V.I.P. Download

It’s a little baffling to see how many games Ubisoft has published over the years and one of their lesser-known TV series tie-ins from back in 2002 was V.I.P. starring Pamela Anderson, for the Gameboy Advance. What is most baffling, I think, is that the games Ubisoft published in the past branch so many genres, TV shows, movies, and themes that it is hard to pinpoint exactly what they were going for. In essence, it seemed like anything, even Disney with their collaborations in creating movie tie-ins to movies like Tarzan and Aladdin seemed to be fair game. Comparatively, they are now well-known for a whole different slew of games and sometimes sequels like Ghost Recon, Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, For Honor, Farcry, The Crew, The Division—though in looking at that list, maybe there isn’t really a thru-line in what they will release. Maybe everything was, and always will be fair game for Ubisoft. All that being said, V.I.P. (Vallery Irons Protection) is a 2D side-scrolling, run and gun shooter made for the GBA and fans of the decades-old show.

Who Watches This?

To be honest, there were a lot of detective agency shows in the past and not all of them got off the ground—or, even if they did, not all of them are remembered in the same way—as some became classics, and some became another in a long list lost in the cacophony. With that in mind, you are forgiven if you’ve never heard of the TV series V.I.P. starring Pamela Anderson (though it ran for a few years and seasons)—but the game does somewhat expect you to have seen at least a few episodes because it doesn’t introduce you to the V.I.P. world in which it exists. In fact, much like other GBA movie tie-in games such as Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones—this game features levels designed to be picked up and played, rather than bogged down with long expositional story set-up. However, where a game like Star Wars used cutaway segments from the film, this game uses a Metal Gear type video call to give the characters information on their next mission.

Run, Gun, Repeat

V.I.P. is relatively simple in its approach and allows free reign on what interests the player in moving forward. For example, there are collectibles to be accessed in each level through platforming or exploration. But, if the main goal is progress, all the extras can be ignored as you move through wave after wave of goons and bosses made to be shot with unlimited ammunition similar to the Metal Slug series.

Did We Miss the Boat?

Beyond the linear progression of V.I.P., not much changes between characters of the game (and TV show) other than the slightly different animations of their (very caricatured) personas. That being said, the game is in no way boring but also in no way original. It just, sort of, exists as a solid run-and-gun shooter with a story you may or may not be involved in.

However, to its benefit, it doesn’t overstay its welcome because it can be picked up and beaten in just a couple hours.

5

If you were a fan of the old TV show it’s worth a look—and, if not, it isn’t a terrible TV tie-in game. It’s a solidly average one.

Pros

• Quick, succinct story
• Solid run and gun gameplay
• Solid GBA graphics

Cons

• No real context for the show
• Assumes you are previously a fan
• Buggy AI
• Limited replay value