Over
The Hedge shines a little brighter than your average
licensed based game. by
Patrick Evans
July
12, 2006 - Rating
movie-based videogames, especially those geared towards
younger gamers, is often difficult. Games simplifying
their mechanics for younger players often take it
too far; instead developing a game that would be an
insult to the average young gamer's intelligence.
Luckily for fans of the movie, this isn't the case
with Over the Hedge. Providing just enough action
and atmosphere to keep players interested throughout,
Over the Hedge side-steps a few of the pitfalls that
usually claim lesser license-based titles and provides
enough action to fit the bill.

Based
on the recent film of the same name starring the voices
of Bruce Willis, Steve Carell, and Wanda Sykes, Over
the Hedge tells the story of a group of woodland creatures
adjusting to the new subdivision that popped up next
door by robbing these new homes of supplies and avoiding
the local exterminator. While ensuring their survival
in the forest by nabbing from the suburbs, RJ the
Raccoon and company learn lessons about life and all
that jazz, ensuring that the game stays faithful to
the source license. The game also provides areas that
aren't seen in the film, including the Exterminator's
Lab, the Sewers, and a Wild Western theme park.
While
I mentioned that Over the Hedge doesn't insult its
player's intelligence, you may not be able to tell
that with some aspects of its gameplay. Hedge feels
like a combination of the recent three-dimensional
Gauntlet titles combined with platforming elements
one might see the much-more violent Mortal Kombat:
Shaolin Monks. The combat is simple, requiring only
using one button repeatedly to score kills against
the various woodland baddies that appear from monster
generators such as trash cans or electronic cages.
Finishing moves can be pulled off depending on the
timing used on that one button, which helps a ton
later in the game, but special moves, charged by grabbing
power-ups throughout the level, felt nearly useless.
Ranged attacks with golf balls, ping pong ball launchers,
and freeze guns can also be used to eliminate threats
from afar, but are only necessary in certain situations
that call for it specifically and aren't as useful
throughout. You can select from RJ, Verne, Hammy,
and Stella at any point of the game, but since there
are no discernable differences between these characters
besides aesthetics and special moves, there is no
real decision to make outside of preference.

The
lack of depth in combat is mirrored with the lack
of depth in platforming as well. Venturing into the
various households in search of goodies usually involves
avoiding traps and security measures while searching
for triggers to advance to the next room or objective.
While the security traps are clever enough using food
or power-ups as bait the obstacles, many involving
live wiring or moving platforms, are stale and provide
little challenge or excitement. Collectable items
are strewn across the various stages, providing the
opportunity to collect food to add an additional point
to maximum life or to unlock movie clips and concept
art. These extras can provide a little more replay
value, but it's difficult to miss collectables as
they are usually right in front and in plain sight.
Again, in serving a younger audience, some of the
gameplay feels remedial.
Despite
these simplifications, Over the Hedge manages to entertain
for its entirety. The combat, while simplistic and
repetitive, doesn't age as quickly as one might imagine
as it is balanced with chunks of platforming. Many
levels, such as the raid on Vincent's cave, have genuine
moments of excitement as you plow through moles and
rats while keeping your footing on the side of a mountain.
Secondary objectives are also available in the form
of "Complete the stage without setting off a
motion sensor" or "Collect all eight batteries."
These objectives help the player challenge themselves
as they advance, which in turn provides a more enjoyable
experience.
By
advancing through the single-player mode and completing
objectives, players can unlock mini-games like the
Driving Range and a Golf Cart Destruction Derby. While
they are a decent distraction from the story mode,
they don't provide any sort of lasting entertainment
and feel rushed. Since mini-games hardly make or break
an overall package this is excusable, but it would
have been nice to see a developer take these a little
more seriously in a movie title such as this.

License
games often flounder if the source material isn't
recreated faithfully, but developer Edge of Reality
avoids this shortcoming by providing a solid audio
and visual package. While it certainly doesn't blow
you away, the graphics of Hedge are clean, bright,
and energetic. Combat never exhibits slowdown when
the screen fills with enemies while the game-engine
cut-scenes look very accurate to the film. Most
of the voice talent assembled for the speaking parts
of the game is decent, with only Arnie's voice noticeably
inaccurate.
As
a total package, Over the Hedge is an adequate title
that aims to please its core audience and nothing
more. By following the typical license-game recipe,
the developers have managed to make a title that is
passable by industry standards but worthy of the fan
following. The humor and style of the film translate
well here and are helpful in filling the gaps where
the simplistic gameplay and rushed mini-game mode
fall short.
By
Patrick Evans
CCC
Staff Writer
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