The Adventures of Cookie & Cream

"Two Player Puzzle Solving Bunny Fun!"

Gameplay - This is a puzzle/platform game, although it is mostly puzzle. The screen is spilt vertically, with Cookie on the left and Cream on the right. The two rabbits each run down separate paths, through the same level. The pair must help each other by one rabbit, for example, hitting a switch that opens a door on the other’s side. You control Cookie (the rabbit on the left) with the left analog stick and the L1 and L2 buttons, and Cream is controlled with the right stick and and R buttons. You move the rabbits with the sticks and jump with L1 (for Cream) and R1 (for Cookie). The L2 and R2 buttons are the “action buttons”, which are used to do things like pull switches or play a trombone.
You can play this game with up to four players in vs mode, or two players in vs mode or co-operative story mode. The beginning levels are not too difficult, but still challenging. Once you get to the later levels though, you had better find a friend who likes puzzles because unless you can use both sides of your brain at once, you’re gonna need their help.

Story - The Adventures of Cookie and Cream takes you along with the two rabbits as they journey to find the moon. Cookie is a brown rabbit with a banjo, and Cream is a pink one with maracas. On the night before the moon festival the moon disappears and two roosters appear before Cookie and Cream. The roosters give the rabbits two “crowns” and transport them to a strange island. With Cream’s flower pot crown, and Cookie’s umbrella one, they set out to find the moon.

Audio/Video - The sound is in with the style of the game. Cookie and Cream make various “Gah” and “Eeh” noise when they are hit, and the music is quirky.
The graphics are colorful with lots of things moving on screen simultaneously. At the beginning of each boss battle player’s are also treated to a CG movie showing the boss arrive to fight the bunnies. The graphics are good but not amazing. The CG movies are also good, and leave nothing more to be desired.

Replayability - Cookies and Cream can find “gifts” throughout the levels, which can be collected to unlock more characters in vs mode. After beating a level you are also given a letter grade and your time. You can revisit levels to collect “gifts” and improve your time and grade. When I played this game, however, after beating a level I wanted to get as far away from it as possible.
Also, I don’t want to give anything away, but... I wonder what happens if you beat the last boss?

To buy or rent? - If you want to play this game I suggest renting it first, although I have never seen it at any of my local video rental stores. It won’t be for everyone, but if you like it I suggest a purchase because it will take you a few weeks to finish.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/17/01, Updated 07/17/01