Global Gemini is Kim’s second venture on the DS, and shows that both she and her designers have advanced up the learning curve.Let’s start with the premise. For the first time to my knowledge, Drakken isn’t the one causing all the trouble — that blame lies on Global Gemini, Dr. Director’s younger twin brother. GG has broken out of jail and is plotting to take over the world’s justice system. And it’s once more up to Kim — high school student, cheerleader and superspy — to stop him.
If you played the first DS game (Kim Possible: Kimmunicator), there’s a lot you’ll find familiar here. The controls and action are much the same. You can play Kim and Ron and even (if you can figure out how) Rufus, the naked mole rat. Actually, this is Ron’s debut on the DS; he didn’t play a part in Kimmunicator. With a couple of DS’s, you can play both Kim and Ron together.
But there’s also a lot that will be New and Improved. I liked Kimmunicator, but there were a couple of things that annoyed me about it. I cautiously asked Kim’s producer about those aspects. In Kimmunicator, you can collect several costumes, but they basically had no effect on gameplay. I am told that Global Gemini still has a variety of costumes, and that this time they make a difference. Similarly, Kim had a wide range of combat moves in Kimmunicator, but by far the best attack against any opponent was a series of rapid kicks. Kim’s producer assured me that they had recognized and addressed that problem, as well — there will be good reasons to vary from a steady diet of kicks this time around.
Snowboards and mopeds are included in the mix, and the plan is that Global Gemini will take much better advantage of the DS. I couldn’t see the whole thing, but it sure seems like the plan is in place and well on its way to completion — I’m looking forward to Kim’s next adventure.
David, the dad: Got my start in gaming with Steve Jackson Games (paper gaming), first as a tester, then as a developer and editor. Was GURPS and Car Wars system guru for awhile, then edited and developed for TSR (AD&D) and FASA (Mech Warrior, Renegade Legion), before turning to computer games. Spent six years as Origin Systems Publications Manager, then our department spun off into its own little company, Incan Monkey God Studios (IMGS). Since 1997, we’ve been a freelance content and design house, specializing in strategy guides. We created the first strategy guides for MOGs (Ultima Online, EQ: Ruins of Kunark) and now create the best MOG guides (IMHO, of course).
I like to analyze and optimize while playing games, so I much prefer games that require thought rather than action.
Evie is twelve years old and is an avid reader, especially of fantasy. Favorite authors include J.K. Rowling (of course), Brian Jacques, Cornelia Funke and Tamora Pierce. These reviews are her first published writing.
Will is nine years old and loves to investigate, especially dinosaurs and astronomy. These reviews are also his first published writing.
Jesse is seven years old and has just started reading chapter books. He likes Hank the Cowdog and cartoon books, especially Calvin & Hobbes, Baby Blues and Donald Duck.
If you're interested in the (roughly) thousand-year-old triceratops stone in our pic, check out the Dino Art. Some of the accompanying text can be a bit strident, but it's still a puzzle why Central and South American Indians knew pretty precisely what dinosaurs looked like over a thousand years ago.
