Pop Idol (GBA) (Pop Idol (GBA))

Member Name: thole09

Product:	Pop Idol (GBA)
Date:	25/05/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Accurate to television series, Some audio

Disadvantages: Gameplay, Graphics

"Pop Idol" is a video game released for the Gameboy Advance console in 2003 by Codemasters. It is based on the television series of the same name. In the United States, the game received a rating of "E" by the ESRB panel which deemed it suitable for all ages.

In terms of gameplay, Pop Idol plays very similar to such button based games as "PaRappa The Rapper" (Playstation - 1997). The game begins with the player designing a character based on a series of clothing items with aims of creating an aesthetically pleasing figure. He or she will then enter the audition stage in front of Simon Cowell and perform such tunes as Britney Spear's "Oops I Did It Again" and Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca". Performing these tunes is a simple matter of listening to the playback of the song, which is often halved from its original playback length, while following a small square as it scrolls from left to right. The square will eventually scroll into prompts of "A" and "B" where the player must press and hold the corresponding button for a set amount of time. After which the player's performance is judged by Simon and he either praises or politely criticizes the player's effort through segments of text. Much to my dismay, Simon Cowell does not tell anyone off in the comical manner he is known for. It is a very easy game to complete and only offers a maximum of thirty minutes of actual play time.

The graphics are presented from a side perspective which focuses on the player on stage. I found that the visuals are very dated in their appearance. It almost seems as if this title was more intended for a release on the earlier Gameboy Color system as opposed to the later Advance. Despite being able to change wardrobe and costume pieces, the characters frequently look "blocky" and lack any sense of refined facial features. The soundtrack is good and borrows directly from the artist's songs which the player will be performing, and retains accuracy in terms of its sound.

Overall, Pop Idol is not a game I would recommend to prospective buyers. Its simple and brief gameplay combined with poor visuals makes for a less than stellar experience.

Summary: Thumbs down