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11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
This Isn't Taz, 1 Dec 2002
Looking like a beige puppy in Bermuda shorts, Ty - the last of the Tasmanian Tigers - bounds into his first adventure on PS2. During a friendly chase through the forest, Ty uncovers a hidden cave bedecked with Aboriginal style cave paintings. They detail an evil plot by the cruel cassowary (that's a flightless bird by the way) Boss Cass, who in an attempt to steal five ancient talismans ended up trapping Ty's long-thought-dead family in the mystical Dreamtime realm and scattering the talismans across the Outback. Armed with the knowledge that he's is not the sole surviving member of his race and a wicked pair of boomerangs, Ty's quest begins. It's going to take him all over the Outback (a sort of cartoon Australia) through 16 Oz-themed levels including the Barrier Reef, Rainforest and Billabong. As you'd expect from a 3D free-roaming platform game, you (as Ty) are required to collect items littering the landscape; this time, trails of glittering Opals are the Pac-Man-esque pick-ups. Although not essential to progress, these Opal routes generally lead you in the direction of the action, but as usual deviating from the path can uncover secret areas and pick-ups. Your major priority is to collect volcanic Thunder Eggs. These are usually obtained by finding an inaccessible area or completing the various sub-missions issued to you by the madcap cast of animal characters. These include objectives such as locating a missing Platypus babe at the top of a nearby mountain or herding a colony of bats from a hollow log before it floods. Once you net 17 Thunder Eggs, one of the missing talismans will be yours. Boss Cass obviously isn't taking this lying down and you'll face numerous villainous minions on your travels, all inspired by actual down-under fauna. Frill Lizards, 'biker' kangeroos, sharks, Ninja Geckos and Trap Door spiders all lay in wait to encourage your extinction. Luckily you have some nifty moves and weapons up your non-existent sleeves, so no worries there, mate. As well and the standard run, jump and ledge-hang, Ty has a pair of boomerangs to hand. Not surprisingly, these can be thrown at enemies and return unerringly to Ty's paw. By finding Golden Cogs hidden in the levels, Ty can upgrade his 'rangs for devastating techno-rangs. Not quite a patch on Ratchet's 36 gadgets, Ty can arm himself with twelve different 'rangs. Here's a taster - the Aquarang can be used underwater and helps Ty swim, Frostyrang freezes opponents and when used on water creates 'bergs that can be stood upon, and the Zoomerang is Ty's long distance sniping weapon. Ty can also bite with his powerful jaws, but needs to get in close and personal. In true cartoon style, Ty can bite his way up edible items and use this as a sort of climb ability to get to where he wants to go. Bonza, eh? Despite the kiddie-friendly packaging, Ty should appeal to anyone who likes humorous free-roaming platform games. With a fantastic array of weapons, sumptuous levels, intelligent puzzles and aussie accents from 'The Cliché School of Acting' Ty could be a surprise hit this Christmas, assuming it can climb from the Ayers Rock-sized shadow of Ratchet & Clank. Good on ya Ty.
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