Tak and the Power of Juju

Tak and the Power of Juju is a platformer game in which the player controls Tak, who can jump, attack, and interact with animals to overcome obstacles. The player's health is represented by the feather on Tak's head and, along with mana, can be restored by collecting feathers found throughout the environment. After obtaining the Spirit Rattle, he gains access to "Juju Powers", which are acquired by collecting tokens scattered around the environment.

According to an ancient prophecy, the Moon Juju, the guardian of the Pupanunu people, will be weakened by the evil Tlaloc, an embittered Pupanunu shaman who seeks to transform the Pupanunu into sheep as revenge for not being made high shamans in favor of another shaman, Jibolba. However, a warrior trained by the high shaman will restore the Moon Juju, defeat Tlaloc, and bring peace to the Pupanunu.

In the present, Tlaloc transforms the Pupanunu into sheep and steals the Moon Stones, which the Moon Juju uses to protect them from evil. Jibolba escapes Tlaloc's spell and believes his apprentice Lok to be the warrior of the prophecy. However, as he prepares to send him off, he discovers that he has seemingly been transformed into a sheep. Jibolba sends his younger apprentice, Tak (voiced by Jason Marsden), to find magical plants and change him back, though it turns out not to be Lok, but his squire Tobar. Jibolba tells Tak to obtain the Spirit Rattle, which allows its wielder to communicate with Juju spirits, while he finds Lok.

Upon returning with the Rattle, Tak discovers that Lok has been trampled to death by a herd of sheep. Jibolba has Tak collect one hundred magic Yorbels and Lok's spirit from the spirit world, allowing him to resurrect Lok. However, since Lok suffers from diarrhea (or the "Resurrection's Revenge" as Jibolba calls it) as a side effect of the resurrection, Tak obtains the Moon Stones while he recovers, restoring the Moon Juju's power. The Moon Juju reveals that the warrior of the prophecy is not Lok, but Tak. Using his Juju spells, Tak defeats Tlaloc and transforms him into a sheep, fulfilling the prophecy.

Tak and the Power of Juju was created by John Blackburn,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/15/tak-developer-interview |title=Tak Developer Interview |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |author=IGN staff |date=October 15, 2003 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |archive-date=August 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806102307/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/15/tak-developer-interview |url-status=live }} the CEO of Avalanche Software, who first conceived the idea in 1995 before pitching it in 1998. The game was meant to be an organic platformer taking place in a natural world that lacked typical video game conventions. It was also to have complex puzzles and obstacles and not take itself too seriously, at a time when other games held the player's hand with obvious puzzles. The game was developed by Avalanche Software for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance under Nickelodeon and published by THQ, which was unprecedented at the time due to it being original and not based on an existing show or film.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-qanda/1100-6077001/ |title=Tak and the Power of Juju Q&A |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |author=GameSpot staff |date=October 17, 2003 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912235945/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-qanda/1100-6077001/ |url-status=live }}

The game had a marketing budget of $8.7 million.{{cite web|first=Paula|last=Parisi|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA121283480&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=338d29b3|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903113501/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA121283480&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=338d29b3|title=Game points|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|archivedate=September 3, 2024|date=August 10, 2004|accessdate=September 4, 2024|via=Gale Research}}

{{Video game reviews

| GBA = true

| NGC = true

| PS2 = true

| na = true

| GR_GBA = 62.74%{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/914959-tak-and-the-power-of-juju/index.html|title=Tak and the Power of Juju for Game Boy Advance|publisher=GameRankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012501/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/914959-tak-and-the-power-of-juju/index.html|access-date=2025-04-23|archive-date=2019-12-09}}

| GR_NGC = 73.90%{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/589561-tak-and-the-power-of-juju/index.html|title=Tak and the Power of Juju for GameCube|publisher=GameRankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012142/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/589561-tak-and-the-power-of-juju/index.html|access-date=2025-04-23|archive-date=2019-12-09}}

| GR_PS2 = 72.50%{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/589560-tak-and-the-power-of-juju/index.html|title=Tak and the Power of Juju for PlayStation 2|publisher=GameRankings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012135/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/589560-tak-and-the-power-of-juju/index.html|access-date=2025-04-23|archive-date=2019-12-09}}

| MC_GBA = 60/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/takandthepowerofjuju |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (gba: 2003): Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CNET |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913092011/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/takandthepowerofjuju |archivedate=September 13, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

| MC_NGC = 71/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tak-and-the-power-of-juju/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=Tak and the Power of Juju for GameCube Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |accessdate=December 17, 2010 |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230170151/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/tak-and-the-power-of-juju |url-status=live }}

| MC_PS2 = 68/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tak-and-the-power-of-juju/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Tak and the Power of Juju for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |accessdate=December 17, 2010 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023164817/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/tak-and-the-power-of-juju |url-status=live }}

| GI_GBA = 5/10{{cite magazine |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (GBA) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |issue=129 |date=January 2004 |page=160}}

| GI_PS2 = 6.75/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/18D24E3F-0E4B-484A-8AD9-6531ADAFFD8C.htm?CS_pid=280846 |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (PS2) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |author=Lisa Mason |issue=127 |date=November 2003 |page=150 |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109163058/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/18D24E3F-0E4B-484A-8AD9-6531ADAFFD8C.htm?CS_pid=280846 |archive-date=November 9, 2005 |url-status=dead}}

| GameRev_PS2 = C{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33512-tak-and-the-power-of-juju-review |title=Tak and the Power of Juju Review (PS2) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |author=GR Chimp |date=December 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929065410/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/tak-and-the-power-of-juju |archivedate=September 29, 2015 |url-status=live}}

| GamePro_PS2 = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/31404.shtml |title=Tak and the Power of Juju Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |author=The D-Pad Destroyer |date=October 15, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212141418/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/31404.shtml |archivedate=February 12, 2005 |url-status=dead}}

| GSpot_NGC = 6.8/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-review/1900-6077486/ |title=Tak and the Power of Juju Review (GC, PS2) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |author=Ryan Davis |date=October 28, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014032930/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-review/1900-6077486/ |url-status=live }}

| GSpot_PS2 = 6.8/10

| GSpy_NGC = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/tak-and-the-power-of-juju/6418p1.html |title=GameSpy: Tak and the Power of Juju (GCN) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |author=Ray Barnholt |date=November 22, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014182317/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/tak-and-the-power-of-juju/6418p1.html |url-status=live }}

| GSpy_PS2 = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/tak-and-the-power-of-juju/6419p1.html |title=GameSpy: Tak and the Power of Juju (PS2) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |author=Ray Barnholt |date=November 22, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014182320/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/tak-and-the-power-of-juju/6419p1.html |url-status=live }}

| GameZone_GBA = 7/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/tak_and_the_power_of_juju_gba_review/ |title=Tak And The Power Of JuJu - GBA - Review |website=GameZone |author=Michael Lafferty |date=November 3, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051004040222/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19821_GBA.htm |archivedate=October 4, 2005 |url-status=live}}

| GameZone_NGC = 8.4/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/tak_and_the_power_of_juju_gc_review/ |title=Tak And The Power Of JuJu - GC - Review |website=GameZone |author=Louis Bedigian |date=November 2, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606103712/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19821.htm |archivedate=June 6, 2009 |url-status=live}}

| GameZone_PS2 = 7.8/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/tak_and_the_power_of_juju_ps2_review/ |title=Tak And The Power Of JuJu - PS2 - Review |website=GameZone |author=Michael Knutson |date=October 28, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005182225/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19821.htm |archivedate=October 5, 2008 |url-status=live}}

| IGN_GBA = 5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/30/tak-and-the-power-of-juju |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (GBA) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |author=Craig Harris |date=October 29, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014032935/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/30/tak-and-the-power-of-juju |url-status=live }}

| IGN_NGC = 8.2/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/14/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-3 |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (GCN) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |author=Mary Jane Irwin |date=October 13, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014032931/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/14/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-3 |url-status=live }}

| IGN_PS2 = 7.9/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/14/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-2 |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (PS2) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |author=Mary Jane Irwin |date=October 14, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014032932/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/14/tak-and-the-power-of-juju-2 |url-status=live }}

| NP_GBA = 3.6/5{{cite magazine |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (GBA) |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=164 |date=December 2003 |page=151}}

| NP_NGC = 3.8/5{{cite magazine |title=Tak and the Power of Juju (GC) |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=164 |date=December 2003 |page=138}}

| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Tak and the Power of Juju |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=December 2003 |page=178}}

| XPlay_PS2 = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3574452,00.html |title='Tak and the Power of Juju' (PS2) Review |website=X-Play |publisher=TechTV |author=Skyler Miller |date=December 1, 2003 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040218190318/http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3574452,00.html |archivedate=February 18, 2004 |url-status=dead}}

| rev1 = The Cincinnati Enquirer

| rev1_GBA = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/010904_mobile.html |title=PC, console titles now designed for mobile play |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |publisher=Gannett Company |author=Marc Saltzman |date=January 9, 2004 |accessdate=October 14, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106020528/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/010904_mobile.html |archivedate=November 6, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

}}

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. GameSpot gave both the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions a 6.8 out of 10, writing, "Tak and the Power of Juju can serve as a decent platformer, but if you're in the market for one, it shouldn't be your first choice." The game sold more than one million units.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/27/tak-2-the-staff-of-dreams-first-look |title=Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams: First Look |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |author=Douglass C. Perry |date=July 26, 2004 |accessdate=March 16, 2022 |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316044139/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/27/tak-2-the-staff-of-dreams-first-look |url-status=live }}

During the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Tak and the Power of Juju was nominated by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for "Console Children's Game of the Year", but lost to Mario Party 5.{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2004&idGameAwardType=41 |title=2004 Awards Category Details Console Children's Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=24 August 2023}}

{{clear}}

{{Main|Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams|Tak: The Great Juju Challenge|Tak and the Guardians of Gross}}

The game spawned two direct sequels, Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams and Tak: The Great Juju Challenge, as well as two spinoffs based on the Tak television series, Tak and the Guardians of Gross and Tak: Mojo Mistake.

{{main|Tak and the Power of Juju (TV series)}}

Tak and the Power of Juju is an animated television series that debuted on Nickelodeon on August 31, 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/nick-dishes-new-shows-development-process/ |title=Nick Dishes New Shows, Development Process |website=Animation Magazine |publisher=Animation Magazine, Inc. |author=Ryan Ball |date=March 9, 2006 |access-date=August 28, 2021 |archive-date=August 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828191905/https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/nick-dishes-new-shows-development-process/ |url-status=live }} Directed by Mark Risley and Jim Schumann, it was the first CGI series to be directly produced in-house by Nickelodeon.{{cite web |url=https://www.awn.com/news/taks-got-power-nickelodeon |title=Tak's Got the Power on Nickelodeon |website=Animation World Network |author=Rick DeMott |date=August 14, 2007 |access-date=August 28, 2021 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006233059/https://www.awn.com/news/taks-got-power-nickelodeon |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20110720134931/http://www.takandthepowerofjuju.com/}} at the Internet Archive
• {{MobyGames|id=/tak-and-the-power-of-juju}}
• {{MobyGames|id=/gameboy-advance/tak-and-the-power-of-juju_|name=Tak and the Power of Juju (Game Boy Advance)}}
• [http://www.ethnography.com/2007/09/tak-and-the-power-of-publicity/ Tak and the Power of Juju] – evaluated from an anthropological perspective at Ethnography.com

{{Tak}}

{{THQ}}

{{Avalanche Software}}

{{Portal bar|Video games|2000s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tak And The Power Of Juju}}

Category:2003 video games

Category:3D platformers

Category:Avalanche Software games

Category:Game Boy Advance games

Category:GameCube games

Category:Helixe games

Category:PlayStation 2 games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:THQ games

Category:Video games about shapeshifting

Category:Video games adapted into television shows

Category:Video games based on Native American mythology

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games with pre-rendered 3D graphics

pt:Tak and the Power of Juju