Killer App (Game Boy Advance)

***Tron 2.0: Killer App*** is a 2004 handheld action-adventure video game developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Buena Vista Interactive.

## Official Description

"*TRON 2.0 for Game Boy Advance allows players to take on the role of digital warriors Tron and Mercury as they battle against The Corruptor, an evil computer program attempting to create the ultimate virus that will take over the computer system. Two unique storylines, third-person digital action, first-person vehicle combat, upgradeable characters, multiplayer and more, create a unique and fun gameplay experience on the GBA.*"
—Official Description
## Gameplay

*Tron 2.0: Killer App* is an isometric third person action-adventure game that follows the exploits of ENCOM programs, Mercury and Tron, in the digital world. While both characters have their own “unique storyline” and weapon set, the player will traverse the same environment regardless of the character chosen. The core game is an isometric action game that mixes combat and platforming.

Mercury uses a Rod as her primary weapon while Tron uses the basic Identity Disc for his. Players will be able to interact with non-hostile programs, who in turn offer information and items or ask for help.

Among the player’s objectives, collecting a number of hundred upgrade chips allows players to customize their characters on top of unlocking secrets. In order to progress through levels, players much interface with computer scattered throughout the levels. Puzzles are comprised of mini-games that the player must solve within a limited amount of time in order to progress through the level.

Using the Game Boy Advance’s link cable system, Multiplayer matches that allow a maximum of four players engage in the game’s Light Cycle, Tank and Recognizer modes, this extends to the arcade exclusives, Discs of Tron and Tron.

## Production

### E3 2004

May 2004, Buena Vista Interactive announced that the Game Boy Advance’s *Tron 2.0: Killer App* would debut at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo alongside the Xbox port of the original PC release of Tron 2.0. Both games were slated for a late 2004 release.

Buena Vista Interactive made a point of highlighting that Killer App would feature “more than thirty different levels”, which included Light Cycle racing segments, and the ability to unlock the original Tron arcade games for the 1982 film, Tron and Discs of Tron.

In IGN.com’s second preview of the then-work-in-progress game, they noted that the narratives of Mercury and Tron intersect with each other, similar to the scenario gameplay in Capcom’s survival-horror game *Resident Evil 2*. Of the game’s returning cast, actor Bruce Boxleitner reprised his role as Tron, and Rebecca Romjin reprises her role as Mercury.

### Plagiarism by Disney

*Main article: Tron 2.0 (comics)*
January 2004, 88 MPH Studios, a comic book publishing company announced the cancellation of a planned *Tron 2.0* miniseries that meant to debut in early 2004. The series featured artwork by a comic book artist named Gabe Bridwell and was written by Andrew Dabb.

November 2004, Andrew Dabb and Gabe Bridwell were informed by an DeviantART user named Ben Dale that Bridwell's work for the cancelled *Tron 2.0* comic had been reproduced for the cover art of Digital Eclipse's *Tron 2.0: Killer App*. A disgruntled Dabb posted his findings on his website, andrewdabb.com, now defunct, and reported that all parties involved in the production of *Killer App* did not credit Bridwell for his work.

## Reception

Like *Tron 2.0* and the Xbox release of the same name, the Game Boy Advance version of *Killer App* received mixed to average reviews from gaming audiences. According to Gamerankings *Killer App* received a 66.53% from a total of nineteen reviews. Similarly, on Metacritic *Killer App* received a 68 from a total of sixteen critical reviews.

IGN's Craig Harris noted that, while the game was not particularly spectacular, fans of the 1982 film would find something to enjoy from Digital Eclipse's take on the *Tron* license.

Chris Swann of eToychest, however, thought *Killer App* fell into the same predictable trappings of most movie-licensed games, something he believed the original *Tron 2.0* escaped, providing the player with nothing beyond receptive and frustrating gameplay.

GamePro.com praised the visual presentation of *Killer App*, and the inclusion of *Discs of Tron*, noting the control on the Game Boy Advance was tight and responsive. *Game Informer* Magazine notes that while *Killer App* functions as it should, the experience is frustrating and ultimately feels like a series of "tired of minigames".

## Videos

TRON 2.0 Killer App Game Boy GameplayTRON 2.0 Killer App GBA Gameplay 1TRON 2.0 Killer App GBA Gameplay 2TRON 2.0 Killer App GBA Gameplay 3TRON 2.0 Killer App GBA Gameplay 4TRON 2.0 Killer App GBA Gameplay 5

## Notes

1. ↑ "Several things work as they should, but much of the game is chock full of frustration, and the whole thing ends up feeling like a string of tired minigames."

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 (Classic Arcade Emulation)
2. ↑ TRON 2.0 ships for GBA.
3. ↑ Gameboy Advance (GBA) Emulators
4. ↑ Official Website
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tron 2.0: Killer App Preview
6. ↑ Tron 2.0 E3 2004 First Look
7. ↑ Tron 2.0: Killer App Hands-On Impressions
8. ↑ Re: Tron comic series CANCELLED!
9. ↑ The comic book Tron 2.0 disappears
10. ↑ The Return Of Tron - Andrew Dabb
11. ↑ TRON 2.0: Killer App for Game Boy Advance - Gamerankings
12. ↑ TRON 2.0: KILLER APP for the Game Boy Advance - Game Rankings
13. ↑ TRON 2.0: KILLER APP (GBA) - IGN.com
14. ↑ Tron 2.0: Killer App
15. ↑ Game Boy Advance / Review / TRON 2.0: KIller App
16. ↑ *Game Informer Magazine*. November 2004. pg. 170