Publisher: Disney Interactive

Rating:

Ages: six and up.

Family Rating:

Parental Advisory:
Mild violence

Violence Rating:

Disney's direct to DVD/video feature, The Lion King 1 1/2 won't hit stores until February 2004, but the related Game Boy title is already here. Disney Interactive's The Lion King 1 1/2 for Game Boy Advance offers a fun arcade adventure that lets players run amok as both Timon and Pumbaa. And it's a great title for kids.

In the game, players take on the roles of Timon and Pumbaa to find the elusive Hakuna Matata. The 2D platform game features three modes of play. Solo mode, which lets kids play as either Timon or Pumbaa as they climb vines, play hide and seek and more. The Team mode brings both characters together with Timon riding Pumbaa in various chase sequences.

The cooperative mode, which is the most fun, lets players alternate between both characters to solve puzzles and complete tasks, which include finding a new home and escaping predators. Timon can jump higher than Pumbaa and climb vines and move past certain obstacles. While Pumbaa can use his bad breath and ram his way past obstacles that Timon can't budge. As a result, players have to use the strengths of each character to make their way past obstacles.

The game serves five chapters that each have five levels. As each chapter is completed, players are awarded special puzzle pieces, which upon collecting all of them, reveals an image of Hakuna Matata and unlocks five bonus levels.

The graphics are good and do a good job of recreating the beloved Lion King characters. Kids get to also watch clips from the next Disney's The Lion King movie, which they will find as they progress through the game's levels. While the characters encounter evil hyenas and other enemies, the game's violence is minimal and bloodless.

Disney's The Lion King 1 1/2 may not be all that challenging to older gamers, but it's an excellent title for younger kids that features the beloved Lion King characters. You should have no worries letting your kids play this one.

Related Story:

Daytrum DVD Review: The Lion King Special Edition

11/4/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff

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