Ice Age Scrat's Nutty Adventure
- October 17, 2019
- Just Add Water (Development) Ltd.
- 5h median play time
Instead of being a brand new platformer, Ice Age: Scrat’s Nutty Adventure feels like a remaster of a game from the early 2000s, and not a very good one either. On the positive side, the level design is pretty good, with areas connecting to one another in a way that feels large-scale, but remains comfortably linear. Otherwise, Ice Age: Scrat’s Nutty Adventure completely lacks challenge, is extremely repetitive and runs on the Switch about as well as Manny the Mammoth runs after gorging on a bunch of peaches. In short, it's exactly what you’d expect from a licensed game of this type.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreIn "Ice Age Scrat's Nutty Adventure" , play as the beloved saber-tooth squirrel, Scrat, on a mission to recover his stolen treasure. Traverse through various hazardous Ice Age environments, face prehistoric creatures, and use Scrat's acrobatics to overcome obstacles. Gather collectibles to unlock special powers and meet familiar Ice Age characters in this hilarious 3D action-adventure game.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game captures the charm of Scrat and features beautiful, detailed environments that evoke nostalgia for fans of the Ice Age franchise.
- The level design is generally good, with a decent variety of collectibles to find and some enjoyable boss battles.
- The gameplay is simple and accessible, making it suitable for younger audiences while still providing some fun for older players.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including a poorly functioning camera and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall experience.
- Combat mechanics are basic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge, making encounters feel tedious.
- The game is short and lacks the content and charm of previous Ice Age titles, leaving players wanting more.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant bugs and a lack of quality assurance, leading to a frustrating experience. While the levels are visually appealing and the mechanics offer nostalgic elements reminiscent of early 2000s games, the repetitive nature and required backtracking detract from overall enjoyment. Despite some enjoyable aspects, many users find the gameplay to be subpar and plagued by issues.
“I think the levels are very pretty and the gameplay is enjoyable without being too hard.”
“Starting the game, it feels similar to how Ice Age 2: The Meltdown controlled, with the addition of a mid-air tail swipe, a dodge roll, and the over-the-shoulder throwing mechanics from Ubisoft’s Open Season.”
“It's the gameplay that niche audiences enjoyed from the 2000s PS2 and GameCube Ice Age: The Meltdown game, but improved and with new things added.”
“When simply doing a standard platforming mechanic like the jump smash bugs out nearly every time you use it, you know the game had absolutely no quality assurance testing.”
“The gameplay is very repetitive and the collectibles require you to backtrack through the already repetitive levels, which is why I did not choose to collect them.”
“Not even 30 minutes of gameplay and the game is already having weird unexpected bugs.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is relatively short, lasting around 4-6 hours, but can extend to 12-15 hours when including collectibles, which require multiple playthroughs to fully obtain. While the narrative and animations are praised for their quality, some players miss the depth and character development seen in previous titles, particularly the interactions of familiar characters like Manny, Sid, and Diego.
“The story itself, animations, and details are great.”
“But there is also a lot of collectibles to be found, so if you include the story and finding the collectibles, this will last you a good 12-15 hours.”
“It would require two playthroughs to get them all, with some of the collectibles needing special abilities which you will unlock later in the story.”
“The story is pretty short, only lasting 4-6 hours depending on how fast you go through the different chapters.”
“It would require 2 playthroughs to get them all, with some of the collectibles needing special abilities which you will unlock later in the story.”
“In the old game, we got to see plenty of what was going on with Manny, Sid, and Diego, and get right back to Scrat's story.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent, with some users noting that they resemble classic titles like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro but with HD enhancements. However, there are criticisms regarding the camera functionality, control customization, and a disparity between the in-game visuals and those shown in trailers. While some players appreciate the inspired humor and animations, others feel the overall visual quality is outdated and not particularly special.
“Though there are a few bugs, the graphics are great, and the models are kind of alright. The game is great, and you should totally try it out.”
“[Decent visuals, inspired humor, short and sweet experience, silly animations.]”
“I wanted a cutesy little platformer that played nice, but had some outdated visuals and wasn't anything special.”
“This reminds me a lot of games like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, just with HD graphics and animations.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by inspired and silly animations, though it is often described as sparse and inconsistent. While some players appreciate the lighthearted moments, others find the overall comedic elements overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of character variety from the movies.
“The funny little animations are there, but few and far between.”
“Decent visuals, inspired humor, short and sweet experience, silly animations.”
“Decent visuals, inspired humor, short and sweet experience, silly animations.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for significant bugs, particularly with the jump slam attack, which is essential for combat but unreliable. While some glitches are noted, they do not render the game unplayable, indicating a mix of frustrating issues and manageable performance.
“The jump slam is extremely buggy and is the only attack that can damage most enemies (when they're on their backs).”
“But the jump attack as a movement option is way too buggy.”
“A substandard, buggy disaster of a platformer.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting the absence of the previously impressive soundtrack, leading to moments of silence that feel unusual.
“Half of the time, there is no music, and it feels oddly silent, which can be quite strange.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, leading to a disjointed experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the emotional aspect of the game is heightened by nostalgic easter eggs and references to the Ice Age cinematic franchise, evoking feelings of childhood joy and reminiscence.
“All the little easter eggs and references to the Ice Age cinematic franchise really made me feel like a kid again, just like when I first watched the Ice Age movies!”
“The emotional depth of the characters and their journeys left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
“I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it resonated with my personal struggles and triumphs, creating a powerful connection.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The bosses in the game significantly enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing to a more immersive and engaging experience for players.
“The bosses in this video game really add to the atmosphere and experience!”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
“Every corner of the game world is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance on the Switch, leading to a repetitive experience after the initial region. Additionally, players note a lack of challenge, even for younger audiences, and find the game's length insufficient relative to its price.
“Really poor performance on the Switch; once you're done with the first region, repetition sets in.”
“Lacks challenge, even for kids.”
“Very short for its price.”
Critic Reviews
Ice Age: Scrat's Nutty Adventure Review
Instead of being a brand new platformer, Ice Age: Scrat’s Nutty Adventure feels like a remaster of a game from the early 2000s, and not a very good one either. On the positive side, the level design is pretty good, with areas connecting to one another in a way that feels large-scale, but remains comfortably linear. Otherwise, Ice Age: Scrat’s Nutty Adventure completely lacks challenge, is extremely repetitive and runs on the Switch about as well as Manny the Mammoth runs after gorging on a bunch of peaches. In short, it's exactly what you’d expect from a licensed game of this type.
40%Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adventure
Outright Games’ Ice Age Scrat's Nutty Adventure shows some passionate love for the film series and constructs a game that young gamers will eat up. Does it have a fair share of issues? Yes, the levels feel too big and there’s not enough to do at times, but young gamers won’t really need that intricate design and complication to enjoy it.
61%Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adventure (Nintendo Switch)
Ice Age Scrat’s Nutty Adventure has definite room for improvement and polish, but I still suspect it’ll find an audience. It has just enough challenge for kids, while older players might not mind an easier adventure if they’re franchise fans or just looking for a competent 3D platformer. Definitely wait for a sale though, as the amount and quality of the content here doesn’t match its launch price.
60%
