Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

by Eurocom

Product Features

• Use Sphinx's skill with weapons to face deadly mythical monsters -- and transform to a winged lion
• Fantastic graphics bring this mythical world based on Egyptian legends to life
• Take control the Mummy when strength & combat skills aren't needed -- use Mummy's stealth abilities to avoid enemies
• Interact with hundreds of unique and imaginative creatures, enemies and allies
• Totally immersive storyline and epic gameplay, with Hollywood-quality cinematics

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009XS6K
• Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 10, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,677 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is an amazing 3rd-person adventure game with incredible 3D graphics on the level of hit animated films. Become Sphinx, a headstrong young demigod fighting Set, the lord of death. With his friend the Mummy, they'll collect the stolen crown of Egypt & save the world!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Varied and inventive gameplay and level design, February 10, 2004

By 

Joshua Mayfield "Josh Mayfield" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy (Video Game)

I played it on the GameCube, but it's also available on PS2 and XBOX.

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a very well designed and beautifully animated action adventure that combines many different gameplay mechanics into a solid, consistently entertaining game.

What to expect:
* Through the course of the game, you play two different characters: the daring and powerful Sphinx, and the timid yet immortal mummy. Even though your characters start out in different locations and have different goals, their stories eventually intertwine, and each character's progress ultimately becomes dependent upon the other's.
* Playing Sphinx involves a lot of jumping, swimming, long-distance running, and combat. Sphinx does have puzzles to solve, but they're generally not as complex as those the mummy faces.
* The mummy's parts of the game involve more stealth and ingenuity than Sphinx's. Also, the mummy is immortal so he can do a number of things that Sphinx cannot. Many of the mummy's puzzles are timed. The mummy has no weapons and faces no enemies.
* The one aspect of gameplay common to both characters is platform jumping. And there's lots of it.
* The game mechanics are a bit different from some other action adventures with platforming elements. For example, both Sphinx and the mummy can jump after walking off a high cliff or ledge- something that usually means instant death in other games (like The Hobbit). In fact, the ability to jump from mid-air is required in order to perform some of the longer jumps (for both characters), beginning about halfway through the game.

What's good:
* Fantastic character animation, not only in cutscenes but during gameplay as well. Characters look done by professional animators rather than computer programmers.
* Extremely well-designed levels. Even smallish levels are designed in a way that conveys the epic feel of the game- chambers have bottomless pits and towering ceilings. Also, you almost never run into "invisible barriers" that prevent you from exploring further.
* Varied gameplay. The kind of tasks and skills involved in playing Sphinx vs. the mummy are so different that it's almost like you're getting two games in one. Additionally, there are a number of optional minigames where you can gain rewards for doing very well and develop skills you'll need in order to finish the game.
* Good, complex puzzles that require a lot more planning than in the typical action adventure.
* There's a lot of interaction with the environment, and even using aggressive creatures to help you in your quest.
* Each creature and boss has its own fighting techniques and weaknesses, a fact that keeps combat pretty challenging and entertaining. Once you figure out a creature's pattern you can dispatch it rather easily... as long as there's only one of `em!
* You're presented with a somewhat open-ended gameworld and a number of fast-travel options to get from place to place. The game and levels are designed in such a way that the game progresses as a direct result of your characters developing new skills, rather than simply ushering you into a new area. Early on in your adventures you'll notice plenty of inviting ledges, platforms, and doors that you just can't seem to be able to reach. Just take note of these places and return when you're better equipped for the job.

What's bad:
* You can only save your game at various "save statues" scattered around. When playing as Sphinx you'll often (but not always) find save statues located near important or dangerous areas, however when playing as the mummy there is only ONE save statue, which is located in the room where he starts each level. The reasoning behind this, I guess, is that the mummy is immortal and his game cannot end. The problem is, people who need to go to work, school, or church have no place to save their game if they're in the middle of a mummy level, and the levels can sometimes take up to an hour to complete. Your only option is to either pause the game and leave your GameCube on until you are able to play again or forfeit and later restart the entire level over from the beginning. That sucks.
* There is no spoken dialogue; all dialogue is presented in text captions at the bottom of the screen. While that's not a problem in itself, the text is so small that it's often not easily readable.
* While the controls are generally pretty smooth, Sphinx becomes a little unresponsive during combat. An improperly placed blow can cost you dearly because of the time it takes to recover.
* I found the ending unsatisfying... I won't spoil it but to say that it begs for a sequel would be an understatement.
* If you die and have to reload a game, you are forced to watch any intervening cutscenes with no way of skipping them. This is also a pain if you plan to replay the game, because since none of the dialogue is spoken you must keep pressing buttons to make the dialogue continue.

Difficulty (from Very Easy to Very Hard): Hard - Challenging not just because of the combat and platforming, but because of the puzzles as well.

My rating (from Very Bad to Very Good): Very Good

You will probably like this game if you liked these: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, The Hobbit, American McGee's Alice, Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool concept, Great game!, December 23, 2003

By 

C.E. - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy (Video Game)

Dont judge this game by the first 30 minutes of playtime. For some reason, this game happens to start of really s l o w l y, but by the time you get through the first areas- it picks up steam nicely.
Taking the standard platform game and giving it a little twist, THQ and Eurocom have come up with a great new addition to the genre. You can play as two characters who must accomplish tasks seperatley, but will ultimatley benefit them both.
The first hero of the game is Sphinx, a demigod who is sent on a mission by Imhotep. He senses trouble brewing and dispatches Sphinx to figure out what is going on. Although you start the game off with the ability to jump only- you soon acquire a sword and a shield. Add to that the ability to swim and fire blow-darts, capture monsters and ride on zip-lines- before too long Sphinx is shaping up to be quite the hero.
The mummy is by and far the most fun to play in the whole game. Mummies are dead right? So you now have to come up with inventive ways in which to use the reanimated corpse to solve puzzles and explore the great castle that you have been thrown in. The mummy can be sliced, flattened, lit aflame and even electrocuted...just some of the ways in which an otherwise unpleasant situation can be turned to your advantage.
The gameplay mechanics are great, and one of the best things about this game is that you can assign different funtions to different buttons on the controller, customizing it just the way that you like.
The environments are presented in stunning detail and the characters that you control and interact with are animated in great style and detail as well. At times I am amazed at the feats of computer animation that this game presents...a great framerate is present and there is no noticable slowdown at all. The only thing that might detract from the experience are the load times...while not long, they happen quite often when transitions happen from indoor to outdoor locations and the like.
While not an insanely difficult game, some objectives are not clearly lined out and explained so you will sometimes find yourself wandering about wishing someone would come along and help you. Other than that, there are no problems and the game is a fluid and enjoyable experience.
This game is great for those that love platform games that are infused with some great action/adventure elements. This game is as big a treat to watch as it is to play...the developers have done a great job...I cant wait for the sequal.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Puzzle-Lovers..., December 11, 2003

By 

B. McClure - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy (Video Game)

Finally, a game that challenged the mind while enchanting it at the same time! The graphics were great, and if you're a lover of ancient Egyptian architecture/art, then you'll love this game! (Yes, I know some of it is not the most accurate, but it's a video game, for crying out loud! lol) The background music is soothing, and the puzzles, while challenging, aren't impossible. I like the concept of playing two completely different characters, too! My only complaint is that there were too-few save-points, and the camera angles were sometimes a bit wonky. Other than that, I give this game a huge thumbs-up!!!