In The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf Gargamel has once again concocted a new plan. After finding a new magic book, he created the Vileaf, a poisonous plant that has poisoned all the plants and trees in and around the Smurf village. The Smurfs are in action!
Craft Smurf built the Smurfizer. This handy gadget should be able to make the poisoned flora better again. Before that, Potty Smurf can test the device and look for the only plant that is immune against the Vileaf and thus obtain the antidote. Here you will learn the basics of this 3D platformer. Then jump, soar, boost and fight your way through the five areas in search of the three ingredients needed to heal the Vileaf and save the village. In addition to Chunky Smurf, you’ll also get Brainy Smurf, Chef Smurf, and Smurfette.
All over the five areas of The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf you also see trees, plants and grass that are dark purple from the poisoning. By dusting the grass tufts with the antidote, the flora regains its natural color and the world looks a bit more beautiful. There are various items available throughout the levels that Craft Smurf will need to upgrade the Smurfizer. Some of these items are easy to grab, others will be challenging or even seem impossible. Then you will first have to play further in the story to get a new function for the device.
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The Vileaf has also taken care of some annoying vermin, which we have to cut down of course. You can defeat the first enemies simply by jumping on them or spraying them with the antidote. Later it gets a bit more complicated and some enemies are on platforms that are inaccessible. By sucking up the little Vilecritters and shooting those hard-to-reach enemies you can take them out that way. It ensures that the fighting remains entertaining enough throughout the game.
Towards the end of the second area, the draft settles in a bit. The environment becomes somewhat monotonous thanks to the multitude of trees and plants, which also all look the same. anyway see The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf generally not very nice looking. Everything looks faded and it’s clear that the graphics haven’t gotten the most attention. At the very end of that second world, there is finally some variation. Wild Smurf has laid out a course of agility high in the forest peaks. While floating in the air, we go from left to right, banging into floating mushrooms to gain more height and finally get the first main ingredient.
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Fortunately, there is also enough variation in both the environments and the gameplay in the three following environments. Something new is always added to the formula. Take, for example, ‘Cooking Pot Castle’. Here people taste culinary delights. As a little smurf in a human world, all objects look a lot bigger. The game itself also transforms in certain segments from a 3D platformer to a 2.5D side-scroller. In the last area we enter the lion’s den: Gargamel’s house. There is even a bit of sneaking involved. At certain times you will have to hide behind objects so that the light from the lamp that the evil wizard is holding does not shine on you. Otherwise he will crush you to death. The only downside that the game has is sometimes the lesser camera work, so that jumps and the like are not always easy to estimate.
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf mainly focuses on the younger smurfs among us. In addition to an easier difficulty level, we also notice this in the cries of our smurfs. The ‘Yeeeehhhs!’ and ‘Whooohooo’s!’ can be heard frequently, as well as a ‘Plop!’ when you walk on a mushroom. Youngsters will have great fun with this game. For the mature, experienced platforming murfs, there are two other difficulty levels to choose from. The difference between the two lies in the amount of health you lose when you fall into the water, fall off a platform, or get hit by an enemy.
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The game also includes a co-op mode. A second player can join the game at any time as a little robot. This little robot can heal poisonous plants and fire explosive seeds at enemies. So this mode is ideal for papa smurf or mama smurf to go through the game together with baby smurf.
All in all The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf turned into an entertaining game. The change in setting comes just in time and the gameplay and combat are just well put together. The camera can sometimes get in the way and it’s a shame that they didn’t pay more attention to the graphics and make it a bit nicer. Although the young Smurfs will not be bothered by this and they are mainly the target group of this Smurfs platform adventure.
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf was played on the Xbox Series X|S for this review. The game has been released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, and can of course also be played on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
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