Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe

Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe
Planned PlayStation 2 cover
Developer(s)Treasure
Publisher(s)Conspiracy Entertainment
Director(s)Tetsuhiko Kikuchi
Designer(s)
  • Tetsuhiko Kikuchi
  • Kouji Kitatani
  • Tsunehisa Kanagae
  • Seiji Hasuko
Programmer(s)
Composer(s)Norio Hanzawa
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube
ReleaseCancelled
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe is a cancelled fighting game based on the Tiny Toon Adventures franchise. It was initially scheduled for release in mid-2002, but was cancelled for unknown reasons, despite having completed development. It was developed by Treasure and originally slated for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube.[1] On 25 February 2009, a ROM image of the game was released by a member of the Internet forum Lost Levels.[2]

The surviving voice actors from the TV series reprised their roles as their characters for this game, with Charlie Adler returning as the voice of Buster (as well as voicing Zag) and Billy West replacing the late Don Messick as the voice of Hamton. Even though this game was never officially released, it marked the last official appearances of the original characters until the 2023 reboot series, Tiny Toons Looniversity.

Gameplay and premise

Screenshot of the game

The plot of Defenders of the Universe centers on Montana Max taking over the planet Gold Star. Natives of the planet, the Bullions, escape and ask Buster Bunny, Babs Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton Pig for help.[3]

Development and cancellation

Originally titled Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Looniverse,[4] Defenders of the Universe was first announced in 2001 with a planned spring 2002 release.[5] It was later expected for release by the summer that same year.[6]

In 2004, Douglas C. Perry for IGN suggested that the game had always been intended for release, mentioning that it was "still officially slated to come out sometime (not necessarily in 2004)".[7] While the game was given an ESRB rating and was shown on retail listings, it was never released in any capacity, with no official reason given.[7][8]

Reception

Kurt Kalata from Hardcore Gaming 101 theorized that the game was planned to be the spiritual successor to Treasure's 1999 Japanese-exclusive Rakugaki Showtime, noting its similarities in gameplay and mechanics.[8] Shared staff between the two games include director and co-designer Tetsuhiko Kikuchi, co-designer Tsunehisa Kanagae, and programmer Masaki Ukyo.

References

  1. ^ "Game Watch Forecast". Nintendo Power. No. 158. Nintendo of America. July 2002. p. 26.
  2. ^ Spencer (March 4, 2009). "Lost Treasure Developed Tiny Toons Game Found". Siliconera. Curse LLC. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  3. ^ Scott, Dean (June 3, 2002). "Tiny Toons: Defenders of the Universe". Computer and Video Games. Future plc. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007.
  4. ^ Smith, David; Perry, Doug (May 13, 2001). "Tiny Toons Adventures: Defenders of the Looniverse". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  5. ^ IGN Staff (October 1, 2001). "New Info on Tiny Toons Adventures: Defenders of the Looniverse". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  6. ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (June 20, 2002). "First look: Defenders of the Universe". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Perry, Douglass C. (February 6, 2004). "Missing in Action: The Lost Games of the PlayStation 2, Part I". IGN. Ziff Davis. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Kalata, Kurt (2008). "Rakugaki Showtime". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2017.