Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue – Review

Life as a videogames reviewer is often far from glamorous. In fact, for the most part, it’s an arduous, labor intensive process, which forces fun suppression in favor of executing a professionally honed objective opinion. Separating the wheat from the chaff is the mainstay of the job, but receiving high-profile releases as direct reward for efforts expended is not a guarantee. That said, every now and then a little gem of a game goes undetected by the quality radar and, unknowingly, the editor adds it to the pile of dusty review copy labeled ‘of secondary importance’. Then, of course, comes the day of distribution and reviewers clamber frantically for the latest mega-budget opportunity and no one pays much attention to the little game that could—until now.

Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue. Even the longwinded title is enough to put off most hardened players, but they’d be missing a thoroughly charming Outback jaunt if that were their attitude. Along with the aid of the other faithful members of the Bush Rescue team, Ty’s return to action in Bush Rescue sees him pitted once more against evil arch nemesis Boss Cass (a psychotic emu with unquenchable plans for world domination). Opening with the hectic, mech-assisted, jail break of Boss Cass by his right hand (wo)man-cum-lizard, Fluffy, the game throws the player into a deceptive all-action, third-person foray that appears to outline Bush Rescue’s gameplay intentions. However, once Boss Cass is liberated from incarceration and the disgruntled Ty vows to see the nefarious evildoer returned to an Aussie prison cell, the game’s pacing settles and its opening linear track suddenly becomes a gigantic roaming adventure. Take Ty on a grand quest across an impressive world map and strive to stump Boss Cass before he can unleash his manufactured and mutated Über Lizard hordes.

From the Bush Rescue headquarters, which lie just beyond the bustling town of Burramudgee, Ty is issued various and often perilous rescue missions that further both his reputation as an orange tinged hero, and also his quest to locate Boss Cass. Certain missions are central to the game’s narrative evolution—and they’re not exactly difficult to discern if you wish to avoid them—whereas the majority are fun-filled excursions of tourist retrieval, public assistance, and nature preservation.

To assist him on missions, Ty duel wields a formidable array of upgrade-friendly Boomerangs ranging from the icy Frosterang, shocking Zappyrang, and secret-locating Infrarang, to the hugely explosive Kaboomerang and the fearsome Doomerang. Of course, Ty begins the game with a default ‘Rang’ but others—and especially mission-related Boomerangs—can be purchased from the Burramudgee Rang store…and also from the hard to find, harder to get to, Sly’s Store. For fans of the original game, Ty’s once evil brother Sly is now running a fine upstanding business stocking only the best quality Rangs in existence. Securing his wares is a must if Ty is to overcome Boss Cass’ mutated lizard army. All attainable goodies in the game are secured with collected opals that Ty comes across in generously placed crates, and every time he rubs out a foe.

Offering more than just an expansive armoury, Boomerangs are not the only weapons at Ty’s disposal in Bush Rescue. Once beyond the borders of Burramudgee, Ty is rocketed across the rolling Aussie landscape on the back of a speeding 4×4. Rough edged Bush Rescue team-mate, and eventual love interest, Shazza, is at the wheel of the sturdy little ‘fourbie’ and Ty can dish out explosive boomerang mayhem from the exterior flatbed section behind her. Shazza is the only real gaming connection for girl gamers and, sadly, she’s not directly playable. However, the game exudes a distinctly ambiguous gender preference, so playing as Ty should still be more than acceptable for the female gamer, though having the choice to play Shazza would have been nice. Some missions see Ty hanging from the side of a rescue helicopter as he attempts to save stranded sheep from rising floodwaters or extinguish raging Bush fires. And, if that wasn’t enough glorious vehicular distraction, Ty can also pilot a Rescue Sub to save stranded divers, and repair broken air pipes. It’s not all paw pounding stuff here in Bush Rescue, the side missions are just as entertaining as the central narrative and always manage to raise a smile.

Graphically, Bush Rescue sets no new visual standards, and the mission environments on show follow established norms, but everything is presented with a glossed cartoon polish that is as welcoming as it is colourful. Lava levels, jungle levels, forestry, water, airborne…the standard visual prerequisites are all in attendance, and everything is so lovingly crafted that you won’t even mind the lack of ‘real’ innovation in this department. A welcome graphical addition to the game’s approach is the attainment of mechanical Bunyips for use through certain (usually central) missions. Essentially industrial Mechs used for lifting, battling, and withstanding extreme temperatures, the Bunyips come in handy for those particularly perilous rescues where a little added thump is required. The use of each Bunyip requires a license, which can be purchased back in Burramudgee.

From an aural standpoint, Bush Rescue’s score is outstanding. The level action is always tempered by appropriate musical accompaniment that complements the game rather than blemishes it. The individual compositions also have amusing titles that encapsulate the general cartoon feel of the game as a whole. Try cooling down scolding hot outcrops of rock with your Frosterang, then jumping from one to the other and avoiding deadly molten pools while ‘Lava cup of tea’ plays in the background. You get the gist. The character dialogue is all delivered with professional conviction, though the Australian accents do occasionally crack beneath the antipodean strain. All of the dialogue is accompanied by thorough subtitles, and they certainly don’t detract from the on-screen storyline. Sound effects are entertaining and well executed, especially when using the Kaboomerang and marveling at the deep bass resonance reverberating through the attractive cell-shaded explosions. Of course, the complete annihilation of those unfortunate enough to be caught in the blast is also a big plus.

The gameplay in Bush Rescue is solid and satisfactory, the movement and control attributes of Ty, the 4×4, helicopter, and all the Bunyips is completely acceptable without ever hindering continual progress through the game. However, the heavy finger of criticism must be pointed at the game camera, which is all so often a hugely influential gameplay element. For the most part the camera remains unobtrusive, a sign of decent play integration, but frustration soon looms whenever embroiled in a boss battle or backed against a wall. A quick press of the left shoulder button is ’supposed’ to centre the camera behind Ty regardless of where he’s moving. However, the following camera delays in moving to its assigned position during boss battles, often leaving Ty prone to open attack, and the ‘quick press’ needed often becomes a heavy and held connection to trigger camera movement. Thankfully the boss battles don’t prove to be particularly taxing and health boosts are littered around the arena but, somehow, this comes over as a compensation for the awkward camera work rather than an allowance for the difficulty.

That said, nothing else in Bush Rescue needs overly scrutinizing. The game’s difficulty level isn’t especially elevated and most missions can be accomplished without stretching the grey matter beyond expert timing and studious positioning, but the sheer accessibility of the game successfully papers over these, more child-oriented, facets. Various other collectible elements exist within the missions and each contributes to the overall percentage meter that follows your saved progress. Use the Infrarang or Xrang to blow the cover on Boss Cass’ spies; utilize the Lasherang and the Warprang to access those hard to reach areas; seek out wandering Steve and his mumblings of Gooboo Juice. There’s a lot to do here. It is possible to comfortably cover around 70% of the actual game and then face off against Boss Cass in the multi-tiered finale. This percentage offers up around 20 hours of genuine gamplay and relaxed exploration and, after completion, the game wisely allows you to continue with any remaining missions and collectible searching you may have missed.

Overall, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue is a thoroughly enjoyable experience that relies on a player’s willingness to have fun rather than violently expunge enemies while spilling gallons of blood. It’s not quite an RPG, it’s not quite a third-person action title, and it’s not quite a younger take on GTA. In essence Bush Rescue is what you always hoped Crash Bandicoot would become. Its free-roaming 4×4 sections may gloss over the semi-linear mission connections they represent, but the fun of screaming across the Outback and blowing up biker lizards while getting there is well worth your ignorance. The missions themselves are pretty enough to involve you from start to finish, and the collectibles available in each will have you revisiting once you’re armed appropriately. The lizard enemies don’t offer up any tangible resistance once your Rang collection sports the Kaboomerang, but the weight of numbers makes for some extremely profitable opal harvesting. Simple fun is a rarity in videogames nowadays, and Bush Rescue has enough of it to fill a kangaroos pouch twice over, cobber!

Review by Stevie

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