Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt
Encyclopedia
Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt is an interactive board video game
developed by Realtime Associates
for the Nintendo 64
. It was originally shown at THQ's booth in 1999 and was published that same year. The game is based on the animated television series Rugrats
which aired on Nickelodeon
from 1991 until 2004. It features the original voices from the Rugrats cast and borrows its concept from Nintendo's Mario Party
franchise.
The game features three game boards. Angelica's Temple of Gloom which has an Aztec
setting, Pirate Treasure Hunt where the babies scuba dive under water to find hidden treasure near a sunken ship, and Reptar Rally which is the only stage that changes the babies into dinosaurs (resembling the form of Reptar). In each of the boards, Players control one of four babies including Tommy
, Chuckie
, Phil, and Lil
. Angelica
serves as the main antagonist, trying to snatch the items in question before the others. Reviews were critically mixed to negative, receiving an aggregated score of 52.67% from Gamerankings.
, Chuckie
, Phil, and Lil
. Angelica
serves as the main antagonist, trying to snatch the items in question before the others. She also may take away items from other players if they come in contact with her. Susie
, Spike, and Grandpa (Lou Pickles) serve as allies doing various tasks such as giving you extra cookies when they come in contact with you. Dil Pickles, who became Tommy's baby brother in The Rugrats Movie
, has returned on the "Mystery" space. He drives the Reptar Wagon and changes the identity of the spaces on the board.
There are three different game boards, Reptar Rally being the most distinctive. There is also a hidden square option that can be turned on or off at the start screen. Toy cards give players special abilities. One lets players turn into Reptar and travel up to five squares and stop anywhere they like, which can only be achieved normally when a "Set Spin" is selected randomly from the spinner.
The main goal, however, is to collect the most of a specific item. Stages usually begin with a brief cut scene to explain what needs to be collected, then the game begins. Items can be gathered after landing on the "Search" space, which can be recognized by the magnifying glass design. Searching may lead players to find only a dust bunny, but it is the only way to acquire certain items. If a player finds the "Double Search Power" tool when searching, you may search twice every turn.
Players can also collect cookies, toy cards, and energy. Cookies are a form of currency that may provide opportunities for special bonuses. Toy cards can be purchases if one lands on a toy card space. They stretch the limits of game play for a single turn. Energy is needed to move from one space to another. If you run out of energy, you will begin to nap; there are also spaces for different sleep amounts.
setting. Stu has brought home statues that Angelica accidentally shatters. The babies must recover all of the missing statue pieces before Angelica finds hers to win. Pirate Treasure Hunt involves the babies scuba diving under water to find hidden treasure near a sunken ship. After Stu shows the kids his replica of a pirate ship, Grandpa Lou tells (the beginning of) a story about pirates with treasure. They must find all four kinds of "pirate treasure" to win. Reptar Rally is the only stage that changes the babies into dinosaurs (resembling the form of Reptar). Here they collect different types of candy on an island made of sweets. If they successfully collect candy from everyone else's stash, they win.
to develop and publish video games using the Rugrats license through December 2002. The deal gave THQ exclusive rights to Rugrats for all current and future systems from Nintendo, Sony and Sega. THQ said that early development has been discussed by game designers, adding that the title is currently in the design stages. The game was intended to be an adventure game, adding that Rumble Pak compatible and multiplayer aspects are unknown at the time.
gave it a 3.7/10, and called it "a dull, sloppy mess which not only embarrasses everyone involved but manages to tarnish the very license it meant to exploit.". Herder said that "young children will quickly be bored from the slow pace and frustrated by the unintuitive game mechanics, while more experienced gamers will balk at the simplistic play and juvenile subject matter.". Matt Casamassina commented on the review that the game "is yet another example of a publisher trying to make a quick buck off a popular license.".
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
developed by Realtime Associates
Realtime Associates
Realtime Associates is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was founded in 1986 by David Warhol and a group of ex Mattel Electronics employees originally to create games for the Intellivision system...
for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. It was originally shown at THQ's booth in 1999 and was published that same year. The game is based on the animated television series Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
which aired on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
from 1991 until 2004. It features the original voices from the Rugrats cast and borrows its concept from Nintendo's Mario Party
Mario Party
is a party video game for the Nintendo 64 game console, developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on December 14, 1998, in North America on February 8, 1999, and in Europe on March 9, 1999...
franchise.
The game features three game boards. Angelica's Temple of Gloom which has an Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
setting, Pirate Treasure Hunt where the babies scuba dive under water to find hidden treasure near a sunken ship, and Reptar Rally which is the only stage that changes the babies into dinosaurs (resembling the form of Reptar). In each of the boards, Players control one of four babies including Tommy
Tommy Pickles
Thomas Malcolm "Tommy" Pickles is the main protagonist of the Nickelodeon animated television series' Rugrats and its spin-off All Grown Up!. He is clad in only a T-shirt and a diaper and is bald with big, blank eyes. He translates everything adult into baby gibberish...
, Chuckie
Chuckie Finster
Charles "Chuckie" Crandall Finster is a fictional character from the Nickelodeon animated television series' Rugrats and All Grown Up!. He is Tommy Pickles' best friend and tritagonist . The character is voiced by Christine Cavanaugh...
, Phil, and Lil
Phil and Lil DeVille
Phillip Richard Bill "Phil" and Lillian Marie Jill "Lil" DeVille, or simply Phil and Lil, are the twins from the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up!, and are among the series' original characters....
. Angelica
Angelica Pickles
Angelica Charlotte Pickles is a character voiced by Cheryl Chase in the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up! and is among the series' original characters. She is a spoiled brat and the cousin of Tommy and Dil Pickles, serves as the main antagonist or the tritagonist of the series...
serves as the main antagonist, trying to snatch the items in question before the others. Reviews were critically mixed to negative, receiving an aggregated score of 52.67% from Gamerankings.
Gameplay
Players control one of four babies including TommyTommy Pickles
Thomas Malcolm "Tommy" Pickles is the main protagonist of the Nickelodeon animated television series' Rugrats and its spin-off All Grown Up!. He is clad in only a T-shirt and a diaper and is bald with big, blank eyes. He translates everything adult into baby gibberish...
, Chuckie
Chuckie Finster
Charles "Chuckie" Crandall Finster is a fictional character from the Nickelodeon animated television series' Rugrats and All Grown Up!. He is Tommy Pickles' best friend and tritagonist . The character is voiced by Christine Cavanaugh...
, Phil, and Lil
Phil and Lil DeVille
Phillip Richard Bill "Phil" and Lillian Marie Jill "Lil" DeVille, or simply Phil and Lil, are the twins from the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up!, and are among the series' original characters....
. Angelica
Angelica Pickles
Angelica Charlotte Pickles is a character voiced by Cheryl Chase in the Nickelodeon shows Rugrats and All Grown Up! and is among the series' original characters. She is a spoiled brat and the cousin of Tommy and Dil Pickles, serves as the main antagonist or the tritagonist of the series...
serves as the main antagonist, trying to snatch the items in question before the others. She also may take away items from other players if they come in contact with her. Susie
Susie Carmichael
Susanna "Susie" Yvonne Carmichael is a supporting character from the Nickelodeon show Rugrats and a main character in its spin-off All Grown Up!...
, Spike, and Grandpa (Lou Pickles) serve as allies doing various tasks such as giving you extra cookies when they come in contact with you. Dil Pickles, who became Tommy's baby brother in The Rugrats Movie
The Rugrats Movie
The Rugrats Movie is a 1998 American animated film, produced by Klasky Csupo and Nickelodeon Movies. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures and first released in theaters in the United States on November 20, 1998....
, has returned on the "Mystery" space. He drives the Reptar Wagon and changes the identity of the spaces on the board.
There are three different game boards, Reptar Rally being the most distinctive. There is also a hidden square option that can be turned on or off at the start screen. Toy cards give players special abilities. One lets players turn into Reptar and travel up to five squares and stop anywhere they like, which can only be achieved normally when a "Set Spin" is selected randomly from the spinner.
The main goal, however, is to collect the most of a specific item. Stages usually begin with a brief cut scene to explain what needs to be collected, then the game begins. Items can be gathered after landing on the "Search" space, which can be recognized by the magnifying glass design. Searching may lead players to find only a dust bunny, but it is the only way to acquire certain items. If a player finds the "Double Search Power" tool when searching, you may search twice every turn.
Players can also collect cookies, toy cards, and energy. Cookies are a form of currency that may provide opportunities for special bonuses. Toy cards can be purchases if one lands on a toy card space. They stretch the limits of game play for a single turn. Energy is needed to move from one space to another. If you run out of energy, you will begin to nap; there are also spaces for different sleep amounts.
Game boards
Angelica's Temple of Gloom has an AztecAztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
setting. Stu has brought home statues that Angelica accidentally shatters. The babies must recover all of the missing statue pieces before Angelica finds hers to win. Pirate Treasure Hunt involves the babies scuba diving under water to find hidden treasure near a sunken ship. After Stu shows the kids his replica of a pirate ship, Grandpa Lou tells (the beginning of) a story about pirates with treasure. They must find all four kinds of "pirate treasure" to win. Reptar Rally is the only stage that changes the babies into dinosaurs (resembling the form of Reptar). Here they collect different types of candy on an island made of sweets. If they successfully collect candy from everyone else's stash, they win.
Development
Scavenger Hunt was originally shown on THQ's booth at the E3 in 1999. In 1997, THQ signed an agreement with NickelodeonNickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
to develop and publish video games using the Rugrats license through December 2002. The deal gave THQ exclusive rights to Rugrats for all current and future systems from Nintendo, Sony and Sega. THQ said that early development has been discussed by game designers, adding that the title is currently in the design stages. The game was intended to be an adventure game, adding that Rumble Pak compatible and multiplayer aspects are unknown at the time.
Reception
Upon it's release, Scavenger Hunt received mixed to negative reviews from critics. It currently holds an aggregated of 52.67% based on 3 reviews. Turhan Herder on IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it a 3.7/10, and called it "a dull, sloppy mess which not only embarrasses everyone involved but manages to tarnish the very license it meant to exploit.". Herder said that "young children will quickly be bored from the slow pace and frustrated by the unintuitive game mechanics, while more experienced gamers will balk at the simplistic play and juvenile subject matter.". Matt Casamassina commented on the review that the game "is yet another example of a publisher trying to make a quick buck off a popular license.".
External links
- Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- GameFAQs