The Smurfsaren’t exactly a property given to adequate video game adaptation. First appearing as a Belgian comic strip in the late 1950s, they would eventually become wildly popular in the United States in the 1980s following the release of a feature film and a cartoon series. That said, the most famousSmurfsgame ever to see release was likelySmurf: Rescue at Gargamel’s Castleon the Atari 2600—until the ninth-generation ports ofThe Smurfs Mission Vileaf, that is.
Quietly debuting in October 2021,The SmurfsMission Vileafwas a colorful 3D platformerthat flew almost entirely under the radar. Earning a less-than-stellar 65 score on MetaCritic based on six total reviews, it definitely didn’t reinvent the wheel, but most seem to believe that it was a decent-enough romp best-suited for younger audiences. It also garnered comparisons to games likeSuper Lucky’s TaleaddSuper Mario Sunshine, nods which could be construed as high praise.
RELATED:Cloud9 Announces Collaboration With The Smurfs
That would have been the end of things, but ports of the title were recently released onthe PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and, surprisingly enough, they came with noticeable visual upgrades. Though particularly prevalent in the Switch version, the original release of the game on eighth-gen systems looked markedly lackluster with poor textures. Few would have noticed had the developer opted to nix any real upgrades when converting the game to vastly more powerful hardware, but they chose to go the extra mile.
Brought to the attention of gamers by gaming writer Daniel Hollis—a self-described “sucker for platformers”—the reworked version of Mission Vileaf seems to run more smoothly and look considerably better than the base version. Visuals typically aren’t a huge focal point inSwitch games, but the vibrant aesthetics of the game are much more appreciable on Sony and Microsoft’s newer consoles.
“The Smurfsgame is ridiculously pretty, and I’m kind of shocked,” Hollis said of the game, including a snippet of gameplay along with his tweet. While it seems to have the noticeable rigidity of many lower-budget AA titles, it offers a fresh sense of visual feedback reminiscent of theXbox 360-exclusiveViva Pinatawhich turned heads way back in the early days of high-definition gaming.
More often than not, licensed games geared toward kids aren’t worth most gamers’ time. Yet, this release proves that video games can’t be judged by their covers alone. There probably aren’t all that many hardcoreSmurfsfans out there these days, but, for those still abreast of Smurf Village current events, this looks like a must-play.
The Smurfs Mission Vileafis available now for PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
