Review of Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland.

Initial release date: March 2024

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S

Genres: Platform game, Adventure

Developers: The Media Indie Exchange, Wallride

Publisher: The Media Indie Exchange

Engine: Unity

We’ve all heard the phrase before, especially if you received the gaming gene from your parents. However, after my experience with Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, I believe there is a very clear reason why they are no longer being produced in the same quantities. They’re not particularly good.

Some 20 years after the original TV series ended, the legendary initial iterations of the Rugrats return in a brand-new retro-inspired 2D platformer. This is not the same babies as in All Grown Up! Unlike their CGI equivalents, they retain their original appearance and feel.

Which raises the question of who this is directed at. Would it be older gamers who remember the original cartoons fondly, or fresh players curious about how games from the past were played. In actuality, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland sits somewhere in the middle, a game that is unsure of its identity.

The Rugrat kids are back!

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland includes all four of the babies as playable characters: Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil. Unsurprisingly, they are not voiced, and there aren’t many cutscenes. There are short flurry that resemble more rudimentary versions of the cartoons, but any big plot points involve the babies’ symbols appearing alongside text bubbles. It could have been a lot more.

The babies are on an adventure after seeing a TV commercial and discovering a hidden door behind the TV for a new Reptar gaming. But in order to open the door, they must collect enough coins from six levels. As fans of the series will know, these newborns have a lot of imagination, so they’re gathering coins to buy the video game by appearing in their own game.

The levels are based on iconic Rugrats episodes, and when I play them, I am reminded of how gloomy the series could be at times. When I saw characters like Mr. Boppo the punching clown, Mr. Tippy the sippy cup, and Thorg the gorilla, as well as the levels based on them, forgotten memories came flooding back. Many minor opponents are also cartoon characters. So, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland does a decent job at referencing its source material with the various enemies that are likely to kill you.

I’m delighted the Let There Be Light episode is mentioned again here. When playing Rugrats: Search for Reptar on the original PlayStation, there are just too many jumpscares to keep track of.

Not as enjoyable as previous Rugrats games.

You can play either single or cooperatively, and there are three difficulty levels to select from. The simplest option does not make the gameplay any simpler, but it does provide limitless respawns. The standard difficulty allows you to switch between characters if one’s health is low, but losing them all results in a wipe. Character swapping is not possible on the hardest difficulty level. I would avoid the later two at all costs; for some reason, this game is significantly more difficult than the 8-bit gaming experiences you grew up with.

Another explanation is because the babies’ stats vary, which makes a difference. Chuckie, for example, has the highest jump, but unlike Lil, he does not float for a few seconds while the button is held down. In a game where platforming must be extremely accurate, the correct character at the right time might make a significant impact.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland features the option to alter things up to an 8-bit version; not just changing the music and applying a filter, but totally transforming the game from its hand-drawn appearance to an 8-bit one. It has a decreased color palette and aspect ratio modification, so you may play the game exactly as it would appear on a NES. And, while I would say that this mode makes the game marginally easier, it does not make it any more entertaining.

The standard mode does a good job of recreating the looks of the original cartoon. The babies look great in their 2D forms, and the supporting characters appear in the level’s backgrounds, even if they cannot be interacted with. At times, it feels like we’re reuniting with old friends when we see these figures from our childhood.

You can get all 8-bitty.

In addition to the Reptar coins that must be collected, each level contains a screwdriver that is required to enter the level’s boss. There are also milk bottles and cookies that serve as health supplies, and several levels have blocks that the babies can pick up and use. It is not immediately apparent, especially in the ice-themed level where the blocks resemble the surrounding environment, that these blocks can be picked up and tossed. I just found out after clicking the wrong button; it’s never specified which button accomplishes what here.

Before’veteran’ gamers complain about games spoonfeeding them, I’d like to know which buttons are for jumping and which are for interacting.

The major issue remains: who is Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland intended at? Is it those who remember the animation fondly but have moved on, or younger players who will be turned off by the difficulty? It appears that Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is also unsure, as it does not do enough to fall on one side of the fence.

One of the first Rugrats games, Rugrats: Search for Reptar, was launched almost 25 years ago. Unfortunately, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland feels like a significant step backwards from that game.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 60%

Controls: 65%

Aesthetics: 70%

Content: 58%

Accessibility: 65%

Value: 62%

Overall: 63%

FAIR

Summary: “Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland” is a nostalgic journey through the universe of the famous animation, although it falls short in some areas. The game’s basic gameplay and repetitious material may not appeal to more experienced gamers, while its antiquated visuals and imprecise controls contribute to a less polished experience. Though it may appeal to younger players or Rugrats aficionados, it lacks the depth and ingenuity required to stand out.