Tak and the Power of JuJu - GBA

The latest action hero to do the rounds on the games consoles comes from a joint venture between the long running partnership of THQ and Nickelodeon. The idea is to do the complete opposite of what normally results from the two, in the fact that Tak and the Power of Juju is starting out as a video game, before moving on to its own TV series (T Shirt, mug, lunchbox, duvet cover, etc.) There's a 3D adventure available for PS2 and GameCube, as well as this complimentary 2D side-scroller for the Game Boy Advance.

The story here remains the same as the other versions, with you taking control of the eponymous Tak, a young shaman's apprentice charged with the task of recovering five magical moonstones, which have been stolen by the evil Tlaloc. A source of great power used by the Moon Juju to defend the village of Pupununu, it's imperative that the stones be found, especially considering the fact that Tlaloc is threatening to turn its inhabitants into sheep.

The game follows suit in the usual GBA platformer fashion, offering up eight hazardous worlds across which you must guide the unwitting hero. There are enemies, there are platforms, there are things to collect, and a simple control method means that while the game can be taxing at times, you soon find yourself getting in to it. You start out armed merely with a good pair of legs for jumping and a simple blow-gun, but progression through the game soon sees you acquire new weapons (such as a club) and before you know it you're flying around in a chicken suit and swimming with the fishes.
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