| Console Game Reviews |
| Game Review: Chronicles of Narnia: Great Movie, OK Game |
| by Sean Rhodes |
Except King Kong, most games based off movies lately haven't been too good. The Chronicles of Narnia isn't great, but not something you'd slap a warning on either. Fans of the movie will enjoy it, but the casual gamer may not get as into it.
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Consoles: Playstation 2, XBOX, Gamecube, PC
What separates the Chronicles of Narnia from your basic game based off a movie is this is not just an all out action/adventure game. You'll be required to solve puzzles and do some heavy thinking. Not what you'd expect from a game based off a movie, but it does add something to the gameplay where other games based off movies fail.
The game also uses the movie quite well, using scenes from it constantly at the beginning and end of each level. Needless to say, if you haven't seen the movie, you might want to hold off on playing the game because there's no telling just how much it spoils for you.
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy all stumble upon a wardrobe that takes them into the fantasy world of Narnia, where a white witch has threatened the world. As the four children, it is your job to go and stop this menacing witch.
There are fifteen levels in the Chronicles of Narnia, and you'll venture through them all with the four children. This isn't one of those, "select your character" kind of game. When you go into a level all the children will be there. You can switch between them at any time you wish. You will eventually end up having to use them all. Each child has a special ability. Peter is the strongest, Susan uses long range attacks, Edmund is a good melee fighter, and Lucy is small enough to squeeze through places the others can't.
Not all fifteen levels are fun and games though. Some levels are just one boss fight, and they are fairly complex and take time to get used to.
Characters can also team up to do special techniques. Susan and Lucy can slide through breakable barriers, for example. It isn't really neccessary to use the cooperative techniques throughout most of the game, however, so they only seem to be there for show.
Seeing as how you can only control one character at a time, the game will control the others for you while you control one. The problem is, like in other games that do this (Sword of Mana, anyone?) your AI characters are quite dumb. You'll find yourself doing most of the work, and that's unfortunate because in other games (such as King Kong) the AI isn't so bad.
There's also quite a bit to collect in the Chronicles of Narnia. Coins, statues, and bonus items are all over the place. You can also buy health upgrades and cooperative fighting techniques. The game isn't really all that hard, however, and as I mentioned earlier, you won't really need cooperative fighting techniques.
Graphics wise, Narnia looks alright. The characters look like the characters from the movie, and so do some of the monsters. The fixed camera angles are a problem, however, and that often makes the game frustrating. It would've been better had we been able to shift the camera angle. The music comes straight from the movie, for the most part, but the monster grunts and groans are kind of annoying after a while. Especially considering they all sound the same.
However, if you really really liked the movie, you might like the game. It is a game that will only appeal to fans of the movie (not the book). Any other casual gamer has probably been down this road before. For what it's worth, however, the game isn't bad. That doesn't mean it's great, but it is, for the most part, decent. If you really love the movie, chances are you'll like the game.
The Good
+Graphically the game works
+Music straight from the movie
+Unique gameplay
The Bad
-The AI is horrible
-Too short, even for a game based off a movie
-There could've been more brought out in the gameplay
Final Grade: B- |
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