Paperboy

"A poor remake of a classic SNES game."

I actually had never planned in getting this game, I bought it accidentally. But that's not what this review is about.

In this game, you deliver newspapers to various houses on various levels, avoiding various obstacles. The actual idea of the game is a very good one, which is probably what made the SNES version such a great game, but the N64 version doesn't do the game justice. The graphics are childish at best and the music annoys very easily. Position of the controls is also poor.

Gameplay: 6/10
I will give the game some credit; I do enjoy the whole process of delivering newspapers to people. ^_^ You, as a Paperboy or Papergirl, must throw newspapers into the mailbox, at the doorstep, through the window, et cetera. There is a myriad of levels you can explore through as well as some fairly humorous background things you may see. The two punks slugging each other is great. x_x However, it only takes about twenty minutes to grow tired of it, and make you want to turn it off.

Control: 3/10
Let me put it this way, the control is horrible. Putting the most important buttons, throwing the newspapers left and right, on the L and R buttons?! What were they thinking? If you hold the controller the way you are supposed to, with your hand clutching the center projection, you could never reach those easily. Of course, you can change the controls, but there are still too many actions. All we really need is throw the paper, brake, and speed up. Also, you can't turn around, so if you miss a house you have to go all the way back around.

Story: 4/10
What story? You deliver newspapers, that's about it.

Graphics: 2/10
Definitely some of the worst graphics I've ever seen. The whole things makes everything seem cartoonish. The limbs of the Paperboy/girl are like sticks, and aren't even attached to their bodies. Come on, High Voltage, can't you do any better?

Sound: 3/10
The music makes you very angry. It gets annoying after any more than thirty minutes. The sound effects are sub par, but some things the characters say (the old lady when you hit her says, ''Well, I never!'') are pretty funny.

Replayability: 4/10
There is some chance of you playing it again. There's always the want to get a perfect, deliver all the papers, get the all coins, whatever. This is more of a shelf game, though. Pull it out once in a blue moon, play a few minutes, then cram it back up on the shelf.

Buy or Rent?
Rent. Or, better yet, how about neither? It's not worth more than a few plays. Stick to the SNES version.

Enough evidence for you? Ignore this game, you can do much better.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 05/18/02, Updated 05/18/02