With game-play cleverly adapted from the movie’s storyline, this treat of an action game allows fans of The Emperor’s New Groove to relive scenes from the film in a whole new way.
As the story goes: On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, the self-centered emperor, Kuzco, fires his twisted advisor Yzma, who ends up turning him into a llama in a fumbled attempt to do away with him. Kuzco, in his newly transformed llama form, is discovered by the very peasant, Pacha, who he had brazenly dismissed earlier in the day.
In order to solve the emperor-turned-llama’s dilemma, the unlikely pair sets out on a journey from the village to the palace, and that’s where this action game begins. Playing as the "ugly, stinky" llama himself, little gamers work through eight varied levels, from the village and the jungle by night, to the river and the jungle by day, and so forth. Their more immediate goal in each level is to collect coins, avoid undesirables (such as spiders– "no touchy!" exclaims Kuzco), open up secret areas, and make it to the next "chapter."
Each new level opens with a video snippet from the film, and kids never seem to tire of watching these. One favorite of preteens is the "kiss of life" sequence in which Pacha reluctantly resuscitates the llama with a "kiss" after a near-drowning scene. These sequences nicely tie levels together and introduce new plot twists in the game.
Playing as a llama has its interesting "perks," including the abilities to kick in midair and to spit grape seeds at will. The levels feature visually interesting scenes and delightful surprises. Players learn they can steal past flytraps while these menacing plants are busy munching the grape seeds the llama has spit at them, and they can gather clues from conversations with characters encountered along the way while they listen to Kuzco’s humorous one-liners. Besides the usual level explorations, interesting missions are in store. For example, one chapter has players secretly following Pacha, but if they allow the peasant to spot Kuzco, it’s back to the llama pen to start all over again.
Minichallenges include a heart-pounding, mad dash as kids steer Kuzco through the jungle with a pack of vicious jaguars on his heels, through a guard-littered maze, and on a thrilling ride down the hills sliding on Kuzco’s shell–after he has ingested turtle potion–in a race against Yzma’s not very bright, but fast, henchman, Kronk. This latter game can require many tries before it is perfected. Each time Kuzco goes plunging off a hill, he returns to the top with a new one-liner such as, "when I’m back in charge, this hill’s getting an escalator."
Fans of the movie will be especially thrilled with this game! Many of the adventures in the film are recreated in a first-person, and often extended, format. For example, an entire level is devoted to Kuzco and Pacha’s treacherous journey down a waterfall and river, tied to a log. Even Pacha notes, "This scene was much shorter in the film!"
Just as Kuzco let viewers know he was aware he was in a movie, he lets them know he is savvy in this action game. The game remains faithful to the humor that makes the film work so well, with its amusing references to the movie and general poking fun at itself. For example, Kuzco questions in his typical, sarcastic manner the logic of the game when, after their treacherous river journey with whirlpools and snapping crocodiles, the pair then meets up with a "kid in a yellow blow-up llama" for a race.
Irreverent pokes and an all-around cheeky attitude help hold the interest of parents, while the varied and fun game-play keeps the target preteen audience happy. The result is a rare game that will please people of all ages, with the possible exception of seasoned gamers who may not find enough challenge in the game.
