Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Whac-A-Mole on Nintendo’s handhelds stays true to its arcade roots, offering fast-paced, reflex-based action as moles pop up across a grid of holes. On the DS, you use the stylus to tap each mole head before it retreats back underground, making for a tactile and satisfying whack. GBA users navigate a marker with the directional pad and confirm hits with a button press, offering a slightly different but still enjoyable challenge in precision and timing.

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The game features three distinct modes to keep players engaged. Arcade mode sends you through seven graphically themed worlds, each with escalating difficulty and a quota of points to reach before time runs out. Standard moles, high-value golden moles, point-penalizing plush moles and even gimmick enemies like ninja and bazooka moles appear in increasingly unpredictable patterns, while power-ups such as time clocks, score multipliers and bomb obstacles add strategic depth.

Puzzle mode varies between platforms: on the DS, you reconstruct shapes shown on the upper screen by tapping colored moles in the correct order, offering a thoughtful twist on the arcade action. The GBA provides two puzzle challenges—a competitive Tic Tac Toe variant where you race an AI to three in a row, and a Peg Puzzle in which you whack moles to clear the board, with new moles appearing based on directional arrows. Both versions demand forethought and pattern recognition.

Finally, Quick Play lets you customize your session by choosing the number of levels and difficulty, and the DS version even supports local multiplayer for head-to-head mole-smashing contests. Whether you’re in the mood for a structured campaign, brain-teasing puzzles or a casual burst of tapping frenzy, Whac-A-Mole delivers a surprising amount of variety.

Graphics

Graphically, Whac-A-Mole leans into colorful, cartoon-style visuals that suit its lighthearted premise. On the DS, each of the seven worlds comes to life with distinct backgrounds—from sunlit gardens to spooky graveyards—while the moles themselves animate with expressive faces and comical popping motions. The dual-screen layout also ensures the action remains uncluttered and easy to follow, even as the speed ramps up.

The GBA version, despite the smaller 3×3 grid, still packs in charming artwork and smooth animations. Background themes carry over from the DS, albeit with simplified palettes and fewer onscreen details. Performance remains rock-solid, with no slowdown even when golden moles and bomb power-ups swarm the screen in later levels.

Special effects like score multipliers, clock slow-downs and bomb detonations are clearly communicated with simple but effective flashes and icons. These visual cues ensure you’re always aware of the current game state, which is crucial when fractions of a second decide whether you clear a level or watch the timer expire. Overall, the graphics strike a nice balance between function and flair.

Story

As a direct adaptation of the classic arcade cabinet, Whac-A-Mole places minimal emphasis on narrative. There’s no overarching character arc or dramatic plot twist—instead, the game embraces its carnival-style origins, inviting players into a series of whimsical mole-whacking arenas. Each world theme offers its own playful context, from grassy fields to haunted woodlands, but the core story remains delightfully simple: hit as many moles as you can before time runs out.

This lack of a traditional story isn’t necessarily a drawback. In fact, it allows the game’s pure gameplay loops to shine, with each mode introducing subtle twists rather than lengthy cutscenes. Puzzle sequences on the DS even incorporate shape-matching tasks that feel like mini-missions within the larger carnival setting, while the GBA’s Tic Tac Toe and Peg Puzzle challenges hint at competitive rivalries without spelling out a narrative.

If you’re seeking a rich storyline or deep character development, Whac-A-Mole might feel light. However, for its genre and target audience—players looking for bite-sized, gratification-focused play sessions—the absence of an intricate plot works in its favor. The upbeat soundtrack and themed visuals provide enough ambiance to frame the action without distracting from it.

Overall Experience

Whac-A-Mole’s handheld adaptation excels at delivering pick-up-and-play excitement. Whether you’ve got a few spare minutes waiting for the bus or want to dive into a full arcade run, the game’s multiple modes and adjustable difficulty levels cater to both casual and dedicated players. The DS stylus control feels intuitive and precise, while the GBA’s button-based approach offers a nostalgic nod to classic portable gaming.

Replay value is high thanks to the variety of mole types, power-ups and mode-specific challenges. Unlocking higher difficulty tiers and discovering all seven themed worlds adds a sense of progression, and the puzzle mode provides a welcome change of pace when standard whacking becomes predictable. DS multiplayer further extends longevity, enabling competitive play with friends.

Ultimately, Whac-A-Mole is an engaging and well-executed adaptation that honors its arcade heritage while leveraging the strengths of Nintendo’s handheld platforms. It may not reinvent the genre, but its tight controls, charming presentation and diverse gameplay modes ensure that mole-whacking remains as addictive as ever. For fans of quick-reaction games or anyone seeking a fun, portable pastime, this title is a worthy addition to the library.

Retro Replay Score

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