Tak and the Power of Juju
Encyclopedia
Tak and the Power of Juju is an action-adventure
video game developed by Avalanche Software
for the PlayStation 2
, GameCube
, and Game Boy Advance
.
The game spawned four sequels: Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams
, Tak: The Great Juju Challenge
, Tak and the Guardians of Gross
, and Tak: Mojo Mistake
.
The game was developed under the aegis of the Nickelodeon
television channel, a precedent at the time because the game was not based on any of its then existing shows or films.
Having escaped Tlaloc's spell, Jibolba believes his apprentice Lok to be the warrior of the prophecy and prepares to send him off; however, it appears that Lok has been turned into a sheep. Jibolba sends his younger apprentice, Tak, to find magical plants and change him back, though it turns out not to be Lok. Jibolba tells Tak to obtain the Spirit Rattle, which allows the wielder to communicate with powerful Juju spirits to assist him, while he finds Lok.
Tak returns with the Rattle to find that Lok has been trampled to death by a herd of sheep. Jibolba has Tak collect 100 magic Yorbels and Lok's spirit from the spirit world, allowing him to successfully resurrect Lok. An unfortunate side-effect of the resurrection, however, is a severe case of diarrhea
. Tak obtains the Moon Stones instead while Lok recovers, restoring the Moon Juju to full strength.
The Moon Juju reveals that the warrior of the prophecy is not Lok, but Tak, as he has already fulfilled almost everything the prophecy predicted. Using his arsenal of Juju spells, Tak defeats Tlaloc and turns him into a sheep, finally fulfilling the prophecy.
When Tak receives his Spirit Rattle, he is allowed Juju Powers that need to be collected. There are different effects for each one. Such as: Restoration Dance restores Tak to full health. Tak needs to collect feathers to restore his mana. Collecting feathers is a priority in each level and can do multiple things, like restore health or mana. Besides feathers, other collectables are essential for missions, such as Tikis that can summon Juju spirits.
One of the games developers said that the gameplay was based on Sly Cooper, the level design on the Jak trilogy, and the humor of Ratchet and Clank.
for the PlayStation 2
, GameCube
, and Game Boy Advance
. The game was developed under the aegis of the Nickelodeon
television channel, a precedent at the time because the game was not based on any of its then existing shows or films.
television series that debuted on Nickelodeon
on August 31, 2007. Tak and the Power of Juju consists of two eleven minute stories per half hour episode. It is Nickelodeon's first CGI series (produced in house) and the company's 31st Nicktoon. The series is directed by Mark Risley
and Jim Schumann.
The television series tells of Tak and his friend, Jeera, including his master, Jibolba, and other characters. Tak is faced with the responsibilities of being a shaman as he daily has to save his village from villains. The series aired every Saturday and wasn't as popular as other Nicktoons
, and ended its run on November 29, 2008, due low ratings and mixed to negative feedback from critics and viewers alike.
version of Tak and the Power of Juju received generally favorable reviews with an aggregate score of 79% by Metacritic
. GameZone
rated the game 7/10, stating it is "well done, but typical of the genre."
. GameZone
rated the game 8.4/10, stating "Tak and the Power of Juju appears to be a kiddie game, but it's much more than that."
version of Tak and the Power of Juju received mixed or average reviews with an aggregate score of 68% by Metacritic
. Play Magazine
rated the game 83%, stating "Tak is one of the most detailed platformers I've ever seen, and possesses a measure of style that sets the universe apart". IGN
rated the game 7.9/10, stating "Perhaps it's because of the goofy main character, a humorous plot line, or some creative ways to present age old puzzles, but you're compelled to play through Tak." GameZone
rated the game 7.8/10, stating it "will give younger players a lot of replay time, but it is not a title for older gamers." Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine rated the game 70%, stating "After a few hours, the boredom sets in, and the number of reasons you have for wanting to beat the damn thing is less than one. It's just not fun enough."
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
video game developed by Avalanche Software
Avalanche Software
Avalanche Software is a video game developer studio, founded in October 1995 by four lead programmers from Sculptured Software. The company has developed for every console platform since the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES days and has grown to a staff of over 100 since its inception...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
.
The game spawned four sequels: Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams
Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams
Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams is a video game for GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to Tak and the Power of Juju and it was released in 2004. It was followed by Tak: The Great Juju Challenge...
, Tak: The Great Juju Challenge
Tak: The Great Juju Challenge
Tak: The Great Juju Challenge is a platform video game released in by THQ. It is the sequel to Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams.-Plot:In the 3rd installment of Avalanche's Tak series, Tak, and for the first time, Lok, must team up in order to win the Juju Challenge in order to receive the Moon Juju's...
, Tak and the Guardians of Gross
Tak and the Guardians of Gross
Tak and the Guardians of Gross is a video game released for Wii and PlayStation 2.-Plot:While cleaning up a shrine, Tak removes a giant crystal and inadvertently releases the four Big G's, four of the nastiest, most disgusting Titans to terrorize Tak's village: Trashthulu the landfill giant,...
, and Tak: Mojo Mistake
Tak: Mojo Mistake
Tak: Mojo Mistake is a 2D action adventure video game for the Nintendo DS.-Plot:Tak finds himself exhausted from trying to help eveyone in his village. He decided to use his Juju magic create little helpers called Hackies. But when these little critters unruly and unexpectedly multiply into...
.
The game was developed under the aegis of the 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...
television channel, a precedent at the time because the game was not based on any of its then existing shows or films.
Story
An ancient prophecy foretells that the Moon Juju, the kind protector of the Pupanunu people, would be weakened by the evil Tlaloc, an embittered Pupanunu shaman, so he could turn the Pupanunu people into sheep as revenge for not being made high shaman in favor of another shaman, Jibolba. The prophecy also mentions a great and mighty warrior who would restore the Moon Juju, defeat Tlaloc, and bring peace to the Pupanunu people.Having escaped Tlaloc's spell, Jibolba believes his apprentice Lok to be the warrior of the prophecy and prepares to send him off; however, it appears that Lok has been turned into a sheep. Jibolba sends his younger apprentice, Tak, to find magical plants and change him back, though it turns out not to be Lok. Jibolba tells Tak to obtain the Spirit Rattle, which allows the wielder to communicate with powerful Juju spirits to assist him, while he finds Lok.
Tak returns with the Rattle to find that Lok has been trampled to death by a herd of sheep. Jibolba has Tak collect 100 magic Yorbels and Lok's spirit from the spirit world, allowing him to successfully resurrect Lok. An unfortunate side-effect of the resurrection, however, is a severe case of diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
. Tak obtains the Moon Stones instead while Lok recovers, restoring the Moon Juju to full strength.
The Moon Juju reveals that the warrior of the prophecy is not Lok, but Tak, as he has already fulfilled almost everything the prophecy predicted. Using his arsenal of Juju spells, Tak defeats Tlaloc and turns him into a sheep, finally fulfilling the prophecy.
Gameplay
The gameplay mostly consists of obstacles, puzzles and a colorful platformer. Like most action/adventure video games, the player can jump and attack, The player has a health-meter represented by the feather on Tak's head. One unique feature is the ability to interact with and get past obstacles with the help of animals.- OrangutanOrangutanOrangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
s: They can bend trees that spring back so that Tak can travel distances that he couldn't reach on foot. - RhinosRhinocerosRhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
: They can smash through obstacles with Tak on back. - MonkeyMonkeyA monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s: They throw coconuts at the nearest target when angered. - EmuEmuThe Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
s: They are mobile like rhinos and jump and flap short distances. - Sheep: They can open doors and activate elevators by running on conveyor belts.
When Tak receives his Spirit Rattle, he is allowed Juju Powers that need to be collected. There are different effects for each one. Such as: Restoration Dance restores Tak to full health. Tak needs to collect feathers to restore his mana. Collecting feathers is a priority in each level and can do multiple things, like restore health or mana. Besides feathers, other collectables are essential for missions, such as Tikis that can summon Juju spirits.
One of the games developers said that the gameplay was based on Sly Cooper, the level design on the Jak trilogy, and the humor of Ratchet and Clank.
Development
Tak and the Power of Juju was developed by Avalanche SoftwareAvalanche Software
Avalanche Software is a video game developer studio, founded in October 1995 by four lead programmers from Sculptured Software. The company has developed for every console platform since the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES days and has grown to a staff of over 100 since its inception...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. The game was developed under the aegis of the 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...
television channel, a precedent at the time because the game was not based on any of its then existing shows or films.
Characters
- Tak: An unlikely hero who has been thrust into the role of saving his village from the evil juju man, Traloc.
- Lok: Jibolba's first apprentice and has been under Jibolba's training since he was very young.
- Jibolba: The wise old shaman of Tak's village and even though Lok is his first apprentice, he has full trust in Tak as well.
- Tlaloc: A power hungry selfish shaman who has stolen the precious moonstones that protect the local villagers from evil juju.
- Pins and Needles: To aid him in his quest for immortality and endless power, Traloc created Pins and Needles, two animated voodoo dolls (Pins is the fat, pillow like one with a voodoo pin for a nose, can talk and waddles, while Needles is the skinny, legless, jawless one who talks muffled and hops to walk) that act as his main henchmen.
Jujus
- Caged Juju: A cranky, horned Juju that lives in a cage and would dearly love to eat Tak. Or anyone else, for that matter.
- Party Juju: A crazed skeleton Juju that loves to party. He is found in the burial ground.
- Dinky Juju: A short-tempered baby Juju with powerful magic. He can be found in Tak's Village.
- Flora: The sassy daughter of the Moon Juju and your guiding spirit.
- Moon Juju: The beloved protector of the Pupanunu people.
- Two-Headed Juju: A Juju with two jealous heads (Rufus is the head that has one eye, and Jerry is the head that has two eyes). They can be found in Chicken Island and Dryrock Canyon.
Cast
- Jeff BennettJeff BennettJeffrey Glenn "Jeff" Bennett is an American voice actor and musician, listed "among the top names in the voice-over field", best known as the voice of Johnny Bravo in the series of the same name...
- Two-Headed Juju (Left Head), Caged Juju, Mummy, Pins, Needles - Jennifer HaleJennifer HaleJennifer Hale is a Canadian-born American actress and singer best known for her voice over work in video games like Grandia II, the Mass Effect trilogy, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Tales of Symphonia, the Metroid Prime trilogy, the Metal Gear Solid games, Brütal Legend, and Disney's...
- Flora Juju - Tina Illman - Moon Juju
- Jason MarsdenJason MarsdenJason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
- Tak - Lara Jill MillerLara Jill MillerLara Jill Miller is an American television, stage and voice actress.-Biography:Miller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1967. She graduated from Allentown's William Allen High School...
- Dinky Juju - John KassirJohn KassirJohn Kassir is an American actor, voice artist, and comedian who is best known as the voice of the Crypt Keeper in HBO's, Tales from the Crypt franchise...
- Jibolba - Rob PaulsenRob PaulsenRobert Fredrick "Rob" Paulsen III , sometimes credited as Rob Paulson, is an American voice actor, best known as the voice behind Raphael from the 1987 cartoon of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko Warner and Dr...
- Tlaloc, Two-Headed Juju (Right Head), Dead Juju - Patrick WarburtonPatrick WarburtonPatrick John Warburton is an American actor of television, film, and voice. He is best known for his several TV roles, including the title role of The Tick, David Puddy on Seinfeld, the evil Johnny Johnson on NewsRadio, and anchorman Jeb Denton on Less Than Perfect...
- Lok
Television show
Tak and the Power of Juju is a CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
television series that debuted 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...
on August 31, 2007. Tak and the Power of Juju consists of two eleven minute stories per half hour episode. It is Nickelodeon's first CGI series (produced in house) and the company's 31st Nicktoon. The series is directed by Mark Risley
Mark Risley
Mark Risley is an American Director specializing in animated children's television. His background includes writing, producing and directing 2D, CG and Flash animated productions.-Career:...
and Jim Schumann.
The television series tells of Tak and his friend, Jeera, including his master, Jibolba, and other characters. Tak is faced with the responsibilities of being a shaman as he daily has to save his village from villains. The series aired every Saturday and wasn't as popular as other Nicktoons
Nicktoons
Nicktoons are animated television shows that are produced by and aired on the children's television channel Nickelodeon. Prior to 1991, Nickelodeon aired mostly foreign made animated series. The idea for Nicktoons was formed in 1989 and on Sunday, August 11, 1991, the first Nicktoon, Doug, was...
, and ended its run on November 29, 2008, due low ratings and mixed to negative feedback from critics and viewers alike.
Sequels
- Tak 2: The Staff of DreamsTak 2: The Staff of DreamsTak 2: The Staff of Dreams is a video game for GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to Tak and the Power of Juju and it was released in 2004. It was followed by Tak: The Great Juju Challenge...
- Tak: The Great Juju ChallengeTak: The Great Juju ChallengeTak: The Great Juju Challenge is a platform video game released in by THQ. It is the sequel to Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams.-Plot:In the 3rd installment of Avalanche's Tak series, Tak, and for the first time, Lok, must team up in order to win the Juju Challenge in order to receive the Moon Juju's...
- Tak and the Guardians of GrossTak and the Guardians of GrossTak and the Guardians of Gross is a video game released for Wii and PlayStation 2.-Plot:While cleaning up a shrine, Tak removes a giant crystal and inadvertently releases the four Big G's, four of the nastiest, most disgusting Titans to terrorize Tak's village: Trashthulu the landfill giant,...
- Tak: Mojo MistakeTak: Mojo MistakeTak: Mojo Mistake is a 2D action adventure video game for the Nintendo DS.-Plot:Tak finds himself exhausted from trying to help eveyone in his village. He decided to use his Juju magic create little helpers called Hackies. But when these little critters unruly and unexpectedly multiply into...
Critical reception
GBA version
The Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
version of Tak and the Power of Juju received generally favorable reviews with an aggregate score of 79% by Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
rated the game 7/10, stating it is "well done, but typical of the genre."
GC version
The GameCube version of Tak and the Power of Juju received mixed or average reviews with an aggregate score of 71% by MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
rated the game 8.4/10, stating "Tak and the Power of Juju appears to be a kiddie game, but it's much more than that."
PS2 version
The PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version of Tak and the Power of Juju received mixed or average reviews with an aggregate score of 68% by Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. Play Magazine
Play (US magazine)
Play was a U.S.-based magazine focused on video games, anime, manga, film, DVD, television, comics, music and media. Published by Fusion Publishing, Inc. since 2001, Play magazine also had a separate Internet presence on its website, Play Online...
rated the game 83%, stating "Tak is one of the most detailed platformers I've ever seen, and possesses a measure of style that sets the universe apart". IGN
IGN
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...
rated the game 7.9/10, stating "Perhaps it's because of the goofy main character, a humorous plot line, or some creative ways to present age old puzzles, but you're compelled to play through Tak." GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
rated the game 7.8/10, stating it "will give younger players a lot of replay time, but it is not a title for older gamers." Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine rated the game 70%, stating "After a few hours, the boredom sets in, and the number of reasons you have for wanting to beat the damn thing is less than one. It's just not fun enough."
External links
- Tak and the Power of Juju official site
- Tak and the Power of Juju at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...