Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #1

#1: A Bug’s Life (PS1)

Summer 1998 saw the release of Pixar’s second triumph, branded an ‘epic of miniature proportions’, the fun-filled, feel-good ‘Flik’ (get it?) A Bug’s Life, and though it isn’t universally perceived to be as engaging or interesting as their previous feature, the ground-breaking Toy Story (1995), Disney/Pixar’s follow-up nonetheless proved to be a worthy successor. With stunning visuals, sublime animation and top-notch voice acting, the film proved to be another winner in Pixar’s canon, albeit one of the least praised in subsequent years. Coinciding with the release of the movie, Disney Interactive and Traveller’s Tales produced a movie tie-in of the same name for the PlayStation One, and the game was met with reviews varying from mediocre to somewhat decent. However, in retrospect, this game is one of the very best Disney have to offer. I might be a tad biased, being as I’ve played this game since I was knee-high to a grasshopper (so to speak). But hear me out.

First of all, the graphics, for the time of its release, are fantastic. The environments are particularly gorgeous, with many locations looking almost as though they are exact replicas of those in the film. The eerie inner tunnels of the ant hill, the vast riverbed plain, the clover forest – they really did a great job capturing the look and feel of the movie, granted some graphics are better than others. In addition, the animations for the characters are also quite cute and fun.

Furthermore, the voiceover work is some of the best I’ve heard in a video-game. Although not all the voice actors from the movie reprise their roles in the game, the impersonators who replace them don’t do a bad job at all. Atta, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the movie, is here voiced by Ariel herself, Jodi Benson, and I have to say, as percipient as I usually am, I didn’t even notice. Hopper’s voice was fairly close too. The highlight of the game, however, is Flik, voiced by Dave Foley. His constant interactions with the player are a delight, and it really helps to capture the light-hearted, upbeat aesthetic of the film.

The soundtrack, while hardly up to the standards of the grand orchestral score of the film, nonetheless maintains a certain charm, and fits the gameplay nicely. It does not feel imposing or irritating; for the most part, it’s fairly melodic and enjoyable. Moreover, it maintains a certain atmospheric quality, the music accompanying the riverbed levels and the final showdown being particular highlights.

That is not to say, however, that the game is without its flaws. For starters, it follows a certain structure – the game is composed of five ‘lands’, each one comprised of three levels, resulting in fifteen levels in total, with every third level being a boss battle. Now, initially, this does not seem to be a problem. In fact, it seems to work well, and manages to follow the plot of the movie surprisingly accurately. On the other hand, certain events of the film have been reworked and even reordered, which wouldn’t be a problem unless they affected the story. For example, in order for the game to adhere to the set structure, Flik has to defeat the bird prior to finding the ‘warrior bugs’. Hell, if he can do that, why is he even bothering to find them?! Another alteration is that, later on in the game, Hopper takes Atta hostage rather than Flik, as it was in the film, but these are really the only major changes, and I have to admit I’m being nit-picky here. For the most part, the structure works and manages to stay very close to the plot of the film.

Yet I’m afraid that that is not the only issue I have with this game. The camera control, though it doesn’t require too much getting used to, is awkward and fairly slow. What’s more, you can’t turn the camera while on the move. After a while, however, this doesn’t seem much of an issue, but it is a little problematic. In addition, close combat attacks are pointless. The kick is weak and far too slow to respond, so much so that it barely warrants using it at all.

All in all, however, these are just minor setbacks in an otherwise brilliant game. This is probably the closest video-game adaptation of a movie I’ve ever played. The gameplay might not be perfect, but it’s filled with vast, free-roaming environments that are fun to explore and interact with, and ultimately, that’s what makes A Bug’s Life a great and criminally underrated game. It manages to not only be fun but faithful to the film – a tremendous feat.

8.5/10

Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #2

#2: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (PS2)

Once in a while, there comes a game that completely and utterly surpasses my expectations, granted my expectations for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit for the PlayStation 2 weren’t that great anyway. Sure, I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was very good, but could it lend itself well to a video-game? Honestly, I didn’t think so. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I didn’t have high hopes for it. How wrong I was! In all seriousness, I never expected to say this about a Wallace and Gromit-centred game, but this perhaps ranks amongst one of the best I’ve ever played in my life. No, really. This game is well and truly cracking.

The game begins at Tottington Hall, and you must clear Lady Tottington’s lawn of rabbits, very much like the opening scenes of the Dreamworks/Aardman movie of the same name. At this point, it just kind of feels like it’s going through the motions. Okay, the graphics are good, and it looks like the film, but it doesn’t ‘grab’ you instantly. I distinctly remember getting so far into the tutorial before shelving it for another few weeks, thinking I might come back to it at some point. And man, am I glad I did! As soon as you’re done with the tutorial, you get to explore the town centre, and it is nothing short of impressive. The game is 2-player, besides the tutorial, and both Wallace and Gromit have their own abilities. For example, Gromit can perform a ‘wall-jump’, while Wallace can produce a blast of air from his bun-gun, a device used to suck up and shoot rabbits into open drains.

Now, the most perceptive of you will probably have noticed that I am often critical of movie tie-ins that stray away from the plot of the film. That’s true. I am. But in this case, I’m going to make an exception. Yes, there are a great number of tasks that diverge far from the main storyline of the film, but it’s justified in that you’re doing your job as Anti-Pesto, clearing lawns of pests and the like. It’s fun and, above all, it makes perfect sense. The game becomes truly engaging as soon as you progress to the night-time levels. Not only is there a were-rabbit at large (and it is, indeed, very large), but there are also numerous other were-creatures roaming the streets. Some might say this goes too far, but it’s explained and it makes sense, and it only serves to make the game more exciting. Since Wallace, at night, is, erm… ‘indisposed’ (I don’t want to risk spoiling the film for those who haven’t seen it!), his character is replaced by Hutch, the Wallace-like rabbit from the film, who can perform both Wallace and Gromit’s abilities.

Before long, you unlock new areas, including the seaside town Wallersey and the industrial district Grimsley. It may not be until you unlock Wallersey that you realise just how immense this game is. The environments are huge, detailed, and supremely enjoyable. Furthermore, you get to speak to all the residents of the town, most of which are seen in crowd scenes in the feature film, and most of whom will reward you should you complete a task they have for you to perform. Not all of the voices are the same – Peter Kay as PC Mackintosh is sorely missed, as is Liz Smith as Mrs Mulch, but this can’t necessarily be helped. Besides, the impersonators replacing them sound very alike (except for Mrs Mulch – she sounds like she’s swallowed an apple). There are also several details that make the game all the more charming, such as growing Gromit’s prize marrow in the greenhouse.

Sadly the game isn’t all great. The gameplay itself is hardly unique, and some of the controls are a little awkward. Wallace is particularly annoying because of his size, but this barely detracts from the overall enjoyableness of the game, which is full of surprises and fun activities, most of which are fairly challenging. However, perhaps the most prominent flaw is the 2-player feature. Co-op mode is fun, but without that second player, the other character proves to be rather irritating. In order to get your friend to perform a particular action, you need to use the L1 ‘whistle’ feature to call them over. While this seems a good idea, there is a delay before the character responds, and this is especially annoying during timed tasks, which may therefore require several attempts, and this is sure to send you hopping mad. Ha! Get it? Okay, maybe it’s time to wrap this up before the jokes get any worse.

Regardless of these minor faults, this game is undeniably grand. The characters are believable, the environments are incredibly detailed and free-roaming, and the game is full of highly enjoyable tasks (albeit occasionally frustrating). No, it isn’t a strictly accurate adaptation of the movie but, unlike the likes of Toy Story 2 and other movie tie-ins, the game actually feels like it’s an extension of the movie, as opposed to a lazy spin-off. This truly is a grand adventure.

8.5/10

Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #3

#3: The Incredibles (PS2)

In 2004, Pixar released superhero animated comedy The Incredibles. The film wowed critics and audiences alike and was regarded itself as being no less than ‘super’. Around the same time that year, Heavy Iron Studios and THQ unveiled The Incredibles for the PS2, to mostly mediocre reviews. In retrospect, however, this was probably one of Disney’s best movie tie-ins. And here’s why.

First off, it follows the plot of the film tremendously, with the majority of levels actually seeming as though they are extended scenes extracted from the film. The soundtrack helps emanate the movie’s aesthetic and inspiring, jazzy tone – the fact that it’s pretty much all the same music that we heard in the film really works in the game’s favour. It feels authentic, and that’s key to a solid movie tie-in. Most of the voice actors return too; only Holly Hunter as Elastigirl doesn’t reprise her role and we instead get some irritating actor who tries too hard to sound like her. It hardly ruins the game but it’s a little jarring. Otherwise, it truly feels as though you’re in The Incredibles.

The controls aren’t flawless, however. Mr Incredible is the most agile of the Parr family: he can ‘incredi-punch’ his way through a long line of bad guys without breaking a sweat, and that’s not to mention his many other abilities, including a super jump, roll and ground slam. The other characters, however, aren’t quite so enthralling to control. The Dash levels are fun but can be challenging, while Violet’s solo level is undeniably difficult, being as you can only remain invisible for a limited time (that said, I have never been much good at stealth and delicacy levels, so maybe this is just a personal issue). But my main problem lies with Elastigirl, or Mrs Incredible. Her flexibility allows for some smooth and slick animations, but her fighting technique isn’t always on target; combat is a problem as she won’t always hit the guy you want to hit, and her abilities pose a far more substantial learning curve than any of the others.

Another complaint I have, albeit a minor one, is that we never actually see the main villain Syndrome in the game (unless you count his early appearance as Buddy Pine). Instead, you fight the Omnidroid robots, which, apart from the final boss level, actually become quite routine and repetitive fairly quickly. It’s enjoyable, yes, but it grows tired before long. The robot tanks that make recurrent appearances throughout the game also become very frustrating after a while.

Despite these few flaws, however, the game is very good. The music and voiceovers do a neat job in conveying the atmosphere and character of the film; the locations are very convincing, and it’s nice to play a game with various playable characters, in which a certain amount of thought and creativity has been invested in their controls and abilities, even if they’re not entirely faultless. In this respect, The Incredibles may not have succeeded overwhelmingly in producing a solid tie-in platformer, but this is essentially all that prevents it from being truly incredible.

  

8/10

Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #4

#4: Chicken Little (PS2)

In 2005, Disney released its 46^th animated feature, and the first to be animated entirely in CGI. With all the hype and merchandise that accompanied it, Chicken Little had the potential to be a big thing but its convoluted, meandering plot meant it amounted to little more than… well, ‘little’. It’s not a bad film as such – some aspects of it are rather clever. But the plot is more than a little muddled, and it ultimately lacks originality, relying a little too heavily on pop culture references and well-worn clichés. Indeed, it seemed Disney had laid an egg (pun intended). Consequently, the tie-in video-game that accompanied it has essentially been forgotten about, along with the movie itself. In retrospect, however, it’s a surprisingly challenging and mostly enjoyable experience.

The game follows the eponymous Chicken Little in his attempts to win over his dad, regain his dignity, and prevent an alien invasion. Sounds rather complex, doesn’t it? While hardly the game’s fault, the plot itself is perhaps the single aspect that’s most detrimental to game’s overall appeal; it just doesn’t feel cohesive. Instead, it’s episodic and feels more like a batch of mini-games as opposed to a coherent movie plot adaptation. This is particularly unfortunate as the game exhibits glints of greatness. There’s nothing there that screams ‘masterpiece’, but it’s certainly not a bad egg. Throughout you collect acorns to replenish your health, as well as collector baseball cards to unlock bonus levels. This is nothing innovative, of course, but it demonstrates an allegiance to the movie, which is more than can be said for many post-PS1 movie tie-ins. It’s just unfortunate that this allegiance makes the game appear far worse than it really is!

That said, it is most definitely not flawless. Some of the controls are awkward, particularly the driving levels. Most moves completely defy the laws of physics and require some getting used to. It’s not a substantial learning curve, but an adjustment is in order that’s difficult to grasp. For example, as soon as your vehicle hits an object, you often find yourself spiralling out of control, no matter how severe the impact. In addition, some levels, particularly ones in which you control Runt or Fish careening down a corridor laden with obstacles, traps and pitfalls, prove quite tiresome due to the overly sensitive controls. That’s not to mention that it can get very repetitive. Unfortunately, this makes a large portion of the game feel like filler material.

There are a few minor issues I have with the game; the first is that it could do with being shorter. While only average in length, several of the levels appear as though they’re copied or even identical, with only very minor differences. There’s nothing overly problematic in terms of gameplay, but the repetitive locations and tasks detract from the game’s enjoyableness. The other main criticism I have (and it is a very minor one) is that none of the characters blink. It’s really quite bizarre. I understand, of course, that this isn’t one of the biggest issues that could be addressed, but it does raise questions about the consideration (or lack of) given to the character animations and visual appeal. In any case, it doesn’t look bad at all, and captures the zany aesthetic of the film perfectly (granted, that might not be to everybody’s tastes). Perhaps I’m just being nit-picky.

In any case, Chicken Little for the PS2 is hardly what I’d call a ‘big thing’. But it’s a pleasant experience. It’s not exactly a brilliant game but it’s enjoyable enough, and fairly faithful to the feature. In all, it’s something of a curate’s egg, so to speak (that’s the last egg pun, I promise). It has its pros and cons, and the movie itself probably played a part in tarnishing its credibility. Ultimately, however, while the quality of Disney’s output was the subject of debate by this point, their movie tie-ins were still going strong, sure as eggs.

(Okay, I lied. But that’s it, I swear).

7/10

Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #5

#5: Tarzan (PS1)

1999 sadly saw Disney’s acclaimed Renaissance era draw to a close. Their swansong, Tarzan, based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, could be seen to be a combination of the successful elements of the productions that preceded it as well as a forerunner of what was to come; it had the catchy songs, appealing characters and brilliant storytelling of previous features, while simultaneously maintaining the dark and surprisingly mature atmosphere characteristic of some of their subsequent and less successful attempts. Since its initial release, Tarzan, it could be argued, has not achieved the status of some of Disney’s more renowned features, such as the likes of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Regardless, wherever you stand on it, it was yet another success for the apparently infallible Disney Studios, whose output, by this point, had encouraged cinemagoers worldwide to anticipate nothing less than a masterpiece with their every release. Coinciding with the film’s theatrical debut, Disney Interactive and Eurocom released Tarzan for the PlayStation One, which attracted mostly positive feedback. In retrospect, was this game really as good as it could have been?

Well, yes and no. The aspects of the game that work well, work very well. The locations and levels are entertaining and detailed, with certain areas capturing the atmosphere of the film almost flawlessly. By today’s standards, of course, the graphics are very dated, but despite the washed out, still backgrounds and blocky rendering, the game’s creators did well to stay admirably close to their source. There are no scenes that feel incongruous, and the game progresses very smoothly, which culminates in a generally satisfying experience. The music is perfectly suited to the gameplay – nothing stands out as being especially off-putting. For the most part, the music is near enough identical to the film score, although it is a little watered down at times, occasionally sounding like elevator music. Regardless, this hardly detracts from the game’s overall enjoyableness, which I cannot emphasise enough.

The game, for the most part, adopts the guise of a sidescrolling platformer, though there are a handful of 3D levels. It follows the plot of the film tremendously, with allusions to particular scenes and subtle details throughout. For example, in order to gain access to bonus levels, you need to collect all four pieces of Jane’s baboon sketch. Other collectables include the letters T, A, R, Z, A and N, which, if collected in one level, unlock that level’s movie clip, and tokens which you need to collect in order to achieve 100%. In this sense, it’s essentially just like Eurocom’s previous movie tie-in Disney’s Action Game Featuring Hercules. It’s pretty standard stuff, yes, and hardly original, but none of it is overly taxing, and it doesn’t feel as though it’s covering old ground, mostly because the way in which it is executed is near enough faultless. Most of the voiceovers return to reprise their roles too, which is always to the game’s advantage.

However, there are a few issues. Tree-surfing, while fun and at times challenging, can get quite frustrating if you’re intent on collecting all the tokens, as you don’t always have time to lean left and right, depending on their situation on the branch. After a while, there’s no skill involved in this – it’s just basic trial-and-error. Furthermore, as enjoyable as the bonus levels are, there appears to be at least one technical fault, as Terk and Tantor’s Great Escape is unable to be completed due to the fact that there aren’t enough purple ‘time-boosting’ fruits in your path. There is also an occasional delayed response onscreen, which, though infrequent, can prove frustrating and fatal (for the onscreen character, I mean, obviously). These are, admittedly, fairly insignificant flaws though, juxtaposing them alongside the game’s qualities; my biggest issue is that it is too short. With only thirteen levels (excluding the bonus levels), it’s over too quickly, which considerably hinders its durability.

Otherwise, the game is very well done, but it does, admittedly, fall short of being a masterpiece, mostly due to its unfortunate shortcomings. As mentioned previously, there are few flaws, but those that are there are distracting and obvious. As an adaptation, it undoubtedly does the film justice, and the gameplay is, mostly, compelling. But the technical faults will more than likely make you go ape.

7/10

Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #6

#6: Up (PS2)

The release of Disney/Pixar’s award-winning animated masterpiece Up in 2009 garnered a lot of unsurprisingly positive feedback. The film, which centres on old man Carl Fredricksen’s journey to Paradise Falls in a house carried by balloons, accompanied his accidental passenger – young Wilderness Explorer Russell, was met with critical acclaim, with many viewers praising its conveyance of surprisingly adult themes amid a child-friendly, universally oriented backdrop, and others commending Pixar’s diverted focus from captivating visuals (which were, incidentally, nonetheless spectacular) to one of profound, raw emotion. The montage towards the beginning of the movie was enough to see even the most stoic of cinemagoers reduced to tears. Coinciding with its release, Disney Interactive and Asobo Studios unveiled Up for the PlayStation 2. Though a relatively quiet release, it could easily be argued to be Disney’s swansong for the console. After a series of disappointing movie tie-ins, Up had promise – but did it achieve the dizzying heights of the movie on which it was based?

In short, the answer is no, and here’s why. For one thing, almost every aspect of the movie that made it ‘great’ is lost in this game. The plot has been amended somewhat, with certain scenes reordered, removed or changed entirely. Of course, this makes the gameplay no less compelling, but it doesn’t do the film justice. Many of the cut scenes fail to capture the essence and spirit of the film, and much of the emotion and sensitivity is severely underplayed. It might be a video-game, but the fact of the matter is that these scenes ultimately represent a cheaper, watered down version of the film – a fact that immediately diminishes its quality.

Furthermore, the two-player aspect of the game can get quite frustrating if there is only one player, being as the second character will do pretty much anything and everything before doing what you want him to do. Combat is so weak, it’s essentially non-existent, although there’s more focus on puzzle-solving rather than action, which is a good thing, especially considering its source material, which doesn’t lend itself well to an action-based video-game anyway. Some of the tasks get a little repetitive too, not to mention frustrating. One particular task that presents itself numerous times throughout the game is one which involves Russell throwing a vine over a wall, which Carl needs to hang onto in order to navigate himself through a maze of thorns. If Carl as much as brushes past one of these thorn patches even slightly, he has to start over, which becomes quite tiresome. Overall, it’s a little too formulaic and repetitive.

Having said that, the atmosphere of the game and its locations does a fairly decent job capturing the aesthetic of the movie, at least for the most part. Some levels require you to guide your house to another location, and work together to glide over canyons to the other side. These particular instances are nothing less than breath-taking, and represent some of the game’s highlights. Moreover, the voiceover work is wonderful, and the music is reminiscent of the film’s score. However, if I was to praise something in this game more than anything, it would have to be the fact that it is, at times, challenging. This might sound contradictory, as I’ve already complained that it is quite frustrating at times, but I have to admit it is refreshing to play a movie tie-in that requires a bit of thought. Credit must be given to Level 15 in particular, ‘The Way Through the Wind’, which I have to admit briefly left me feeling perplexed on more than one occasion. It’s not overly difficult, no, but the puzzles do at least make you think.

In all, it’s not a bad game. It has its dull moments, and the two-player feature leaves a lot to be desired. But ultimately, this is the best movie tie-in Disney have had in years. The graphics are decent, the gameplay is mostly compelling, and above all it’s a highly enjoyable experience. It might not reach the zenith of its source material, but it nonetheless represents a respectable and faithful adaptation. Up thankfully sees Disney’s PS2 output go out on a high note.

 

7/10



Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #7

#7: Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue (PS1)

After Pixar took us to infinity with Toy Story in 1995, they took us beyond with the release of Toy Story 2 in 1999, for which Disney Interactive and Traveller’s Tales produced a tie-in video-game for the PlayStation console. The game sees the player control Buzz Lightyear on a quest to find his lost pal, sheriff doll Woody, who’s been toynapped by corpulent culprit – the ‘Al’ of Al’s Toy Barn. Suspecting the chicken suit-wearing assailant of fowl play (sorry, I couldn’t resist), the toys are soon hot on his trail. While the film didn’t disappoint, the game, though decent, left a lot to be desired.

Part of what made the film so appealing, at least to me, was a sense of familial responsibility that provided an emotional backstory, developing on Buzz and the other toys’ relationships with Woody as they travel a great distance to locate their estranged friend. There’s no such drive felt in the game, and therefore no sense of purpose. In short, what I’m trying to say is, there’s no sense of it being an adventure. The levels are loosely bridged together by a collection of vaguely relevant movie clips, providing the only sense of continuity and progress. Otherwise, each individual level merely feels, well, ‘individual’.

On first glance, it seems as though Toy Story 2 adheres to the very same structure as the previous year’s A Bug’s Life. This should come as no surprise, of course, since it is developed by the same companies. Yet, while for A Bug’s Life this structure worked in its favour (at least for the most part), for Toy Story 2 it fails miserably. As with the aforementioned game, there are five zones, split into three levels each, with every third level containing a boss. While this worked for A Bug’s Life, there just aren’t enough antagonists in this game for that to work, so naturally they seem to have invented some random bosses just for the sake of it. These include a bomber plane and a slime monster in a trashcan. Not that it isn’t fun, but it doesn’t feel like it follows the film. Rather, it feels more like a spin-off, or as though the game wasn’t long enough, so they needed filler material.

Furthermore, unlike A Bug’s Life, your goal is not to search high and low for the level exit, but to obtain five pizza planet tokens in each level. These can be gained by performing tasks, such as collecting 50 coins for Hamm, defeating a mini-boss, finding 5 items, or completing a race. The more tokens you obtain, the further you progress, and if you manage to get all of them, you are awarded a movie clip (whoopee!). Although this is creative and, at times, fairly challenging, it slows the game down considerably. Sure, the levels take longer to complete this way, but the message of the movie is lost. You’re supposed to be searching for Woody, not finding Bo Peep’s sheep! It’s fun, no doubt, but the game is devoid of purpose and consequently feels as though it’s lacking something.

That being said, this isn’t really a bad game at all, but I personally see it more as a standalone game as opposed to a movie tie-in. The gameplay is nothing short of enjoyable, with the ability to fire and charge a laser, and some pretty decent close combat moves, such as the spin attack (well, it’s an improvement on the ‘kick’ feature in A Bug’s Life, that’s for sure). You also have the ability to use a crosshair to target nearby enemies. One thing they truly nail, however, is the environments. The first level takes place in Andy’s house, and is a completely believable and detailed representation; it actually feels like you’re exploring a location of the movie. Al’s Toy Barn and the elevator shaft are also particularly well done.

Overall, this game is enjoyable, to say the least. The characters are all there, and the environments (those that are actually in the film at least) are well-constructed and detailed. The tasks are fun and not too taxing, but the plot takes too many by-ways to make this game a true movie tie-in classic.

7/10



Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #8

#8: Disney’s Action Game Featuring Hercules (PS1)

Disney’s 35^th animated classic Hercules has garnered an unexpected cult following since its initial release, although it nonetheless remains one of the least acknowledged of the Disney Renaissance. Regardless, I’ve always personally held this movie in high regard ever since its original release in 1997. What’s not to like about it? Sure, it’s stylish, not to mention laden with pop culture references, but it suits the movie. The music and the characters are no less interesting than what we’ve come to expect from the average Disney flick, and to render this anything less than average is ridiculous. No, it isn’t one of Disney’s more, say, herculean efforts, but it’s nonetheless extremely likeable. Coinciding with the film’s release, Disney Interactive and Eurocom produced a video-game adaptation and, while short, it didn’t disappoint.

One aspect of the game that’s worth mentioning is the look of it. Obviously, it being the only 2D side-scrolling game on this list, the graphics appear pretty dated, especially in comparison to some of the later releases. However, I would argue that the game’s dated 2D look strangely works in its favour and is in fact part of the appeal. For starters, it looks remarkably like the film, with various locations appearing almost identical to their filmic representations and each and every character from the movie making cameo appearances throughout. Heck, it’s even worth dying just to see the charming vignettes that accompany the ‘game over’ screen. I guess what I’m trying to say is, they really capture the essence of the movie, so much so that it almost feels as though you’re in the movie itself. Furthermore, while there may not be a great deal of 3D animation in the game, what little 3D graphics there are, are pretty impressive. The hydra is especially noteworthy as the only 3D rendered character, and it looks incredible.

The design of the game is interesting. Not only can Hercules attack with a swipe of his sword, but he can also summon the power of the gods by collecting special swords that perform various abilities. For example, one sword permits the player the use of a lightning bolt which you can direct through the sword in any direction, while another shoots flaming fireballs which home in on your enemies. There is also the option to punch your foes, although this is pretty ineffective. In addition, you can pick up and throw objects into the background, and open secret underground caverns with a kind of ‘ground slam’. It’s simple, yes. But it works.

However, the game has some notable drawbacks. For one thing, the title of the game is obscure – Disney’s Action Game Featuring Hercules? Featuring?! Why is it not just called Disney’s Hercules? Why in the name of Zeus did they think this title would appeal?! Moreover, as I’ve already mentioned, the game’s length leaves a lot to be desired. With just ten levels, it doesn’t last long. In addition, after all the interesting locations and challenging levels, the finale itself feels rather uninspired and lazy – Hades’ elimination is hardly the challenge I expected it to be. Regardless, the rest of the game more than makes up for it, with bosses at every turn, surprisingly lengthy 3D ‘obstacle course’ levels, and even the opportunity to ride Pegasus. It may not leave you feeling like it’s something truly heroic, but it’s nonetheless a decent effort.

7/10



Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games #9

 

#9: Peter Pan: Adventures in Neverland (PS1)

I’ve got to admit, I had a bit of an internal debate with myself over whether or not this game qualifies as a movie tie-in. It doesn’t follow the plot of any film, although it is inspired by the Peter Pan movies, its release coinciding with Disney’s 2002 Return to Neverland. Because of this, the game can easily stand on its own, despite containing a handful of cut scenes from the aforementioned film. Regardless, the timing of its release was evidently intentional, unlike the release of Aladdin in Nasira’s Revenge a couple of years earlier (which would probably have made the list if there had been an Aladdin movie released alongside it), and I therefore felt that it was at least worthy of an honourable mention.

The plot is simple. Peter Pan hears news from Tinkerbell that there is treasure hidden somewhere in Neverland, and sets out to find it. Meanwhile, Hook and his motley crew find out precisely where the treasure is located before tearing the map into four parts. Peter Pan’s objective is to fly to all corners of Neverland in search of the four pieces and locate the treasure before Hook does. Throughout the game, Peter learns how to use his knife, and earns new abilities, including the use of pixie dust in order to levitate objects blocking previously inaccessible areas, and panpipes to reveal invisible objects. In addition, Hook and the pirates kidnap and imprison the lost boys in various locations. Finding them all grants the player additional flying power, which is needed prior to the finale.

The structure of the game is unusual but inventive. Rather than plainly seeking the exit to a level and progressing to the next, in order to get further, the player must unlock a certain ability and return to one of the five previous levels to unlock a secret passage utilising that ability. The locations are simple and well-designed, but are rather plain and don’t really capture the spirit of the films. Furthermore, some aspects of the game are rather disappointing. The Indian Village, for example, though challenging and laden with invisible hazards, is barely recognisable. Obviously, due to political correctness, to portray the Indians are they were depicted in the original 1953 film would be undeniably racist. But they barely feature at all. Apart from Tiger Lily and the Chief (who has been severely watered down), the only Indian we see is the owner of the shop where you can buy tips and useful health and pixie dust boosts. It just feels lifeless and inauthentic. Maybe this is just a personal preference, but I felt as though the Indian Village was a huge disappointment in this respect.

Moreover, the ending is perhaps one of the worst endings I’ve ever experienced in a video-game. Not only does Hook wind up finding the treasure before you (rendering the entire adventure completely pointless), but the treasure, in the end, turns out to be a golden feather, which bears an inscription which reveals that if you collect all the feathers in each area, you are awarded a golden feather, and this needs to be accomplished in order to obtain 100%. If you’re thinking of playing this at all, I’ll save you the trouble by saying nothing actually happens once you’ve collected all of the golden feathers, which merely adds to the overwhelming disappointment. And trust me, no amount of pixie dust is going to lift your spirits after that.

Having said that, the game is actually very enjoyable. In fact, it’s surprised me how often I’ve returned to it. As of yet, this review sounds extremely negative. This wasn’t intended. Perhaps over several years of having played this surprisingly frequently I’ve become more aware of the game’s flaws, when in fact there are very few. The graphics are decent and the plot, though thin, is nonetheless engaging and never gets dull; the boss levels are fun and the additional task of finding the lost boys is actually not as boring as it sounds. Moreover, the game is at times challenging. Level eighteen ‘To the Lake’ is particularly excruciating, with invisible hazards at every turn. What I also like is the inclusion of references to the 1953 film. Strangely, despite serving as a tie-in with the 2002 sequel, Adventures in Neverland seems to pertain more so to fans of the original, with cameos by the likes of the crocodile and Peter’s shadow.

Overall, this game is good, but it could have been great, and that’s what bothers me. The locations are fun to explore, but they seldom bear much resemblance to their depictions in the movies. It’s highly addictive to play, but there isn’t much variety, not to mention that despite the fact that there are more than twenty levels, the game, in retrospect, feels a bit short. Put simply, Peter Pan flies but he doesn’t soar.

6.5/10

Top Ten Animated Movie Tie-In PlayStation Games

#10: Shrek 2 (PS2)

Dreamworks and PDI’s much-anticipated follow-up to the 2001 animated blockbuster Shrek saw our eponymous green hero once again take centre-stage alongside Fiona and an array of fairy tale creatures as he prepared to meet the in-laws in the kingdom of Far Far Away. The 2004 movie tie-in video-game follows the plot of the movie, albeit somewhat rather loosely. In fact, therein lies my most prominent criticism. Now, I’ve no problem with tie-ins that diverge from the plot of the movie, as long as they make it clear that they are not strict adaptations but spin-offs. The problem with this game is that, while it does follow the plot of the film (just about!), none of the levels actually derive from scenes in the film, save for maybe one or two. As a result, this game falls somewhere between the categories of movie tie-in adaptation and spin-off.

This may not be an issue for everybody. In fact, it’s probably not an issue for many at all, but it’s a factor I’m considering. Having said that, taking this game for what it is rather than for what it isn’t, it isn’t bad at all, but it’s hardly a masterpiece. The game follows four interchangeable characters in each level, allowing for multiplayer interaction. At the end of each level (except for the boss battles) there is a special ‘final round’ entitled ‘Hero Time’, which sees one of the four characters complete a challenge, usually based on their own unique abilities. The individual abilities of the characters comprise one of the game’s highlights. Shrek can use brute strength to carry enemies and toss them aside, Donkey can utilise his ‘burro blast’ to break through barriers and clear paths, and Big Bad Wolf can use his powerful breath to blow away enemies and activate certain switches. Of course, there are also some rather odd and incongruous abilities that aren’t given much explanation, such as Fiona’s inexplicable ability to slow down time. Regardless, they’re fun to use, and the interactions between the characters are fun to watch and listen to, even if their voiceovers are obvious imitations of the celebrities who voiced them for the big screen (Shrek’s ‘Scottish’ accent is particularly painful). The differences between the characters, their interactions and abilities is probably the game’s most inviting aspect. It actually makes it feel as though some thought went into the character’s designs, rather than just blandly maintaining a multiplayer feature throughout for no real reason.

The levels aren’t too challenging, and the game seems to be consistent in its difficulty. The graphics are decent, although some characters look strikingly different from their original models (I’m looking at you, Fairy Godmother!). But very few of the levels bear any resemblance to scenes in the film. The most similar are ‘Fairy Godmother’s’, involving the exploration of the potion factory, and ‘Cookie, Cookie’, following Mongo the giant gingerbread man’s rampage through Far Far Away. Yet even the most accurate scene adaptations contain needless additions, interactions, and sometimes characters (where did Li’l Red and the Fairy come from?!). Maybe I’m being nit-picky here, but I find the fact that it strays so far from the plot of the film rather irritating.

As a standalone game, however, this is very good. The interactions and abilities are, for the most part, well thought through and effective. It doesn’t feel contrived either, and the voiceover work is decent, I suppose (although personally I can’t listen to some of the impressions without creasing or cringing). It’s hardly what I’d call original, but it has a certain charm to it and the characters all work well together. It’s fun, it’s simple, and the animations are smooth. Though not exactly the perfect tie-in, you could do far, far worse.

6.5/10

Forgotten Features: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)

The early noughties saw a myriad of new, computer animated features. Naturally, traditional animation found it difficult to compete. 2003 saw the release of Dreamworks’ CGI/traditionally animated hybrid Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, which, unsurprisingly, also found itself to be a little lost amid the sea of new age, CG flicks. As time has progressed, the film doesn’t seem to have appreciated in value any, in that it hasn’t garnered a huge fan base – rather it appears to have become something of a forgotten sunken treasure.

The film follows the eponymous pirate Sinbad, voiced by Brad Pitt, in his quest to retrieve the Book of Peace from Eris the goddess of discord (Michelle Pfeiffer) in order to save his childhood friend, Prince Proteus (Joseph Fiennes) from being executed in place of him. Marina (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Proteus’ fiancée, accompanies Sinbad to ensure he does as he promises, inevitably resulting in a romance between the pair.

The film appears to derive more inspiration from Greek mythology than from its initial basis, but nonetheless proves an enjoyable experience. The characters are somewhat rather two-dimensional, and the blossoming romance between Marina and Sinbad is very predictable – but this doesn’t really matter. It’s expected, yes, but this is hardly detrimental to the film itself. This is a fun adventure flick, one which ultimately delivers what it promises: action, drama, romance, comedy; it’s not perfect, but it is nonetheless captivating throughout.

The animation is particularly noteworthy, mostly due to the seamless blend of computer generated imagery and traditional techniques. It must also be noted that this was the final animated feature distributed by Dreamworks to contain traditional animation. With that in mind, it’s even more surprising to me that this film has been swept under the proverbial rug. One aspect of the film that deserves appraisal is the artistry and design of the characters, monsters and locations, particularly Eris and her realm Tartarus. Eris leaves haunting wispy trails behind her as she morphs from one pose into another, while Tartarus is enchantingly bleak, barren and mysterious.

The voiceovers are decent, although, as usual, I have an issue with the use of ‘big names’ in the role of main characters. Brad Pitt as Sinbad conveys himself as a little forced to me. On the other hand, Michelle Pfeiffer is surprisingly effective as the film’s seductively menacing antagonist, Eris. In addition, the score (composed by Harry Gregson-Williams) is magnificent, and perfectly encapsulates the action/adventure genre.

The only major issue I have with the film is its pacing in terms of the character development of Sinbad and Marina. Their romance is altogether rather underplayed and contrived, and seems to develop very abruptly. Yet, despite my having claimed this to be a ‘major issue’, it does not make the story any less convincing or enjoyable. There are other moments that seem just as contrived, and some which threaten to push beyond the boundaries of believability (okay, so I can take sea monsters, sirens and vengeful goddesses but, come on, a flying ship?!). Ultimately, however, these instances do not detract from the film’s enjoyableness and upbeat, energetic pace. What does disappoint, however, at least for me, is the film’s conclusion and Eris’ eventual defeat. The resolution is logical (if predictable) and generally satisfying, but it’s a little underwhelming considering the scenes of action that preceded it, making it seem a tad anticlimactic.

Regardless, this is worth seeing. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is smart, funny, fast-paced and full of action, and proves to be something of a hidden treasure in Dreamworks’ animated canon. Though it’s hardly what I’d call legendary, it’s not bad at all!

Forgotten Features: Fun and Fancy Free (1947)

Between 1943 and 1949, Disney produced a series of ‘package films’ comprised of various animated segments. The features which followed the ‘Good Neighbour’ films Saludos Amigos (1943) and The Three Caballeros (1945) focussed primarily on musical numbers and loosely connected short stories. The first of these was Make Mine Music (1946), a feature containing ten animated sequences inspired by various music styles and visuals. Its success led to a follow-up, 1948’s Melody Time, arguably the best of the package films. The remaining two package features, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949) and Fun and Fancy Free (1947), were comprised of two films, the latter telling the story of ‘Bongo’, a bear who escapes the captivity of the circus and falls in love, and ‘Mickey and the Beanstalk’, including the last speaking appearance of Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse. Sadly however, this consequently results in it being the most disjointed of the package films; the stories are not connected in any sense, and it’s a little too jarring and uneven to be considered ‘fun’.

To begin with, the film’s title has little to do with its content. While the 1949 release The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad has an awkward and frankly unmemorable title, it is nonetheless clear on what it promises to deliver – adaptations of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’. Fun and Fancy Free, meanwhile, is an ill-thought through title, and one which reinforces the sprawling mess of a feature it precedes.

The two sequences are introduced and bridged by Jiminy Cricket, who inexplicably acts as the host. Firstly, he plays a record which tells the story of Bongo, an interesting if altogether rather slow cartoon. He then heads over to the house of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, who relates the story of ‘Mickey and the Beanstalk’ to Luana Patten and puppets Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. The cartoon itself is fairly enjoyable in its entirety (although I personally find Mickey Mouse cartoons a little too sugary – and this is no exception), but its pacing is severely inhibited by the jarring live action intermissions and unfunny one-liners which become quite tiresome after a while.

Altogether, this film is something of an oddity. I mean, what is this, exactly? Whereas the other features of this era at least adhered to and embraced a particular theme throughout, this offering just feels bizarre, unconnected and weak. That is not to say that the sequences themselves, individually, are not enjoyable, but they do not work well together to form a feature. That, and the live action interstitials are just plain annoying and unfunny. Needless to say, by the film’s conclusion, I was left feeling rather cold and unsure of what I had just watched. It just feels like a thinly veiled bridging sequence; granted, that’s essentially what it is, but there’s little attempt to disguise it. Ultimately, it’s worth viewing at least once but in retrospect, Fun and Fancy Free proves to be anything but.