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GBA

North America

Cinderella: Magical Dreams

by Ben Kosmina - October 31, 2005, 8:28 pm EST

6

It doesn't even last as long as Cinderella's wish from the Fairy Godmother.

Let's get this out of the way right now: this game is short. I was able to finish the entire game in around an hour of solid play, and unlock all the movies and find all the pictures in the scrapbook on my first play through, which is a good thing because you can’t revisit previous levels. However, just because the game is short, doesn't mean that it's awful. In fact, it's not too bad at all.

This comes as quite a surprise, considering that the developer, DC Studios, also gave us the, er, interesting Fear Factor: Unleashed and the, er, slightly dark Rayman DS. Disney's Cinderella: Magical Dreams (which will from here be known as Cinderella) on the other hand, has bright and cheery graphics, assorted levels of play, and short clips of the Cinderella movie between levels. This isn't surprising, considering DC Studios created the technology for all of those GBA Video carts that Majesco has been releasing.

There's a surprising amount of variety in Cinderella, which is what makes the game a bit more exciting. In levels where you control Cinders, there are two paths for players to switch between by pressing up or down on the control pad as they progress left and right.

This gives the levels a little more complexity, but it's still easy enough for younger players to pick up. Cinderella has to dodge deadly obstacles including rabbits, puddles, gophers, lambs, possessed scarecrows, chickens, and other inoffensive foes as she completes her chores. Players must feed horses, water plants, and catch falling apples to progress through the levels.

You also get to play as Gus and Jaq, two of the mice that help Cinderella make her dress. Their levels are more exciting, as they must make their way through spider-infested areas, with Lucifer (the cat, not the devil) looking through holes in the wall and trying to swat at the pair. Since these levels have the liberty of action-packed animal violence, as opposed to the family-friendly Cinderella levels, any level with the mice duo comes off as a bit more exciting.

There are other levels which deviate from Cinderella's regular gameplay. For example, the Fairy Godmother wish-granting level, where you must pop the correct bubbles to grant the appropriate wish. During the hoedown showdown at the Prince's Ball, Cinders and the Prince must stay in the spotlight, avoid hitting other dancers, and amaze the spectators.

Cinderella, while brief, is ideal for younger players. The game is only moderately difficult (and, as with most Disney games, cheat codes are included), the graphics are pretty, and you're rewarded with short clips from the movie whenever you pass a level. The game doesn't have deep gameplay or much replayability, but it's not really meant to. If you're a parent looking for a game to keep your young daughter occupied, Cinderella should fit the bill. If you're over the age of nine or male, then you should look elsewhere.

Score

Graphics Sound Control Gameplay Lastability Final
8 5 6 7 1 6
Graphics
8

Cinderella is a surprisingly pretty game. All of the different levels look quite nice. The parallax scrolling in the sunflower fields looks particularly good. The boss battles with Lucifer look great, with the cat showing various devious expressions.

Sound
5

Nothing incredible, the music is a light airy affair, with assorted twinkles and jingles being used for sound effects. The sound in general also seems to be slightly distorted.

Control
6

Being a non-threatening game, Cinderella's movement is restricted to low jumps, and she can't do anything to fight back. Gus and Jaq are awesome to control, with button-hurling antics and shoulder charges, so their levels are more exciting. The Cinderella dance-off feels a little clunky.

Gameplay
7

Gameplay is surprisingly good, due to the variety in the tasks. In the same game, you get to feed horses, turn pumpkins into coaches, slide on butter, hurl buttons at a cat's face, and dance with the prince. He's so dreamy. Er... If you're into that sort of thing.

Lastability
1

This game is really, really short. Not to mention that if you miss any unlockables, you'll have to start a new game to get them. Obviously this game wasn't meant to be played more than once.

Final
6

Cinderella is a suitable game for young girls, particularly those who like Disney cartoons. If you are not young, and/or not a girl, and are not a game reviewer, then this is definitely not the game for you.

Summary

Pros
  • Clear, colourful graphics
  • Fighting Lucifer the cat
  • Nice parallax scrolling in the fields
Cons
  • Cinderella's health meter is a bit vague
  • Not possible to go back to earlier levels if you miss a secret pickup
  • Really short playtime
Review Page 2: Conclusion

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Genre Action
Developer Culture Brain
Players1

Worldwide Releases

na: Cinderella: Magical Dreams
Release Sep 20, 2005
PublisherBuena Vista Games
RatingEveryone
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