Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (video game)

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Lemony Snicket's
A Series of Unfortunate Events
A Series of Unfortunate Events Video Game PS2.jpg
North American cover art for PlayStation 2
Developer(s) Adrenium Games [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Engine Unreal Engine 2.0 (PC)
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Gameboy Advance, Windows
  • NA: November 9, 2004 [1]
  • PAL: November 25, 2004
Mobile
  • NA: November 22, 2004 [2]
Genre(s)
Mode(s) Single-player

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 action-adventure game based on the 2004 film of the same name. Players take the roles of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, solving puzzles, fighting villains and finding objects. Players encounter characters such as Mr. Poe, Uncle Monty, and Aunt Josephine, along with villains such as Count Olaf, the Hook-Handed Man, the White-Faced Women, and the Bald Man with the Long Nose.

Contents

Jim Carrey, Emily Browning, and Liam Aiken reprise their roles from the film, while the voice of Lemony Snicket is provided by Tim Curry, who provided narration for the audiobooks for the series.

Gameplay

The core gameplay consists of elements of a platformer, a puzzle game, and a third-person shooter. The player assumes the role of either of the three Baudelaire orphans, and can cycle through them depending on the version.

The Baudelaires can eventually gain access to a multitude of inventions as well as ammunition throughout the game, which are mostly those that tend to run along the lines of things a child might actually attain, such as rotten eggs, bubble gum, bees, eau de toilette, and garlic, among other things.

Console versions

Gameplay screenshot showing Klaus Baudelaire wielding a makeshift battering ram. Lemony Snicket GC Gameplay.png
Gameplay screenshot showing Klaus Baudelaire wielding a makeshift battering ram.

The three console versions have the same basic layout – players can switch between playing as Violet, Klaus and, at certain moments, Sunny. The game begins at Count Olaf's house, then progresses to Justice Strauss' home, back to Olaf's, then to Uncle Monty's house, then Damocles Dock, then Aunt Josephine's house, Curdled Cave and, finally, Olaf's again. Along the way, Violet invents things: Klaus's weapon (the Brilliant Bopper); her own weapons (the Fruit Flinger, the Reptile Retriever and the Peppermint Popper); the Baby Booster, which helps Sunny jump; the Steady Stilts, which help Violet reach high places; the Uplifting Umbrella, which helps Violet glide across gaps; the Horrifying Hook, which Klaus uses as a grapple gun; and the Levitating Loafers, which can make Klaus levitate for a brief period of time. In the game, the heroes solve puzzles, fight Count Olaf's theater troupe, and collect puzzle pieces with the familiar eye throughout the series. If the player collects 25 of each color puzzle piece, a place is revealed in their secret folder, which in turn reveals a picture where they can find a V.F.D. package. This package reveals a special extra in the game, such as a making of featurette. Completing the game will also unlock the World Map, a sandbox mode allowing players to roam around the various levels and collect more puzzle pieces and packages.

Game Boy Advance version

The Game Boy Advance (GBA) version is different in that players can switch between all three Baudelaires at all times. The game also features more places, such as Briny Beach. It is said to be more difficult than the console versions. In The Reptile Room level, some reptiles are mentioned that never appear in the books. Also, there are fewer inventions but have the same effects as the other games, such as the Parasol Glider, which helps Sunny glide from platform to platform; the Water Pump, which helps Klaus spray and absorb water; the Grappling Hook, which helps Klaus swing from platform to platform; and the Apple Cobbler, which helps Violet shoot apples. Players must collect objects that Violet or Klaus mentions to make the inventions. Players must also talk to other characters to complete some quests or grab items that other characters are holding.

The player must collect pictures and butterflies for invention upgrades, movie scenes, and concept art. They must also collect book pages to use on specific places to either give you extras, keep going on the story, or makes it easier to get around.

Windows version

The Microsoft Windows version has several differences from the console games. For one, players cannot switch between characters. The game keeps the player as one character, switching to another when necessary, and even separates the older Baudelaire siblings at times. Secondly, there are two new environments, Briny Beach and a horseradish factory (presumably the one that is discussed in The Reptile Room, The Grim Grotto , Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography and The End ). Finally, players have different inventions to make; the Smasher, the Lobber (which uses rotten eggs, bubble gum, horseradish, water balloons, and bananas as ammo), the Lockpick, the Sprayer (which uses eau du toilette, onions, pillow feathers, bees, and limes as ammo), the Lever Yanker, the Reptile Retriever, stilts, and a Grappling Hook. As a bonus, players can collect eyes; every ten eyes collected gives the player a poster for an Olaf theater production, and letters from the alphabet which start a word that is then defined. Some of the words, such as Quagmire, referring to the Quagmire triplets and Xenophobe, referring to a word Jerome Squalor mentioned to the Baudelaires in The Ersatz Elevator are from the books.

Premise

Following key plot points from the film, the video game expands on scenes from the film, setting up action and exploration segments. Rather than stages, it is broken up into six consecutive hub areas where the player follows a linear set of objectives to progress in the game. The gameplay finds the player solving environmental puzzles, scouring locations for invention parts, platforming, as well as defeating numerous enemies and bosses. The game also contains mini-stages where the player controls Sunny in 2.5D platforming segments. The final stage has the player (Klaus) using burning glass to burn Count Olaf and Violet's marriage certificate.

Development

The teaser trailer for the console version, released five months before the game's official release, featured drastic differences in appearance from the final game, bearing stronger resemblance to what would become the game's PC version.

Reception

The game has received average to mixed reviews upon release. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 70% and 72 out of 100 for the Game Boy Advance version; [4] [8] 70% and 70 out of 100 for the GameCube version; [3] [9] 67% and 64 out of 100 for the PC version; [6] [11] 66% and 63 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version; [7] [12] and 68% and 67 out of 100 for the Xbox version. [5] [10] Some reviewers gave the game lower scores, citing the short span of the game, lack of replay value, easy difficulty and repetitive gameplay.

The Sydney Morning Herald gave the game two-and-a-half stars out of five and stated that "The difficulty level is accommodating for youngsters, although the controls can be unwieldy. Sadly, the fun is short-lived, with no multi-player modes or replay appeal." [28] Detroit Free Press gave it two stars out of four and stated that "Potential players need to know that we cruised through the entire game—without any cheats—in about four hours." [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ KnowWonder developed the Windows version, while Griptonite Games developed a Game Boy Advance version. Mobile version by JAMDAT.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemony Snicket</span> Pen name and fictional character

Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American author Daniel Handler. Handler has published various children's books under the name, including A Series of Unfortunate Events, which has sold over 60 million copies and spawned a 2004 film and Netflix TV series from 2017 to 2019 of the same name. Lemony Snicket also serves as the in-universe author who investigates and re-tells the story of the Baudelaire orphans in A Series of Unfortunate Events.

<i>A Series of Unfortunate Events</i> Book series by Lemony Snicket

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a series of thirteen children's novels written by American author Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket. The books follow the turbulent lives of orphaned siblings Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. After their parents' death in a fire, the children are placed in the custody of a murderous villain, Count Olaf, who attempts to steal their inheritance and causes numerous disasters with the help of his accomplices as the children attempt to flee. As the plot progresses, the Baudelaires gradually confront further mysteries surrounding their family and deep conspiracies involving a secret society, which also involves Olaf and Snicket, the author's own fictional self-insert.

<i>The Bad Beginning</i> 1999 childrens novel

Book the First: The Bad Beginning is the first novel of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The novel tells the story of three children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, who become orphans following a fire and are sent to live with Count Olaf, who attempts to steal their inheritance.

<i>The Reptile Room</i> 1999 childrens novel

Book the Second: The Reptile Room is the second book in the children's series A Series of Unfortunate Events, written by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. The book tells the story of the Baudelaire orphans, as they are sent to live with a distant relative named Montgomery Montgomery.

<i>The Wide Window</i> 2000 childrens novel

Book the Third: The Wide Window is the third novel of the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. In this novel, the Baudelaire orphans live with their aunt Josephine, who is seemingly scared of everything. The book was published on February 25, 2000 by HarperCollins and illustrated by Brett Helquist.

<i>The Miserable Mill</i> 2000 childrens novel

Book the Fourth: The Miserable Mill is the fourth novel of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. In this novel, the Baudelaire orphans live with the owner of Lucky Smells Lumber Mill. The book was published on April 15, 2000, by HarperCollins and illustrated by Brett Helquist.

<i>The Austere Academy</i> 2000 childrens novel

Book the Fifth: The Austere Academy is the fifth novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaire orphans are sent to a boarding school, overseen by monstrous employees. There, the orphans meet new friends, new enemies, and Count Olaf in disguises.

<i>The Ersatz Elevator</i> 2001 childrens novel

Book the Sixth: The Ersatz Elevator is the sixth novel of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaires are sent to live with the wealthy Esmé and Jerome Squalor.

<i>The Vile Village</i> 2001 childrens novel

Book the Seventh: The Vile Village is the seventh novel in the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

<i>The Hostile Hospital</i> 2001 childrens novel

Book the Eighth: The Hostile Hospital is the eighth novel in the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, the pseudonym of Daniel Handler. It takes place shortly after The Vile Village and is followed by a sequel, The Carnivorous Carnival.

<i>The Carnivorous Carnival</i> 2002 childrens novel

Book the Ninth: The Carnivorous Carnival is the ninth novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

<i>The Slippery Slope</i> 2003 childrens novel

Book the Tenth: The Slippery Slope is the tenth novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It was illustrated by Brett Helquist and published on September 23, 2003. In the novel, Violet and Klaus Baudelaire make their way up the Mortmain Mountains to rescue their sister Sunny from Count Olaf and his troupe. They meet Quigley Quagmire, a character who they thought to be dead, and visit the headquarters of a mysterious organization called "V.F.D." They are reunited with Sunny and manage to escape from Olaf. The book has received positive reviews and been translated into several different languages.

<i>The Grim Grotto</i> 2004 childrens novel by Lemony Snicket

Book the Eleventh: The Grim Grotto is the eleventh novel in the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The book was released on Tuesday, September 21, 2004.

<i>Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events</i> 2004 film by Brad Silberling

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 American black comedy adventure film directed by Brad Silberling from a screenplay by Robert Gordon, based on the first three novels of the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1999), The Reptile Room (1999), and The Wide Window (2000), by Lemony Snicket. It stars Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Cedric the Entertainer, Luis Guzmán, Jennifer Coolidge, and Meryl Streep, and Jude Law as the voice of Lemony Snicket.

<i>The End</i> (novel) 2006 childrens novel

Book the Thirteenth: The End is the thirteenth and final novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The book was released on Friday, October 13, 2006.

<i>The Penultimate Peril</i> 2005 childrens novel

Book the Twelfth: The Penultimate Peril is the twelfth novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

<i>The Beatrice Letters</i> 2006 book by Lemony Snicket

The Beatrice Letters is a book by Lemony Snicket. It is a tangential prequel to the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events, and was published shortly before the thirteenth and final installment. According to its cover, the book is "suspiciously linked to Book the Thirteenth", although the British edition merely states that it "contains a clue to Book the Thirteenth".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemony Snicket bibliography</span>

This is a list of books by Lemony Snicket, the pen name of American author Daniel Handler. Works published under the name Daniel Handler are not included. Handler, as Snicket, has published 26 fiction novels, thirteen in the main A Series of Unfortunate Events franchise. His works have been translated into more than 40 languages, and have sold more than 65 million copies.

<i>A Series of Unfortunate Events</i> (TV series) American streaming television series

A Series of Unfortunate Events is an American black comedy drama television series based on the book series of the same name by Lemony Snicket for Netflix. It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, K. Todd Freeman, and Presley Smith. Dylan Kingwell, Avi Lake, and Lucy Punch join the cast in the second season.

References

  1. ↑ "Experience The Perilous Adventures Of The Baudelaire Orphans In Activision's Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events". Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Jamdat Mobile to Release "Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events" for Mobile Phones". 23 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events for GameCube". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events for Xbox". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Critic Reviews for Game Boy Advance". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Critic Reviews for GameCube [mislabeled as "Xbox"]". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (xbx:2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Critic Reviews for PC". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Critic Reviews for PlayStation 2". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Mason, Lisa (January 2005). "Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events". Game Informer . No. 141. p. 119. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (9 November 2004). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Review - PlayStation 2". GameZone. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  15. ↑ Hollingshead, Anise (6 December 2004). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Review - Game Boy Advance". GameZone. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  16. ↑ Hopper, Steven (10 November 2004). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Review - Xbox". GameZone. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  17. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (22 November 2004). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Review - GameCube". GameZone. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  18. ↑ Hollingshead, Anise (11 November 2004). "Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  19. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (16 November 2004). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events". IGN . Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  20. ↑ Butts, Steve (7 December 2004). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (PC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (GC)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 188. February 2005. p. 113.
  22. ↑ "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (GBA)". Nintendo Power . Vol. 186. December 2004. p. 150.
  23. ↑ Maragos, Nich (February 2005). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . p. 83. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events". Official Xbox Magazine . January 2005. p. 80.
  25. ↑ "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events". PC Gamer UK . March 2005.
  26. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (11 January 2005). "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on 16 June 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  27. 1 2 "RECENT VIDEO GAME RELEASES: BLINX 2: MASTERS OF TIME AND SPACE; LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS; CALL OF DUTY: FINEST HOUR". Detroit Free Press . 23 January 2005. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  28. 1 2 Hill, Jason (16 December 2004). "Lively pace". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
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