"The story of a forgotten game..."

Maui Mallard In Cold Shadow is a game for the SNES. However, very few people knew that there was another version created specifically for the PC. The game is very close to the original, except that the levels are a bit different, and the music has been changed a bit.

Like any good action/2D platformer, the game features a wide variety of stages. You play as a duck named Maui Mallard, whose quest is to recover a stolen idol from an evil sorcerer. In the beginning, you only have your blaster, but as the game progresses, you collect ying yang coins in order to morph into the powerful ninja: Cold Shadow.

GRAPHICS: 10/10

The graphics are detailed and colorful. Very 32-bit like. Unfortunately, the sprites are a bit too big, which means you have less room to maneuver. Otherwise, the graphics are very well done (kind of disney-like if I do say so myself).

CONTROL: 5/10

It's somewhat difficult to control Maui. He doesn't jump very high, and his sprite is a tiny bit too big. It's obviously more fun playing as a ninja than a detective carrying a blaster.

SOUND: 10/10

The sound effects are fantastic. Although the soundtrack doesn't really stand out that much, it suits the levels very nicely. Maui's blaster really sounds like--a blaster. When he's a ninja, you can actually hear him swing his stick, as well as when he defeats an enemy.

STORY: 9/10

The manual tells you a bit about the story. In addition to that, there are scenes between levels that fill you into the plot. They should've included an introduction, though.

DIFFICULTY: 10/10

This game is insanely difficult. Maui's low jump makes things even more frustrating. The enemies are annoying, and you don't really have much fun unless if you're playing as a ninja.

REPLAY VALUE: 5/10

Because of this game's overall difficulty, you're going to have a lot of frustration. Luckily, the developers included a password system that allows you to skip all the way to the final battle, which is a huge relief. Without the password system, you might never want to play this game again. Still, they could've made the game easier and added some new levels.

OVERALL: 8/10

This game isn't bad, don't get me wrong. However, the game could've used some improvement. If more levels were added in, and the game's difficulty wasn't that frustrating, the game would've received a perfect ten. Unfortunately, it isn't, so it doesn't.

BUY OR RENT?

This is a difficult decision. I strongly suggest that you rent the game, though, because due to the lack of levels and the frustrating difficulty, the game cannot last more than seven days. Still, it's fun while it lasts.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/15/03, Updated 07/15/03