Urban Yeti!

"Great Idea, Bad Presentation."

Have you ever had the urge to attack a stranger with a cat? Or perhaps you've always wanted to participate in an ultimate frisbee tournament. Well my friend this game has these things and more. How much more? Not enough to make up for the lackluster quality.

Story

This is one of the most original ideas in gaming history and is presented flawlessly. Basically your a yeti who for some undisclosed reason lives in a big city. Your objective? To find a female yeti to mate with. If that doesn't sound exciting enough you also have to maintain a part time job at a restaurant, fight hobos for hot dogs, and avoid capture all the while ensuring the local populations fear of large ape like creatures. Sounds like a yeti's life is harder than it appears.

Graphics

The cut scenes of in between levels are very impressive and looks almost Playstation quality. The in game graphics are a different story. They seem to be stolen from an Atari Lynx title. Not exactly the high point of the game.

Sound

I actually enjoyed the both the soundtrack and the various effects. The sound of a yeti punching a police officer is just how I've imagined it in my fantasy. The most enjoyable part of the sound however is the Urban Yeti Freak Out which has to been seen to be believed.

Game play

The game plays like a mixture of Grand Theft Auto, Zelda, and various 80's arcade games. The exploration elements are a bit under developed and leave you desiring more. For example the only time you see most of the city is when your on the run from the police. The objectives are also very vague. I've spent hours looking for ways to progress the story. The mini-games however are executed perfectly and allow you to play remakes of great games such as Toobin. Over all the however the main game disappoints.

Replay Value

The most replay to be gotten out of this title is showing it off to friends. There is very little desire to replay any of the areas.

Overall

I recommend it to people who happen to enjoy bizarre games, have money to waste, and love the thought of destroying city property with their fists. Of course this game could be the beginning of a great franchise. Just think, next year we could be playing Rural Vampire or even Suburban Werewolf.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 02/18/03, Updated 02/18/03