AFL Mascot Manor is a mascot sports game

Sports game

A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...

. Developed by Wicked Witch Software

Wicked Witch Software

Wicked Witch is a video games developer founded in 2001 by managing director Daniel Visser. Originally operating out of Visser's residence working on GameBoy titles, Wicked Witch moved to a small office. Wicked Witch has grown to be one of Australia's well known studios and is currently located in...

 for Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS

The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...

 based on the Australian Football League

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

's project of the same name. It was released in July 2009 and was released early at some EB stores. As part of the marketing of the game the publisher announced a competition on the games official site where participants can win a place at the games launch and a Nintendo DSi

Nintendo DSi

The is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...

.

Production

The games focus more on the mythology of the League's Mascots than on the sport itself. The central component of the game is the adventure the players Mascot will experience in the themed worlds. As such, it is aimed at the younger fans of AFL.

Mascot Manor is the sister title of Mascot Mania

NRL Mascot Mania

NRL Mascot Mania is a released National Rugby League video game, developed by Wicked Witch Software for Nintendo DS. It was released in July 2009 but was released early at some EB stores.-Production:...

 for the NRL. Managing Director of Wicked Witch Software

Wicked Witch Software

Wicked Witch is a video games developer founded in 2001 by managing director Daniel Visser. Originally operating out of Visser's residence working on GameBoy titles, Wicked Witch moved to a small office. Wicked Witch has grown to be one of Australia's well known studios and is currently located in...

, Daniel Visser, says that while the games share style and genre they both have several unique worlds, trading card sets and mini games and of course each leagues sports game to unlock.

Gameplay

The game brings AFL teams mascots to life in an action adventure. There are 48 levels, 16 playable characters and numerous mini-games including an unlockable mini-game of Australian Rules Football. Each team has its own themed world, with three levels, including one boss arena. All the team mascots come with their own powers which you use to defeat the enemies. Abilities include fiery fists & ground smash. Your character will face other teams mascots in 'boss battles'. Players can also collect and trade AFL playing cards wirelessly in the game. As well as collectable cards, gold can be found around the game world to purchase the cards from an ingame shop. The cards are used to unlock players for the minigame.

Critical response

The first reviews for the game have been positive. Cyber Shack gave it a 4 to 4.5 out of 5 and Aussie Nintendo gave it a 7.5 out of 10. Just Kidding, a gaming magazine targeted at school age children reviewed Mascot Manor, saying the game hits the mark and giving it 4 out of 5.

External links

• Official site
• Video preview