Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Fred in an all-new adventure to uncover the mystery behind a strange swamp girl and her peculiar cauldron of brew. Kids and their friends can travel beyond the swamp and into other haunted locales such as the snow covered Alpine village and the Southwestern ghost town to uncover more clues and solve the mystery of the strange brew...

Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp is a pretty enjoyable adventure game that is aimed at the younger gamer out there. While there's not much of a challenge for more seasoned gamers, this should provide hours of entertainment for those just getting into gaming. That doesn't mean that older gamers won't find anything of interest here, just that it won't represent much of a serious challenge. It's still great fun though.

Over the course of this game you get to play as each of the five members of Mystery Inc., and at different points in the game you'll need the special abilities of each member to progress throughout the level. For example, Fred is useful for moving heavy objects; Velma can interact with computer terminals; and Daphne can climb drainpipes to reach higher areas.

You start the game in the spooky swamp where (after a bit of searching) you find a mysterious woman who needs special ingredients for her cauldron. These ingredients you can find by visiting, and uncovering the mystery that's going on in the three different gaming locations.

Whilst at these locations you have to run around performing various tasks and solving the odd puzzle, picking up clues and evidence so that you can work out which of the characters you encounter is behind each level's mystery. Each level has a various assortment of baddies, and your menu has a list of how many of each you must defeat. This isn't essential, but adds to the game - if you want to complete it fully.

As you wander around your environment there is the odd minigame to complete as well as hidden items which can be found. You can also uncover special clothing for your characters so that you can redesign the look of everyone, should you so wish. You can also collect various items (including scooby snacks which can be traded in for things like new outfits for your characters).

You are also equipped with a camera which you can use to take pictures of people, monsters and ghosts that you encounter. This information is then stored back at the club house and provides you with background information on your ongoing case. In later levels you'll also get a magnifying glass which helps you uncover hidden clues. It's important to keep a check on the clues you've uncovered as at the end of the level you'll be asked to chose who, of the characters you've encountered, has been masquerading as the ghost.

The cut sequences are a little corny, with canned laughter and rubbish jokes, but the game play makes this a game young ones will return to time and time again.

7

Nick Smithson