Cheap E.T. The Extraterrestrial (Video Games) (Game Boy Advance) Price

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Customer Reviews of E.T. The Extraterrestrial

Big Fat Pain in the Extra-Terrestrial
I bought this game on a whim. I'm from the Atari 2600 generation and remember well (and still have) the infamous E.T. game for that system. The common opinion was that the Atari 2600 E.T. was a major disappointment (rumor has it, there is a ditch somewhere that houses a ton of E.T. cartridges that were buried because way more were made than sold). I actually liked the game if only on level 1 as I found it impossible to play on any advanced level as the agent and professor would not leave E.T. alone long enough to complete the mission. The game actually seemed innovative and the graphics were really good for the time (especially the title screen). I was curious what this upgraded E.T. game was like. I was surprised that the frustrations of the Atari 2600 version were still alive and well. <
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>First off, the theme music isn't even the same as the movie (copyright reasons?). The Atari 2600 opening music was closer. To win this game, you need to complete 10 levels (passwords are obtained upon completion of each level): 1) E.T. collects 16 samples of flowers; 2) E.T. must find his way through a forest to Elliot's house; 3) Elliot and E.T. must find 16 tokens representing phone parts; 4) E.T. puts the transmitter together to phone home; 5) Elliot bikes E.T. back to the forest; 6) E.T. elevates Elliot's bike over the city; 7) Elliot must rescue E.T. who has been captured and held quarantine at his house; 8) Elliot again bikes E.T. back to the forest; 9) E.T. levitates Elliot's bike over the city; 10) You must safely land E.T.'s spaceship. <
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>Obviously, the game goes out of its way to duplicate the movie plot, even having duplicate levels (5 and 8, 6 and 9). The frustrations of the 2600 version in constantly falling through crevices and being chased by the agent and professor are found here, too. In the forest levels, frogs and beetles are everywhere you often cannot avoid them. They sap E.T.'s energy. In Elliot's home, mechanical toys will run into Elliot and E.T. sapping energy. The agents are also relentless (even on the easy level). E.T. and Elliot can get passed them (I don't know what they do to them, but it looks funny) but they put big hits on E.T.'s energy. The flying levels are incredibly frustrating. You need to avoid trees, buildings, telephone poles, water towers, and agents on roofs by zooming in and out to avoid objects close and far away. There are so many obstacles, it is impossible not to get beat up. I was just lucky when I completed the levels. In the final level, you have to land the ship perfectly which is a flat out pain. <
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>Graphically, the game is nice, especially Elliot's house and the flying levels. I also like how you can switch between E.T. and Elliot in level 3. Still, even on the easy level, this game is such a pain it's hardly worth it unless you are like me and bought this game at list price and made it your mission to complete it. The manual, by the way, is useless. It give you the exact same information that's given on the game and gives no map of the forest or Elliot's estate, so you'll have to find your way through the monotony. There are no walkthroughs on line either (just password cheats). I cannot see kids sticking with this game long enough to complete it. It's almost like being at work (or school).

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Where's the magic?
I just bought this game new for about $30 because I love the movie. The mazes in the first few levels are very frustrating and the later levels are even worse. It doesn't even have the ET theme song. Games are supposed to be fun, which this one is not.

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Good game, but a bit hard
E.T. is a good game, but sometimes it can be a little frustrating. Its good that it has a saving mode. I recommend it.