Tak and the Power of Juju has personality, style, and some decent presentation values. Unfortunately, this can't make up for its lack of compelling gameplay.
Possessing a graphical style that almost harkens back to the days of the Genesis platformer Chuck Rock, Tak and the Power of Juju is certainly the most beautiful game to ever bear a Nickelodeon logo. Sure, that's not exactly saying much on its own, but even on its own merits, Tak's a looker. The jungle environments are crisp and well textured, with a very few minor exceptions. Animation is fluid for the most part, though Tak's club-wielding motion looks a bit wonky when performed multiple times in succession. All in all, there are certainly prettier games on the market, but the cohesive jungle atmosphere and overall polish of the game's visuals make it a treat for the eyes.
Likewise, Tak's sound doesn't fall prey to the pitfalls of the genre. Though the story is laughable at best – a rejected shaman turns villagers into sheep, fulfilling an evil prophecy – the voice work actually comes off as if those hired put some honest-to-God effort into it, instead of just drudging through the lines in the script. Likewise, the music in the background isn't the sort of thing most would buy the soundtrack to, but it works well in context of the game.
It does pain me to say it, but for all of Tak's heart, he's got a long way to go before he breaks what I call "the Rare curse." That is to say, a great majority of the gameplay in the title revolves around collecting trinkets scattered around the worlds. I understand this will always be present in some form or another, but what's the point of having such a beautiful 3D world if you're only going to have us chase coins, rings, or in this case, sheep and plants? Needless to say, things get old quick, which is a shame.
If you're in the market for a gift for a young gamer, maybe you should consider Tak – it's a good game that won't insult their intelligence, unlike so much of the licensed shovelware on the market. But for those familiar with the Sly Coopers and Jak IIs of the world, this is some bad juju.
-George
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