Santa Claus Jr. Advance Review (GBA)

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Published on December 27, 2010 9:03:47 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiBT77gJ0uo

Game:

Santa Claus Jr. Advance (2002)

Category:

Review

Duration: 3:10

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Though neither game made an appearance in North America, Santa Claus Jr Advance is the sequel to the Game Boy Color platformer Santa Claus Jr. The game released in Europe in 2002, and has largely gone unnoticed. I decided to review the game as a silly Christmas game, and to share a laugh at its expense. Turns out, it's actually pretty good.

That's not to say Santa Claus Jr. Advance will blow your mind. It probably won't. But you're looking at a solid platformer that doesn't quite reach the stars, but doesn't seem to have any major faults either. With the aid of a Christmas fairy, Nick must help Santa deliver gifts to children. There are enemies to trounce and a handful of powerups to utilize, although they don't pop up as nearly as often as I'd like. At the end of every level, Santa will rank you with hand gestures based on how many children you found and how long you took, which is kind of a smug thing to do if the jolly old elf isn't going to help out.

The bright and colorful cartoon art style and playful music and are definitely stand out traits, but the level design is also a notable asset. It's not memorable necessarily, but it is nicely designed and fun to navigate while you're playing. Every once in a while, it even throws a respectable challenge at you.

Color me surprised by this little game. I can't recommend rushing to eBay to snag your own copy, but it's pretty cheap and if you have a hankering for a pretty good Christmas themed game (especially if you dig platformers), Santa Claus Jr. Advance is worth a look.

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