If there’s one thing I will never get is why any developer would willingly let Majesco publish their games. Majesco, publisher of such prolific bombs like Advent Rising and Psychonauts, know a good game and they know to let the original vision shine through. However, when it comes to marketing and sales, it never really gave the games the sales they deserve (in fact, their only recent hit was Cooking Mama).

Wayforward Games decided to partner up with Majesco in the remake of A Boy and His Blob: Trouble in Blobolonia with their Wii exclusive title A Boy and His Blob. And while sales have been middling at best (rumor has it selling less than 40K since its release), it doesn’t exactly match with the quality of the game itself.

The story is quite simple: You are Boy, some strange child who lives and sleeps in a treehouse and is only capable of saying “Blob” and “Get Over Here!”, like he was predestined to being useful in only this type of instance. You find Blob, a white gelatanous Goo-Ball that can morph into different objects when he’s fed Jelly-Beans from your pouch.

The story remains simple with no need for dialogue and story narrative. You are Boy, your friend is Blob and you two help each other get through the end of the level. While some might find that a bit annoying and pointless, it really adds to the charm and children’s book story of the game.

The game has a vibrant, colorful and very well animated art design that is beautiful and at times distracting to watch. The game has a Babar the Elephant kind of look to it: it really becomes hard not to fixate on the animation quirks and the detail it has been put into the game.

The two characters, Boy and Blob, bring in its own cute little charms and loving asides. There’s really something endearing about the characters: it’s just purely wholesome and enjoyable in a very basic, very kid-like sense. The addition of a hug button just adds to the simplistic and lovable charm to the game.

The platforming and puzzle solving is well done as well. Unlike the original Boy and His Blob, the game is a lot more accessible and enjoyable, since you have an unlimited supply of lives and jellybeans in the game to get through the levels. Some of the platforming elements are cakewalks, while others tend to tax you after a few lives. However, the puzzles in this game won’t keep you stumped for long.

There is a slight issue with hit detection when it comes to the enemies and Boy. Boy’s jump arc is very low and while it isn’t an issue all fo the time, it needs to be said that the hit detection can be spotty at times. Jumps that you have made and could make easily before suddenly miss, leading to your death.

Also, jumping over enemies is something you will have to do throughout the game and the hit detection really becomes a pain in this sense. Because of Boy’s low arc, you have to time your jumps really well when it comes to going through enemies. This becomes infurating at times, since one hit from an enemy means you start all over.

Also, the game does two things: it holds your hand through the game or leaves you completely on your own with no hint as to what you do next. It does become annoying, since it’s fairly obvious what you have to do when the signs are there and it’s not very clear what you do next when its not there.

There’s also really no big pay off to defeating levels and getting boxes, except to jazz out your tree house. Those who enjoy the art style will appreciate the look of the treehouse, but it holds nothing special if you don’t get all the treasures.

Finally, Boy can be incredibly annoying. Remember that spoiled brat in Elementary School who was loud, shrill, annoying and got everything he or she wanted because her parents spoiled him/her half to death and didn’t appreciate it a day in their livse? That’s what Boy sounds like at times. Hearing him scream “Blob!” “Get Over Here!” and “No, Blob, No!” can be very annoying and kind of brings the charm of the game down.

A Boy and His Blob is the right kind of remake. It takes the things that made the original memorable, creates a new game on them but makes it relevant to these consoles. $40 for the game, however, it a bit pricey in my opinion. Wait until it drops to $30 and enjoy: It’s got a great heart with some nice puzzle and platforming elements.

Brad Wiswall
www.twitter.com/gamakarmica

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