The Adventures of Cookie & Cream

NOTE: I previously posted this review on GamePro.com

Don't play this game alone.

     The Adventures of Cookie & Cream is an often overlooked early PS2 game that successfully blends puzzle with platform elements

     C&C plays like what you may imagine a split screen mode on the PS1 Crash Bandicoot games. You control Cookie and Cream throughout a split screen platform game where what one of them does on their side of the screen effects what happens on for the other. When the path is blocked for one of them the solution is usually on the other one's screen. For example, Cookie's path may be blocked by by an impassible pit of water, but you notice that Cream has a catapult with a watermelon ready to launch. Upon launching the watermelon into the pit of water, a hippopotamus appears to claim the watermelon, and let Cookie ride on his his back across the pit. It's that type of mutual puzzle solving that makes this game shine. That's also where the puzzle element come into play. Each stage adds it's own assortment of two player puzzles to solve, and exact synchronization between the two characters is key. Not to mention that you have a time limit in each level, and every time one of your characters gets hit, it shaves off more time. This adds to the sense of urgency to complete each of the game's levels in a timely manner.

     Upon beating all the puzzles in an area, you're treated to a boss fight. Each boss requires it's own unique challenges that also requires two player team work in clever ways. Some will be as simple as having cookie dodge a giant boss while Cream is on top of a wall pulling levers that send giant logs out to knock his legs out from underneath him, while others will require Cookie to pilot a vehicle while Cream throws projectiles. This element of team work is an integral part of the gameplay, and never feels like a gimmick because the game makes it work so well. This game is an absolute blast to play with a friend.

     This however brings me to the weakest part of the game. Though it can be played as a single player experience, the only way to get the full experience is to play with a friend. Having to coordinate both sides of the screen is challenging enough with two players, but having to control both Cookie and Cream with one controller makes what is already a pretty tough game even tougher. It's a whole lot less fun playing by yourself. It's doable, but you just don't get the full experience without that second player.

     Also, don't let C&C's kiddie graphics fool you, this is a very challenging game. As the game moves on, the time limits get smaller, and the puzzles get harder. Some of the later level require almost a perfect run, which will mean many frustrating restarts. This does, however, make it all the more sweeter when you finally conquer a level. that was previously impossible. It's also not always clear on what you need to do in a boss fight, because they give you no clues. It's for most part pretty easy to figure out, but there are a few boss fights that will be particularly frustrating until you find the easy solution.

     The controls in the game are very responsive for the most part with two players. The game only has an action button, and a jump button aside from the analog control, but you will at times have trouble finding the spot you need to be in in order to perform an action on short notice. This can lose you valuable time. Playing the game on single player makes the game also considerably harder to control.

     The game is also relatively short once you figure out how to complete each stage. A friend and I were able to beat in in one gaming session, but we had played it previously, and knew what to expect. There aren't a whole lot of levels, to play, and there's only one unlockable area to play via finding little puzzle pieces scattered throughout the game's levels. This adds a little bit of replay value to the game, but pretty much, once you're done, you're done.

  The game's music score is cheerful, but forgettable, and Cookie, and Cream's screams may annoy some of you out there.

Bottom Line: The Adventures of Cookie and Cream is a charming puzzle/platformer hybrid that you won't get the full experience out of unless you play with a friend. Don't let it's kiddie appearance fool you, this game can be very challenging.

Here's a vid I uploaded to youtube of the game in action: