Voodoo Vince

" Suicidal doll alert!"

Most Xbox platformers haven't been fully realized yet. With the unsatisfying Blinx, or Oddworld not living up to either of their legacies, and Rare on board with no exciting ideas it is hard to draw inspiration these days. So what's wrong with taking a 2nd-rate Voodoo Doll, and trying to create some platforming magic? Nostalgia strikes its fatal blow once again. I'm convinced that the Nintendo 64 was the optimum console for everything platforming. With the zesty influence of Zelda, and Mario the gaming world has been a better place, and has also had a lot of bright ideas to feed off of. Although every once in a while a new butterfly sports its wings (Jak and Daxter was pretty good) the majority of platform gaming is pond scum (Pitfall Harry!)

What a wash rag is to a sponge, Voodoo Vince is to a Barbie. Something about this crummy doll makes me excited. Perhaps it's the stylistic design, the humorous scripting or the stupidity which is peppered on in large doses. Honestly, I don't think I could stomach the life of Voodoo, that Voodoo so well. It's just such a depressing mixture of vibrant colors, living statues, obnoxious British people, and a living doll that tortures itself to lay down the law. The whole base of the story is to save Madame Charmaine (Vince's creator!) She's no Princess Peach, but she'll have to do!

We must first acknowledge the little recognition this game was getting from gamers before its release. Once it had finally hit our shores few people flocked to it with open arms, many were hesitant. While I was trying to get the "casuals" to try a game just once even if their inner “coolness” was telling them to buy True Crimes, or The Getaway, it seems that I had failed horribly. Not one person I know (other than myself) has even touched this game, which bothers me. Just because a game isn't popular is no reason to pick it up, if you're lucky you may find a wicked platformer that satisfies your ever-lasting quench for a good next-gen platformer. In a world of Dr. Muto's and Dragon Lair 3D's it is hard to tell what is going to be a generic platformer and what is not. Let me remind you now-never judge a book by its cover!

Clocking in at a nearly maximum gameplay time of 10 hours for pretty much any gamer, it's not easy to recommend Voodoo Vince to everyone. You‘ll have to be in the mood for a cute adventure game starring a suicidal hero that looks like a sock puppet (Vince is no Hercules!) It's certainly a forgettable affair, with endless-pits of impending doom aplenty there's a certain frustration here that brings us back to the many similar Playstation games which were stained with the same flaw. Even though it does feature my two worst pet peeves in the gaming world (endless pits, and invisible walls) there's something about Vince's subtle premier that makes for a quirky adventure of unmatched proportions.

With such cryptic puzzle formats, familiar collection-induced gameplay, and a slew of challenging jumps which promote far away camera angles (why me god?) I have to admit it, I enjoyed the game immensely. It was harshly tedious jumping through large chasms, and the usual spikes/water/fire/insert random hazard here. There's nothing too defining in Voodoo Vince, you've got your basic move-set which consists of: Jumping, Double-Jump, Spin, an assortment of magic, and a few little tricks here and there which will leave you surprised, enjoy them while you can. Feeling a lot like the infamous Crash Bandicoot series (when it was owned by Naughty Dog) Voodoo Vince isn't quite convincing. It's actually quite hard to explain my moral issues with the game, the insanity of playing as a doll, and why I love it in ways. I have mixed feelings for my Vincent. You can butt-stomp (HOW INNOVATIVE) and use a grappling hook (INGENIOUS!)

The levels are partially what makes for such an exciting world. Some can be incredibly small, while others are abnormally large. In one level you might be trying to get from point A to point B or trying to distract a dog so you can get to the next level. It's all progressive, and it certainly gets near-impossible when your trying to make death-defying jumps over never-ending gaps aiming to land upon an object that looks like a duck! At other points throughout the game you'll be using your smarts for puzzles which will require you to complete a confusing list of things in an odd order. One example is when you're trying to get a trumpet to get into the next level by playing with a cryptic gate keeper. To acquire this instrument you'll have to figure out a puzzle which will enable you to reset a clock, so you can enter a costume party to earn money for the trumpet, then you'll have to go reset the clock, collect the trumpet, and attend your little jam-session with the gate keeper. It's these kind of levels that keep this raged doll alive and well!

Often times boss-battles can become a test of your reflexes requiring you to hop along a path making it through some hazards while flipping switches in order. These puzzles can be great fun, unfortunately the platforming isn't nearly as refined as any in house Nintendo game you've ever play. Fortunately for Vince, Nintendo doesn't create Xbox games, leaving him alone in a field of rejects. I do think that anyone could enjoy the humor here, even gamers who are afraid to put down their Manhunt in fear that they'll look like a wuss. Don't hang your head in shame once-valiant gamers! You can play Voodoo Vince with any of your friends, it's humorous, its exciting, and above all else, it's a fun game (which is all that really matters, right?)

Painted over the vibrant New Orleans setting is some sort of grim back-drop which will be explained throughout the story. Even if there's never a true feeling of community, you‘ll have towns to wander, and small areas to explore. Playing around with your Voodoo powers can make for some humorous situations, and it looks hilarious watching a doll abuse himself. Even if it's demented in its own way, Voodoo Vince maintains its flavor, and its influences. It looks like a late-dreamcast game, but it's nothing that will damage your vision!

Whatever it is, there‘s some magic working in Voodoo Vince's favor, and I for once am enjoying the off-colored humor of this relentless platformer. Through all its Pet Peeves, and numerous Pros there's a solid game here. It is far too easy to let Vince slip by, but I would have to suggest it as a must-rent. Around 10 hours of gameplay is perfect for an empty weekend. Suicidal Voodoo dolls are the way to go!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 10/04/04