Disney's Tarzan: Return to the Jungle (2002). Play online

Summary

Disney’s Tarzan: Return to the Jungle lets you swing, tree‑surf and even dive through hazardous rivers while wielding a boomerang, spear, and an iconic animal call. The Game Boy Advance’s L‑ and R‑buttons finally give Tarzan a decent combat feel, a big upgrade from the earlier handheld version. Bananas aren’t just collectible fluff—stack 50‑100 and you snag an extra life, turning them into useful currency instead of a stage‑clear requirement.

The title pulls directly from the early‑2000s Legend of Tarzan animated series and even brings Jane, Terk and Professor Porter along for the trek. Development was led by Digital Eclipse, with most of the team returning after the critical success of the Game Boy Color predecessor, and producer William Baffy highlighted the GBA’s richer palette and larger sprite count as major benefits.

Critics responded positively; GameSpy praised it as a solid hold‑your-own platformer despite lacking Mario‑level innovation, while Nintendo World Report called it an ideal pick‑up for kids and fans alike. Aggregate scores hover around the low‑70s, cementing its place as a respectable, if niche, entry in the handheld platform genre.

Storyline

Disney's Tarzan: Return to the Jungle drops players into the familiar jungle where the scheming Queen La, lifted from the TV series, plots to seize control.
As a young Tarzan, you start by training with Terk, picking up new traversal tricks and combat moves that become essential for later challenges.
The adventure leads you deep into the legendary Lost City of Opar, where ancient secrets await.
Along the way you must thwart poachers who are stealing dinosaur eggs, rescuing the fragile hatchlings to protect the ecosystem.
With each rescued egg and mastered skill, Tarzan gets closer to stopping Queen La’s takeover and restoring peace to the jungle.