Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch 2: Hämsterviel Havoc offers a surprising blend of run-and-gun action, light strategy puzzles, and occasional kart-racing sections. The core shooter segments put you in control of Stitch, granting him double jumps, eight-directional firing, and an arsenal of alien-tech weapons to blast through Dr. Hämsterviel’s minions. These levels feel heavily inspired by classic side-scrollers like Metal Slug, with tight controls and responsive aiming that make every firefight feel dynamic and fast-paced.

In contrast, the Lilo-centric stages shift to a strategic puzzle approach: you command rescued experiments with unique abilities—such as traversing electrical wires or freezing water—to navigate environmental hazards. Planning your path and choosing the right experiment for each obstacle adds a thoughtful layer of depth, breaking up the non-stop action with moments of clever, methodical problem-solving. This interplay between pure action and puzzle strategy helps keep the gameplay fresh over the game’s ten or so levels.

The kart-racing mini-games sprinkled throughout the adventure serve as lighthearted palate cleansers. They feature simple controls and a handful of tracks themed around Hawaiian landscapes, giving a bit of variety to the pacing. While these races aren’t as polished as dedicated kart racers, they capture the fun, family-friendly spirit of the franchise and reward you with collectible items when you place well. Overall, the game’s pacing and variety make it feel like a well-rounded adaptation of the TV series, though some players may find the difficulty spikes in shooter stages a bit unforgiving.

Graphics

On the Game Boy Advance hardware, Hämsterviel Havoc looks colorful and expressive. Character sprites for Lilo, Stitch, and each experiment are well-animated and clearly recognizable, preserving the charm of the TV series’ art style. Enemies and bosses are larger than life, featuring smooth animations and dramatic attack telegraphs that keep you engaged even when the screen gets hectic.

Background environments draw heavily from the lush Hawaiian setting: sandy beaches, volcanic caverns, and futuristic space labs all come to life with layered parallax scrolling and bright, eye-catching palettes. The contrast between tropical warmth and Dr. Hämsterviel’s cold, metallic lairs provides visual variety, and small touches—like swaying palm trees or flickering control panels—add atmosphere without sacrificing performance.

Though the GBA’s technical limits mean you won’t find high-definition textures or 3D models, the art direction makes excellent use of every pixel. Cutscenes use comic-book–style panels and expressive character portraits to convey the story, supported by charming animations that feel true to Disney’s Lilo & Stitch franchise. When the action heats up, the screen rarely suffers from noticeable slowdown, demonstrating a solid technical effort from the developers.

Story

The plot of Hämsterviel Havoc slots neatly into the continuity of Lilo & Stitch: The Series, picking up right after the events of the show’s first season. Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel has returned, kidnapping Jumba’s genetic experiments for his evil schemes, and it’s up to Lilo and Stitch to rescue them. This premise captures the heart of the franchise: family bonds, quirky humor, and over-the-top alien hijinks.

Each level is introduced with a brief comic-style storyboard that highlights the rescued experiment’s power and establishes why Lilo and Stitch need to save it. These segments add narrative context to the gameplay mechanics, ensuring you understand when to switch from blasting bad guys to solving puzzles. Although the dialogue is minimal, it’s peppered with the show’s trademark humor—Stitch’s mischievous one-liners, Lilo’s earnest determination, and Jumba’s eccentric scientific babble.

Fans of the series will appreciate the cameo appearances by familiar characters like Pleakley and Cobra Bubbles, as well as the chance to see Stitch interact with his “cousins.” While the storyline doesn’t break new ground, it faithfully recreates the tone of the source material and provides enough motivation to keep you invested through the game’s roughly four-hour campaign.

Overall Experience

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch 2: Hämsterviel Havoc is a pleasant surprise on the GBA, blending action, strategy, and racing in a way that rarely feels disjointed. The shooting segments offer arcade-style thrills, while the puzzle pieces appeal to players who enjoy pausing to think through inventive challenges. The kart-racing levels may be brief, but they round out the package with a fun diversion.

Although occasional difficulty spikes and some repetitive enemy patterns may frustrate younger or less experienced players, the game’s overall design remains accessible and forgiving. Collectible items, hidden areas, and multiple playable characters add replay value for completionists, and the faithful recreation of the Lilo & Stitch universe will delight longtime fans.

For anyone seeking a family-friendly adventure with memorable visuals, varied gameplay, and a charming story, Hämsterviel Havoc is a solid choice. Whether you’re nostalgic for the TV series or just in search of a colorful platform shooter with puzzle elements, this sequel stands out as a well-crafted tie-in that respects its Disney roots while delivering genuine fun.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10