PlayStation 2

Looney Tunes: Back in Action

Like many franchise-based games, Looney Tunes: Back in Action has a lot to live up to. It is a fun game for young and old, with some good old school toon action. However, the camera problems hold this title back a bit and may make it hard to play for some gamers.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action is a more-than-perfect gift for the kiddies, and a solid rental at the very least for older people who, like me, still love the Looney Tunes characters. By itself, it would be an average--if somewhat fun--game, worth perhaps a single glance at best. But with the Looney Tunes license on its side, it becomes something downright charming and special. Try it. You just might like it.

I could write more: about the repetitive trademark Looney Tune verbal gags (which do get annoying after 20 minutes), about the lack of 'guidance' (the helpboxes disappear very fast) etc etc. But I don't feel like it. This game has cost me enough valuable time as it is.

In the end, "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" feels like a generic platformer with Looney Tunes characters pasted on top of it. All of the irreverent one-liners in the world can't save it, and neither can half-hearted appearances by supporting characters. Rather than feel like it was built from the ground up with Bugs and Daffy in mind, you could substitute in any other characters without much difference. The Looney Tunes may be back in action, but if this is the best they've got, they won't be back for long.