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There have been some incredible TV series to computer game crossovers. However, there have also been some absolute stinkers. The latter category is usually filled with children’s programs that aim to cash in on their much-loved popularity. As such, these titles normally get berated by angry fans and those who should know better. Many adults forget to consider that the key audience is their children, not the person footing the bill. As such, as long as the little ones love it, does it matter? Now, Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx is another TV series game that could easily fall into either of the aforementioned categories. Therefore, I had to be careful when I examined it in finer detail.
Developed by Magic Pockets and published by GameMill Entertainment, this is a superhero adventure title. What’s more, it is set in the Miraculous universe, but no prior knowledge is required to enjoy the action. As it is aimed towards a younger audience, the levels are understandably short; the difficulty is reduced, and the aesthetics are loud, colourful, and in your face. Furthermore, it is simple to pick up, has a moralistic backbone, and is a vain attempt at an interesting story. In short, it delivers a punch without really wowing you.
Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx delivers a bizarre story.
The key protagonists return for another unique adventure. Ladybug and Cat Noir must tackle the diabolical supervillain Hawk Moth across 7 colourful and interesting levels. Their arch nemesis has akumatized the Parisian locals to do his bidding. However, the superhero pair won’t let this stand in their way as they de-evilize each akuma. En route, the pair will make friends, learn new skills, and take down a plethora of bosses.
In theory, this sounds like a fantastic and classic superhero endeavour. In reality, it doesn’t make much sense, and the exploration elements in the central hub didn’t work. Consequently, I understood what the developers were trying to achieve, but I and my children became lost in the nonsensical and fragmented narration. Between chapters, you are expected to lead a “normal” life. As such, you’ll go to school, interact with friends, and do everyday tasks. Yet, Hawk Moth is up to his old tricks, and this creates an array of problems for you to undertake. Accordingly, the story flits from one moment to the next, and it is tough to keep up.
Alongside this, the central hub, or Parisian districts, didn’t add much to the gameplay. Instead, they reeked of padding out the minimalist plot and were poorly executed. Thankfully, a fast travel system and a well-laid-out map were incorporated to remove much of this pain. However, it was sadly a key element between chapters that will leave you feeling disappointed.
Collectables, fighting, and well-trodden mechanics.
Each stage followed the same gameplay loop. Once you finished faffing around the central hub, the game moved onto a linear 3D platform world. Here, you are expected to search for collectables (orbs and macaroons), fight each of the bosses’ goons, and undertake the standard platforming tropes. Disappointingly, Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx played life extremely safely, making it understandably lacklustre. Yet, my kids enjoyed the understated nature of the gameplay, and the easy-to-explore levels.
As the story wears on, each of the heroes learns new abilities that’ll open otherwise unreachable areas. Subsequently, you are expected to revisit earlier stages to find each collectable and improve that chapter’s score. These abilities create new paths or help you to overcome an array of obstacles. Moreover, this was an interesting way to expand each level and something that stood out amongst the otherwise flat and lifeless elements.
The flaccid approach continued within the fighting mechanics. Though there are a variety of goons to defeat, they won’t test you, nor will they test a child. With a few hits, each of your foes is conquered and you move on. This continues until you reach the end of the level and you encounter one of the bosses. Thankfully, these moments were excellent. Furthermore, the gargantuan beasts were challenging and demanded a small amount of skill. You’ll use stealth to defeat Weredad, your power and agility to destroy Mr Pigeon and your knowledge and intelligence to take down the Gamer. Alongside this, Miraculous fans will enjoy the new bosses on offer.
Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx is a frame rate nightmare.
Graphically, I expect very little from this genre. Usually, the developers throw together some show-related scenes, while incorporating familiar characters and landmarks. Now, this may seem like a copout, because it normally is. Thankfully, though, Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx has a unique story, and many of the levels are surreal and unusual. This was great, as it kept things interesting, even though each chapter was painfully short. On top of this, I liked the stark imagery within the cutscenes and the vivid colour palette. Disappointingly, however, the game has a terrible frame rate and the action particularly stutters to a stop. This was noticeable during cutscenes and in the central hub. Yet, when fighting Weredad, it is beyond a joke. This was a terrible example of modern gaming and one that is unforgivable in 2022.
The audio is equally disappointing! With horrific soundbites, terrible sound effects, and music that stopped unnecessarily, it is dreadful. For unknown reasons, the heroes spout dated sayings, such as, “would you like a knuckle sandwich?”. Now, this wouldn’t be a problem, but when it is played on a loop, it is irritating as hell. Furthermore, when an 8-year-old mentions its tedious nature, you know it’s bad. Luckily, there is a saving grace. The acting for the cutscenes and the narration are well-delivered, full of energy, and enjoyable. Sadly, it was a shame that the rest of the audio didn’t follow suit.
Simple controls.
As a parent, you purchase this genre to let your kids play unsupervised. As such, you don’t want to be helping out every other minute. Fortunately, the simple control system ensures that once the fundamentals are nailed, the game is easy to play. On top of this, each level has a basic navigation system to ensure you stayed on track. What’s more, the inputs were responsive, and this was helpful during the combat encounters and the minor QTEs you’ll experience.
If you are young enough to enjoy the inane action, you won’t want it to end. Accordingly, younger players will be happy to explore the hidden areas. Furthermore, there are plenty of macaroons to locate and loads of orbs to collect. Alongside this, the whole story can be enjoyed cooperatively in a local setting. Therefore, a parent and child can play together, or 2 siblings can help each other to defeat Hawk Moth. This was a great approach that made this a fun, albeit problematic, family title.
Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx is great for kids.
From an adult’s perspective, Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx is undeniably awful. However, there are a few glimpses of amazing ideas, but these are fleeting. As such, it doesn’t deserve more than a 3 or 4 out of 10. Yet, this is aimed towards a much younger audience. Consequently, it ticks many boxes for its key demographic. The story is lively and loud, the characters are charming and loveable, and the gameplay is stripped back and easy to pick up. Moreover, the interesting and surreal stage designs are enjoyable to explore, and the basic platforming elements test younger players. Subsequently, the developers have delivered for this player base. As such, I recommend you buy it here! Will Ladybug and Cat Noir save the day? Collect the orbs and macaroons, defeat your foes, and stop Hawk Moth at all costs.
