Review: Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer (GBA)

If there is one genre that can give Platformers and Puzzle Games a run for their money on Nintendo's handheld, it's Extreme Sports. Skateboarding, Bmx Freestyle and even Snowboarding have all made it to the Advance at some stage of it's short life.

Now Activision have decided we need a Surfing game (of all things) to liven up our coach journeys, so it's a good job that the end result is great fun. Attached with yet another big name, in this case Kelly Slater. Activision's latest title is very similar to its 128-bit peers in terms of both gameplay and presentation. The funny thing though, is that this manages to be a lot more enjoyable, despite the fact you're playing on a miniscule screen. Maybe it's the nifty score section, or the fact that the tiny little waves look mighty good as your surfer rides them. Whatever the case, it's perfectly suited to the Advance and will have you busting tricks for some time.

Using a similar style of presentation to its older brothers, Pro Surfer certainly looks the part. Various photos show the available surfers and there's a nice shot of each available location (13 beaches in all.) Games consist of either a Championship mode (come top in 2 of 3 heats), Challenge mode (speaks for itself) and last of all, the Drop In (Surf away to your hearts content.) As always, there is a tutorial mode which should definitely be looked at, as some of the combos can be more than a little tricky to pull off. Should you be lucky enough to have a friend, you'll also be able to participate in a great 2-player mode as well. A second cartridge is needed though, so make sure you become pals with someone who has plenty of spare cash.

Considering you only have 4 buttons, moves are always easy to reach and for the most part accessible. You can guess where the control problem lies though. Yup, that's right, the dreaded D-Pad again. Pulling off certain moves with one of the smallest bits of plastic known to man can be incredibly fiddly (not to mention hard on the thumb.) Still, get past the pain barrier and you'll soon be able to pull off some pretty cool tricks and turns. The games difficulty level is also very well structured, with a graceful, satisfying learning curve, that easily mimics the waves you'll take on.

Wondered how HotGen Studios would be able to create impressive waves on your humble handheld? Well, fret no longer. It may have none of the fancy lighting or water effects of its 128-bit cousins, however the plucky Advance still manages to convey a convincing atmosphere. Not only that, but every surfer is exceptionally animated, with the little athletes twisting and turning to their hearts content, in an effort to gather enough speed to pull off even more impressive tricks. The visuals are simply superb and mix 2d and 3d effects perfectly. Activision have consistently produced, a solid line of polished looking games on the GBA, and Pro Surfer is no exception.

There had to be something that was going to give, and in this case it's the sound. Ok, so it was never going to compete with the wondrous tunes found on the other consoles. However, that's still no excuse for the dire, dirge-like chorus that greets your ears whenever you're playing. If the awful tunes weren't enough to finish you off, you're also privy to one of the most obnoxious voiceovers heard in a video game. His constant jibes are off putting and really annoying, luckily though, you can turn the annoying sod off. Pro Surfers biggest problem is that, at the end of the day, there just isn't a lot you can do with a single wave (no matter how good it looks.) While there are a fair amount of levels and boards to unlock, the predictable nature of the challenges soon gets rather repetitive. Constantly achieving high scores will keep you entertained, but only in short blasts. Otherwise you'll find it's only the cool multi-player mode that will bring you back to the game once it's finally completed.

Ultimately, Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer is yet another great release for the Gameboy Advance. It takes a limited formula and stretches it to breaking point. Achieving high scores becomes incredibly addicted and is a great alternative to standing placidly at a bus stop, while you await the no 37. It may not be the best sounding game ever, however the superb visuals and enjoyable gameplay will be more than enough to keep you happy for some time. Activision have once again delivered a title that's perfectly suited for it's medium. Nice one.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Darran Jones