Cute and
somewhat unique characters, light humor, big screen drama – must be a game based
on a motion picture.
You got it.
The movie is Dreamworks Over the Hedge and Activision has a game based on the
movie that takes the characters, draws from the plotline, changes it up a little
bit and then creates a platform style game that targets younger players.
The game can
be played either in the single-person mode or cooperatively.
What the dev
team (Activision is the publisher) has crafted is a game that is briskly paced,
carries some solid and zany tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and sparkles in the
graphics department. The camera may be fixed, but the action is all over the
place, creating moments where you must concentrate on the character controlled,
or the mayhem can be a bit overwhelming.
The story of
the game centers on woodland creatures who wake up from hibernation to find
their home encroached by suburbia. While that could be considered a downside,
the upside is that there are new food choices available. However, there is one
woman who wants to see the animals gone and she has called in Dwayne, the
exterminator, to see that they are. Dwayne is part exterminator, part Dr.
Frankenstein in that he can put mind-control hats on some of the critters to get
them to attack their fellows.
The cast of
characters includes RJ the Raccoon, Hammy the Squirrel (the over-caffeinated
rodent), Verne the Turtle, Stella the Skunk, the human Gladys, Dwayne, and
Vincent (a grumpy bear who starts off as a nemesis). Each of the playable
characters has unique abilities that can be used to work through the levels.
The game has
the stock array of user-interface components (health bars and the ability to
jump or switch between characters) and you can even stack characters on top of
each other, depending on the situation.
There is a
clearing that acts as home, or a staging base, for the characters and there you
can choose scenarios or minigames that have been unlocked. The minigames have
different tracks/courses that can be unlocked and the range of games include
bumper cars, RC racing rally and range driver. The game does feature a co-op
mode as well. These are all for two players on the same machine. There are more
than 30 levels and four playable characters.
The game is
very colorful and bright, with lush environments and great three-dimensional
effects. The one drawback is that there can be a lot of action taking place and
if the eye wanders, you may lose track of the character you are controlling.
Each mission
has primary goals plus secondary goals. For example, you may hit a zone known as
Night Streets. The primary goals are defeat the rat king, meet Penny by the fire
hydrant and meet Ozzie and get to the next street; the secondary goals are to
find Penny’s three missing kids and don’t trigger a spotlight.
The humor
may be on a level commiserate with the targeted age group, but the sound is
sharp and clear, and the graphics are very lush and bright. The control scheme
is tight as well.
Over the
Hedge is for younger players and perhaps for families wishing to indulge in a
little cooperative gameplay. It has some arcade functionality, but is generally
a light game that looks good, is easy to play and has solid entertainment value.
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Gameplay:
7.5
The controls are
tight, and the load times are not too long.
Graphics:
8.5
Lush and well
done, though the rapid play style and fixed camera can create a little confusion
at times. Still, the effects sparkle and the characters will occasionally nod
knowingly at the camera to include players in the game – that is a nice touch.
Sound:
7.6
The sound is very
much in line with the movie. And though some of the lines feel forced in a
comical direction, they are well delivered.
Difficulty: Easy
Though there are
a variety of difficulty settings, the game is fairly straightforward – even in
the puzzles – and players should not have to tax their brains overly much.
Concept:
7.0
The game does a
nice job of blending the film with an arcade-like game experience, long on
action. Nothing overly new, but still a solid experience.
Multiplayer: 7.5
Minigames and
co-op mode make for some solid family fun.
Overall:
7.75
The graphics are
bright, colorful and compelling – as is the gameplay. Players will be drawn
through the game by the brisk pacing and the fun that seems to be firmly
ensconced in the style and feel of the game. This game delivers on light fun and
should appeal to younger gamers.
