The Addams Family

"Gomez, Go Out There And Save Your Wacko Family"

I was standing in some pretty cheap video store one day when I was around 6 or 7. I just received a Super Nintendo for my birthday and found out at this store you could actually rent video games. Being the kid I was I just had to rent this game because I absolutely adored the Addams Family growing up. This is the first game I have ever played in my life. Being a 6 year old, I found this game pretty difficult with it's size and puzzles. Now I find it a very enjoyable game with some minor flaws that prevent it from being a instant classic on the Super Nintendo. Read on to see why this is a solid game on all levels.

Graphics:10/10

For when this game was made, these graphics are incredible. You really get a feel for this and it almost seems like you are at the Addams estate. I found the game very colorful and very vibrant. Everything is outlined well and most of the characters look like the ones straight off the shows and movies. I thought Ocean did an outstanding job with what they did here. Even though we are at about 10 years after this game was released, it is still a game with one of the best graphics on the Super Nintendo. This is coming from a game that was one of the first ever released on the system. I have to tip my hat to Ocean for their work here.

Sound:8/10

Another very excellent attribute to the Addams Family. Ocean has again given us another reason to like this game even more. They have gotten a lot of the music straight from the television series and twisted it around and it works like a charm. Some very annoying sound affects drop this score down. Other than that, the music is a very solid effort. I was very pleased considering I wasn't expecting much at first.

Gameplay:9/10

I would call this an action game. You play as Gomez, who is out looking for his family that has been abducted and hidden on the Addams estate. This goes for Morticia, Pugsley, Fetzer, and all of gang. Gomez lucked out I guess. There are many different types of puzzles throughout the game you must solve to advance. Each section of the house holds a different member of Gomez's family. They are also being held by what is usually a pretty difficult boss. Gomez gets many different types of gadgets like a beanie hat to fly around in for example. You also get to collect other things astray throughout the house. From the mansion, to the graveyard, this game is full of some interesting challenges, and some good Addams fun. I enjoyed this gameplay a lot and I think you will too, especially you Addams Family fans.

Story:9/10

All of Gomez's family have been abducted and hidden all around the Addams estate. If Gomez is going to get his family back, he is going to have to save them himself. I really enjoy this story because it takes you to all different places inside the Addams estate. It's not just the mansion you are in, but the graveyard for example too. The game never gets tiresome so it will have a fresh feeling to it throughout.

Challenge:10/10

This game is very hard. To my recollection I never beat it because it gave me some really big fits. Some of the obstacles to pass are hard, most of the boss fights are real frustrating, and the big kicker is that I don't think there is a save point. This game is pretty long too so if you want to beat it, you may be sitting in one spot for a very long time. Please don't damage your wall by chucking your controller at it.

Replay:7/10

This category depends on the challenge factor really. If you found this game hard after your first time through, I could see you playing it maybe one more time here and there. If you found it easy, I could see someone playing it daily. I think it's up to the persons taste. A few times was enough for me. I really enjoyed this game my first few times through it, but it's not something I would play all the time. I don't own it but I'm sure it would be collecting dust on it if I did.

Buy/Rent:Buy

The reason I say buy is because I know you probably couldn't rent this game anymore. $20 bucks or under is a steal for this game. I'd recommend it to anyone for a price like that and I'm sure you could get it for that off a store like Gamestop (if you could find it). It's a very rare game so if you see it, I really do recommend picking this solid title up. You will be glad you did because it has excellent value. It will also keep you busy for many days.

Overall:9/10

The Addams Family is an exceptional game. It exceeds in most every category, but the challenge brings it down a tad. I found it almost too hard for me. It is still a great game regardless. Fan of the show or not, I strongly recommend this game to anyone. It's fun, full of good nostalgic times, and will keep you busy for hours. Pick up The Addams Family today, and add it to your gaming library to enjoy.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/02/02, Updated 08/02/02