Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga�Hoole Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole box art

System: PS3, X360, Wii, DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Krome Studios	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Warner Brothers Entertainment	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sept. 14, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Another issue that adds to the overall monotony of the game is the level design. Each level is presented as a near-straight line, and though there may be some twists and turns in the road, exploration is never really a factor and you never get to experience any type of freedom in the game. This certainly hurts the game's immersion level, especially since the world of the movie is so fantastical and presented with such depth. The one-note world of the game is a stark contrast in this respect, and feels extremely flat.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole screenshot

The game is far too short, and suffers from a lot of repetition, but if there is one bright spot, it is that the game's technical specs are solid. The game's overall look mirrors the visual styling of the movie quite nicely, and the world of Ga'Hoole is presented with a fair amount of detail. The only complaint one might find with the visuals is that because of the linear nature of the levels themselves, there isn't much to explore. The world presented in the movie is so full and rich, that it is a little disappointing to only have flat backdrops in the game. But aside from this small complaint, the game looks good overall. Sound in the game is also very solid, and the voicework is certainly feature-film quality. While the score isn't as impressive as the voicework, the background music is mostly unobtrusive and doesn't distract from the gameplay.

If you, or someone you know is a fan of the Owls of Ga'Hoole, this game might seem like an easy purchase, as it lets you relieve some of the great moments of the movie/books and take flight with fantastical warrior owls. However, those who are thinking about this game should know that for its $50 price tag, you are only getting 3-4 hours of gameplay (even if the gamer in question is younger) and much of the experience is quite repetitive. While Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole may be the only owl-flying game to come out on your favorite console, that doesn't make it a very good game. Even though it gets the basics right, the lack of development and play value torpedo this title into the rental-sphere pretty quickly.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.6

Graphics
The World of Ga'Hoole looks pretty enough, but there isn't much depth to the visuals.

3.4

Control
Standard flight controls work well, but single-button fighting mechanics are boring.

3.3

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Background music is unobtrusive, and voiceover sounds great.

2.1

Play Value
The game is very short, and with nothing much beyond the game's story mode, most players will be done with this title in only a few short hours.

3.0

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

World of Ga’Hoole: Explore the world of the animated film through the original, action-packed storyline with full 360 degree flight mechanics in over twenty-two missions across five unique worlds

Intuitive Gameplay: Easy pick-up-and-play experience allows younger players to easily master flying through the air, picking up objects, and engaging in mid-air combat. Deeper combat systems will engage older players with melee combos

Mid Air Combat: Battle owls and other enemies in mid air utilizing the robust combat system which enables players to lock-on targeting and chain attacks

Aerial Allies: Command your wingmen to attack enemies and gain the upper hand in squad-based flight missions

Customizable Characters: Upgrade your character’s stats and abilities through the course of the game by unlocking new armor sets, each with their own advantages

Enchanting Environments: Experience stunning visuals and environments based on assets from the film

Unique Abilities: Choose from four different species: Horned, Barn, Great Gray, or Spotted! Each owl species provides a different set of initial abilities, providing a slightly different gameplay experience