GENRE
	Adventure
	DEVELOPER
	THQ
	PUBLISHER
	THQ
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
	BUY NOW AT

I secretly avoided going to see Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius in the theaters. I'm a big fan of animations and even movies for kids, but it just didn't seem that appealing to me. Finally, I was suckered into checking the game out after one of the little miscreants told me I had to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed myself. Years later, I didn't even have a clue that they had brought it to Nickelodeon as an on-going television show. It had to happen eventually, right? Well, a third video game had to come also. Enter Jimmy Neutron: Attack of the Twonkies, one of the latest entry in average games for kids. Horray!

visuals

Jimmy Neutron may cost you twenty bones, but it certainly doesn't look as if that was the budget. The graphics engine that THQ worked on for this title is impressive and really brings out the sleek design from the cartoon. The character models move at a decent speed and are detailed nicely, as if plucked straight out of the show. Don't expect anything impressive, especially since the television show itself isn't particularly mind blowing. The game runs at a decent speed, the environments are large enough and the charm is captured nicely. What more could you ask from a budget title? Besides senseless violence and a free can of Dr. Pepper, that is.

audio

Just a quick note. Everything here sounds exactly like it should. Sound effects, music and voice acting is all taken straight from the show and produced well enough to put into a video game. Surprised? You aren't the only one.

gameplay

Most would expect that this game would play much like its predecessors Boy Genius and Jet Fusion. Wrong! Well, somewhat. It controls much in the same way, but the play mechanics overall focuses on inventions. You'll spend most of your time creating and using gadgets to progress throughout the game. These gadgets require pieces that are littered throughout each area. This is particularly interesting because the game actually makes it feel rewarding to collect items. Gizmos require two objects whereas Inventions require three and Super Inventions require... yes, four. It's a fairly simple process, but it works well in the game. Using each gadget doesn't necessarily make you extremely powerful, but there is a sense of accomplishment when you open new areas you couldn't reach before. To be honest, the only really useful invention that helps in the overall enjoyment is the Speed Boots, just because Jimmy runs like he's moving through a ten-foot-tall tub of molasses. To be fair, his legs are about two inches long. Goddard, Jimmy's pet robot dog, is one of the cooler aspects of the game. Technically, he is one of Jimmy's inventions after all. Goddard can be upgraded to shatter walls, find gadget pieces, and dig up items. He's fun to play around with and adds a lot of flavor to the game itself. The downside? Two hours. Hmm.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Jimmy Neutron: Attack of the Twonkies is certainly a good GameCube title to pick up for twenty bucks right off the bat. The platforming can be fun and the rocket ship missions in between are even better. However, considering the extraordinarily short length and simple gameplay, this can only be recommended to a handful of people. If you're a fan of Jimmy Neutron, you should definitely have this game in your collection seeing as how it’s the best yet. If you're looking for something with a bit of color, light-hearted humor and some cool visual effects, give this a rent. You may enjoy yourself for a day or so.

6.8/10