Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

The Good
This game has this sort of visual charm to it that I appreciate in early GameCube/PlayStation 2 titles. The music in the game is really good too, especially the theme that plays on the main menu. The game never gets ridiculously hard at any points and for the most part, levels are laid out in a very direct way that ensures it's hard to get lost. The bonus clips and trailers that you unlock throughout the game are a nice touch too, as well as a model viewer and a section where you can see the bio for every character. Also appreciated is the relatively smooth flow of the game, which goes through every major event of the movie and includes as many important points as possible. Nothing feels left out, and even if you do feel like something was left out, a number of clips are included in the extras that can possibly provide context. Also, the game never felt too easy nor too hard during normal game play.

The Bad
The biggest downside to this game is the platforming. It's unreliable at best, and the chances of missing jumps during 2D platforming segments is relatively high. The physics can also be a bit rough too, mainly during the slide segments. The rocket mini game that can be played in every level is VERY tough, which is odd considering that the rest of the game is relatively easy. The pre-rendered sprites used for the pickups have this weird lighting to them that makes them look a little creepy, in my opinion. The models are also pretty low resolution for the GameCube, but that doesn't detract too much from the appeal. Health pickups are surprisingly scarce, which is understandable seeing as the game is pretty easy but it can be a pain if you make many mistakes. One of the biggest letdowns is that there's no credits scene at the end of the game, instead simply booting you back to the main menu. The credits are viewable from the extras menu but it makes beating the game feel unrewarding. Lastly, the game is quite short, only taking me about 3 1/2 hours to beat, but this may be a good thing to some.

The Bottom Line
This is a game clearly targeted towards the younger audience of the franchise, but it's short and easy enough that fans of Nickelodeon games may want to pick it up and try it out. Otherwise, if you're not a fan of Jimmy Neutron, I'd stay away from it unless you want a game that's a good short time-waster.