Dog Man: Bark In Action Review – Half Dog, Half Man, All Fun

If I were a kid and not the big kid that I am, I would absolutely love Dog Man: Bark in Action. It’s the kind of thing I’d have read along with Calvin & Hobbes, plus loads of other comics; then, I’d have replicated all the characters, creating my own little stories. While I haven’t grown up, I no longer do such things.

So, Floor 84 Studio and Mindscape’s game isn’t targeted at me? I don’t think so, but while it’s clearly aimed at a younger audience, I still found myself enjoying it, and more so than expected. It’s not the first video game based on the popular K-9, but it was my first experience, and I liked it.

If you’re unfamiliar with it, Dog Man: Bark in Action is based on a comic book character created by George and Harold of Captain Underpants fame. He’s half dog, half man, and serves in the police force, accompanied by some of his buddies.

I say it’s popular, as the series has sold a ton, and I used to use the comic books in a former life working with children with SEMH and learning difficulties, where we’d read them together, then make up our own stories. A Tale of Two Kitties was a favourite, and if you have kids (or not – I’m not judging), look ‘em up.

Paw-some Abilities & Switching Sidekicks

Back to Dog Man: Bark in Action. It’s a platform game that’s very easy, though it still offers plenty of variety. Aside from Dog Man, he is accompanied by Lil’ Petey and 80-HD (great reference by the author, Dav Pilkey). Both sidekicks can be switched with the shoulder buttons, as they all have their own abilities.

Though you may have your favourite, these abilities will help with the puzzle elements, such as being able to dig through an area or manipulate it with a shrink ray. So, while it might be fun to stick solely with one of them, expect to switch back and forth in order to progress. Besides that, they have some cool costumes, too.

The three main characters in Dog Man: Bark in Action have unique abilities, though they essentially play the same way. Combat is slightly different, as Dog Man has a ranged attack, while the other two have melee-based skills. Another factor to take into account is the super abilities and cameos.

Collecting Bones, Unlocking Cameos, and a Mech Suit

Collecting bones in the game will fill a gauge that can trigger a superpower. Dog Man dons a mechsuit and is effectively invulnerable for a time; though, considering how easy the game is, I often forgot to use it. The cameos, on the other hand, are very handy, as third-party characters can be called up to break walls and do some hacking.

And, even though these characters appear briefly, every single one is playable. The only thing is you need to collect batteries to be able to call them up. This adds a bit more depth and replay value, as through each of the 60-something levels, there are hidden items and art to collect, and they can’t always be obtained on the first attempt.

For the first 10 or so levels, being able to unlock everything is super easy and a walk in the park. The boss battles do raise the difficulty, though this is aimed at younger gamers, as it’s highly unlikely most competent gamers will lose a life in these skirmishes. It’s the unlockables that are the draw, not the gameplay challenge.

Too Easy? Or Just Right for a Chill Session?

The closest thing to Dog Man: Bark in Action would have to be This Is Fine: Maximum Cope, mostly from a visual perspective. The artwork is close to the comic books and animated well, and there are plenty of comic strip panels illustrating the story, again, tipping the cap to the source material.

Being very familiar with family-friendly games, I know there will be a bunch of players who will moan that it’s too easy, that it should be a mobile game, or that the comic book panels are too babyish. It’s not for you. Turn your head and move on. If you have kids, or fancy something stress-free for yourself that you can comfortably finish and still have more to unlock afterwards, then Dog Man: Bark in Action is worth a look.