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Where the Wild Things Are Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Where the Wild Things Are Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Not so Wild

Where the Wild Things are is a classic children’s book which has captured the imagination of children for decades. Although the recent movie has been praised by critics, some parents have said that the movie’s themes feel too adult considering the intended audience. The movie might be the subject of this controversy, but this accusation can’t be made of the game. When it comes to simplistic gameplay, ‘Wild Things’ hits every note perfectly. However, these notes are more than just a tinge sour.

Where the Wild Things Are screenshot

The game doesn’t really have much of a plot, which should come as no surprise as the book (and to some extent, the movie) don’t really have much of a concrete plot either. The game opens with Max mindlessly following a Wild Thing around, while meteors fall from the sky and bugs threaten to sting. Max will also have to jump over canyons, slide across vines, and water plants in his pursuit of the Wild Thing. The action in the game is very tame, and even on the game’s hardest setting, its doubtful that you’ll ever feel immediate peril. Although this certainly makes the game yawn-worthy for battle-tested, hardcore gamers, it does make it much more approachable for younger kids.

The approachability factor of the game is certainly a positive aspect, but it comes with a negative side: repetition. After a few levels, I figured there would be more to the game than just running around collecting items, running and jumping, and beating up bugs, but that dream never materialized. There are some levels that branch away from the format slightly – the game has a pseudo-vehicle level that involves riding on a Wild Thing’s back. But other than that small diversion, all the game’s levels suffer from chronic sameness, which will likely bore even the most easily entertained children.

Controls are a good fit for the gameplay, however, using the left stick for moving around, one button for jumping, and another for attacking. Where the Wild Things Are doesn’t have much in the way of a combat system, and attacking bugs involves either whacking them a few times with Max’s stick or just holding the button for a higher powered attack. As you progress in the game, you’ll be able to throw things and even use a pea-shooter, but the controls never really evolve past pressing the single attack button.

Where the Wild Things Are screenshot

The only replay value that this game has (and the only real challenge for gamers old enough to read) lies in the extensive collection quests that are laid out across the different levels and the game’s hub area. Before every level you’ll be able to explore the base camp of the Wild Things, complete with helpful characters that can heal you and side missions that involve interacting with the environment. There is a surprising amount of things to discover in the hub, and talking to the Wild Things will net you additional collection quests throughout the levels of the story mode. However, if collecting a mass amount of items is not your idea of a good time, then there isn’t much here.

Although the gameplay is a little on the dull side, I have to say that the most disappointing facet of the game has to be the portrayal of the Wild Things in the game. The game depicts these creatures as completely boring beings that hardly ever speak, or do anything meaningful beyond just shuffling around their forested home. The Wild Things’ interactions with Max are minimal, and while most levels will have you following around a Wild Thing, the creatures will only say a few generic and repetitive lines to Max, and certainly don’t treat him like a friend, king, or even acquaintance. While the movie version of Wild Things explores complex social relationships, the game is its antithesis. No one in the game has any relationships, and any hint of larger goals or a plot beyond killing bugs and watering plants is nowhere to be found.

Where the Wild Things Are screenshot

The creative aspects of the game are certainly disappointing, but if we look at Wild Things from a purely technical perspective, the picture is even worse (literally!). Despite playing the game on a current-gen system, I was amazed at how basic the overall design was. Everything from the character models to the jungle landscape looked incredibly simplistic. Trees were sparse, textures on the floor (as well as on the water) were repetitive, and the Wild Things had immobile, molded fur that looked like it was cemented down with hair gel. Add this to persistent framerate issues and a very dark and dour color scheme (think gun metal gray with a few greens mixed in) and you’ve got yourself a mess on screen.

Where the Wild Things Are screenshot

The audio department isn’t much better. As I said before, there is not much interaction between the Wild Things and Max, which means the voice over is sparse. I actually didn’t mind the actor sound-alikes for the game, and I wish there was more dialog in the game, as it could have saved it from feeling so lifeless. The background music isn’t bad, but it all too often slips into very slow pacing, which, coupled with the minimal voiceover, just enhanced the game’s dismal vibe.

Wild Things doesn’t give kids much to do, and there isn’t much to the gameplay. Mindlessly following a Wild Thing and gathering items around a forested landscape does not make a game interesting. Even when a game is based on an existing property, you have to throw some kind of plot in there to give it a “point”. This is Wild Thing’s biggest shortcoming. It doesn’t give you any motivation to keep going. Sure, you can go around collecting turtle shells or rock fragments, and after a successful collection you might get a few interesting words from a Wild Thing.

However, there is just so little content and the levels are so repetitive that Wild Things spends its cache of charm in the first few minutes, and once its gone, you’ll be left asking yourself one question: When did the Wild Rumpus get so boring?

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 2.0 Graphics
Character models are too basic, environments are repetitive, and framerate frequently slows down. 3.8 Control
Very basic platforming controls don’t even require a tutorial. If you’ve played a platformer before, this one is a cinch to get into. 3.1 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
There are some nice moments in the game’s score, but the lack of meaningful voice over makes this game seem eerily silent. 2.3 Play Value
Though there are some collection quests scattered through the levels and in the game’s central hub, beyond the initial story mode there is really no reason to come back. 2.2 Overall Rating – Poor
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Rule the Island – Play as the mischievous Max, become King of All Wild Things, and join The Wild Things in their quest to find a way to safety before it’s too late!
  • Frolic in the Wild Things Village – Explore the Wild Things’ Village to meet all of the different creatures, play through mini-games, and acquire power-ups from each character.
  • Make ‘Wild’ Friends – Befriend and team-up with these fearsome but loveable mythical creatures – discover their unique personalities and learn new skills and abilities from them.
  • Discover the Undiscovered – Run, jump, climb, glide, fly and swing your way across the island’s dangerous terrain while battling fierce creatures with your trusty sceptre.
  • Wander through Wild Worlds – Adventure across the mysterious island while tackling exciting unique worlds filled with fierce insects, shadow creatures and hazardous obstacles around every turn!
  • Experience Extended Adventures – Go beyond the movie to play through a unique story narrative- exploring never-before-seen environments.
  • Collectible Crusade – Search for more than 400 collectibles each associated with a Wild Thing. Collect enough and unlock special rewards inside the Wild Things Village!

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