Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Tad The Lost Explorer Craziest and Madness Edition by developer Gammera Nest:
Tad The Lost Explorer Craziest And Madness Edition (The Explanation)
Tad the Lost Explorer labels itself as “Embarking on an Unforgettable Journey” with craziest and madness for the Nintendo Switch! The game is an “exhilarating 2.5D action-adventure game set among the ruins of lost civilizations as you jump, swim, and climb” or so you are led to believe. In my EXPlay of Tad the Lost Explorer, I found the game lackluster and slow and not at all exhilarating.
There are things you come to expect from a platformer game these days, i.e. collectibles, jumping, platforms, traps, enemies, and more. While Tad the Lost Explorer has those things they come in the form of slow and imprecise jumping. The platforms in the game are sometimes placed just out of reach and your character sometimes grabs them or falls to their death. Traps and enemies are either hard to see or have strange hitbox and lock on which seem to attack you at random or allows you to throw rocks at them, but also sometimes doesn’t.
You play as Tad, everyone’s favorite explorer, and sometimes a few characters on his team, with the goal to move through the temple stages, collect treasures, and paintbrushes (I think) to reach your goal at the end of the level. Along your path there are various traps, sometimes hard-to-see traps mind you, and enemies that will try and thwart your progress but mostly just your patience. If there is one thing that Tad the Lost Explorer does ‘well’ it’s that death usually results in a quick and generous respawn so you can tackle the objectives over and over again.
I only played a few of the early stages in the game for my EXPlay and I can tell you that Tad the Lost Explorer was quickly deleted from my system upon completing this review. There’s just more to dislike about the game and the way it doesn’t value the gamer’s time or skills, and maybe the game is skewing to a younger audience with its cheap deaths, respawn, floaty jumping, and cartoon cut scenes, but even I wouldn’t subject my kids to a game like this.
The story is set among bustling cities and mystical locations across the globe, Tad the Lost Explorer invites players to join the adventurous protagonist, Tad, and his loyal companions, Sara and Ramona, as they set out on a mission to uncover the origins of a mysterious curse inadvertently unleashed by Tad himself. Packed with intricate puzzles, treacherous adversaries, and a captivating storyline, the game offers an exciting new global adventure that will keep players on the edge of their seats.
Throughout the game, players can explore and appreciate diverse cultures by uncovering hidden relics scattered across the levels. Don’t forget to collect a souvenir stamp from each country visited, and keep an eye out for fun comics along the way, offering additional hints and nods to the movie. And while the above eShop description does lend itself to being a game that should be fun, it ultimately isn’t.
There are plenty of other well-done and well-made platformers for the Nintendo Switch. While Tad the Lost Explorer tries to capitalize on being “Indian Jones-like” with action adventure and platforming, it ultimately falls flat and is more of a temple of doom in terms of gameplay and exploration. You may have some ties to the series movies and nostalgia for them, the game is passable at best and a chore for the most part to make it through each level. If you are hard-pressed to pick this one up find it on a sale with a deep discount.
Tad The Lost Explorer Craziest And Madness Edition (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Gammera Nest
Publisher: Selecta Play
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Adventure, Platformer
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: NA|EU: July 7, 2023
Price: $39.99
File Size: 3.1 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
