This may seem like a strange game for which to write a preview, especially a preview by me. I have always held the belief that licensed games almost always suck. Licensed games based on popular cartoons, especially, are usually hack jobs. However, I must confess: I love the cartoon “Ed, Edd n Eddy.” So much so, in fact that, even I am looking forward to the new platforming adventure game from publisher A2M that will be released later this year.

For the unitiated, “Ed, Edd n Eddy” is about three young boys who in constantly try to swindle money from the other kids in their cul-de-sac so that they can buy jawbreakers. Ed is a big, dumb lummox who takes care of the heavy lifting. Edd, called Double D by his pals, is the brains of the operation. Eddy is the unofficial leader of the world’s smallest quartet and is also the one who gets them into trouble with his schemes. Each of these characters’ attributes will come into play during the game as well.

The Leaning Tower of Ed

Players will control all three Ed’s at once, directly controlling one of them with the other two being controlled by the computer. Players will switch between each of them on the fly, as each Ed has his own special abilities that will help solve different puzzles. The three Ed’s can form a tower of sorts so that one of the Ed’s can reach previously unattainable heights. Each Ed will have his own weapon of choice, as well. Eddy uses a slingshot, Double D uses his pocketwatch, and Ed…well, Ed uses his head. Literally. Anyone who has seen the show will know that Ed’s head is a powerful weapon, indeed.

Here they come to wreck the day!

The game will span 10 separate levels, although how long each level will be is unknown at this time. The game will also follow some of the plotlines that were presented in the cartoon, which should be a nice treat for fans of the show like myself. If A2M can keep this from being another derivative, “me too” platformer, then they might just manage to swindle me out of some of my money once the game ships in October. I wonder if they’ll use it to buy jawbreakers…

Will Szwagiel