Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
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  1. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    All in all, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a truly fun little romp. While not as long as some games, it's worth the price of admission just to see the Mummy dancing with electricity or flattened like a piece of paper!
  2. GameNow
    91
    Expect some of the coolest levels out there, a slew of amazing characters, and something lacking from many games today: a sense of humor.
  3. Play Magazine
    91
    This game is, simply put, brilliant. The music is intoxicating, the locales magical and the overall vibe decidedly dreamy. [Dec 2003, p.77]
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  5. Gamezilla!
    91
    It’s well-crafted, challenging in all of the right ways and just a heck of a lot of fun to play with a cool blend of Egyptian mythology and Manga-like fantasy.
  6. Gamers' Temple
    90
    Wonderfully entertaining.
  7. GameZone
    88
    A dynamic, immersive game that may be too complex in the puzzle department for some. For others, if you pay attention to your environment, and don’t let little setbacks slow you down, but keep plugging away, you will find a rhythm and pacing to this game.
  8. Game Chronicles
    88
    A fantastic game that offers dual play modes, challenging puzzles, a progressive character development system, and balanced gameplay that is great for gamers of all skills and ages.
  9. IGN
    85
    A fairly well balanced title that, like "Zelda," serves up a semi-non-linear experience complete with huge worlds to explore, difficult and satisfying puzzles, entertaining weapon and item advancements, and more, and it's all very much on the same epic scale as Nintendo's franchise.
  10. Worth Playing
    83
    An intelligent, humorous, creative, and generally satisfying game that fans of intelligent, humorous, creative, and satisfying videogames should definitely check out.
  11. GameSpot
    82
    Strikes a great balance between its fantasy and Egyptian-history-based elements to create a world that is rich with character, color, and originality, and its unique method of puzzle-solving makes it an easy recommendation to any fan of the genre.
  12. GameBiz
    81
    The only real gripe there can be used against Sphinx is the sound, more so the lack of voice acting but you soon get over that after awhile and agonize more about the puzzles involved in the game. With Sphinx begins a new platformer legend that hopefully we will see a lot more of in future.
  13. Yahoo!
    80
    A thoroughly humorous and entertaining game with a few rough edges. Camera problems and a lack of voiceover acting are the only real flaws.
  14. PSM Magazine
    80
    Don't judge Sphinx before Tutankhamen is transformed into a mummy, however, as the game simply doesn't catch fire until then. [Holiday 2003, p.28]
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  15. GMR Magazine
    80
    Solidly designed, solidly programmed, very pretty, and about as close to "Zelda" as PS2 and Xbox will ever get. This one deserves to be a sleeper hit. [Dec 2003, p.100]
  16. TotalGames.net
    80
    Acceptable character animation and slightly angular backgrounds, decent combat and imaginative puzzles make for a warm gaming experience that's heavily undermined by a total lack of voice acting.
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  17. PSX Nation
    80
    Good (but not great) visuals, excellent (but not ground-breaking) gameplay and decent (but voice-over deprived) sound/music effects make Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy a winner for THQ.
  18. GameSpot AU
    80
    There are frustrating points (like the long save point distance) but it creates the desire to know what will happen next if you keep going.
  19. G4 TV
    80
    Two words for Eurocom and THQ, though, concerning the next installment in the franchise: more Tutankhamen.
  20. XGP Gaming
    80
    For players fed up with over-simplistic puzzles or seemingly unnecessary backtracking to find out-of-place items to put into even more out-of-place statues then you are in for a delightful treat.
  21. Game Informer
    78
    When you spend some time with this game, you'll find that it slowly pulls you in, as it manages to turn what appears to be its weaknesses into pure positives. [Nov. 2003, p.148]
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  22. GameSpy
    75
    A schizophrenic but enjoyable combination of gameplay styles, and it's worth slogging through the solid Sphinx segments to savor the Mummy magic.
  23. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    73
    Getting the Mummy burnt, shocked, and sliced makes for both fun and funny gameplay. Watching Sphinx do double-jumps and sword strokes, on the other hand, fills me with "eh." [Dec 2003, p.204]
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  24. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    70
    Basically, we have a four-star Cursed Mummy game held back by a three-star Sphinx game, bringing the overall game average to three-and-a-half. [Dec 2003, p.172]
  25. GamePro
    70
    Sticky controls sometimes mar play, and a temperamental camera makes for difficult combat. Sphinx showboats lush, densely populated environments, good texturing, and fantastic character animations.
  26. Cheat Code Central
    70
    A great debut and one that should be applauded by gamers that want some variety and imagination put back into their platforming.
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  27. 3DAvenue
    62
    Works for young players looking for an easier version of games such as "Prince of Persia."
  28. games(TM)
    60
    While Sphinx's adventures are rather average and play very similarly to "Starfox Adventures" and the Zelda games, the Mummy levels are a different matter - stealth and laughs abound in equal measures and there are some extremely clever puzzles that fully exploit the Mummy's undead status. [Mar 2004, p.119]
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  29. Gaming Age
    58
    Attempts to be a platform game heavy on the puzzles, but it's really just a boring platform game. It's too bad it's a video game and not a slide show, because playing the game is almost painfully boring at times despite the graphics.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Best PS2 Game of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 51
  3. Negative: 6 out of 51
  1. Aginagala
    Nov 5, 2017
    10
    Sphinx will always have a special place in my little game collection, and will perhaps always be my favorite game of all time.. It was one ofSphinx will always have a special place in my little game collection, and will perhaps always be my favorite game of all time.. It was one of the first games I owned when I got my first console: the PS2 back in 2004. I remember having a selection of games to choose from including a new crash bandicoot game, but I choose this one to play along with my sister beside me. I remember it taking me around a year to complete, although I was very young at the time. Part of the reason I fell in love with this game was the parts when I'd find a new area and be blown away every time the expanses the graphics of the time the monsters, RPG aspect it was all perfect. 100% worth playing if you own an old console and I will perhaps get another PS2 just to play this game again.… Full Review »
  2. Gamepro3093
    Oct 6, 2020
    0
    This game sucks! Look, I enjoy the idea of playing as a character that looks like the Sphinx and characters themed like they’re from AncientThis game sucks! Look, I enjoy the idea of playing as a character that looks like the Sphinx and characters themed like they’re from Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Egypt setting. However, there was such a low amount of effort put into how things like the controls work, how the enemy AI works. You know, things that make or break a game. The controls were so janky and there was no aim mode for throwing things which is just so awful. You have no clear way to tell where objects will land meaning you tend to miss your targets. The jump feature is awful. No double jump ability and they make you hold the button down to jump further. It is so broken. Double jump in a platformer would’ve been better. The level design is plain ugly. It’s just blotchy and brown and lacks fine details. It’s more like a Beta type of game. It’s also lazy there’s no voice acting in such a colorless game. It makes it that much harder to enjoy it when everyone just has lines of text like it’s a Final Fantasy game from the 90s. I quit this dreck of a game 15-20 minutes in. It’s just a THQ cash grab.… Full Review »
  3. JorgeD.
    Jan 17, 2008
    10
    Brilliant action adventure with clever puzzles mixed in. Sphinx provides the action, and the mummy provides the puzzle solving. Absolutely Brilliant action adventure with clever puzzles mixed in. Sphinx provides the action, and the mummy provides the puzzle solving. Absolutely one of the best games I've played. Bring on a sequel already!!… Full Review »
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