GameCube

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams

Like any other hardcore gamer out there, I love a good platform game and the GameCube is home to some pretty excellent ones. Among my favorites is the original Tak, a game that was not only wildly original but also lots of fun to play. So it didn’t come as a surprise that THQ and Nick Games released a sequel, but is it any good? Let’s just say that Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams is what platform dreams are made of.

But thankfully this is not the case with the THQ-published sequel Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams. The title, smartly developed by Avalanche, is carefully designed so that both younger and older players can enjoy it for different reasons. The kids growing up on other popular Nickelodeon tie-ins will naturally be drawn to the aforementioned cute main character and colorful landscapes while adults will appreciate the way the game goes out of its way to make fun of platformer clichés through well-scripted, often humorous dialogue, and that it doesn't skimp on challenge. Indeed, some of the environmental-based puzzles Tak 2 delivers are surprisingly engaging.

THQ and Nickelodeon’s brain child returns for a second spin. For those not in the know, Tak and the Power of Juju was a joint venture between THQ and Nickelodeon where THQ would be responsible for developing the games and Nick would follow with an animated series or something along those lines. The game was overall seen as a pretty solid platformer, but it didn’t do anything particularly different to make gamers notice. Tak 2 tries to differentiate itself with some seriously laugh out loud humor, which works out very well for the game.

I do think that the franchise has a lot of room for improvement, but that doesn’t mean that Tak is without his charms. The art direction, character design, and storytelling are all top notch. For those who don’t have a lot of platforming experience or just want to hear a funny tale, this certainly isn’t a bad choice, but I’ll be looking forward to the upcoming TV show more than playing this game again.

Sans trahir l'esprit du premier volet, Tak 2 s'enrichit de nouvelles idées qui le rendent plus intéressant à jouer, avec notamment des interactions plus poussées et une progression moins confuse. Certains passages peuvent parfois s'avérer délicats mais le jeu reste accessible aux plus jeunes et leur offrira un bon divertissement.

The characters are endearing, the writing is genuinely funny and the CG is beautiful. Sadly, I just don't want to play this game. I've played too many superior platformers to want to spend time with Tak 2, but I honestly hope this series lives up to its promise.

This gaming season, there are a number of mascot platform games available: Jak III, Rachet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue, and countless others. Where does Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams fit into the mix? It's certainly not as good as some of Sony's high-profile offering and it's a step above what Electronic Arts has to offer, but the Ty sequel has the advantage of a budget-level price. If you're looking for a platformer a sibling or child will want to play with you, Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams combines great gameplay with entertaining characters and extremely pretty visuals for a surprisingly fun gaming experience.

Last year's Tak and the Power of Juju was a decent 3D platformer that made up for some of its technical shortcomings by providing a pleasantly surreal setting and by spiking the action with a bit of goofy humor. Thanks to these factors and, no doubt, the Nickelodeon seal of approval, Tak found an audience. Now, Avalanche is back with Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams, which earnestly tries to improve upon the first game and is somewhat successful in its efforts. There's a much greater variety to the action, but like The Power of Juju, The Staff of Dreams suffers from needlessly vague level design. The oft-confusing level designs are especially hurtful, because Tak 2 is otherwise pretty simple, straightforward, and aimed squarely at a younger audience.