Addams Family Values for MD PAL

Image: MobyGames

Addams Family Values

Fester's Questions

Genre: adventure - overhead

Publisher: Ocean Software

Year: 1995

System: MD PAL

Gameplay Score: 1

Gameplay Notes:

Looks and plays just like the SNES version, but slower. I didn't give the SNES version much credit, so I can't dock this any further, but I recommend playing this on SNES instead. Mixed bag to say the least. The controls are good in many ways. Fester goes where you tell him to and moves in all 8 directions. So good job on the overhead game movement guys. However, the combat is utter garbage. Your only attack is shooting a continuous stream of lightning directly in front of yourself. However, you can't move while doing this and the range of the lightning is short so you either need to get close to an enemy and begin firing or camp out and hope the enemies walk into the line of fire. Either way it's horrible. Oh and the enemies move in completely random, grid-based patterns similar to Darknuts from the original Legend of Zelda. Uggh

Level Design Score: 4

Level Design Notes:

It's one continuous map, like a Zelda game, but with distinct biomes like a forest, a greenhouse, or a swamp. The design of these areas is varied but they're mostly linear mazes. They feel...empty for the most part. I only played for a little more than an hour so there's probably a lot more.

Theme Score: 2

Theme Notes:

I'm not a fan of the show or the movie this is based on and frankly nothing grabs me. I wouldn't pick this up if I didn't have to. Fester as a main character is also an iffy choice.

Art Style Score: 3

Art Style Notes:

Stunning background pixel art. The areas you walk through feel alive with detail and subtle animations. Unfortunately the sprites are ugly. They're well drawn, mind you, but their designs are just awful, especially Fester. It's also worth mentioning that the colors in this version look faded and unappealing. Again, play the SNES version instead.

Audio Score: 3

Audio Notes:

A far cry from the excellent SNES soundtrack. It's not terrible here - the compositions are the same, but the Genesis isn't able to produce the haunting ethereal sounds that Sony's chip pumped out. The soft sounds are replaced by tinny, loud noises, and the songs play at a much slower pace. I assume that's a PAL issue, but it's noticable. And the sound effects are too loud and jarring.

Overall Score: 44

Review ID: 6800