Pandora's Box: The Ultimate GameCube Tier List

#55: Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams

Rating: E

Players: 1-4

Price Range: ~$11 USD

A 3D action-platformer.

Okay, now we are getting into some childhood games you may have played.

Case in point, the Tak Trilogy.

This series is interesting.

A Nickelodeon-licensed property that ironically started as a video game series before it was adapted for a T.V. show, not the other way around.

Which, unfortunately, was awful and led to Tak falling into obscurity.

But, if I had to say anything about the first three games, they were quite good and are those type of B platformers you wouldn't have ever played or heard of unless you grew up during this time.

However, mostly due to the lack of time and the game being quite unpolished, I can't have it any higher.

That's not to say that it's bad, as it is quite competent actually.

As opposed to the open-world sandbox nature of the first game, the second installment is more...linear. The combat is also much more involved with a lot more varied baddies to take down. Having infinite mana that recharges does remove some strategy when using juju, but I feel like it was executed quite well. The dream sequences are also really fun, not only in terms of setting, but also in terms of gameplay, for better and worse. Animal-based puzzles are also quite great in this game much like the predecessor, which I like. Although, the recipe system is something I'm not super fond of, as I feel like it was better done in the third game since some of these areas are not repayable at all, so making do with what you have instead of never having an issue of you are diligent enough is a mixed bag.

However, besides what I said, what makes the Tak games stand out as well is the story and humor, which is fifty-fifty. On one hand, some of the jokes are legitimately hilarious, and the trilogy even secured voice performances of Patrick Warburton and Gilbert Gottfried, who are both entertaining with their insanely iconic voices. However, you also have gags that are so unbelievably awful and sophomoric that legitimately annoy me by constantly reminding me that this is a Nickelodeon-owned series.

I was also spoiled the ending, and it also really got on my nerves. You know what I mean once you see it.

The game was rushed as well. For example, in the in-engine cutscenes, ever object that is tethered to solid geometry, like hair or a cape, have their collision reset after each camera angle change, leading them to flap around for a second or two, which is insanely distracting, and there are some bugs and glitches, even if they are quite hidden, if easily exploitable.

Oh, and the multiplayer just...exists. Probably not bad, but I never got a chance to try it, not that I would be able to convince anyone at this point in my life to try it anyways.

Overall, a good game, but nothing more. A B platformer in a time when the genre was unfortunately slowing down to a crawl. Experimentation was not-half bad, but some issues lead it to be the lowest in the Trilogy in some ways. However, for only $11 USD, it isn't a half-bad experience.