Circus Caper
Reviewed by Ty Massei
Graphics: 3 out of 10
Sound: 5.5 out of 10
Gameplay: 3 out of 10
Hardness factor: 6.5 out of 10
Overall: 3 out of 10
Graphics: The graphics were pretty poor, save from the cutscenes at the
beginning of the game. The color scheme was just too mixed (bright and
murky dark), enemies didn't even look interesting, and the main character
looked ridiculous when he hit.
Sound: While the music wasn't that great later in the game, it did set up
the mood very well in the very beginning of the game, for a NES game at
least. After that, the music just wasn't creepy enough and the sound effects
seemed like they have been used and reused in every circus video game. I'd
like to say that it fit the mood of the game, but they were just of such low
quality that I don't think they did.
Gameplay: This games genre would definitely be a sidescroller. You play as
a kid whose sister got a free ticket to the circus, but after waiting for her
at the exit a guy shows up and says he kidnapped her. The story isn't really
that great, but it's sort of creepy. Anyway, unfortunately the game goes
downhill from there. It just turns into a very basic sidescroller where
you can only hit (they never seem to connect unfortunately), jump, and get
other weapons to hit with (though they disappear).
Hardness factor: This game was harder than it should have been. Even though
the controls are relatively easy, 2 out of 3 times when I hit an enemy, it
never connected with them. It just got to the point where it was getting frustrating.
Overall: 3 out of 10. One of the many sidescrollers for the NES that just
doesn't cut it. Maybe I've just played too many games, but I didn't think
this game had any original aspect in it whatsoever.