James Pond II: Codename RoboCod

I first got this game way back in Xmas 1992, which is rather appropriate coz it's a very Xmasy game. Pond's villain Doctor Maybe has seized control of Santa's workshop in the North Pole, kidnapped his workers and halted toy production. Obviously someone has to save Xmas so F.I.5.H. send James Pond to the rescue.

The object of the game is to rescue Santa's workers in all departments of his toy empire (sports toys, candy, bath toys, musical instruments, toy cars) while avoiding Doctor Maybe's minions and collecting zillions of fun, random objects for points.

I have not played the original Genesis version in a few years but recently bought the gameboy advance version. The GBA release is faster and features redesigned levels (still the same themes and colors) but I was sad to see that there is no snowfall on the outside of the Santa's castle and that the bonuses underground were no longer accessible. The only one of the original cheats that remains is the invincibility code (on the roof of the castle collect the Cake, Hammer, Earth, Apple, Tap in that order) but it only lasts for a few minutes now instead of being permanent.

The ending also cuts off pretty quickly instead of showing us Doctor Maybe escaping to the moon (which leads to James Pond 3). But the final score screen says 'theme completed', which confused me. I have no idea what it means.

The best thing about this game is Richard Joseph's impossibly cute music. The main Robocod theme is a brilliant alternate version of Basil Poledouris' Robocop score and the main Robocod jingle is THE most whistleable tune EVER. I first heard that jingle 13 years ago and I can't get it out of my head.

Definitely a keeper for James Pond fans but James Pond 3: Operation Starfish is even better an really ought to be remade of the GBA. Come on...where is it???

This game took me well over a month to complete, and there was a lot of swearing involved! I got a Gameboy Advance for my birthday, and I got a lend of this, as well as Final Fight. I played this nearly every day, picking it up, trying to get through a level, and then getting well and truly hacked off, and giving up. The game that is harder than this is Theme Hospital, which I have been playing since I first got a computer in the mid 90s, and STILL can't complete. I was just about giving up on this game, and when I went on holiday with someone who's an absolute genius with games :) I managed to get him to complete one bad guy level for me, and the finale.

Most of the levels I found reasonably easy, but it was always getting near to the end, just before I collected a password (some of which I had to put in so many times, I virtually memorised them!) that got me. It was always those that I failed miserably at, and the more I played them, the clumsier I got, and the more I failed.

The finale completely floored me though. It got me in such a bad mood, that I needed to go away and do something completely different just to get my mind off it. I frowned so much I'm probably going to need to a good session of Botox! The game got under my skin that much, that I was swearing, and at one point, crying with frustration that I couldn't get through it with the "patience" that was required. The computer genius eventually completed it for me on the plane home, but even he found it difficult, despite having completed it when I went to the toilet to kick something. I was extremely disappointed to find there was no high score bit at the end - I'd been keeping an eye on my score right the way through as well! I'd highly doubt I'd play this game again, despite enjoying it, it took it out of me that much. I didn't find it Xmassy at all like the previous reviewer mentioned. If James Pond ever gets mentioned to me again, expect to see me quaking with fear, and a nervous wreck at the thought of it.