Last year I wrote the review for Ben 10: Protector of Earth. While that game was a little flawed, it was a decent enough experience. Except for my one major complaint of it being Ben 5 and not Ben 10. This year, with Ben 10: Alien Force, the inaccurate tradition of naming the game Ben 10 when it is only using five of the transformations continues. However, does it continue the follies of the previous title or does it grow in a better way? Read on to find out more.
Ben 10: Alien Force is based on the newest hit and incarnation of the Ben 10 franchise. Ben Tennyson and his cousin Gwen are a couple years older now. Ben has removed the Omnitrix and hasn’t “gone hero” in some time, but new threats arise, and he is once again thrust into the world of aliens and various other monsters. Ben and his cousin are joined in their adventures by once major villain Kevin Levin, who has lost his ability to use Ben’s previous absorbed abilities but can now absorb the material texture of things he touches. They started looking for Grandpa Max by fighting what Ben and the crew have started calling DNAliens. This is also where the game takes place.
Instead of taking one of the stories from the show, Ben 10: Alien Force tells its own story. It’s difficult to tell when the story takes place in accordance with the show, but there are hints and a few plot devices that point to it taking place sometime around episode six of the first season. I say this because episode six was a very complicated story and showed an extreme growth in the characters, but I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t experienced the show. However, the game’s story involves the trio being sidetracked and running into the Forever Knights. From there, it spirals out, allowing you to eventually take on some DNAliens and even the nasty Highbreed.
As I mentioned earlier, you will eventually be able to assume the identity of five of the ten alien forms that Ben can assume in the show. Granted, this time around they are the more popular forms; Swampfire, Big Chill, Spidermonkey, Jetray, and Humongousaur. Last year, you were three of the popular ones and two others that were lower on the rungs of coolness, so being at least five of the more popular ones was a nice change. Again though, I have to say, not being able to be all ten, especially one of my favorites, Echo Echo, really irritated me.
All complaining aside, there is a great balance with the characters. Instead of having a “be all” character that can do it all, you will have certain puzzles and challenges that require you to be each one of the five aliens. For example, there will be instances where you will have to be Big Chill in order to glide to a new level, followed by being Spidermonkey to climb along vines and other foliage. The balance filters over into your hands a little, as you are able to decide how each of the alien forms advances in the game. There are experience orbs you collect throughout the game and, once you have enough, a little screen will pop up and ask you which combo you’d like to buy. These combos begin simplistically and remain fairly simple for the combo masters among us. However, they can provide a small challenge for some. Thankfully, Ben 10: Alien Force doesn’t require you to become combo savvy to complete even the most difficult stages; you can rely solely on button mashing. Heck, you can even fight only as Ben and complete the levels except in very specific circumstances where you have to be one of the Aliens to surmount an obstacle. This is brought to full realization when you are playing as either Gwen or Kevin. There are levels where you will have to play as them and use their specific talents. However, their combo systems are treated like Ben and the aliens.
While being able to play as Kevin and Gwen is great on a lot of levels, it actually brings me to one of my major complaints. When playing with a friend, wouldn’t it be great to play as Ben and then either Kevin or Gwen? Well, I thought it would too, but you can’t. You have to be a copy of the character in that level. The only time you can be an additional character is when each of you takes on a different alien form. This was such a bad move in the development of the game. Hopefully, before the next one is made, this will be taken into consideration along with the inclusion of all ten alien forms.
Graphically speaking, Ben 10: Alien Force is both a step up and a step back from Ben 10: Protector of Earth. The modeling for the characters brings a sense of CGI to the cartoon characters. While they look smooth and consistent, only Ben looks great and Kevin looks fair in this translation. Gwen, on the other hand, looks like they took no time to consider the way she looked on the show. She looks more like an evil pixie than the innocent girl next door. The environments also look more flat than they should. More often than not, you are in dullsville. At least with last year’s, there was a reason for the dullness, you were in the Grand Canyon area for most of the game. There is another problem that will annoy you frequently. When new enemies pop onto screen, most of the time, you will glitch from your location to a completely different one; it is very disorienting.
The music from the game is solid enough and comes right from the show, so as long as you are a fan of that soundtrack, you will be just fine there. Also coming from the show are the voice actors and actresses reprising their respective roles. While some characters have a nice array of catchphrases and different vocabulary, some become extremely repetitive, most notably for me was Kevin. In the first level, you are allowed to play as him. If you do, you will quickly try and find the remote so you can mute him.
When all is said and done, you have to look at Ben 10: Alien Force for what it is – an experience outside of the show. In that area it excels in so many ways. However, there are too many complaints to say that you will have the same awesome experience that Ben and company have when fighting aliens. You will be plagued with glitches when enemies load onto screen, repetitive voice clips, and respawning enemies that reach a whole new level of insanity. The areas of improvement are few, but they do add to the franchise and make room for future improved installments.
RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.0 Graphics
An improvement in the series, but there are inconsistencies in the character models and flat bland environments. The blankness on the screen will infect your facial expressions. 3.0 Control
Mostly simplistic with a level of complexity to keep it interesting, at least until you fall back into the button mashing comfort zone. 2.9 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Always good to have the original cast reprise their roles in video games. Maybe next time we could have them say more things. 2.9
Play Value
As a game for the fans of the show, it works one some levels, but outside of fandom, there’s not a whole lot to keep you locked in.
2.9 Overall Rating – Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
Game Features: