Cartoon Orbit

"Addictive for a while, then gets kinda boring"

Cartoon Network is a famous kids TV channel watched all over the world. Then, some five years ago, they came up with an idea for online trading cards, like Pokemon, instead used characters from popular TV shows. Then called it Cartoon Orbit. It is fun for a while. From things like trading for the last card to complete a set, auctioning off cards, or battling it out in gtoons. It's a good pastime, like Neopets, but it also has it's flaws.

Gameplay:

Cartoon Orbit is very easy to enjoy. After you sign up, you can use your points to buy cards, or find something in the auction. The auction is very unpredictable because anytime, you can find something you desperately need. If the auction is not your style, you can buy cards in the shop to build up your collection. Then, you can take your collection of cards and display them in your czone. You can also visit other czones, to see what other orbiters have.

Once a week, on Mondays, Cartoon Orbit will release a new set or cards, which you can trade or auction. Occasionally, they will release an Orbit code. Enter the Orbit code and get a free card! A few years ago, on CCF, Cartoon Orbit would release an Orbit code that would entitle you to 2 free cards. A two for one deal. I don't think they are doing this now.

Gtoons is a game where you build a deck of 12 special cards. pit them against other people's decks and see how well you fare. This game is mostly luck, if you can draw the right cards at the right time, but that just boosts your ego when you pull out with a close victory.

As good as it sounds, nothing is perfect. If you just started with Orbit, you will receive five starting ctoons and 12 gtoons. However, everybody already has those cards, and you will have a hard time trading them. Also, when you begin, you receive 400 points. Sounds like a lot doesn't it? In reality, 400 is nothing. Any decent ctoon in the auction is at least 1,000 points. You have your work cut out for you, trying to gather a few points together. All hope is not lost, however. If you visit another orbiters czone, you automatically receive 4 whole points! With 4 points per czone, you need to visit 150 more czones before you even reach 1,000. Even then people will still outbid you. Another way to earn points is to play gtoons. Every game you play nets you 4 points. Since each game takes 5 minutes to play, well, you do the math and find out how long you have to play to stand a chance in the auction.

If things in the auction are too expensive, just visit the shop. Since nothing is perfect, you will learn that ALL of the good ctoons are already sold out. That's the problem with Orbit. If your new, you can't buy any good ctoons because they are gone already. Only people who started out a long, long time ago will have good ctoons. If you can't afford anything in the auction, and all the good cards are sold out, how is it possible to get any good cards?

If you happen to have some of the super rare cards, you can auction those for 100,000< points! If you don't, the beginning will be harsh, but anything can happen. Maybe you will get lucky in the auction?

Cartoon Orbit is full of glitches and unfairness. For example, the clock in the auctions seem to be slightly off. Also, a long time ago, Orbit gave out ctoons that only had ONE copy in existence. That means only one orbiter can have it. They also auction off some ultra rare ctoons that can be worth more than your house! Back when orbit started, there was something called Winball, which was like a pinball machine and you win whatever the ball lands on, and Win Wheel. However, the odds of winning are so small you are better off visiting czones. These cheap tactics by Orbit just makes you want to win more badly. You can also buy gtoon booster packs for a disturbing price, but you get 1 rare and a chance to win a super-rare Slam gtoon! Sound cool? I've bought more than a hundred packs and got nothing. Another glitch is sometimes when you play gtoons, your computer will freeze right in the middle. Aside from wasting your time waiting and not getting credit for a win and loss, gtoons is actually quite fun.

Story:

Sorry, no story.

Graphics:

Nothing but a bunch of your favorite characters standing there proudly. Some of the older ctoons animate, but only a few of them do. Otherwise the graphics are decent. Every few years they give Orbit a new style by changing it's layout.

Sound:

Since it is online only, there is basically no sound, except for the cash register chime when you make a purchase. The only other sound is heard when you play gtoons. Overall, the sound is not bad.

Playtime:

Oh, you will be playing Orbit for a very long time until you decide to quit, but why would you want to throw it all away? If you are a member for a few years, then you can collect some valuable ctoons.

Replayability:

You do not want to quit Orbit, because the later you sign up the harder it will be for you. Just keep one account steady and you will actually have fun. Hey, it's free, so play it all you want. There are many things to do, like shopping for cards to complete a collection, auctioning, or expressing yourself with your own czone. Yep, Cartoon Orbit thought of a lot when they made this online game.

Rent or Buy:

It's free, so you can give it a shot. Who knows, you may actually like it. I have been on Orbit for years now and I still think it's quite fun. You never know until you try.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 08/25/04, Updated 08/31/04