Gaming Target - Game Boy: Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand

Written by Kyle Williams on November 05, 2001

First Impressions: ...and everybody was kung-fu fighting.

The worlds favorite action hero is getting his first Game Boy Advance title just in time for the holidays. That's right, on Christmas morning you could be taking Jackie Chan on his next adventure. Next month Activision is going to be releasing Jackie Chan Adventures for Nintendo's portable system. Based upon the Saturday morning cartoon of the same name, Jackie Chan Adventures is promising the same fast paced action that turned Mister Chan into the household name that he is.

Last fall, WB kids programming introduced us to the animated adventures of Jackie Chan with amazing success. With outstanding ratings among America's youth, it was inevitable that the cartoon series would be licensed into the realm of video games. That is exactly what Activision has done and is now translating the series into an interactive adventure. Historically, licensed titles are somewhat lacking and uninspired, but from what little I've seen so far Jackie Chan Adventures is going to buck that trend.

The show and, in turn, the game puts Jackie into the roll of an amateur archaeologist that is recruited by a secret government agency to help defeat the Dark Hand, an evil organization. In the series, Jackie works with his niece (and apprentice) Jade and together they use a combination of their wits, humor and martial art skills to bring the Dark Hand to their knees. While it is unsure whether or not she will be making an appearance in the game, her inclusion would lend nicely to a two-player cooperative mode.

Jackie ChanаAdventures is successfully recreating the animation style of the animated series, which itself draws some influence from Japanese anime. The graphics are crisp and the colors are vibrant, both features made possible by the processing power packed into the GBA. To back up the visual prowess of this title is the ability to use your surroundings to aid in your fight against evil. Pick up a chair, umbrella or vase and bash it over your opponent's head in order to bring him down. Considering that the released screen shots give the impression that the game plays similarly to the old Double Dragon this could come in very handy. If the game, while in motion, captures the fast paced action that is Jackie's trademark then this title will have the potential to be a hit.