GENRE
	Action
	DEVELOPER
	THQ
	PUBLISHER
	THQ
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	No
	BUY NOW AT

Games are supposed to be fun. There was a time when I thought that even bad games started out as good ideas written on paper somewhere. I come before you today to tell you that I was wrong. I am so sorry. Apparently, the “ideas” for Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed were written down on someone’s sunburned rear-end because this game could not entertain a bottle of Pepto-Bismol; which is a shame considering you are going to need many bottles of the “pink stuff” after coming into contact with this mess.

visuals

The visuals in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed are extremely standard. Don’t expect any thing flashy in this game. The coolest graphical effect occurs when a candle flickers. Oh, I almost forgot, if you leave your character idle for a few seconds they make little poses. For example, Daphne flips her hair in a frustrated manner, clearly uninterested with her own game.

The game is a standard sidescroller with 2D “painted” on backgrounds. On some of the levels, there are foreground elements that add a quasi-3D feel. The characters come alive (I use that turn very loosely) via 2D sprite effects.

Between levels, there are text-based cut-scenes that attempt to advance the story (again, I will sometime use these words loosely) via the talking faces of Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the gang.

There really is not any more to discuss in the graphics department. Lets move on.

audio

Yes, this game has audio. The original television show had better quality audio than this. Get some earplugs; you will need ‘em.

gameplay

What? Did I hear someone say gameplay? No, I must still have those ear-plugs in. If you are man enough to actually play past the first level, you are a winner in my eyes. If you can actually stay awake after the second level, you get bonus points. If you aren’t bleeding from you eyes and thumbs by the end, you need to join the Marines.

The object of the game is still unclear at this point. I spent most of my time running down hallways jumping over rats and falling pots. At the end however, my effort was rewarded because I got some Scooby-Snacks. I mean really, isn’t that all we’ve ever wanted in a game: Scooby-Snacks.

Maybe I’m being to harsh on this game. After all, Scooby can attack the rats with his paws and watch them disappear in a cloud of smoke. When playing as Shaggy, you can “butt-bop” enemies into submission. Daphne however, packs the big attacks. She has a punch and kick combo that she unleashed on unsuspecting rats.

After doing some soul-searching, I think I was on the mark; this game is a stinker. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is an endless spiral of monotonous, repetitive gameplay designed to take the fun out of gaming.

It’s not all bad though. Gamers looking for an easy game that they can play with their eyes closed should look no further than Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. It has been scientifically proven that just pushing random buttons gives players a 67% chance of beating the game. Seriously, this game is easy, too easy.

multiplayer

Thank God no! The innocent shall not suffer!

overall

I used to like good ole’ Scooby, then I played his game. I am constantly amazed at how good children’s television programming can be bastardized by half-hearted, sloppy developers. Do they think that kids don’t know crappy software when they play it? Do they think that they will want this game just because it has Scooby’s ugly dog mug plastered on the front? Does Steven Segal run like a girl? Unfortunately, I believe that answer to all of those questions is yes. As long as consumers continue to buy licensed garbage, developers will continue to make it.

I really tried to make this game fun, it just isn’t any fun at all. The only thing scary about Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is that is actually was published. Stay far away.

3.1/10