Platform: Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, GameBoy Advance

Genre: Action

Number of Players: 1

I’m running down the list of cartoon characters I used to watch when I was a kid in my mind, taking stock of what became of them-

Popeye the Sailor- de-fisted by the kinder, gentler society we have become.

Bugs Bunny- blasted with a shotgun and neck snapped by Elmer Fudd (OK, that was in the Family Guy Stewie movie, but still).

Speed Racer- I grew up and realized how bad it really is.

Time has not been kind to my cartoon heroes. So, where do I look when my inner child wants to
plop down in front of the TV and vegge out to a blast from the past?

Scooby Doo?

Two live action movies based on this classic ‘toon would seem to suggest that, no, Scooby Doo would not be a good choice, Sarah Michelle Gellar not withstanding. Just when it seems all hope is lost, along comes a humble little game from the folks at THQ called Scooby Doo! Unmasked.

Scooby Doo! Unmasked could best be described as a feature length interactive cartoon starring everyone’s favorite cartoon canine and his wacky cast of friends. The whole gang is here, including Scooby’s best bud, Shaggy. (Consider, if you will, the use of the word “bud” here, in reference to Shag and Scoob. Consider these two characters, suffering from a never ending case of the giggles and munchies….)

Regardless of whatever leafy green thing of the Earth Shag and Scoob might be partaking of in the back of the Mystery Machine, Scooby Doo! was a hit with the kids, and Unmasked! is a game geared toward the younger generation. Simplistic in scope and control, the game lets the player take control of Scooby in an adventure that consists of running, jumping, flipping levers, and collecting Scooby Snacks. It is, in essence, every single platform game you have ever played, set in the world of Scooby Doo and toned down for younger players.

The story involves the Gang going to visit Fred’s uncle Jed, who runs an anamatronic creature factory. All is not well as the gang arrives, though, finding Jed has gone missing, the shop trashed, and Jed’s partner Winslow (voiced by Adam West) blaming him for the whole mess. Of course, the Scooby Gang (an aside- In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy’s friends were called her Scooby Gang. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy, starred in the Scooby Doo movies. Perhaps someone could point out this unfortunate trend to Ms. Gellar, perhaps helping her career go in a more positive direction) smells the odor of a mystery here, and swings into action, visiting various theme parks trying to hunt down Jed and clear his name. And by “the gang swings into action” I mean that you, playing Scooby, swing, run, jump, and fight into action, while the rest of the gang stands around waiting for you to do all the dirty work while they take all the glory. That is, Scooby has to bring various items to the other characters to further the game. For instance, taking clues to Velma unlocks new areas in the levels, taking bits of food to Shaggy allows him to create new and interesting culinary delights to gain new medals or heath benefits, and so on. It would have been cool if the player had been able to take control of the other characters in turn, but Scooby is the star of the show, so the fact that he is the only playable character is understandable. The game does a well written and engaging story, written by the same guy who did Transformers and GI Joe, and this probably the games strongest feature. For folks who crave an original Scooby Doo adventure, Unmasked! certainly fills the bill.

Some of the voice actors from various incarnations of the cartoon series do the vocal work for the game, most notably Frank Welker (Fred) from the original series, and Scott Innes, who did Scooby and Shaggy in later incarnations. Innes does Shaggy to absolute perfection, but his Scooby voice leaves a great deal to be desired (from my remembrance of the original series – I can’t speak to the later versions). Sound effects, music, even the laugh track from the series are included for authenticity, and the visual presentation is totally convincing- cell shaded characters and fluid animations really give the player a feeling of being in an episode of the series. Taken altogether, Scooby Doo! Unmasked is a treat for hardcore fans of the series, whatever age they may be, although older players will find it far too short (three or four hours ought to do it) and far too easy. Kids who love the show (and probably many who just like fun games) will eat this one up, and as a bonus, the parents of those kids might have a good time with it, for the nostalgia factor, and the $30 price tag is probably about what this game is worth. Some kind of multiplayer option so kids and parents could play together would have made this game almost perfect for family time fun. As it is, Scooby Doo! Unmasked will appeal to those particular gamers mentioned above, but the seasoned gamer will probably want to give it a rent if they need a quick fix of a new Scooby Doo adventure.

-Ed-