Back within the mid-to-late ’90s, Disney produced a cartoon referred to as Gargoyles that stood out fairly a bit from different reveals within the animated panorama. Featuring a serialized storytelling format, wealthy lore, and a moderately darkish tone, it rapidly gained a cult following throughout its run, although it by no means garnered a big sufficient fanbase that may permit it to blossom into a large franchise for the House of Mouse.
At the peak of the present’s reputation, a online game adaptation was produced for the Sega Genesis within the twilight of the fourth era of recreation consoles, although it was met with middling opinions and gross sales. Now that Gargoyles is seeking to make a comeback with the not too long ago introduced Disney+ present on the way in which, Disney has seen match to offer this recreation a re-release as Gargoyles Remastered from Empty Clip Studios. Featuring some new additions like a rewind function and up to date artwork and music, this revival of a half-forgotten cult basic is an okay outing, however very like different 16-bit Disney titles, it hasn’t aged all that properly.
The narrative in Gargoyles Remastered is loosely primarily based on the plot of the present, however as one would anticipate of a tie-in recreation from the ’90s, it doesn’t function anyplace close to the depth of storytelling because the present. The plot right here is totally dealt with through a sequence of still-image cutscenes earlier than and after ranges, that includes a number of sentences that roughly clarify the premise. The primary gist is that you simply play as Goliath, the chief of an historical magical clan of gargoyles from Scotland that battled evil Vikings, and you end up transported to modern-day Manhattan after spending over a thousand years as a stone statue. Once woke up, Goliath finds that he should as soon as once more battle his previous foes in a brand new age, as they try to make use of a relic referred to as the Eye of Odin for their very own nefarious functions. It’s a advantageous sufficient story contemplating the scope of the sport it seems in, although it feels a bit shallow if one is aware of the a lot deeper lore that it’s primarily based on.
Gameplay follows the essential template of a no-frills sidescrolling motion platformer. Goliath has a number of swipe assaults, a close-range grapple transfer, and a double bounce, whereas he can blast by way of weak partitions with a cost transfer if he can construct up velocity. There are 5 (technically six) ranges to battle your approach by way of, every designed in a comparatively linear and considerably haphazard vogue. The complete factor ought to take you about an hour to clear at most, assuming you don’t run out of lives and have to begin yet again.
Though it may be enjoyable to expertise this considerably obscure a part of gaming historical past, it’s abundantly clear that Gargoyles got here out in the course of the peak of the period when builders made video games unfairly troublesome so children couldn’t lease and beat it in a weekend. Enemies take off monumental chunks of well being whereas sparse, hidden well being pickups restore nearly nothing. There are frequent cases the place off-screen enemies gank you with ranged assaults throughout difficult platforming sections. Hit detection in your assaults is weird, by no means making it absolutely clear whether or not you truly hit an enemy even when it seemed just like the assault linked.
To its credit score, there’s one thing bizarrely charming a couple of retro recreation that feels janky on this approach, however the novelty wears off fairly quick. Luckily, Gargoyles is a a lot simpler expertise this time round because of the introduction of a rewind function which helps you to run issues again by a number of seconds to reattempt powerful sections as many occasions as you’d like. This actually makes issues extra bearable, but it surely additionally has the impact of eradicating the issue that initially made this recreation a lot ‘longer’. Roll the credit after an hour and also you’ll discover there’s not a lot else so that you can do than to only play it once more from the beginning.
As for its presentation, Gargoyles Remastered has a neat function the place you possibly can seamlessly toggle between the unique Genesis launch and a brand new remastered model with the faucet of a button, not not like the superb Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. Gameplay and physics stay precisely the identical between the 2 variations, so which one you roll with is de facto only a matter of non-public style. We admittedly most popular the a lot moodier visuals and crunchy sound bites of the 16-bit authentic; the brand new artwork and remastered soundtrack is advantageous, but it surely feels somewhat devoid of character and loses a number of the unique’s ambiance.
It is also somewhat disappointing that Gargoyles doesn’t have the type of gallery content material featured within the Disney Classic Games Collection. This isn’t totally surprising given the TV present’s standing because the unloved stepchild of Disney’s ’90s cartoons catalog, but it surely nonetheless would’ve been cool to see idea artwork, advertising supplies, and perhaps some developer interviews in regards to the making of the unique recreation or present. Plus, on condition that Disney has already proven a willingness to function this type of content material for its current re-releases of different video games from this similar period, one can’t assist however surprise why it was omitted right here.
For that matter, it appears bizarre that Gargoyles Remastered is a standalone launch and wasn’t merely added on as DLC to the Disney Classic Games Collection, as occurred with The Jungle Book and SNES model of Aladdin a few years after that recreation’s preliminary launch. Perhaps it is simply not ‘basic’ sufficient? At launch, Gargoyles Remastered will run you 15 bucks, however except you’re a big fan of Gargoyles, the worth proposition is unmistakably lesser for this launch.
Conclusion
Gargoyles Remastered is an okay remaster of an okay recreation. Its moody 16-bit visuals and difficult issue will little doubt enchantment to some, particularly followers of the present, however its quick size and infrequently unfair design actually maintain it again from greatness. We’d say this one may be price selecting up if you’ll find it on a fairly first rate sale down the street—it’s entertaining sufficient regardless of its shortcomings—however you’re not likely going to be lacking out on a ton in the event you select to go on it.
