Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

This action game gets new life on the Switch, but its classic issues make this game shamble instead of stand on its own two feet. Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is one of those adventure games that's a throwback to an earlier time of character driven adventures. Back in the early days of the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube days, action/adventure platform games were a dime a dozen. Every once in a while, though, one would stand out a bit above the rest. Such was the case of Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy, an interesting gem that had its share of critical acclaim, but never quite struck a chord with gamers. Now, more than fifteen years after the game's debut, it's been dug up from the past, dusted off, polished up, and given a new home on the Nintendo Switch. But is this a game that deserves a spot in your Switch museum, or is it a relic that that should have stayed buried?

When Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy first came out, its biggest draw was the difference in how the two main characters play. While Sphinx plays like any standard action game hero, the Mummy is more like a crash test dummy, setting off traps and using his immortal nature to his advantage. It's a unique and oddly satisfying experience that made for a fun experience back in the day. Unfortunately, the game simply hasn't aged well. Some sluggish controls and wonky cameras that might have been frustrating but forgivable in the past are simply irritating today. And although the visuals have a little added HD polish, it still looks (and plays) quite a bit dated. While there's still fun to be had here, it's buried about as deep as any of the Egyptian tombs that inspired it.