TAMA

Originally Written: 7/7/2000, Rewritten: 3/6/2002

Never heard of TAMA? Don't feel bad, neither had I. Until I actually purchased it and got to play it for the first time that is. Why would I buy a game I know nothing about? Well, when you are into importing games, a lot of times, that is your only choice. Import gaming is growing in popularity and finding info on games is easier than ever. However, there are still those jewels that slip through the cracks. If you don't give it a chance because you have little to no info on it, you could be missing out on one of the greatest games ever made. Of course, you could buy it and have it be the worst game ever made, but such is the risk you take when being an import gamer. So, does TAMA fall into the jackpot category or is it just another loser?

Before buying the game, the only piece of info I had on it, was it's premise. You have to lead a ball to the exit of a maze. Reminded me of Marble Madness so I decided to give it a shot. What should you expect from TAMA? Well, if you've ever seen one of those novelty toys where you must move the little marble to the exit of the maze by tilting the surface, than you've got a nice picture of TAMA. Usually in these toys there are little pits and things that are used as traps. TAMA uses the same basic rules of these toys. In TAMA you have no control over the actual ball. You have to control the ball with gravity. Just as in those aforementioned toys, you have to tilt and swivel the environment to make the ball roll where you want it to go. So rather than the norm of controlling the character, in TAMA you actually control the level! This definitely takes getting used to, but if the game allowed you to take control of the ball, it would be easy and boring, to say the least. Think about it, with TAMA's current setup, not only do you have to find the exit to a maze, you also have to maneuver yourself through all the death traps without ever having total control of your ball. It may seem simple guiding a ball through a small entrance with complete control, but imagine that same "simple" feat having to accomplish it by tilting the environment until your ball freely rolls through it. This game's strength lies in it's premise. Even after you get the control system down, don't expect smooth sailing. There are many things in TAMA to make your trip miserable. You've got your standard pits, along with some strange enemies. Oh, and a warning, do not tilt the maze too far, you'll fall out. Thankfully, you've also got some things that may help you reach the exit like springs and bridges.

TAMA is a far cry from easy. Not only do you have to navigate the maze and avoid obstacles, but you also have to beat the sometimes cruel clock. This game forces you to finish with a good time if you actually want to progress. You see, your time limit is actually carried over to the next level. You get a small boost, but if you happen to finish the stage with one second left, chances are, you won't be able to beat the next stage. Adding to the difficulty is a limited amount of balls. Every time you fall in a hole or fall off the edge of the maze you lose a ball. Once time runs out or you lose all of your balls, the game is over. Don't worry too much as you have a limited amount of continues at your disposal. You can set the number in the options mode. The levels in TAMA get quite tough, including sections where you must ever so slightly move the playing field so the ball can roll across a very thin bridge. One small mistake often means falling which usually results in you landing at the beginning of the maze. So as you might expect, TAMA can easily become frustrating, and with the often times annoying camera angles and controls, it can become an exercise in annoyance.

TAMA was released very early in Saturn's life, and boy does it show. The graphics are on par with Star Fox. No, not the N64 update, the SNES original! So, if you let graphics stand in the way of your enjoyment of a game, leave TAMA alone. However, the graphics are understandable, considering the game is from 94 or 95. The mazes each have a varied look. Their are different "worlds" each containing five mazes. For each different world you've got a different environment. Take the first two for example, one is a forest and the other is a winter wonderland. One main complaint with the game lies in the camera. It can add some unneeded difficulty. Often times you won't be able to see your ball and you may roll it into a hole. It hurts my overall enjoyment of the game.

As stated above, you need to give the controls some time to feel right. The D-Pad tilts the play field in the respective direction. In other words, if you press down the playing field will tilt downward and the ball will roll in that direction. Remember, gravity controls the ball, not you. Left and Right triggers rotate the playing field. The face buttons provide camera work. With them you can zoom in and out of the action. Doesn't work to well, but at least you have some control over the camera. One word of warning, TAMA is not compatible with the NiGHTS 3D pad. If you try to play it with the 3D pad, the game will not respond to anything, even when the pad is set to digital mode. So, make sure you've got a normal controller handy.

I really enjoyed the music found in TAMA. Often times I'd catch myself humming it. If you have ever seen "Gumby" than you know what to expect with the music. It has an upbeat, fun feel that really matches the games atmosphere. Sound FX are lacking, but it doesn't detract from the game.

It should be noted that TAMA is very import friendly. It's not exactly story heavy, so you aren't really missing out on anything. You have nothing to worry about when importing the game, language wise anyway.

Overall, I'm not sure what to say about TAMA. Due to it being pretty much unknown, it is still pretty easy to find for a cheap price. I really like the concept, but I'm not sure if it was pulled off too well. There are some glaring problems with the camera that can hurt the game. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun game, but it's got its flaws, that can make it a very frustrating experience. If the game sounds like something you'd enjoy and you can get it pretty cheap, it might be worth a look. Just keep in mind that the game is difficult and the camera is annoying. If you have a high blood pressure, avoid this game though. I don't want anyone dying.

©2002 Ed Finnegan

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