Sphinx is a great game that unfortunately gets lost in the shuffle.
User Rating: 8 | Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy GC
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a great platformer that has all the elements to make it a classic. Unfortunately the game seems to have slipped through the cracks, going unnoticed by many people. Rather than just another cookie cutter platformer pumped out to make money, Sphinx has many unique features that set it apart from other games in the genre. Once such feature is the great way that THQ managed to blend the action and puzzle portions of the game so well. As the name of the game suggests players control both Sphinx, and the Cursed Mummy, otherwise known as Tut. The action portions of the game see the player controlling Sphinx as he jumps gaps, sword fights enemies, and captures defeated foes in a very Pokemon-esque fashion. While capturing your enemies seems like a novelty at first, players are eventually required (and often rewarded) to do so. The puzzle solving portions of the game is when the Cursed Mummy comes into play. Since he's already dead, players have to ability to absolutely brutalize Tut in some pretty creative ways to solve the current dungeons puzzle. Whether it's electrocution, flattening him paper thin, setting him on fire, splitting him 3, or turning him into a cloud of smoke, Tut's portions of the game are always unique and very entertaining. While the two characters stories do intertwine, it's actually quite some time before they actually meet face to face. This isn't a problem at all however since both character's stories are entertaining and are told in a way that makes you want to keep playing. The only gripe some people may have in this area however is the lack of voice-acting. Although you can see the characters mouths moving on the screen, THQ opted to stick with simple subtitles rather than give their characters a voice. This hardly does anything to hurt the game though since it's been proven that voice acting isn't necessary to draw in a gamer (Zelda anyone?) What also helps to make the story so engaging is the great graphics and sound that can be found in Sphinx. While the graphics aren't anything ground breaking, there still good enough to make players stop and just admire them in a few locations. The sound is also a strong point in Sphinx, despite the lack of voice acting. This is obvious right from the title screen, as the main theme song is gives off a very strong and epic feel as the camera swoops around an ominous black tower. Many gamers who like this genre of games will love Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy. The controls are strongly reminiscent of Zelda and the wide variety of items and weapons you collect help keep the game interesting. The inclusion of a "making of" video is also a nice addition. The only thing that really takes away from Sphinx however is the lack of replay value. While there are a couple things to collect during the game, it is possible to get everything on your first play through if you're willing to be thorough enough. Overall though, Sphinx and The Cursed Mummy is a great game that sadly, is overshadowed by many of the more mainstream games.
