GENRE
	Platform, Mini-games
	DEVELOPER
	Avalanche Software
	PUBLISHER
	THQ
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-4
	CONTROLLER PAK
	yes
	RUMBLE PAK
	no
	RAM PAK
	no
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Robosnail has abducted a princess from a themepark in Paris. An elite group of toddler-commandoes has been deployed to activate a giant Godzilla wannabe, defeat the snail, and save the day. This, apparently, is the plotline from the recent theatrical release Rugrats in Paris: The Movie. It is also the plot for THQ's latest game release of the same name.

The Rugrats have to complete a series of mini-games located throughout Euroreptarland and collect enough tickets to buy the Reptar Control Helmet from the park's Prize Center. Whoever liked the movie is sure to be pleased.

visuals

Sadly, companies often exploit kid-friendly franchises by skimping on quality: What's more sad is that this often yields enough profit that the same approach is maintained for future titles. THQ has not adopted this approach, at least visually; and while they might not have a graphic tour-de-force in Rugrats in Paris, they do have the best looking preteen title this holiday season.

The expected theme-park objects are deposited throughout each of Euroreptarland's environs: restrooms, trash cans, and café tables cover the park, located among the various mini-game tents and information booths. Each of the park's five regions is comfortably small and easy to navigate. And surprisingly, everything is fairly crisp and well-detailed, in comparison to this title's competition--say, Nintendo's own Hey You, Pikachu. It's all bright, happy, and very cartoony.

There is the issue of the soupy framerate. Navigating the park exterior can be slow--but not maddeningly so. Actually, I don't think this was a compromise by Avalanche, but rather (for better or worse) an intentional feature intended to assist the young gamers of the Rugrats' target audience. The play action is slow enough that the player never loses direction.

audio

The audio in Rugrats in Paris is on par with its visuals: nothing spectacular, but certainly adequate and appropriate to the title. The credits boast Factor 5's MuSyx disclaimer, and it was well employed, considering the decent quality of the game's extensive voice samples. Each character has his own one-liners, which get repetitive but never too annoying. Some of the ambient noise is very well done: the insect, bird, and varied animal sounds of Reptar Island sound like they're straight out of Acclaim's Turok. Naturally, the music highlights funky organ-grinder tunes Americans always associate with the French.

gameplay

Kid's can choose their favorite character from six selectable Rugrats. They have identical attributes, so gameplay is not affected by the choice; distinctions could have expanded replay value, but there's really little room for different abilities in the simplistic mini-games. Gameplay environments are broken into the theme park exterior, and the mini-games therein.

Euroreptarland is divided into five regions: the Main Entrance, Oooey Gooey World, Reptar Island, Princess Theatre, and Golf Park. Players hop a monorail and roam the five regions in search of Gold Tickets, awarded after completing mini-games, and Red Tickets, which are plentiful and needed to access more mini-games, which lead to more Gold Tickets. Win 16 Gold Tickets, and your Rugrat can purchase the Reptar Control Helmet. Then Reptar gets to trash Robosnail.

The mini-games are simplistic (even for mini-games) but again, suited to the target audience. Game styles range from bowling and baseball/cookie tossing to bumper cars and board-breaking in a Parisian dojo. There's also a decent mini-golf game, which isn't quite Mario Golf, but does suffice. The several timed jigsaw puzzles can be difficult to complete.

Controls, both around the park and in the mini-games, are minimalist and geared explicitly towards the Rugrats crowd. Every mini-game tent has an information kiosk situated nearby which explains the controls for that specific game. No kiddo should have trouble playing Rugrats in Paris.

multiplayer

Up to four players can compete in a series of mini-games derived from the one-player adventure. Players alternate turns in each game, with the victory going to he who amasses the most points. The game progresses through four games, and upon completion, a slate of four new games is introduced. It's not too exciting, and simultaneous play would have been more fun for the kiddos; but it's something for them to play with after they've schooled Robosnail solo with Reptar.

overall

Rugrats in Paris is a Rugrats game; that said, perhaps its shallowness can be forgiven. It aims lower than Mario Party and most other mini-game showcases, and for kids too young to appreciate quality over brand name, it's just right.

Rugrats in Paris is simple and colorful, perfect for that rugrat who just crawled from his Fisher-Price collection to his brother's N64--but he's the only one who'll really enjoy it.

5.5/10