Based on the aged TV show featuring a clay boy and his friends, Gumby vs. the Astrobots is geared toward the youngest of kids, and rightfully so. If you’re older than seven years old, you will likely find this game a waste of time, due mostly to its repetitive and dull gameplay.
The game starts with Gumby and his friends and family having a pleasant picnic. However, the get-together is turned sour because the evil Blockheads have taken control over the Astrobots, who are now forced to wreak havoc everywhere. As a result, Gumby’s toy-sized friends flee into different books in terror, and it’s up to Gumby to rescue them.
Of course, the game’s plot isn’t too surprising, given the audience that it’s supposed to be for. And it’s also safe to expect simple and straightforward gameplay, which is exactly what’s presented. Gumby will spend most of his adventure dodging obstacles, jumping onto moving platforms, and destroying Astrobots (which he does by jumping on their heads). At the end of most of the books, there will be bosses, who can be "defeated" in different ways. For example, in one level, Gumby will have to race against an outlaw in a mine cart, and against the king of the Astrobots, he will have to push stones to hurt the giant machine.
Along the way, Gumby will learn new techniques, such as the ability to turn into a ball, to do a double-jump, to stick to walls, and so on. However, even with the effort to liven things up a little, the game is, in a word, boring. All of the level designs are about the same, and for the most part there really isn’t anything exciting to do. This makes for, simply, a dry and forgettable journey.
As for the game’s length, it is very short even for a game for young kids. The whole game can be finished in much less than an hour, and there are weak incentives to replay the game. You can play with varying difficulty levels, and you might want to go about collecting all of the ice cream cones in the game (which are hidden throughout levels for you to find), but other than those things, there is nothing else to do after the game has been completed.
This game may be suitable for the youngest of kids, but it’s not worth playing for those above that age range, especially because of its poor value. With that said, it’s recommended that you stay away from this title.
