Hook review - Nintendo Entertainment System

Hook starts out well enough with some excellent graphics and smooth arcade action. The problem is that the game itself is just too sedate to be really exciting to play. Getting around each of the (admittedly very large) levels becomes quite a chore and there isn't really much skill to the sword-fights you indulge in as you walk around picking up objects. What I do like about the game is the fact there are loads of levels (just look at all the crosses on the game map) and the fact that each level takes some beating. I also like the mini-puzzles you have to complete in most of the stages. Unfortunately, this doesn't change the fact that it seems to be quite dull to play. Perhaps if the game was faster, with more exciting combat, this could have been a winner. As it is, NES owners are spoiled for choice when it comes to platform games. Unfortunately, Hook just doesn't compare with the likes of Mario or Megaman.

Hook certainly has plenty of things going for it. It's got loads of levels, each a vast playing area in itself, it's challenging and it also sports some impressive graphics. However, it has a big millstone around its neck in the form of its dull and rather uninteresting gameplay. The pace of the action is sedate to say the least, the combat element isn't much fun and there's simply not much variety. Most of your time is spent making your way around the huge map searching for items, which simply isn't much fun. Had there been more combat, more interesting platform environments and lots more different baddies, this could have been quite neat. As it stands it has nothing to make it really stand out of the very competitive platform marketplace, and it's totally eclipsed by games like Mario, Megaman, Blaster Master and Jackie Chan Action Kung-fu.