Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation S.O.D.A.

"Operation R.E.V.I.E.W."

Really
Eccentric
Videogamer
Identifies
Excellent
Wares

Story: 10/10
The legal soda drinking age has been raised to 13 and up. Kids everywhere can no longer enjoy their sugary liquid refreshments. Yeah, not if the K.N.D. have anything to say about it. Simple, yes, but stories like this are what make K.N.D. so entertaining. It's what fans of the series have come to expect and this game doesn't disappoint.

Game Play: 9/10
For the most part, missions are played by trying to get from point A to point B. The path to point B is littered with adults, rainbow monkeys, candy and bottle caps. Each character has his/her own weapon and set of abilities, which makes the overall difficulty level vary based on which character you're playing as (i.e.: Numbuh 4 has a melee weapon, so he has to get up close to deal damage, as apposed to Numbuh 3, who has a bazooka-like gun).

Each characters levels are played a bit different than the last. Numbuh 1's levels are all flying levels, Numbuh 5's levels are all on the ground and entails a LOT of precision jumping, and so on.

All this sound easy to you? Well, yes, some levels are easier than others, but overall, this is quite a challenge.

One problem: You can't save your game. Rather, every time you hit level midpoints or finish a level, a password is shown. So remember to write your passwords down or you might end up having a lot of work to redo.

Graphics: 10/10
Sweet. That's the best way to describe it. Perfectly crafted characters, rich, vibrant backgrounds and throw in a few cartoon drawings that the fans all love. Just one of those games where all the visuals work out great.

Sound: 9/10
Other than the original K.N.D theme, there are only a few other tunes. Normally, constantly looping music is annoying as all hell. But GSS did a good job; the music isn't as irritating as it should be. On the contrary, the player is treated to encouraging tunes and playful sound effects, all fitting into the general mood found in most K.N.D. related things.

Oh, but there is a problem. At the start of each mission is the mission-loading screen (if you've seen the cartoon, then you know what I'm talking about). The sound of the text appearing on screen...is...very loud. VERY loud. I'd be conscious of the volume if I were you, especially if you're playing on a Nintendo DS.

Replay Value:
Well, not a whole lot of replay value to be found. If you miss any pick-ups during the course of play, there isn't any way to go back and get them, short of using a password from an earlier level. Of course, if you just want to replay your favorite missions or play with your favorite K.N.D operative, away you go.

Final Recommendation:
If you're a fan of K.N.D., then you'll love this. It's got all the craziness found in the animated series. If you're a passing fan, then you might want to consider...ya know what? Forget renting/borrowing, you need to buy this game. Really, I wouldn't recommend people to forgo a test drive if the game was crap.

Overall score: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/05