To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make of The Fancy Pants Adventures. I first got a look at it at the EA Showcase and it seemed like a lot of fun. Then again, I played for about 20 minutes with four players and only touched on the story mode. Instead, we saw challenge rooms and alternative modes such as King of the Hill.
The Fancy Pants Adventures does not seem designed for playing single player, which makes it difficult to review and also difficult to pin down. As a 2D platformer, it looks well but it isn't overly challenging. There are bundles of collectibles but it's like collecting rewards from cereal boxes; it comes down to dumb luck and persistance.
The only reason to play on your own is to get the extra "squiggles" and go for the 100% completion or rewards. However, the levels are designed for multiplayer. Some squiggles are unobtainable unless you work with other people to reach higher platforms. So, while you get to explore more at your leisure in single player, you may not be able to get to places that you find.
This is where the game falls down. It can be a blast playing four player locally. There are some excellent game modes. But, if playing with the wrong crowd, it comes across as a boring title. If you can get the mix of co-operation and competition right, it works out brilliantly. But considering that you need to assist one another to get some squiggles, if people take the competitive element too far then the wheels come off the chariot.
I picked it up instantly when it came out after my impressions at the showcase. My friends haven't been won over so it may only get played locally for short bursts of time. On top of that, it hasn't quite gripped me enough to play through of my own accord.
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