Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park
a game by | Eko Software SARL, and Cryo Interactive Entertainment |
Platform: | Playstation 2 (2001) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 8.9/10 - 7 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Side Scrolling Games, 2D Platformer Games, Woody Woodpecker Games |
I bet that you are thinking, Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park is going to be some godawful abomination of a video game tie-in. Well, I need to tell you that this is a pretty slid action-platformer that is borderline a bit of a hidden gem as it is a game that is way more fun than you would think.
The New Woody Woodpecker Show
In the late 90s, they rebooted Woody Woodpecker with The New Woody Woodpecker show and this game was released to tie in with that on the PlayStation 2 and PC, there was also a very different Game Boy version released also. I have always loved Woody Woodpecker; I remember renting his VHS tapes from the store as a kid.
The story of the game is that Buzz Buzzard has kidnapped his niece and nephew and wants a crap ton of money to get them back. Instead of paying the ransom. Woody heads to Buzz Buzzard Park in order to save them himself and put a stop to Buzz Buzzard once and for all. It is a decent enough story that has a nice amount of charm to it.
Shine Bright Like A Diamond
One of the most impressive things about Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park is how well it holds up from a presentation point of view. I played this game recently and was shocked at how bright and colorful everything was. There is a fair amount of variety to the 20 plus levels that the game has too. Woody himself looks great and he is animated very well too.
The game features some “interesting” voice acting. As a kid, Woody Woodpecker drove my dad nuts and he appears to be a character you either love or hate and if you hate his laugh, well you will hate the sound in this game as you hear it a lot. As well as solid voices, the game has a fitting soundtrack that goes great with the levels.
Woodpecking Around!
The gameplay on offer here is far better than you are probably thinking. At its core, Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park is a basic 3rd person action/platform game. You control Woody as he runs, jumps, and attacks on his way to save his family. He controls very well and I never had any trouble with the camera while I was playing it. You can collect tokens as you go and the gameplay does get changed up every now and again.
Sometimes the camera will switch to a 2D perspective which is fun and keeps things fresh. Also, you have to use your beak to interact with things and kill enemies too. Other things like having to shoot yourself off a cannon are fun too. It may not look spectacular, but this is a solid game that is fun to play.
I am sure that most people who were playing on a PlayStation 2 back in the early 00s probably completely overlooked Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park. I know I did and I liked Woody Woodpecker as a kid! The thing is, this is a fun action/platformer and it is the kind of game you can put on, beat in a few sittings and then put it back on the shelf as you tell others how much of a hidden gem it is.
Pros:
- It captures Woody perfectly
- I liked the way the game played
- The platforming feels great
- It does try to add in new things to certain levels
Cons:
- If you find Woody annoying, this game will not change your mind
- While it does what it does very well, it does play it all very safe
Download Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP