Ice Age 2
Here we are yet again with another children's movie to videogame cross-over. I guess it's that time of year already, but then again these types of games seem to be non-stop anyway. You remember the first Ice Age movie right? It was the one with all of the prehistoric animals running around in CG trying to protect a human child. Well, this time around Ice Age 2 is all about the great thaw and the adventure that the heroes have trying to save their fellow critters. For the most part the game follows the film thanks to various clips and narratives from the picture. Of course the movie isn't released until later this week so we haven't had the chance to check it out yet and see how it compares.
Now, usually in movie to game translations you wind up playing as every character throughout the course of the adventure. In Ice Age 2 however, the character that is placed under your control for the most part is the maniacal little squirrel creature named Scrat who is always shaking, whimpering, and on a search for nuts. If you've seen the trailer for either Ice Age film then you know what animal I'm talking about. He's the one that always finds himself in trouble and the newest trailer features him breaking out the kung fu on some piranhas.
Gameplay:
Almost immediately you will recognize this game as something that you have played before. No specific title comes to mind, but once you start controlling Scrat you'll get a major sense of déjà vu. That's because Ice Age 2 brings absolutely no innovation to the table. Scrat runs around, jumps, attacks, butt-stomps, throws things, and climbs walls just like every other 3-D platform character has been doing for the past decade or so. This makes it very easy to get into the gameplay but it's also very polarizing. I want to play a game that makes me think and pushes the concepts of what gaming is about; even if the difference is only minor. Then again, this is a movie-to-game creation and it's aimed towards kids, so I'll leave my gaming desires at the door.
Just like every platforming game that ever came before it, Ice Age 2 offers up a crazy amount of items to collect. Scrat runs around every level scurrying to find acorns, walnuts, and chestnuts of just about every variety. For the most part these objects are just scattered around in the stages, but sometimes you have to sniff them out or dig them out of the ground. Getting a certain amount unlocks some bonus stuff and often leads to some cute animations from our furry little hero. Naturally this will turn off a majority of platform enthusiasts who are sick of picking up thousands of trinkets. Keep in mind though; this is a kid's game from start to finish.
For what it's worth Ice Age 2 actually controls very well. The controller configuration is generic, yes, but it's also intuitive and responsive, which is really all that you can ask for. The game's various stages, concepts, and mini-games help keep things from becoming too stale as well. At several points during the levels you'll also be faced with various obstacles and puzzles. For instance you'll have to get a rhino-like thing to hit a tree so you can grab an apple to feed it to a big farting bear. Once you do that you'll have to subject yourself to the sour end of your "fruit of labor" and get blown away so you can get to the next area.
While most of the game is spent running around a 3-D environment as the schizo squirrel-thing, there are a few moments where you'll play as the main characters of the film.Of course those bits that involve the bigger characters are really just diversions to break up the monotony of things. Even so, they are definitely welcome and add some personality to the game. Being able to take a breather and play Whack-A-Mole with Diego or bust out some aerial moves with Sid as he slides down a slalom-like course is great. The best mini-game for my money though is the penguin bowling which I just couldn't get enough of. It's safe to say that the personality of the Ice Age films translates well into the gaming format and kids will get a kick out of it.
Graphics:
Ok, so Ice Age 2 won't be winning any awards for achievements in the graphics department, but I have to say that the game looks pretty darn good. Character models are finely detailed and animate well for the most part though there are some that seem a little stiff in comparison. The environments are also generally well done with a variety of textures and intelligent design. A nice addition is the inclusion of an option to switch to a widescreen presentation for those of you with a high-end set up. Sure it's not quite as breathtaking as a 360 game presented in HD, but the visuals here are good and authentic enough to keep the kiddies happy.
Audio:
One of the "make it or break it" rules that apply to games like this is whether or not you get support from the cast of actors that worked on the film. In the case of Ice Age 2 you can expect to hear Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Jay Leno, and Alan Tudyk to name a few. Needless to say this adds to the authenticity of this product and gives the game a great personality. The dialogue is often hilarious and some decent music and sound effects accompany it to round out the package. Some more variety would have been nice but things are great the way that they are. The PS2 version also includes a Dolby Pro Logic II presentation for that added bonus.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day this is the kind of game that actually gives industry cross-overs a good name. This is an extremely good use of a license and is frankly one of the better children's games that I have played in a long time. The charm of the film and its characters is all over the place here from start to finish thanks to the graphics and audio. Unfortunately the lack of innovation on the part of gameplay hurts the experience a bit. We've all played games exactly like this before and having a different coat of paint on the game isn't going to change the feeling of "been there, done that." Fans of the movie franchise will definitely want to check this one out, but if you're sick of traditional platformers then you'll probably want to skip it.