Is this a ruff platformer?

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible brings the beloved book series to life. Help Dog Man and his friends chase down the supa bad guys in their most impawsible mission yet!

I must confess that I’m not familiar with the graphic novel series Dog Man, but I did like the look of it when I first saw screenshots and having played the game, I’m tempted to pick up an issue. But how does it translate to a game?

Dog Man handles like a traditional 2D platformer like Mario, but it has a puzzle element to it in that you’ll need to switch between different characters to progress. You’ll either have to become small with one to fit through a gap or so a tall robot who can jump to higher areas. There are also breakable platforms that won’t give way if you are small, but will if you are Dog Man and if you play as the robot, you’ll fall through instantly.

Each level has a few hidden collectibles, but most are easy to spot. The levels are short and fairly easy as you go to their version of the “Flag Pole” which is a reporter and some cameras ready to interview Dog Man.

Boss battles are pretty simple, but fun. It’s not the most in-depth platformer out there and maybe it’s a little too easy, but it’s clearly designed for a younger crowd. I have to admit that I’m a fan of the art style though and while the levels are simple in their design, they do have an element of charm to them. The framerate is consistent, the soundtrack is decent and load times are short.

The Verdict

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a decent enough platformer, but perhaps too easy for the common gamer. I did enjoy having to switch between characters to progress though and the bosses are pretty fun too. It won’t set the platforming world on fire, but it gets the job done.

Score: 7.5