One of the developers was kind enough to sit down and answer a few question about Scooby-Doo First Frights, which came out this past week. A mighty thanks for everyone who put this together.

Pure Nintendo – Scooby-Doo! First Frights Q&A

1: Does this game have anything to do with the New Scooby-Doo movie?

While it is releasing the same day as the new movie, Scooby-Doo! First Frights focuses on its own story and is not directly tied to the movie.

2: Does this game have the original voice actors from the movie?

We went with voice actors who have been doing the cartoons for years. Frank Welker, for instance, has played the voice of Fred since the very first cartoon series and plays a few voices in our game (including Fred and Scooby).

3: According to the trailer, Scooby-Doo First Frights is only coming to the DS, Wii and PS2. Are there any differences in the Wii and PS2 versions of the game?

The Wii version supports any control style you want (Wii remote only, remote + nunchuck, or classic controller). Additionally it supports some motion control. The DS version has touchscreen support.

4: When it talks about solving Mystery Inc. first cases. Are they all new, never before seen cases, of old ones from the classic shows that old fans like me will recognize.

These are all-new mysteries created by the team at Torus Games. The stories are great, and the characters are a lot of fun. If you are a fan of the classic shows, you’ll love the new mysteries.

5: Can you describe to me a little about how the game plays, controls, the story?

The game is a platformer with action and puzzle solving elements. You’ll run through levels collecting clues and fighting monsters and henchmen along the way. Eventually, about half way through each mystery, you will enter a chase sequence where that mystery’s villain chases you through a level and you have to run away. At the end of each mystery there is a boss fight where you fight the villain from that episode and try to guess who is behind the crime before you unmask them.

There is a lot of content to unlock along the way, such as new character costumes (each with their own abilities) and trophies for accomplishing certain tasks.

The story changes as you go through the different episodes. In the first episode, for example, you are trying to help Daphne’s cousin win a school talent contest. Little do you know the school is being haunted, and the gang has to solve the mystery! Each mystery starts out this way – the gang is heading someplace intending on a good time, and they are caught off-guard by a mystery that needs to be solved.

6: Can tell us about some of the Characters that will be playable in the game. Will Scrappy- Doo be playable?

Scrappy-Doo is not in Scooby-Doo! First Frights. The playable characters are Fred, Daphne, Scooby, Shaggy, and Velma. In addition to the 5 core characters there are over 20 costumes with unique combinations of abilities, such as Shaggy in an Astronaut costume, or Daphne as a Viking. On top of the core characters and their costumes many of the game’s monsters are unlockable as playable characters. So there’s a lot of characters to choose from.

7: Can you discuss a little about the Co-op feature in the game?

The co-op is drop-in/drop-out at any time. That means that you could start out playing a level by yourself, but then your friend comes over and wants to play. They simply hit a button on the second controller, and they are in the game. If at any time the friend needs to leave, they simply pause the game and select “drop out” from the pause menu. It’s that simple.

Additionally the DS version of the game featueres local wireless co-op for up to two players, and works in a similar fasion to the console versions. Co-op on the DS requires two copies of the game.

8: There is a big debate about Casual and Core gamers on the Wii. Do Scooby- Doo First Frights gear more to the Casual crowed? If so do you think there will be some appeal for core gamers?

We definitely think we’ve built a game that can appeal to all gamers. While the game is certainly kid-friendly, we didn’t set out to make a game just for kids. It’s a game that is enjoyable on many levels – whether you like platformers, action games, great co-op experiences, solving puzzles, or you just love Scooby-Doo. There is really something here for every type of gamer.

9: I always like to end by giving you a chance to sell the game to our readers….Why should we go out and buy this game?

Because it’s awesome! Seriously though, we’ve set out to make the best Scooby-Doo game that’s ever been created, but also a great action/platform title. From the moment you hear those iconic voices, to the moment you unmask the villain and explain their sinister plan, you’ll have a blast. There is a ton of content here – over 20 levels, over 20 trophies, over 20 unlockable costumes/enemies, two different modes of play, and 4 mysteries that are completely different and unique. The game controls very well, and is just a blast to play regardless of your “core” or “casual” gamer status. We really feel like we accomplished our goals with this game and we’re really proud of it.