Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on Game Boy Advance presents a tightly crafted isometric action/adventure experience. From the moment you step through the wardrobe, you’ll guide each of the four Pevensie siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy—through a series of linear but varied levels. Combat against wolves, blizzards unleashed by the White Witch, and other sinister creatures is responsive and straightforward, making it accessible for younger players while still offering enough challenge for seasoned gamers.

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One of the highlights is the ability to swap between the Pevensie children on the fly. Each sibling boasts a unique skill: Peter’s swordsmanship, Susan’s archery, Edmund’s agility, and Lucy’s healing power. You’ll need to switch strategically to solve environmental puzzles, break through obstacles, or heal allies in the middle of tense encounters. This character rotation adds a satisfying layer of depth without overcomplicating the core mechanics.

Cooperative play is a welcome feature, allowing two players to join forces via link cable. Teamwork becomes essential when facing tougher boss battles or exploring hidden nooks packed with collectibles. By working together, players can combine abilities—such as having Susan pin enemies with arrow fire while Peter charges in—to create dynamic combat scenarios that keep the experience fresh throughout the journey.

Progression is smooth and rewarding: as you complete side quests for Narnian inhabitants—rescuing fauns, gathering magical berries, or assisting talking animals—you’ll unlock new abilities and upgrades. These enhancements aren’t merely cosmetic; they feel integral to preparing for the ultimate clash with the White Witch. The pacing ensures you never feel overpowered too early, maintaining a balanced sense of growth from wardrobe to final throne room showdown.

Graphics

On the Game Boy Advance’s modest hardware, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe still manages to deliver a charming visual style. The isometric perspective provides a clear view of each environment, from snow-covered forests to the frosted gates of Jadis’s castle. Character sprites are crisply animated, with each Pevensie child sporting distinct silhouettes and color palettes to ensure easy on-screen identification.

Environmental detail shines through clever use of tile sets and layering. Trees, stone walls, and icy pathways all carry subtle shading that brings Narnia’s winter landscape to life. While the color palette is dominated by cool blues and whites—befitting the Witch’s perpetual frost—the occasional warm ember from a mage’s torch or the glow of a healing spring offers a pleasing contrast that draws the eye.

Cutscenes leverage static artwork and simple animations to retell key moments from the beloved story. Though these interludes lack voice acting, the hand-drawn character portraits and evocative background art effectively capture the mood of awe or peril. They serve as fitting narrative pauses between gameplay segments without overstaying their welcome.

Even in hectic combat, frame rates remain solid, and controls feel tight. Attack swings, arrow shots, and ability activations register reliably, ensuring your onscreen actions align with button presses. This performance consistency is crucial for an isometric game, where depth perception can sometimes lead to misjudged jumps or missed targets—here, those concerns are largely allayed by thoughtful level design and responsive input handling.

Story

The game closely follows C.S. Lewis’s classic tale, opening with the Pevensie siblings’ evacuation to Professor Kirke’s grand country house during wartime Britain. Soon enough, curiosity leads Lucy into the wardrobe and into the snowy realm of Narnia. From that first step, the narrative unfolds in familiar beats—encounters with Mr. Tumnus, the White Witch’s terror, and the promise of the great lion Aslan’s return.

Story progression occurs through a mix of on-screen dialogue and concise cutscenes. While the GBA’s limitations preclude extensive voice acting or cinematic camera work, the writing remains faithful to the spirit of the source material. Characters convey personality through brief exchanges, allowing fans to recognize Edmund’s brashness, Susan’s pragmatism, and Lucy’s unwavering hope—even in this condensed format.

Side quests and creature encounters add depth to the main storyline by showcasing the plight of Narnia’s denizens under the Witch’s icy reign. Helping a pack of befriended beavers or freeing imprisoned centaurs doesn’t just pad the playtime; it reinforces why opposing the White Witch matters and builds anticipation for Aslan’s eventual arrival.

The final confrontation with the White Witch encapsulates the game’s narrative tension. By the time you reach her frozen throne room, you’ll have grown attached to each sibling’s abilities and to the creatures you’ve aided. The climax feels earned, tying together the gameplay mechanics and story beats into a satisfying conclusion that honors both the novel and the spirit of cooperative heroism.

Overall Experience

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on GBA is an engaging adaptation that balances action, exploration, and storytelling in a portable package. Its isometric design elevates the sense of adventure and makes the world feel more expansive, despite the handheld’s screen constraints. Whether you’re tackling it solo or teaming up with a friend, the cooperative mechanics add longevity and replay value.

While the game’s linear structure might feel predictable to some, the steady introduction of new abilities and the variety of side quests keep each chapter worth revisiting. The faithful integration of beloved characters and moments from the novel ensures that fans of the story will find plenty to appreciate, even if they’ve already seen or read the original tale.

Newcomers to Narnia will find this title a friendly introduction to the world of talking animals, magic, and epic battles between good and evil. Controls are intuitive, difficulty is well-balanced, and the overall pacing respects both the source material and the expectations of modern handheld gaming. It’s a fine choice for younger audiences, families, or anyone seeking a compact action/adventure fix.

In the end, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe delivers a warm, heroic journey across frozen landscapes and mythical realms. While it may not reinvent the genre, it captures the heart of Narnia with polished gameplay, charming visuals, and a narrative true to Lewis’s vision. For fans craving a taste of fantasy on the go, this GBA adaptation remains a worthy expedition into Aslan’s domain.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10