TAD - The Lost Explorer - Craziest and Madness Edition - Game Review
4TAD - The Lost Explorer - Craziest and Madness Edition - Game Review
Hey there, game enthusiasts! Welcome back to "Veteran Game", your trusted source for all things video gaming. Today, we're exploring the realm of 2D platformers with a title that's as much a mouthful as it is an adventure-- "TAD - The Lost Explorer - Craziest and Madness Edition". Now, let's get straight to it!
For those unfamiliar, "TAD - The Lost Explorer - Craziest and Madness Edition" is inspired by the film released last year, "TAD – The Explorer and the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet". I myself am not intimately acquainted with the films or the graphic novel this series sprang from. Nevertheless, a few online clips revealed a quirky, family-friendly adventure, far from a mere carbon copy of some famed explorer with a trademark hat and whip.
So, how does it fare as a game? It's a decent Switch offering, but it clearly caters to the TAD fandom more than a general gaming audience. It encapsulates TAD's journey alongside his friends, including his girlfriend Sara and his best buddy, Mummy-- yes, the bandaged and undead type of Mummy.
In the game, clumsy TAD accidentally triggers a curse that impacts his friends, setting off a worldwide quest to find the Emerald Tablet and reverse the curse. This story unfolds through in-game cutscenes and comic book panels peppered between levels. The comic book panels, in particular, piqued my interest, as they draw on the original comic strip of TAD, offering a raw yet distinctive style. Furthermore, these panels come to life through full narration, an element notably missing from the in-game cutscenes, which rely on text and comedic character sounds.
The graphics deserve a round of applause, presenting unexpected levels of detail for a movie spin-off game. As you traverse diverse locales-- from Aztec ruins to the Louvre to the Egyptian Pyramids-- you'll notice meticulous environmental designs, testifying to the developers' deep-rooted affection for the TAD series.
The game is peppered with allusions to the TAD film and lore, showcasing characters like an old archaeologist who repeatedly asserts, 'I’m a shadow' and a sign-wielding parrot who enjoys ribbing players. These references, though a bit opaque to me, still managed to squeeze a chuckle or two out of me.
Gameplay in TAD involves 2D platforming, stealth sequences, and light puzzle-solving. There are four playable characters with unique abilities, though the game predetermines who you control. Controls are quite straightforward, with your parrot pal frequently offering reminders. The game's objective is simple-- reach the level's end, typically cloaked as an artifact hunt or security system deactivation. Levels are compact, and the whole game should take around 4-5 hours to complete if you explore thoroughly.
Level designs are straightforward, and pinpointing the next step is effortless. Levels contain collectibles like paint brushes, stamps, and relics that you can learn more about in the options menu. There's mild combat where you dispatch or stun enemies using rubber chickens, presumably another nod to the films. Lighting torches to illuminate new paths also comes into play occasionally.
The game intermittently features puzzles where you rotate stone tablets correctly based on clues found in the library, but these moments are sadly sparse. The platforming aspect didn't particularly resonate with me due to the less than precise controls. The stealth sections felt rather tedious, frequently consisting of hiding in cupboards and evading alert guards. The game swings between highs and lows, catering predominantly to a casual gaming crowd.
The "Craziest and Madness Edition" brings a few enhancements to the Switch version, most notably introducing a fourth playable character, the Mummy. This character boasts a higher jump and can instantly hide from enemies by diving into his sarcophagus. His levels offer a well-balanced blend of platforming, stealth, and puzzle-solving. Besides this addition, tweaks to graphics and level design lend a 2.5D look to the game, and 3D cinematic cutscenes have been added, although they didn't substantially amplify my gaming experience.
In a nutshell, if you're a die-hard TAD fan, the Switch version is undoubtedly the definitive TAD gaming experience. I appreciate the developers' dedication to crafting this game, which is a rare sight considering film-to-game adaptations typically exist in the mobile domain.
However, despite the admirable attention to graphics and fidelity to the source material, the game remains somewhat mediocre. The platforming is clunky, and the stealth sections can be irksome. The puzzle segments are the game's high point, yet they feel underutilized. Given its hefty price tag, I'm hesitant to recommend it to a general gaming audience. It's a surefire hit for TAD enthusiasts, but for everyone else, it might be wise to watch the films first, and then decide if the game is worth a go
Other Videos By Veteran Game
Other Statistics
Tad the Lost Explorer Statistics For Veteran Game
At present, Veteran Game has 239 views spread across 1 video for Tad the Lost Explorer, and less than an hour worth of Tad the Lost Explorer videos were uploaded to his channel. This is less than 0.73% of the total video content that Veteran Game has uploaded to YouTube.