Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland

However, as far as NES games go, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is as solid as they come. I said this earlier, but if this came out during the NES’ lifespan, it probably would be well-remembered. Maybe not as well as one of the system’s absolute classics, but at least in the same niche as Little Nemo: Dream Master. Released today, it’s another very curious case of a new licensed game getting released on an old console. That’s already very exciting for me, so the fact that it’s also a well-tuned game is just gravy.

Cumulatively, you end up with a title brimming with nostalgia and good ideas, but controls that hold the affair back.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is a well-made platformer that captures the heart of what made the TV show tick, and that's perhaps its greatest achievement. The character swapping system isn't unique, but it works well owing to some clever and occasionally quite challenging stage design; and, while it doesn't reinvent the wheel, there's a fun action game here with a good level of exploration. Whether you're drawn to the HD or retro aesthetic variants is down to which of your nostalgic sentiments is strongest. Either way, the 8-bit representation is so accurate to hardware of that era we can't believe it wasn't actually released three decades ago.

Enter a world of imagination with fan favourites The Rugrats.

In the end, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is just another platform game in a sea of ​​better titles. It only served as a platform (no pun intended) for companies like Limited Run to ride the hype and release their very expensive collector's editions. If you're looking for a fun game to pass the time, stay away from it.

The Rugrats ride again

While it may be enough for the ardent retro platforming enthusiast or for hardcore fans of the show, it’s difficult to see this is anything more than a barebones release aimed at cashing in on those hoping for a dose of nostalgia. Adventures in Gameland never stopped amazing me, regrettably most of my amazement wasn’t in a positive manner. It’s been 20 years since the last Rugrats video game, but perhaps this is proof that some things are better left in the past.

However, the gameplay sours this otherwise heartwarming and nostalgic experience. Controlling the babies is frustrating, and it's made worse by the fact that the player is forced to navigate through unforgiving stages. Unless someone is a massive Rugrats fan, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is a game that can be skipped. For now, it's better to either watch playthroughs online, or just revisit the classic cartoon from the very beginning.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is a fun little game based on the classic Nicktoon, but unfortunately it's a little too short and too easy for the price.  The ability to swap between the four main babies and each having their own strengths and weaknesses is nice, plus the graphics and audio are pretty spot on from what Klasky Csupó gave us over three decades ago.  However, the high price point for a rather easy game that can be completed in under ninety minutes will likely be a bit of a turnoff for a lot of people.  If you're able to wait for it to go on sale, it's definitely worth checking out.

As mentioned in the beginning of the review, your impressions of Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland are going to depend on how you feel about a game that takes its presentation and design strictly from that 8-bit generation of gaming. The game looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous on the presentation front, and the game does a good job of applying the Super Mario Bros. 2 mechanics to its game world. You'll wish the camera issues from the HD mode were fixed and that the cheap hits from enemies and their placement weren't present in the most annoying of areas. The game is fine, but the frustration from these issues and the relatively high price for such a short experience prevent it from being an all-around great title for fans of nostalgia.