Dexter's Laboratory: Deesaster Strikes! is a licenced 2001 Action-Adventure game, based on the Cartoon Network animated show Dexter's Laboratory, for the Game Boy Advance.
The story is relatively simple and true to the show's tradition. Our protagonist, Dexter, boy genius is working on his latest invention when his rambunctious older sister Dee Dee sneaks into the lab and messes around with his Clone-O-Matic machine. The machine not only clones Dee Dee, but splits her up into many tiny clones of herself. One Dee Dee was bad enough, now Dexter has to deal with hundreds of them!
The miniature Dee Dees now run amok in Dexter's lab. Its up to Dexter to hunt them all down, return them to the Clone-o-Matic to put Dee Dee back together, all before Mom calls him to dinner.
Deesaster Strikes has a simple structure. You take control of Dexter as he explores different sections of his titular lab in his mission to capture the Dee Dees. He can grab them with his grappling arm, and send them through the chutes spread throughout the levels, which stores them into his Clone-o-matic. However, its not that simple, Dexter also has to fend off rogue robots out to kill him, avoid deadly traps and fix broken machines with various tools, some of which are hidden inside of enemies.
This video game contains examples of:
- Abandoned Laboratory: The "Lab Of The Lost", from its namesake episode. A run-down and old part of Dexter's Lab is one of the main areas. Strange, considering he can access it like any other area no problem. It also counts as a Bleak Level, with its grey color palette, green slime everywhere, and worn-down scenery.
- Anti-Frustration Features: Black colored teleporters automatically return Dexter back to the main hub. By accessing the computer from the Hub, he can select the stage and sub-sector he previously visited by going back through the transporter, significantly cutting down backtracking.
- Bleak Level: The Abandoned Laboratory from the series episode "Lab of The Lost" is one of the stages.
- Blob Monster: They reside in the Chemical Lab. Watch out, as they take a spiny form to attack Dexter.
- Collision Damage: If it moves, and it isn't a Dee Dee, it probably hurts you.
- Cycle of Hurting: Dexter doesn't get Mercy Invincibility when he gets hit by enemies, so to compensate, he is knocked backward from the enemy instead. But this can be really bad in situations if he is knocked backward into a wall or obstacle, as the enemy can hit you again, causing the damage to stack really high. And heaven help you if you get Dexter caught in a trap of spikes or fire. You will get locked into taking damage until you're dead.
- Eternal Engine: The entire game takes place in the titular Dexter's Laboratory. Each sector of the lab however is based on a particular theme. There's an area dedicated to aerial travel, a botanic lab, a chemistry lab, a power plant, and more.
- Everything Trying to Kill You: Robots. Plants. Robotic Plants. Aliens. As the theme song goes, there is doom and gloom while things go boom in Dexter's Lab.
- Game-Breaking Bug: In the final stage, there is a part where you have to use the wrench to fix a sink, but upon doing so, the wrench disappears from your inventory, preventing you from using it again, and rendering the level Unintentionally Unwinnable. There is a patched version of the game that fixes the glitch, and players at the time could have sent their glitched copies of the game to the publisher to get them replaced with the patched versions.
- Goomba Stomp: Dexter can hop on enemies, but it is probably much easier to just punch them out.
- Gotta Catch 'Em All: There are well over 100 mini Dee Dees to capture. Of course, more levels and sections of the lab are unlocked when enough Dee Dees are captured.
- Grappling-Hook Pistol: How Dexter catches the Dee Dees.
- Grimy Water: Beware of spilled chemical puddles in the Chemical lab, and slowly drain Dexter's health if he stands in it.
- It's a Wonderful Failure: If you lose all of your tries, rather than a proper Game Over screen, you are treated to an ominous shot of a worried Dexter surrounded by rogue robots that irises-out before returning you to the title screen.
- Jungle Japes: The Botanic laboratory. Dexter has to deal with dangerous plants here.
- Mecha-Mooks: Dexter's own robots are occasional enemies.
- Me's a Crowd: Dee Dee, thanks in part to the Clone-O-Matic.
- Non-Lethal Bottomless Pits: Falling off the stage only takes off a little bit of health.
- Plot Coupon: The tiny Dee Dees. Catching a certain amount of them unlocks new areas of the lab.
- Pun-Based Title: Deesaster Strikes.
- Space Zone: The Space lab. Fortunately, Dexter doesn't need a suit. Aliens make their presence known here as enemies.
- Teleporters and Transporters: How Dexter can navigate through the level. Blue Teleporters take him to different sections, while the black Teleporters take him back to the main hub.
