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Marvin's Maze

 

 

SCORE: 81

 

Marvins Maze 

 

G1M2 has resurrected this 1980’s SNK classic and made it available on the PlayStation Network. Now PS3 and PSP gamers can go retro and help Marvin navigate these deadly mazes swarming with lethal Robonoids. If the term “Robonoids” doesn’t tip you off that this game is straight out of the 80’s, I don’t know what will.

Marvin’s Maze may be on the PS3, but it looks just like the arcade classic from all those years ago. Marvin is a cute, round little creature with very big eyes. His foes, the Robonoids, are grey robotic creatures bent on destroying Marvin as he attempts to collect the dots scattered about the maze. The mazes are comprised of two tiers which Marvin can access via elevators in the corners of the maze. While the background of each maze is simply black (as were many of the games of the era), the mazes are brightly colored and vary depending on which level you’re on. There is no real violence in Marvin’s Maze aside from the “electrocution” of Marvin if he has the misfortune of being captured by a Robonoid. Marvin also has the ability to fire lasers which disintegrate the Robonoids if they’re struck. Both of these actions are non-violent in appearance and should not be a concern for parents.

I love the retro sounds in Marvin’s Maze. Again this is all ported from the original game, but there’s something about those old classic arcade sounds that make me smile. The music is light and upbeat and the sound effects fit the game perfectly.

While Marvin’s Maze doesn’t really have any unlockable content or bonus features, it does have replay value. As with many classic arcade games players will be drawn to the simplicity and fun of the gameplay. And now with all the power of the PS3 on his side, Marvin can tap into some special abilities. Via the game menu, players can tweak things to increase or decrease the game’s difficulty. You can select the number of lives you wish to start with and switch on the “Immortal” mode which essentially allows you to play with an infinite number of lives. This is a nice feature to include as it makes the game more accessible to casual players who would otherwise be frustrated by the difficulty and need to start over time and again. The game menu also allows players to save their game to load at a later time to avoid starting over (something that was not heard of in olden times).

The gameplay of Marvin’s Maze is very simple. Players navigate around the maze collecting “Dots” whilst avoiding the dreaded Robonoids. Marvin starts at the lower level and can travel to the upper level of the maze at any point by riding one of the elevators. Once all the dots have been collected you progress to the next level. Within the maze are also platforms which Marvin can ride across gaps in the maze to take a shortcut or outwit a Robonoid. While most of the game is spent with Marvin on the defensive, he can turn the tables and collect “Super Dots” at various locations in the maze. These give him the ability to fire lasers at his foes and vaporize them for bonus points. Contrary to popular belief, Preparation-H does NOT work on Robonoids. The game play is well balanced as not to give Marvin too much power. One Super Dot is good for one shot, so make it count. On the downside, I found the controls to be lacking in responsiveness making it difficult to direct Marvin precisely where you want him to go. Now in all fairness, modern gaming has caused us to expect extreme responsiveness in our games, so I feel we can cut ol’ Marv some slack in this area.

Marvin’s Maze is from a time when parent’s had to worry somewhat less about what their children may find in a video game. Marvin’s Maze is safe for all ages and fun for the whole family. Its simple gameplay makes it accessible to the youngest player and yet offers plenty of challenging play for the big kids too. If you grew up on the early arcade classics, you’ll be pleased to play this on your PS3 or PSP and maybe even expose the current generation to what gaming was like back in the day.
-Roger

 

Graphics: 80%
Sound: 85%
Replay/Extras: 80%
Gameplay: 78%
Family Friendly Factor: 80%
System: Playstation 3/Playstation Portable
Publisher: SNK Playmore USA Corp
Rating: 'E' - Everyone
{Mild Cartoon Violence}

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Roger@familyfriendlygaming.com