This game is great value for a budget game and very fun, but it does have a few small drawbacks.
This game plays very well. It is a shame it is rated T because it would be great a great game for kids. Sure the main character has a sword, but when he uses it, it is hardly DMC. There is no blood and combat it quite cartoon like (think Spyro The Dragon crossed with Rayman). It is not long, but not too short either. It will take over 10 hours to complete, but there is a lot of replayability as you can replay completed levels to try and get a better score. When you get to the end of each level, you are marked on several things; enemies killed and secrets found to name a couple.
The first levels are quite easy but get harder though the game. The latter levels are quite hard but they do not get frustrating.
There is a comical sense all through the game, with often cartoon-like characters and jokes thrown in. The monsters you face are often not scary and quite comical, think the early Spyro games. This game feels like Crash Bandicoot or spyro to play.
Sometimes the view looks quite awkward, but it is hardly noticeable since the levels are quite linear. Looking for secrets is slightly awkward. If you are really that bothered you can fiddle around with the right analog stick to get it right pretty quick.
Graphics:
The graphics aren't amazing but are great for a budget game. They are simple, but are done very well. A lot of warm colours are used and there are not dull colours like in real life. I like the art scheme used. It is not like a WW2 shooter where a lot of things are dull grey-green colours.
The landscapes and water in the game could have done with more polygons, but i think if they made the scenery great graphically, it might have taken away some of the great comical feel to this game.
It has that great feel like a ps1 platform game, that ps2 platforms seem to have left behind; and I don't mean that in a bad way.
Sound:
The overall sound is good in this game. Combat sounds (sword clanging on different surfaces, enemies trying to attack, etc...) are great. The ambient music changes for each level and setting which is nice, and all settings and music fit together well. One thing i don't like is that when you talk to villagers after you save them, they don't actually say anything, accept an annoying "thank you" that gets repetitive quickly. There is a text box at the bottom of the screen that says a selection of messages including "thank you for saving me. I must give you a reward." I wouldn't mind if there were a lot of different messages but there aren't, so they get repetitive aswell.
Value:
I think this game is extremely good value, after all it is only a budget game. I don't know what the price was in the US but for 15 pounds, I can't think of many things better.