Once Spy Fox arrives at a scene, he will remain in one spot until you click on a hotspot to have him interact with it. Players do not move him freely around the room, as his position is predetermined. Moving your cursor over a door or the side of the screen will turn it into a large arrow to signify the exit, and clicking that causes Spy Fox to zoom over and go through. This slightly detracts from the connectivity with the character, as you don't have full control over him, instead taking a backseat from the action. It doesn’t impact the gameplay itself in any way, however, and may not even faze children, especially since none of the rooms scroll.

One descriptive word that is key to Dry Cereal is “variation”. The game is split into three segments, each having their own selection of different elements that are randomly assigned whenever you begin a new game for a unique experience each time. There are two possible routes to discovering William the Kid’s hideout, three potential items that Spy Fox can find to defeat Kid, and two rooms that may act as the final layer of defense for his headquarters. In the main story path, you could find yourself cruising out to sea and infiltrating the enemy via underwater routes, or instead racing across the island of Acidophilus uncovering Greek ruins. Both have the same goal, but simply act as a different way of achieving it. Even then, in one game Spy Fox could find himself searching for a punchcard and learning the art of Cock-a-Doodle Fu, while in another he could be seeking a diode and taming alligators.

This randomness definitely adds a great degree of replayability, and you're going to have to play through the game a few times to see everything it has to offer, though you’re likely to encounter some repetition in each. It also impacts the length of the game; a single playthrough should clock in around three hours at most. The alternate content adds about four hours to that, although that depends on how confident the player is with adventures. Replaying the game may sound tedious for older players, but for the younger ones, the simple joy of revisiting the exciting world of Spy Fox and taking him on different adventures will definitely entertain at least a few times through.

And the world of Spy Fox is certainly one that you'll enjoy being in. Bright, lavish visuals are the order of the day, with a generally simple artistic style that injects some complexity through oddly-shaped set pieces and colours that openly exceed their borders. Doors career off at weird angles, windows vary wildly in size and walls are patched up for seemingly no reason. At the beginning of the game you’ll be surrounded by volcanoes and Roman buildings, but later you’ll explore mechanical locations full of pipes and levers as you get nearer to the secret fortress. There are no humans to be found anywhere, and all the animals that inhabit the island fit in perfectly. Each one has wonderfully accentuated characteristics such as the zaniness of Professor Quack, with his lisp and tendency to eat blueprints, or the mystique of Russian Blue, a seductive but secretive cat. As for the main fox himself, wearing a white tux, black trousers and no shoes, Spy Fox represents sophistication, slyness and charm while still maintaining his cheekiness with a constant smile, smartly-styled hair and a particularly long snout. He makes a wisecrack whenever he can and charismatically occupies the screen with his pleasant and refined look.

These personalities are expertly portrayed through the actors, who each offer a distinct and memorable voice with a perfect delivery that breathes humour into each line. You’ll recall Spy Fox’s smooth British-sounding tones long after you’ve finished playing. The music isn’t as memorable, as it’s often short, resulting in a constant loop of very similar sounding tunes. However, the sound effects add more interest with cartoonish whooshes and bangs. It’s all very comparable to a TV cartoon, and you could easily imagine the game transitioning itself well to that medium.

Alongside the main storyline, there are some other distractions such as a game of Go Fish. While not necessarily a compulsory part of the plot path, you can always challenge the portly Mr. Big Pig for a bit of light relief. Despite being a simplistic card game at heart, it is still very enjoyable to play and see your opponent's sudden change of tone and body temperature (sweat drips down his head) as your card stack gets higher and higher. Via his Spy Watch, Spy Fox can also access Happy Fun Sub, a side-scrolling game in which the player destroys satellites, buoys, and submersibles in the Spycraft. It has no relevance to the overall game, and is simply there to act as a time waster or a break. It's nothing substantial, and certainly doesn't compete with Go Fish as a worthwhile diversion.

While Spy Fox in 'Dry Cereal' isn't going to provide a deep challenge for experienced gamers, the ‘junior adventurers’ are going to have a blast in what is sure to be a memorable experience. The colourful and wacky world is brought to life through the TV cartoon-quality visuals and voices, and the diverse personalities and snappy dialogue will undoubtedly provide laughs for all who have the pleasure of playing it. It’s most definitely for the younger ones, and perhaps a bit too streamlined even then, but the first adventure of Spy Fox will have the kids coming back again and again for additional helpings of whimsical delight.