Let’s Play A Net Game: Cartoon Cartoons Summer Resort

—2019 UPDATE: ALL YOUR CCSR QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE—

Game: Cartoon Cartoons Summer Resort (Episodes 1-4)
Creator: Cartoon Network
Released: Summer 2000
Play it here:
Episode 1: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/cc/summerresort/1.html
Episode 2: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/cc/summerresort/2.html
Episode 3: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/cc/summerresort/3.html
Episode 4: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/games/cc/summerresort/4.html

Yesterday night marked the very first Netstorian live stream. For those of you who missed it, I played all four episodes of Cartoon Cartoons Summer Resort, a Cartoon Network game from the summer of 2000. Like many Cartoon Network games, CCSR was one that I thoroughly enjoyed playing when I first got online as a kid. Before last night, it had been years since I’d last played it, but thanks to the help of the Wayback Machine, I was able to replay a game that I loved back then, and have a newfound love for today.

Being the first stream, there was a bit of awkwardness. I’m still new to using OBS, and to my own stubborn fault, I didn’t prepare myself enough beforehand to know I can crop the window display so that it wasn’t so tiny for viewers. Hopefully by next stream I’ll have figured out a few more tricks.

The game

Each episode has a different objective, and a different main character. What remains the same throughout all four episodes is the location, the non-playable characters, and the concept of trading items in order to complete each episode’s main goal. Colourful 16-bit graphics and repetitive game music contribute to the game’s upbeat feel, which keeps things interesting at all times.

Episode 1 involves fixing the resort pool’s pipeline. Episode 2 is about stopping Dexter’s malfunctioning tennis robot. Episode 3 requires you to rescue animals off an island and save Courage from the inside of a volcano before it erupts. Episode 4 turns you into a match maker for the resort’s disco party. Each unique episode concept gives the player a fresh goal for an otherwise repetitive gameplay style (i.e. item trading). Some problems and quest items are more bizarre than others, but it creates an engaging experience for the player.

The main characters are Cartoon Cartoons originals, but despite being lesser-known (17 years later and I still don’t know anything about any of the four), this game provides them with the showcase they deserve. Even if it’s the only thing they’re remembered for.

The games themselves aren’t incredibly hard, but may stump the player at certain points (as seen in my stream a few times). Luckily, the resort is not a place one can get lost in, and solving a problem is often just a matter of talking to every character possible to figure out what needs to be done. Completing each episode can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how much difficulty you’re experiencing.

Personal thoughts

I loved playing Summer Resort in the early 2000s, and I loved being able to play it again in 2017. Cartoon Network games were always a favourite of mine, and I will likely showcase more in the future. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, Summer Resort is a fun way to pass the time.

One thing I particularly enjoyed about Summer Resort is the little bits of humour that are worked into the game. Talking ducks, random crabs, funny signs, and other reference-based puns are a nice cherry on top of an already lively game.

For anyone who wants to play these games themselves, I’d recommend first trying the links above. If they don’t work, I’d run them through the Wayback Machine, at least by a few years. Due to the older Flash/Shockwave technology, it can be a bit more tedious to make them work. Personally, I found that the games worked best on Safari browser, but you can try your own way on the browser of your choice. Alternatively, the .swf files for all episodes (though episode 4 seemed harder to find) are hosted on third party websites that can be found just by Googling them.

So what’s my final verdict? If you like adventure games that don’t take too long to complete, this is a game for you. Splitting them into four episodes was a good idea as it allows players to take a break, or simply move on if they didn’t enjoy it. As I mentioned earlier, I also believe this game can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It may be an older game, but its fun factor is timeless.

Miss the stream? Watch the embedded YouTube video below. Follow The Netstorian on YouTube and Twitch and tune in to future broadcasts, Sundays at 7 p.m. EST.

What’s your favourite episode of Summer Resort? Share your story in the comments.

Know a game from Web 1.0 or Web 2.0 you want to see in a future stream? Send an e-mail to thenetstorian@gmail.com