This is a (very) short platform game for the fans of the Gravity Falls television series looking for more of the characters’ antics and the town’s supernatural lore outside of the cartoon, yet it doesn’t deliver the same feel of mystery or discovery the show is adored for. As a licensed Disney game with lush visuals, it still falls completely short in gameplay and fun-factor.
The visuals being the stand-out of this 3DS game unintentionally show its shortcomings in other areas. While the environments look like a 1:1 representation of the background art within the cartoon, and the characters themselves look good, there’s life and heart missing in the story, gameplay, and sound.
The narrative of the game feels like it could have been an episode if there was a funny sub plot to compliment it. That is to say, it’s a little light.
Since Dipper and Mabel don’t often actively, physically fight their adversaries throughout the show, it feels somewhat odd for the two to take on weapons in this platform game, but fight enemies they must. It’s not so fun when the combat is so simple that it is mapped to one button. The platforming itself is fine. Nothing is too difficult to press on through, but the level design doesn’t throw any curve balls at the player - despite each level having different environments to enjoy visually - they all feel very much the same. There is minimum use of the touch screen, reserved for the most basic of puzzles.
In regards to sound, voice acting is sorely missed, even if a line here or there could have been thrown in, I feel it would elevate the game, and add some warmth. I didn’t find the environmental music noteworthy either; it’s a bare-bones presentation.
Fans of Gravity Falls would enjoy this game as the dialogue captures the characters’ personalities well and the secret behind the Gnome Gemulets is fun, but there’s not much incentive for the player to collect all of the lost items scattered about each level and return them to their owners, unless you want some supplementary trivia. For the die-hard fans, there are codes hidden in the game to crack. For me, I came away thinking I wanted so much more out of this pretty-looking licensed game.
The visuals being the stand-out of this 3DS game unintentionally show its shortcomings in other areas. While the environments look like a 1:1 representation of the background art within the cartoon, and the characters themselves look good, there’s life and heart missing in the story, gameplay, and sound.
The narrative of the game feels like it could have been an episode if there was a funny sub plot to compliment it. That is to say, it’s a little light.
Since Dipper and Mabel don’t often actively, physically fight their adversaries throughout the show, it feels somewhat odd for the two to take on weapons in this platform game, but fight enemies they must. It’s not so fun when the combat is so simple that it is mapped to one button. The platforming itself is fine. Nothing is too difficult to press on through, but the level design doesn’t throw any curve balls at the player - despite each level having different environments to enjoy visually - they all feel very much the same. There is minimum use of the touch screen, reserved for the most basic of puzzles.
In regards to sound, voice acting is sorely missed, even if a line here or there could have been thrown in, I feel it would elevate the game, and add some warmth. I didn’t find the environmental music noteworthy either; it’s a bare-bones presentation.
Fans of Gravity Falls would enjoy this game as the dialogue captures the characters’ personalities well and the secret behind the Gnome Gemulets is fun, but there’s not much incentive for the player to collect all of the lost items scattered about each level and return them to their owners, unless you want some supplementary trivia. For the die-hard fans, there are codes hidden in the game to crack. For me, I came away thinking I wanted so much more out of this pretty-looking licensed game.