Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Muppets: On with the Show offers a lighthearted collection of six core activities and two secret mini-games to unlock, all designed to capture the playful spirit of Jim Henson’s beloved characters. Each sequence places you in control of one of the Muppets, tasking you with everything from high-speed racing on a backstage cart to evading rival stagehands in a slapstick chase. This variety ensures that young players stay engaged as they work toward putting on the ultimate Muppet Show.

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Before each activity begins, a concise instruction screen lays out the objectives, controls, and pacing, so there’s little guessing involved. Once the action ends, your performance is rated out of five stars, encouraging repeat plays to master every challenge. Whether you’re plucking the right notes on Dr. Teeth’s keyboard or navigating Gonzo through a gauntlet of rolling barrels, the star system adds replay value without overwhelming newcomers.

Players can tackle challenges in Story mode—complete with Easy, Medium, and Hard settings—or jump straight into Activity mode to practice individual mini-games at leisure. Story mode strings the six main activities together under the guise of assembling a brand-new variety show, while Activity mode is perfect for honing skills on your favorite segments without the pressure of progressing a narrative.

Controls are simple and responsive, matching the game’s intended audience of children and casual fans. Although veterans of more demanding GBA titles might find the difficulty curve modest, the varied objectives and hidden unlockables keep the experience fresh. For families and Muppet enthusiasts alike, the gameplay strikes a welcome balance between accessibility and challenge.

Graphics

On the Game Boy Advance hardware, The Muppets: On with the Show shines with bright, cheerful visuals that faithfully evoke the look and feel of the classic puppets. Character sprites are well-defined, with recognizable features—from Kermit’s signature collar to Animal’s wild mane of hair—ensuring that fans immediately connect with each scene. Background elements are equally colorful, capturing the backstage chaos and theater lights of a Muppet production.

Animation is smooth for the platform, with each Muppet moving in a way that mirrors their personality. Whether it’s Miss Piggy striking a dramatic pose or Fozzie Bear flailing comically during an evasion segment, the gestures and expressions bring the characters to life. Special effects—like bursts of confetti when you achieve a perfect score—add a festive layer without cluttering the screen.

The user interface is clean and intuitive, featuring easily readable star ratings and simple icons that guide players through menus and activity selection. Despite the GBA’s limitations, the game delivers a surprisingly polished presentation, making it feel like you’re holding a pocket-sized episode of The Muppet Show. Occasional slowdowns are rare, and the frame rate generally stays consistent even when the action heats up.

Story

While The Muppets: On with the Show isn’t a narrative heavyweight, it weaves a charming throughline: help the gang prepare and perform a brand-new variety show that promises “more laughs, more music, and more mayhem.” Each mini-game represents a rehearsal or rehearsal-style segment, providing context for why you’re racing backstage or drumming along with Animal.

The story mode’s progression is light and episodic, reflecting the sketch-style format of the original Muppet Show. As you unlock each activity, brief interstitials featuring Kermit or Miss Piggy set up the next challenge with a few lines of dialogue. This tongue-in-cheek banter captures the franchise’s humor and gives even simple tasks a playful framework.

Hidden mini-games add a sense of discovery that fits the Muppets’ penchant for improv and surprise. Stumbling upon these secrets feels like finding a hidden backstage door, complete with the sort of wacky twist you’d expect from Gonzo or Rowlf. Though not packed with deep storytelling, the game’s narrative structure keeps things coherent and thematically on-brand for fans of all ages.

Overall Experience

The Muppets: On with the Show hits its target audience with a fun, manageable package that’s perfect for younger players and longtime fans wanting a casual trip down nostalgia lane. Its mix of racing, music, fighting, and evasion games means there’s something for everyone, and the addition of two unlockable mini-games extends its shelf life beyond the initial playthrough.

Replayability comes naturally through the star-rating system and difficulty settings. Earning all five stars on each activity offers a modest but satisfying challenge, while the ability to tackle specific segments in Activity mode allows for quick bursts of Muppet-style fun during short gaming sessions. Parents will appreciate the clear goals and simple controls, and kids will love working toward higher scores and secret surprises.

While hardcore platform enthusiasts might find the overall experience relatively brief and the challenge level forgiving, this GBA title wasn’t designed to dazzle veteran gamers—it’s a love letter to The Muppet Show’s whimsy. The production values, solid design choices, and faithful character portrayals make it a worthwhile addition to any child’s portable library or adult collector’s GBA shelf.

In the end, The Muppets: On with the Show delivers a charming, family-friendly experience that captures the spirit of its source material. It’s a breezy, enjoyable adventure through the world of the Muppets, complete with heart, humor, and enough variety to keep smiles on faces of all ages. For anyone seeking an accessible, character-driven GBA game, this is one show you won’t want to miss.

Retro Replay Score

5.8/10