Chronicle #33: Les Schtroumpfs – Le téléportaschtroumpf

The World of CD-i Chronicles #33
Les Schtroumpfs – Le téléportaschtroumpf

A few days after we received the covers of Les Schtroumpfs – Le Téléportaschtroumpf from Testsuoshima, we received from Seventy7 with the help of Blazers a copy of the game. The perfect opportunity to review it.

Of course, most of you know them as “The Smurfs” (USA), or “De Smurfen” (The Netherlands).

SOME FACTS:
In 1995, Infogrames got the rights to publish games from famous strip cartoons and some has been ported to CD-i. It happens with Asterix® – Caesar’s Challenge and Les Schtroumpfs – Le Téléportaschtroumpf. With the limitations of the CD-i, Infogrames had to make a different version for the system for both games… a board game like with mini-games.

EXTRA FACT:
Do you know how the name Schtroumpfs appears…?
One night, during the family diner, Peyo (from Belgium), the creator of the schtroumpfs, asked his wife for the table salt… but he forgot the name of it… he stands with the harm forward… still trying to remember the name… and this is when he said: “Passe moi le Schtroumpf!” as it was the same as if you say “Give me the thing”. That is how he start drawing those little blue gnomes, now known all over the world.
Peyo passed away in 1992.

: Peyo – The Smurfs creator

THE GAME:
This is a kid’s game, but if you are a Smurf lover, then this game is for you.
This game has been published by Infogrames, so, no Philips Media logo at the beginning.

The game starts with a Full Screen animation. this is when you discover the story and what you will have to do.

Smurfette has been kidnapped by Gargamel the wizard, in his mind, he wants to attract all the smurfs into his house to free Smurfette, and this way catch them all! That’s a bad boy… bad boy Gargamel!
But some smurfs saw Smurfette by the window and listen to his plan. They came back to the Smurfs village and explained everything to Papa Smurf.

You will then reach the main screen. Click any button to get into the menu.

Once on the menu screen you will get several options:
Règles (rules), Introduction (intro), Schtroumpf (Smurf), Jouer (play), Parents (parents), Quitter (exit).

Choose Règles to listen to the rules.

Choose Introduction to to re-watch the game’s intro.

Choose Schtroumpf to play only the mini-games you want for training.

I have edited the forest map to get a general view of it. You can now watch all the stops for each mini-games.

Choose Jouer to start a new game. We will see it later (after all the other options).

Now let’s look at this Parents option…
This is a really cool feature. Just like it says, this is for the parents.
I think all Kids games should have this option.

This is where you (as parent) access to define how long your kids will play (1/2 hour, 1 hour, 1 hour and 1/2, 2 hours) and how many pauses they will have to do (none, 1, 2, 3 or 4 every 1/2 hour).

Also, you can define the reason of the stop after the defined time play is reached. You can choose between 9 options:
– Finish your homework.
– Have your launch.
– Take your bath.
– Go to bed!
– It’s enough for now.
– Let’s play other things.
– Rest your eyes.
– Go help Dad.
– Go help Mom.

To reach this option, you will have to keep pressing D-pad to the right for 4 seconds. If you just click to access it, nothing will happen.

And finally, the last option. Leave the game clicking on Quitter.

So let’s play now by clicking on Jouer!
Papa Smurf needs you to find several ingredients so he can create a Téléportaschtroumpf… What is a this?
It is a device that will bring Smurfette back to the village without the need to reach Gargamel’s house. Basically it’s a teleportation device… Smurf version!

You can play this game up to 4 players alternatively.
Move the D-pad to the right or left to increase or decrease the number or players.

Then choose between 6 Smurfs moving the D-pad to right or left:
– Handy Smurf
– Poet Smurf
– Jokey Smurf
– Hefty Smurf
– Grouchy Smurf
– Greedy Smurf

Choose also the difficulty level between Easy, Medium and Hard.
You can define a different difficulty level for each player.

The game runs like a strip cartoons. You control your Smurf character. He can walk to the left or to the right all along the strip and it starts at the Papa Smurf’s house.
You can run by keeping pressed for 5 seconds D-pad left or right.

Right when the games starts Papa Smurf will tell you which are the ingredients and how many of them.
The less players… the more ingredients are needed, and the more players… the less ingredients are needed.

To get the ingredients, you will have to play as many Mini-Games as you can, each time you win, you will receive ingredients.
To play a Mini-Game, just stop your Smurf in front of a place and press button 1, the game will start and Papa Smurf will tell you what to do.

Here are the different Mini-Games you will find in this journey, 16 in total:

1. Reproduce the same sequence of sounds

2. Blow all the candles, before they light on again!

3. Remember the colors and paint again.

4. Finish the picture.

5. Find the right proverb.

6. Find Brainy Smurf.

7. Remember the picture… and one in the black, listen to the noise of a thing and click where it should be. (Very hard)

8. Transform the Black Smurf.

9. Find the non trapped gifts.

10. Avoid the eagles (in the air).

11. Avoid the obstacles (on the floor).

12. Jump the bridge.

13. Avoid Dragon Fire.

14. Jump on the turtles back to reach the other side of the river.

15. Choose the correct way! (very fast)

16. Master Mind’s like game

Gargamel has hidden several traps in the forest. If you fall on some of them, different things can happen:
– Be trapped and lose your turn.
– Be dropped at another place of the map.
– Return to the village.
– Fall asleep with the magic horn.

To avoid the traps, you can jump over the hidden holes or avoid access hidden traps (jails).

CONCLUSION:
The game is pretty cool, but you will easily get bored as it is very repetitive. This is really a kids title.
It deserve to be tested, but to really enjoy the game must be true Smurf Lover or as people says a “Smurf Fanboy”.
You are completely immersed into the Smurf ambiance.

Other information:
– 4 players (Alternatively).
– Digital Video Cartridge not required.
– Gamepad recommended.

CD-i Emulator Compatibility:
Not tested yet.

Good Points:
– 4 players.
– True Smurf ambiance immersion.
– Very good graphics.

Bad Points:
– Only for French people.
– Easily boring.

EVALUATION:
Graphics 9/10
Music 7/10
Gameplay 9/10
TOTAL 8/10

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