Let's Check out the Basement
Velma's former school librarian summons Mysteries Inc. to Hambridge University Library to investigate a series of hauntings. Whilst searching through the basement as only they could do, Shaggy and Scooby stumble upon a mysterious book, the Tome of Doom. As it turns out, the Tome has the ability to suck up various ghouls that have been unleashed upon the world, but several pages are missing, and you must find them while solving a variety of mysteries.
Scooby Doo: Mystery Mayhem is presented in a very typical 3D adventure fashion, much like the previous game, Night of 100 Frights. However, the newer title focuses much more on the adventure elements, as well as giving the player the opportunity to use Scooby and Shaggy in a co-operative manner. The player can only control one of the two characters at a time, with the other following behind, but each character will be needed at different points in the game - Shaggy can push heavy things, but Scooby can fit through tight crawlspaces.
The story mode of Scooby Doo: Mystery Mayhem is split into five similar, yet fairly different episodes. These episodes are set out much like your typical episode of the cartoon - the player meets the person who hired the group, then sets off to find clues, while running into ghosts and eventually finding the evil ghost, capturing him and unmasking him. One can also find ingredients for a sandwich in the levels, which will unlock a mini game.
Mystery Mayhem will also have you capturing ghosts using the Tome of Doom - simply open up the book, and mash on the button that pops up on the screen to trap the ghost, ensuring that the ghost doesn't try to charge you, and that you have enough energy to trap it. Trapping ghosts is probably the most annoying part of the game, due to poor collision detection and tough AI.
From the perspective of a more serious gamer, Mystery Mayhem's major flaw would be its distinct lack of difficulty, but the fact of the matter is that this game is designed purely with a younger audience in mind. Everything from the stage layouts to the game's price point has been created with children in mind. Nothing is entirely tough to find or solve in Mystery Mayhem, and even the most average of gamers should have this one licked in under five hours.
Zoinks!
Games meant for a younger audience typically feature less than spectacular graphical presentations, and Mystery Mayhem does nothing to change this trend. Blurry textures, unimaginative levels and simple character designs do nothing to help the situation. A cel-shaded presentation could do wonders for the overall atmosphere of a Scooby Doo game, but the developer has chosen to stick with the run of the mill 3D modeling techniques. Mystery Mayhem does feature lovely shadowing effects which counter some of the other more mundane graphical features. Mystery Mayhem lacks 60 Hz compatibility, and features some small, non-intrusive borders.
THQ and Artificial Mind and Movement have gone to a lot of effort to recreate the aural experience presented by a Scooby Doo cartoon. The voices in the game are provided by the actors who provide the voices in the What's New, Scooby Doo? cartoon (including Frank Welker, the original voice of Skeletor). Mystery Mayhem also features the original 1969 cartoon's opening sequence re-created using 3D rendered characters, complete with the original opening theme. The other music and sound effects are the sort of thing fans expect in a Scooby Doo cartoon, and do a good job of creating the necessary atmosphere.
Jinkies!
Scooby Doo: Mystery Mayhem isn't a game that was designed with dedicated gamers in mind - instead, the game is suited more to younger children or older people not familiar with videogames who still enjoy Scooby Doo paraphernalia, as one can see from the simplistic game mechanics and forgiving level design. Mystery Mayhem may not be the best Scooby Doo title to date, but it most certainly holds its own by providing a videogame incarnation that stays very true to the series.
Loading...
