The Adventures of Cookie & Cream

"The Ultimate Co-op Gaming Experience!"

If you have found this review, you have probably heard of or found a copy of The Adventures of Cookies and Cream, and thought, "Is this game any good?" Let me tell ya, this game is great -- but you have to have the right conditions. That being the case, let's look at what makes and breaks this game.

Gameplay: The heart of the game. The game is split vertically down the middle, with Cookie on one side and Cream on the other. The object of the game is to maneuver both characters upwards through the level to the gates at the finish line or each level. You have a certain time limit to get both characters through the finish line. "Dying" or getting hit by enemies will take away your available time. If the time runs out, you lose. This design is done by working together to get past obstacles in your way. For example, Cookie may need to press a button to release a bridge for Cream to cross. Then Cream may need to jump over to a crank and turn it so that a platform rises out of the water (they can't swim) so that Cookie can advance.

It seems so simple, but it can be extremely challenging! Why? 'Cuz it isn't just simple puzzles to navigate through, there are enemies that chase you around which you can mostly jump on and kill, and there are difficult platforming jumps to get through, too. Combine that with on-the-fly puzzle solving and you've got a tough game!

Although the gameplay is the meat of the game, you just gotta wonder: "Is this a good one player game?" The answer is: Not really. See, this game CAN be played by just one person. This is accomplished by the left analog stick controlling the character on the left, with the L1 being the jump button and the L2 button being the "action" button (where you use the button to "pull" objects, etc.), and the right analog and buttons work for the character on the right.

Trust me, it is tough to control two characters at the same time. There are enemies or platforming to worry about simultaneously, and it is difficult to watch both sides of the screen at the same time. Worst of all, if either character doesn't move for a few seconds, enemies swarm the character and batter him/her and you lose time (you can kill the enemies, but then you have to abandon the other character and hope the same doesn't happen to him/her, too). So in that regard, one player just doesn't work out. Some of the later levels are just too complicated. I got through the first world (4 levels and a boss battle), and just the first level of two of the other worlds by myself.

Now, with another player, this game rocks! It is just fun to work together to get through puzzles. And if you get stuck, you have two minds working on the problem to get past it. Some of the later puzzles are extremely difficult, and the platforming can be tough, too, so it is easier to work together. Boss battles are kind of tough with two people, though, as one person usually controls one aspect of the fight while the other does something else. For example, in one fight, player 1 controls how a car moves left and right. Player 2 controls how the car moves up and down on the screen (boss battles are not split screened). It is tough to get a system working where bosses can be defeated. But that's the fun of the game! Working together!

The rest of the game isn't going to wow anyway. I thought the sound effects fit the game (it seems a bit cartoony), and the graphics and style look like the game is geared for younger children. But the gameplay is for veterans, as the puzzles and platforming can be very challenging. The other offering of the game (multiplayer, which supports a 4 player adapter) isn't very much fun and consists of very average games to play. But the game isn't made for that anyway; it is all about the co-op.

As a one player game, this game is just too tough. For a friend who enjoys puzzle solving and platforming rolled into one, this game is awesome! My score for this game reflects that great co-op gaming. This game was MADE for co-op more than anything else, and there aren't many other games like that on the market!

My only real knock on the game is how some of the mechanics work. In some instances, one player must pull or push something that moves another player (for example, player 1 moves a baseball bat handle back while player 2 is on the ball on other side). Some of the time, the actions of one player don't correctly effect player 2. In my example, I can push the bat handle all the way back, but the bat won't hit the ball with enough force, and player 2, who is riding on the baseball, doesn't make the huge gap and dies (so we lose time). Other times, it works just fine. I guess my real complaint is that some of the mechanics aren't very consistent, which can be very annoying when you are towards the end of a level, and the only reason you don't beat the level is 'cuz the gameplay let you down.

Rent/Buy: You can beat the game in a rental if you and your friend have patience to try and try again on some of the later levels. I think there are about 40 or so levels (including Boss Battles), so there is a lot to do. Since you can probably find the game for about $10-$15 dollars used now (or less, as of 7/22/06), you can certainly afford to buy it and take your time. If nothing else, you can always try to beat the game by yourself or re-try any levels you have already beaten to get better scores/times.

So I would say buy it if it is less than $15. If you can't find it for less than that, try to rent it, as you can beat it with a buddy in 3 rentals or less.

Overall: Great co-op game! Only Perfect Dark sticks out in my mind as a better co-op game! Go get it!

Peace.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/06