuspecting gamers that it’s actually a port of an NES game from three decades ago. It’s not, of course, and those of us who spent way too many hours playing DuckTales and Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers will be able to spot the subtle differences between this modern throwback and the real thing.

As a modern game, there are a few things holding this wannabe retro release back. For one thing, it’s incredibly short. With only seven levels to complete, it won’t take you more than an hour to beat the game. Maybe an hour and a half, if you go through the levels a second time using 8-bit graphics. And outside of the two graphics modes, there’s not a lot of replay here. You may find that $25 is a bit steep for an experience that lasts about as long as the Rugrats in Paris movie.

You’ll also find that the gameplay is surprisingly simplistic, even by 8-bit standards. Don’t expect any power-ups or added abilities, because Tommy, Chuckie and the rest of the gang are reduced to walking, jumping, butt-stomping and throwing blocks. And because there aren’t very many blocks laying around to throw, pretty much all of the combat has the babies jumping on the bad guys. This sets you up to take a bunch of cheap hits, as it’s not always easy to jump over an enemy or even stand beside it. This is especially true in the refrigerator level, where you’ll find enemies on tiny platforms of ice that will make you slide right into them. That’s not fun.

There are other things that left me disappointed. For example, none of the voice actors appear in the game, not even when you’re playing with HD graphics. I also found that the 8-bit backgrounds were a bit lacking, especially when compared to the Disney Afternoon games this is mimicking. And on that topic, the final stage basically recycles the backgrounds and enemies from the first six levels, making it feel more like filler than the grand climax. This is one of those games that starts a lot stronger than it ends.

But most of those issues aren’t going to keep you from having a fun time playing through Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, especially if you’re a longtime fan of the cartoon. I admire the approach of turning this popular series into a throwback 2D platformer, and I absolutely love that developer WALLRIDE went the extra step to create an 8-bit version that you can switch to at any time. This is a game that comes extremely close to capturing the look and feel of those classic Disney Afternoon games from Capcom, but falls slightly short in its execution. Still fun for fans who grew up with Tommy, Chuckie and the rest of the Rugrats.