Ty: The Tasmanian Tiger Xbox game

Ty: The Tasmanian Tiger

2002

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

from 55 members

In keeping with 2002's spurt of modern 3D platform games, it'll come as no surprise that Electronic Arts has released Ty the Tasmanian Tiger on GameCube, an Aussie-originating adventure complete with marsupial foes and foreign slang to boot. When Ty discovers he and his friends are stuck in a hostile dream world, he must set out to recover five lost talismans and open the portal that will return everyone to their normal way of life in the waking world. But it just so happens there's an evil bald vulture chasing the same five talismans for his own evil purposes. You know the score by now. Collect the valuables, defeat your archenemy and save the world from utter oblivion. Within five minutes of play, gamers familiar with the Jak and Daxter style and Crash Bandicoot game engine will feel as though they've played this game before. It absolutely reeks of Naughty Dog's past Bandicoot outings. But they were great, linear, straightforward games, and the same is true of Ty the Tasmanian Tiger. Following each of the narrow, winding levels, you'll find yourself grabbing myriad thunder eggs, golden cogs and other bizarre collectibles in an ongoing attempt to boost your completion percentage. Early levels lack complexity and valuables are an easy pick, whilst later stages are more cunning. On many occasions, you must defeat the resident vulture's numerous henchmen to receive well-deserved goodies, all of which contribute to the greater quest. It's fair to say Ty offers little in the innovation department, but Krome Studios' 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' approach means players are rewarded with a solid platform game that isn't too bewildering, and as such, will never fail to please.