Considering the games that ended up getting cancelled on the Nintendo 64, it’s surprising that this one made it all the way to release. It’s a tie-in to a two year old film that performed poorly (both with critics and the audience), and an exclusive to the Nintendo 64 when many developers and publishers were focusing elsewhere. That said, the publisher (Titus) wasn’t one to care about quality, as seen in games like Carmageddon 64 and Hercules – the latter made by the same developer as this.

The most surprising thing is that Blues Brothers 2000 isn’t utterly terrible. Now, it’s still a bad game, but there’s at least some variety and entertainment to the proceedings. It’s a 3D platformer where the main goal is to collect golden notes across the game’s four levels. The jumping is functional, and aiming where you land isn’t an issue (unlike worse platformers, like Earthworm Jim 3D). Competent is probably the best way to describe it.

There’s also a few gameplay styles to add in to the mix. There’s a few 2D sections along with a (fairly long) Crash Bandicoot style section in the graveyard level. Blues Brothers 2000 never really gets exciting, but at the same time, it isn’t tediously dull either. The levels are quite ugly, though, and the graphics would have been considered bad early on in the N64’s life. It also doesn’t really relate to the film all that much, either, as you could replace the suited man (who is supposedly Dan Akroyd) with any character and it wouldn’t change the game.

There are a few power-ups dotted in the levels (including one that’s a reference to another Titus game), such as a faster run, higher jump, or more powerful attacks, but these also are just…competent. There are some really annoying moments. When you’re hunting for the last few notes, you’ll re-enter previous areas to find them reset, which is a big issue in the first level (a jail) where you need to complete the minigame again to carry on.

While there’s nothing terrible about Blues Brothers 2000, and it probably doesn’t appeal to anyone, there’s far worse out there.

Poor

And that sighshould be the only audible sound, since the in-game music only increases the feeling of annoyance – you’ll quickly want to turn it off. Otis Redding and the other sould greats whose tunes have been butchered would doubtless be spitting blood were they to hear the appallingly-rendered parodies that BB2000 boasts. We’ve knocked up better efforts on a rusty Major Morgan. The other notable sound is the annoying boinging noise that erupts from Elwood’s pants when he jumps – it must be a source of constant embarrasment.

Alan Maddrell, N64 Magazine #46. Review Score: 28%

Remake or remaster?

Nothing for this one.

Official Ways to get the game

There is no official way to get Blues Brothers 2000.