Tang Tang

"Early GBA puzzler, good try"

Gameplay: 7
Graphics: 5
Sound: 6
Replay: 7
Overall: 6

There’s sure to be an abundance of puzzle games on the GBA, and what a surprise, as I mention this, I do a review of one! Yes, Tang Tang is one of the first puzzle games on GBA.

The game is of a simplistic concept, its semi-original for a puzzle game though. You choose one of four little guys, Tang Tangs, each pretty much similar except for colour, the only noticeable difference being the colour of the items you need in the game. You play through a series of increasingly difficult levels, playing a world such as in Mario land, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 etc. The game consists of you having to collect a certain number of strange-shaped items, and then get the to the goal. The levels have enemies that halt your progress, and each level just takes up the one screen. The way to get to most of these items is to create blocks, that you can destroy, in which to jump on to get to the item. With the ability to destroy them, it also allows you to reach lower items. The controls are simple, jump and fire block, pretty damn simple.

The graphics are certainly not the best you will see on GBA, simple characters, simply designed, backgrounds such as those on bust a move and so on, simple colours too. But as with any 2-d puzzler, this has no impact on the game, though the colours are a bit bland.

The sound is what you’d come to expect from any puzzler, the usual quirky tunes, AKA, bust a move again, and usual ‘blippy’ sound effects, again, not the best you will find on the GBA, but sound and graphics aren’t the kind of thing you look for whilst choosing a puzzle game.

It’s a puzzle game, so replay has to be a big factor of the game. Tang Tang though, isn’t the best puzzle game for this, it may be a fun game for a while, but it can get very frustrating and repetitive, 2 big downers with any game. No 2 player mode also wears this game down, and limited modes, sorry, only 1 mode in all, wont exactly keep you happy for very long, the game has many levels, but once beaten, what is there?

A prime example of a 100% average game, average in all aspects, from the title screen, right down to the gameplay itself, good for a quick go, but if you want a wholesome experience, I suggest you try something else, personally I’d wait for my favorite puzzler, well, tie with Tetris, Columns.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 06/20/02, Updated 06/20/02