As a child, I loved to play this game, though looking back, the flaws are more apparent. Nonetheless, it remains a solid game. Easily one of the better licensed games of the era, but far from great.

Graphics: 8
The graphical quality holds up well, and the environments rich, with outstanding color. Variety is in no short supply here, for either enemy or stage design. Things are similar to the movie, and you'll be able to identify iconic locales at a glance. Characters too are well-presented, perhaps needing a few more frames of animation, but those present are unambiguous and lively. I will say, Peter probably should have appeared in green, as most people know him, though that may have blended into some backgrounds too much.

Sound: 9
Easily the best part of the game. Though the voice acting is very stock, and the writing forced, this is the only low point. Sound effects are never obnoxious and decently balanced, though perhaps a little subdued. I suspect this was a conscious choice, to make way for the gem of the whole experience: the music. Hook uses the original John Williams score from the movie it was based on, and to glorious effect. This one factor was enough to keep me coming back again and again. This one factor makes up the majority of my score; perhaps a little biased, but there are people out there for whom music makes the experience.

Addictiveness: 6
Things fall apart a little at this point. It's by no means an unpleasant play through, but you might have a problem staying motivated. Hook is slow, but deliberate, not entirely unlike a Castlevania title, albeit nowhere near as well-crafted. Perhaps a bit too slow, however, as getting from one side of the screen to the other can take a bit too long.

Story: 4
Hook is a very divisive movie, though it's one I thoroughly enjoy. That said, story here is painfully straightforward, in context of playing the game, and any possible depth can only come from the movie. It is the same "go save people" plot as you would find anywhere in the gaming world, and aside from one particular scene recreated, not much else.

Depth: 6
You have a sword power-up, fairies that allow you to fly and health items. All very standard, but level design does come into play from this point. At different points, ascension is more important than horizontal movement, and the placement of fairies tends to be intuitive. Foes come fairly frequently, and you lose your sword on the first hit, so this can change things quickly, as your only projectile option. Throughout each stage, though, there are other hazards, and a few surprises that make you pay attention to your surroundings. Despite all this, there can be some significant stretches where nothing happens, which goes back to the speed issue mentioned before. This alone will drag the experience down a bit.

Difficulty: 6
Hook is not difficult. What it is, however, is competent, and those previously-mentioned hazards will quickly become familiar to anyone who has decent experience with this period of gaming. At the very least, there are almost no moments where you may feel cheated, though the last level can really try your patience with some strange, never-before-seen mechanics at work.

Overall: 6.5
All in all, the game itself is solid. It could have been better, but one doesn't need to look far to see it done a lot worse. I stand by my nostalgia, and retain that Hook is good, but not great.

This is a good first review. It was not long, but it was to the point and informative. Well done, I look forward to reading more reviews from you in the future.

tgags123 : I shall try to oblige. My goal here was to give what insight I could on a game that didn't already have one, but I was intimately familiar with; thus, that will be my M.O. In the future.