Oldies But Goldies: Animaniacs

Animaniacs was a platforming game with two plots depending on where you got the game, Sega Genesis or SNES. I had the Sega version so we only care about that. Now, the story is that the Animaniac siblings want to open up a hip pop-culture shop. To that effect, they escape their tower and roam around Warner Brothers studios stealing memorable movie props for their shop.

The game operates like a classic puzzle platform. You operate the Animaniac siblings who you have to use to solve various minor puzzles to progress. Each character has their own abilities, with Yakko using a paddle to stun enemies and being able to push and pull crates, Wakko using a mallet to break things, press buttons and light fuses and Dot who is able to blow kisses that, if used properly may trigger specific actions needed to advance.

As far as I am concerned, the idea of switching between characters to advance and solve "puzzles" is immensely fun. With various characters from the series showing up to make the game interesting, the game uses its theme perfectly.

For example, Dot is immune to the "Nurse" while the other two get "stunned" and are unable to move. Using the right Animaniac for the job and fighting the bosses is pretty fun.

Unfortunately, there is not much to talk about here. It is a very -very- standard game when it comes to it. Music is not memorable and it is quite retro-annoying, and the sound effects are what you would expect from it

On the other hand, Graphics are pretty good. The colors may lack the depth and shading of a game like Gargoyles, but the animations in it are fun and cartoonish for the three siblings and pretty standard for the rest.
With a limited amount of levels to go with they did a good job with making each movie set feel unique and interesting, with plenty of characters showing up drawn in perfectly well. Nothing feels out of place and all in all it is -exactly- what one would expect by a game that is based on the Animaniacs cartoon.

The Animaniacs are a fun, if a bit short, game that is a proper wink to one of the best kid's shows from the 90's. With various characters from the cartoon showing up, pleasant graphics, fun animations and gameplay it is by far a game that deserves to be remembered every now and then.

With a story which -screams- Animaniacs episode, good boss fights and off course the proper pop-culture referencing that is and was a staple of the show its a game that even now you will play with a smile. If you were a fan of the cartoon, I strongly recommend you playing this. It is a solid retro puzzle platformer with the best cartoon protagonists of the 90's.