Disney's Kim Possible: Kimmunicator
	Genre: Action Developer: A2M
Publisher Region Released Buena Vista Games NA 11/09/2005

Your Account Options

You currently have no privileges related to this game profile because you are not signed into an HonestGamers account. Please log in, or click to register for a free user account.

More Reviews by Marc Golding
	My Hero (Sega Master System) You play the role of The Hero, but you look like Edward Carnby, specifically from Alone in the Dark 2, right down to the blue leisure suit and pitiful de...
	Silent Hill HD Collection (Xbox 360) I am not enamoured of any two old games slapped together (just Silent Hill 2 and 3 in this case) being called a “collection” in the first place, e...
	Silent Hill: Downpour (Xbox 360) Some might argue that the canon was lost once it left the hands of its original developers; since that time it has been passed from studio to studio, each with ...
	Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (PlayStation 3) My team went through a checkpoint door and encountered enemy resistance. I noticed one teammate was absent on the front lines, and looked for her. Naturally, sh...
	AMY (Xbox 360) Tragically, though the poor presentation is the first thing you’ll notice, it’s not the worst. Not by a long shot. In fact, an argument could be made tha...

Best DS Games
	Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation Average Rating: 9.5; Reviews: 2
	Advance Wars: Dual Strike Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 3
	Elite Beat Agents Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 3
	Space Invaders Extreme Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 2
	Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 3
	Kirby: Canvas Curse Average Rating: 9.3; Reviews: 4
	Mario Kart DS Average Rating: 9.2; Reviews: 5
	Pokemon Pearl Average Rating: 9.0; Reviews: 4
	Ossu! Tatakae! Ouendan! Average Rating: 9.0; Reviews: 4
	Chrono Trigger Average Rating: 9.0; Reviews: 2

Looking for a good read?
Check out a selection from our database of more than 8000 reviews! Suskie has weighed in on Blue Dragon Plus for the DS and figures it rates 6 out of 10. What do you think? Read the review, then be sure to leave feedback or chime in with one of your own!

Staff Review

Review by Marc Golding
December 04, 2008

Where did Kim Possible go wrong? She was adequate in her first adventure on the GameBoy Advance, nearly perfect once developers A2M took over for her follow-up, and disappeared in her competent but obscure third outing. The scene was set for a triumphant return on the powerful (comparatively) Nintendo DS. I expected Kim Possible 4, a brilliant side-scrolling romp, which would pick up where Kim Possible 2 left off, featuring challenging platforming, heavy on exploration made possible by smooth progression in collecting and utilizing all Kim’s unique gadgets and abilities. That’s not what I got.

I got Kimmunicator.

It’s still a side-scroller, despite the use of polygons and active camera that pans around Kim. The effect is admittedly quite cool, and the graphics are reminiscent of those used in Flashback, that old PC classic. Unfortunately, much of Kim’s cuteness is lost because the graphic style can’t properly capture her 'tude the way the hand-drawn sprites did. The problem is exacerbated by the costume unlocking feature on offer, whereby you can find an assortment of cute outfits for our heroine to sport. She can wear a ‘casual’ outfit (work that skirt, girl) or a stealth costume so that she can do her best ninja impression. It's all very endearing, but you can’t see her clearly enough for it be the cool plus that was intended.

Kim’s physical appearance is the least of the game’s issues, however. There are four worlds, each with three stages. Kim’s mission makes no sense, but the gist is that her arch-nemesis Drakken and his not-so-loyal sidekick Shego (think Destro) have created some kind of robotic monstrosity and have kidnapped Wade (Kim's computer geek ally). For some reason I couldn’t gather, Ron Stoppable is out of the picture, but checks in from time to time to make nonsensical rapport with Kim. The writing in Kim’s show, and the previous games was always strong, so it’s especially disappointing that none of it seems to make sense or build to any sort of rewarding climax in Kimmunicator.

From silly story to hurting gameplay we go: Kim can punch and kick, stringing together ‘combos’ of each attack simply through button mashing. But there are major issues with responsiveness and hit-detection. Sometimes Kim simply will not attack though you think you might be pressing the right button, and other times Kim's punch or kick will execute but miss completely when it appears that it shouldn’t. But you needn’t worry too much; enemy encounters are few and far between. It seems as if there are maybe four enemies in each stage. I’m exaggerating, but not much.

The greater control issue then, is that of jumping. As in previous installments, you can double-tap forward before hitting the jump button to have Kim sprint into a front flip and then into a long leap. Unlike with previous installments, actually pulling this move off consistently is a real chore. About one-third of the time, the double-tap just fails to input, and I encountered situations where the miss had Kim simply step off a platform, hurtling down to levels far below. Great.

The best thing I can say about Kimmunicator is that it’s more of Kim and her gadgets and attitude, but the attitude is muted by inane dialogue and the aforementioned graphics issue, and the gadgets… Ah, the gadgets. Rather than have the player earn the use of Kim’s handy items like the grappling hook and comb lock-pick, everything is for sale right from the onset, provided you have the scratch to buy. “Money” is found in great abundance just hanging in the air around the environs, so it’s fairly easy to accumulate the capital necessary to buy everything on offer before even the halfway point of the game.

The lockpick is essential to progress through certain sticking points where you’ll need to override security locks to keep moving. When you select it, you’ll enter a screen that invites you to play a game of ‘trace through the maze with your stylus’ – and oh, don’t touch the walls. Even this mini-game isn’t perfect: the calibration doesn’t seem quite right, and as such, the exercise is quite a bit more difficult than it should be.

Aside from the lockpick and the huge helping of healthpacks you’ll need to survive all the broken combat encounters (enemies can take as many as six hits before dropping), there’s not much else you’ll want to buy. Strangely enough, I found only one occasion which required the use of the grappling hook, which was not only a lot more fun to use in Kim Possible 2, but was called into constant use once it was unlocked. There are no lipstick trampolines here, nor are there hot sauce grenades, but we do get the night vision goggles, which, as is the case with the grappling hook, we’ll need once. What were they thinking?

To say that Kimmunicator is a huge disappointment would be a huge understatement. I had high hopes for more of the inventive, challenging and engaging platforming we were treated to in Kim Possible 2, only enhanced by the strength of the medium.

The only innovative breaks in the side-scrolling tedium are the even more tedious sequences involving your naked mole rat pet navigating airducts (ostensibly to cut the power with his teeth) and one anomalously brilliant stage featuring a helmeted Kim parachuting into Drakken’s lair – between mountain outcroppings and above leaping magma, as you steer with the D-pad and provide precious updrafts by blowing into the mic on the DS. If only the rest of the game were on the same level. Shame.

Feedback

Facebook()

Forums(0)

You can click the tabs on the above bar to choose whether you wish to read comments from visitors who have posted on Facebook, or from registered site users who have left feedback on the forums. Please leave a comment of your own if you have anything to say!

Info | Help | Privacy Policy | Contact | Advertise

© 1998-2012 HonestGamers
None of the material contained within this site--from reviews, guides, cheats and editorials to message board posts--may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. Disney's Kim Possible: Kimmunicator is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to Disney's Kim Possible: Kimmunicator, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors.