.com Scooby-Doo Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom is a PC mystery game that combines the exploration of an adventure game with the strategy and endless playability of a traditional board game. The characters come to life in 2 1/2-D, a special rendering that keeps cartoon characters looking true to their 2-D appearance, yet gives them added dimension. Just like the TV show, the game places players in sticky and sometimes humorous situations, where they must solve a mystery and uncover the game's true villain. Hunt for clues, set traps, and munch down on Scooby snacks. Review Not one to let sleeping dogs lie, the animated Great Dane Scooby-Doo and his usual sidekicks-Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne-from the cartoon TV show are out to trap the evasive Fun Park Phantom who is scaring customers away from the amusement park. Search nine different Fun Park areas, from bumper cars to Ferris wheel, for clues to the phantom's identity and whereabouts. To win, apply problem-solving skills before the other characters solve the mystery. And during the search, you can spin the Wheel of Fun and even the Wheel of Chaos. And watch out for the Phantom Chase game within a game. With either single-player or multi-player options, this arcade-like animated strategy adventure pays almost like a board game-but it won't leave Scooby-Doo fans bored. Reviewed by Ann and Don Oldenburg, Parents' Choice® 2000 -- From Parents' Choice®SouthPeak Interactive's Scooby-Doo isn't the cartoon canine's first appearance in a game, nor is it even his first appearance in a game set in an amusement park. Scooby-Doo Mystery for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System not only predates Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom but also casts Scooby and the gang in a more fitting genre. Scooby-Doo on the Super Nintendo was a simple but fun adventure game; SouthPeak has instead decided to use the license as a basis for a computerized board game that borrows elements of Clue and Mouse Trap yet never manages to be very entertaining. Without the nostalgia value of seeing Shaggy and Fred sauntering around in bell-bottoms, Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom would be the computer equivalent of the Saved by the Bell board game. Fortunately, it's full of nostalgia value. This isn't the '80s Scooby-Doo. There's no trace of Scrappy-Doo, and the game even starts with the old "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?" title sequence, complete with '60s pop theme song and ghostly typeface. And Fred, Daphne, and Velma are still stuck in their '60s fashions, though it remains uncertain whether Fred's ascot was ever a teen-friendly accessory. Like most of Scooby's adventures, Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom starts with the gang coming across a dilapidated business that is being terrorized by something spooky. In this case, it's Gobs of Fun, an amusement park haunted by a phantom. Of course, the ghost isn't a real ghost. It's one of several suspects, each of whom has a selfish motivation for wanting the park closed. It's your job to find out who's behind the mask and then trap whomever it is. To accomplish your goal, you choose one of the four human characters from the show, and you can have any or all of the other three in the game as human or computer-controlled opponents. There's no real advantage to playing any of the characters, other than the fact that if you're Fred you'll always go first. Once you're in the park, you wander around the isometric board looking for clues and Scooby snacks and pick up trap pieces for the final confrontation. Once you have three clues pointing to a suspect (or fewer clues, if you want to risk it), you must then make your way to the suspect's section of the park to set the trap. Each section has a particular trap, and each trap has three key items. Once you have everything you need, you trap the villain, and the game ends. You're then treated to a short cinematic in which the phantom's real identity is revealed. This is identical in every case except for the actual unveiling, and hearing the culprit's individual variation on the infamous "meddling kids" speech provides the most substantial entertainment in the game. That's a shame, because the source material could have been used much more effectively. The game isn't even the slightest bit spooky (the characters never even seem scared), nor is it all that funny. The fact that the game only includes one setting seems like a missed opportunity. With more than one story and map - it's not as if it would be difficult to come up with more plots for Scooby-Doo mysteries - Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom would at least have some longevity. At least it's easy to play online. The game is available on the Microsoft Gaming Zone, which makes hooking up with other players a relatively simple process. Unfortunately, the lobbies for Scooby-Doo are emptier than Gobs of Fun. Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom isn't terrible. If you feel an aching nostalgia for the cartoon era in which every teen was either a private investigator or a rock star (or both), then you'll probably get one or two somewhat-enjoyable sessions out of it. But even though you'll be glad to have the Scooby-Doo title sequence on a CD-ROM, you'll still agree that it's a shame to squander such a promising license on such a bland game. -- Ron Dulin --Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. -- GameSpotThis game feels like a cross between the beloved Saturday morning cartoon and the classic board game, Clue. Kids can play alone or with friends and at three difficulty levels. First, children pick a player to represent themselves, either Shaggy, Velma, Daphne or Fred. Then, they take turns steering their character around a haunted amusement park, looking for a mysterious phantom. As they explore, kids find clues and necessary items to eventually trap the phantom. Each clue is marked on a grid, under a specific suspect, making the whole experience reminiscent of a "Colonel Mustard in the Billiard Room with the Knife" kind of thing. Once kids figure out how to play, the game is fun and challenging, too, as it requires logical thinking skills like deductive reasoning and strategy. The program offers lots of novelty, surprises and suspense as children play. For instance, if kids lose at a memory game in the Fun House, they get chased by a ghost and forfeit their next turn. They can also make other players spin The Chaos Wheel, causing them lots of trouble. It pays to read the jewel case insert to learn the ins and outs of the game- the way things work aren't always apparent. That caution aside, this is one of the best new games to date for eight- to twelve-year-old children. Teaches: game play, strategy Age Range: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 -- From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"
B**D
Got what I wanted
Product arrived as shown. Freezes and cuts off occasionally but im sure that's due to the new age laptop im playing it on.
T**N
Awesome Game, Came in Fine Condition
Got the game delivered earlier than expected; game was able to run on my computer without a hitch. Thank you!
N**S
Challenging for a 6 year old
I bought this for my kindergartener. Now that we have figured it out (I found the onscreen guide easier to understand than the booklet that comes with the game)he really likes it. He does need an adult nearby to read things such as pop-up hints to him. He also was scared by the eerie sound effects but they can be turned off. He is still at the easy level and I limited him to just one character to play. The game is pretty slow on our aging Pentium 166 and it takes a while to move from place to place in the park.
S**N
Scooby-Doo and friends help a couple in need of help!
If you are wondering why I am giving this 4 stars instead of my normal 5 stars, is because I think the computer players are smart, if you don't want them to be. Scooby-Doo and his pals, Fred, Daphne, Velma & Shaggy run into another mystery when thier mystery machine breaks down in front of the Gobs, a couple that is in trouble because they had to close down the park because the fun park phantom scared away thier guests.At first, Mr. Gob thinks they are there for the park. So Mr. Gob strikes a deal, with Shaggy, Daphne, Fred & Velma that if they can find out who the phantom is he will fix thier mystery machine. So here is the areas of the park. Fun House, Midway, Log Flume, Ferris Wheel, Bumper Car, Pirate Ship, Roller Coaster, Merry-Go-Round and the Miniature World.Now when you begin the six suspects are assigned to the areas of the park. And your character(s) are aslo assigned to an area(s) of the park. The suspects are a security guard, a magician, a farmer, a groundskeepr, a clown, and a banker. You'll find that these people all have a reason why they would like to see the park closed. Thier are 9 areas of the park and 6 will have a suspect in them where they are suposed to be for the whole game.
R**O
Join Scooby and the Gang to Solve the Mystery!
Scooby Doo fans should take right to this game where you and Scooby (choose from either Shaggy, Freddy, Daphne, or Velma) are out searching for clues to find who is the Fun Park Phantom! Find clues, ask mysterious characters for help, and of course there are Scooby Snacks! For older fans any single game shouldn't take too long. For the younger fans (under 10) this can be a really fun challenge in problem solving that shouldn't take more than an hour to solve. The game is point and click and has the appearance of an aerial view of the cartoon. And for the most part it does look like the cartoon. The video sequences (at least on my computer) are very poorly dubbed and all in all the game has limited replay value due to the small number of suspects. But if you're a Scooby Doo fan the price is nice for the entertainment and nostalgic value this game does have, putting you right smack dab in the middle of a genuine Scooby Doo mystery! Go get it now!
J**E
A lot of fun for a "kids game"
I bought this game for my wife as kind of a "gag gift" as she likes Scooby Doo (as do I) but the game is actually fun. You can play up to 4 players (Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy; you can't actually be Scooby but he does help you throughout the game) on 3 differnt difficulty settings to find the Phantom. This is where it may get a little repetitive though. The Phantom is 1 of the 8 other characters in the game. But the variety of traps one can lay for the Phantom actually keep you interested.The game is more fun if you have some friends to play it with and is even a lot more fun over the internet (if you can find a game though) as you can sabatoge your opponent and not feel to guilty about it:-)Overall the game is nicely done and is fun for the entire family. The graphics are nice and the sounds and voice overs are above average. Gameplay is fun and exciting and is great for kids as it challenges them to remember where the various clues and trap pieces were throughout the game. The game is a lot of fun and will not disappoint.
A**R
Think before you buy this program
Though this has a similar title to the excellent game Scooby Doo Phantom of the Knight, this program is very different in style. The gang compete against each other to get the phantom (which doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you think about the show), and it gets so tiresome after awhile because it is played almost like a board game. You have to either play with a friend, or against the computer and end up doing a lot of waiting for others to take their turns. Fun for a little bit, but very tedious after awhile. The point is, this program is not terrible, but it is not what you would expect with the Scooby Doo name. It is a competitive game, whereas the Scooby Doo Phantom of the Knight is an adventure with the whole gang working together to solve a mystery together.
T**R
Good!
I thought it would be just a little bit better though... The graphics are funny but very well done. Its an entertaining game for anyone of any age. Its good a cool cartoon feature too. If you like scooby, you'll want this. But, don't be suprised if your a little dissapointed. For example, you don't really "solve" the mystery on your own. You find items that show you the answer. ENJOY!
Trustpilot
2 months ago
3 weeks ago
