Visually Billy Hatcher screams Sega’s typical vision with bright colors, vivid textures, and wild atmosphere. While not totally pushing the Cube to the limits, all the graphical details are present which makes Billy Hatcher quite a looker. Animations are fluid, especially when it comes to Billy himself. He has quite an assortment of moves, jumps, and special abilities that are all well animated. The game moves at a quick pace, but doesn’t suffer from a close draw distance or even frame rate dips. The level design is unique and true to Sonic Team’s efforts in the past. What’s more, the levels are dynamic and huge, which adds to the richness of each stage. The bosses that end each level are distinctive and sometimes very large and impressive. Last but certainly not least is the camera is virtually flawless. There are very few times when the camera becomes an issue, and in a platformer, a good camera is a must. As with most of Sega and Sonic Teams past attempts, the visuals are splendid and are easily Billy’s highpoint.

Audio on the other hand is atrocious! I can understand if a game is geared for kids, but there are games out there that capture the young feeling, but don’t drown you in over cuteness! The audio, from the music to the voice samples, is just too giddy and sweet for their own good. I knew I was in trouble from the moment I booted up the game and heard its theme song. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still a kid at heart even at pushing 30, but come on! If I can stand the Ei-Ei-Poo from Ai-Ai and the Monkey Ball gang, but I find this annoying, you know it’s got to be that bad. I think I’m more insulted than anything, as it may have saved this game slightly if the developers didn’t want to appeal to the 5 year old in all of us. Developers can make a bright and cheery game without making it gooey. Billy Hatcher missed that note.

Platformers have come and gone, and most will be forgotten. Billy Hatcher will most likely end up in the forgotten realm, and it’s mainly because the game is just too dry and basic. Sure the controls are tight and manageable. There are a few puzzles thrown about that will make you scratch your head. There are even some slightly fresh and unique twists thrown about the game that makes you go “hmmmm…”. What goes wrong is that the game gets too repetitive too quickly. At first you are grabbed and astounded by what seems to be a fresh, new, platformer, but after the first couple stages you grow tired of pushing that egg around, using it for weapons, unlocking puzzles, and killing your foes. Each level feels more like a new coat of paint, instead of instilling new ideas throughout the game. This is what honestly kills most platformers, the use of an idea too much and too often. On the plus side the puzzles do get tricky, the bosses can sometimes be a bear, and fighting off multiple foes with one egg can be slightly challengeing. For platformer veterans this game is a cakewalk, but for new comers and rookies, this game may create a few sweaty palms.

One thing that does help Billy Hatcher out from complete mediocrity is the multiplayer mode. Think Monkey Fight meets DOA, with multi-tiered battling. This mode is genuinely fun with 2 or more friends and is easily the best part of the game. Added to the fun and another reason to endure the single player mode is a mess of unlockable mini games that you can download to your GBA. You have Puyo Pop, the classic Chu Chu Rocket from the Dreamcast, a Nights point attack, and a Billy Hatcher Hyper Shoot mini game.

All in all Billy Hatcher attempts to bring something new for platformer fans out there, and they did accomplish that feat, the problem is the game falls apart sooner than later in the game’s progression. While I may have seemed a bit harsh, it’s not that I thought Billy was a bad adventure; just not one I’d ever take again. To me that’s the true test of a game of this genre, lasting appeal and replay. If you beat it and never play it again, a classic it is not. Me, I’ll stick to Sly Cooper and await it’s sequel.