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Bound Around

Published by Blueskied
Price $19.95
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Primary Genre Secondary Genre

As the animated intro describes, your tennis ball family have been kidnapped by the evil insects and it's up to you to save them.

The insect army is kidnapping your family. A close up from the scrolling area

Bound Around is a charming platformer with puzzle elements. The game starts as a sedate scrolling platform game. The main character bounces continually from the top of the level to the bottom in a steady beat, and so you can navigate the level by using only the left and right arrow keys. The game has cute graphics and the relatively slow pace of the game makes it ideal for small children, although I found myself far more interested in playing this than most of the games I review here.

As the game starts, you get a large and easy to use menu. The icons light up and the words are large and easy to read. Easy is the key word here. The instructions are great and include hints, but instructions are hardly needed because this game can be understood up very quickly.

One of the rooms.

Progress on the scrolling level can be impeded by doors or walls that need stars to open and this is where the rooms come in. You get stars by entering rooms and completing the puzzles therein. There are many elements to the puzzles. Your ball bounces continually remember so you've got to avoid touching things like moving enemies or skulls, while destroying certain blocks or activating switches. Pop up windows give you hints when you enter rooms, as well as update the plot. When you die you have the option to restart or leave the room.

The graphics are all very bright, well drawn and animated. The sound effects are average but the music is great, very catchy and perfectly suited to the game. The music constantly changes too, which stops ears becoming boring. Sound volumes can be set as you would expect from a well presented game like this.

Bound Around should be ideal for children and adults who think like children, although the game might be too babyish to attain mass appeal. It's simple to play, non-violent and fun.

Well done Blueskied. More like this please.

Graphics 79%
Sound 90%
Playability 90%
Longevity 85%
Overall Score 87%
Silver Star

Published on 28 Nov 2003
Reviewed by Mark Sheeky

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