The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown
Score: 89% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: THQ Developer: Blitz Games Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Platformer (3D)
Graphics & Sound: Timmy Turner is your average kid. Well, an average kid with a pair of fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda. When Timmy’s TV goes on the fritz, and his fairies suddenly have a problem with their magic, it’s up to Timmy to find out what is going on to bring back the magic -- all before his favorite show comes on. The look and feel of The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown meshes fairly well with the slightly off animation style of the show. But there are still some aspects of the characters’ models that just don’t seem right. The locations themselves fit perfectly, but most of the time, the characters seem a little to static. Timmy, Cosmo, and Wanda always have an odd blank look on their face. When I am playing a game based off of a cartoon series, I like it when the characters and graphics pull me in and make it seem like I am watching an episode of the show. That never really happened in the case of Shadow Showdown. The music and voices, on the other hand, came straight from the show, and kept me entertained whether I was exploring dreams, trekking through Fairy World, or taking part in an issue of The Crimson Chin.
Gameplay: The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown gives you control of Timmy Turner and his two wish-giving fairy godparents. But instead of being given free reign with an infinite number of wishes, something has happened to the wish powers of Fairy World. In order to allow Cosmo and Wanda to grant one of Timmy’s wishes, you need to collect three wish stars. There are six stars in each level, giving you three magical items that you will need to right the wrongs of that level. You will find a lot of areas and pick-ups that are unattainable when you first start going through a level. But as you wish for more things, you will be able to go back and get those previously out-of-reach objects. If you are a completist like yours truly, then this will add a lot of gameplay to Shadow Showdown. But if not, then you will be able to quickly move through the different levels without any problems. As you travel through Fairy World, Dad’s Dream, outer space, and an issue of The Crimson Chin (just to name a few levels), you will be able to buy various objects that will let you sprint longer, find wish stars easier, and much more.
Difficulty: The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown isn’t too hard. There are some parts that get tricky, but in general you should be able to get through each level’s objective list without any problems. Thankfully, it was never difficult to figure out what I had to do next. Each time I completed one goal, the next one presented itself to me. This made the navigation and overall feel of the game that much easier to handle.
Game Mechanics: The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown has a simple control scheme that is easy to pick up and master. You jump with the X button and sprint with the Square button. The Circle button lets you push or pull blocks, while the Triangle button lets you activate and use wishes. You can call your fairy friends with the R1 button, while L1 lets you choose the wish that you want at your fingertips. Shadow Showdown is a good game for any Nicktoon fan.
-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications AKA Chris Meyer
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