The Incredibles
Developer: Developer: Heavy Iron Studios
Platform: All of them. Even the Mac!
Players: 1
Release date: 10/31/04
Reviewed: PC Edition
All gamers know the rule of thumb when it comes to video
games based on movies: They suck. Usually because the game
developer has to pay so much to get the movie license and
they are under the deadline of having the game out around
the same time as the movie. Corners are often cut that leave
the games feeling like hollow movie merchandising.
The
Incredibles falls somewhere between the exception and
the rule.
Based on Pixar's recent box office animated
superhero movie, as if you needed me to tell you that, you
control each of the main character through 18 levels of
bad guy smashing and…more bad guy smashing.
There is some variety to the levels, but
only enough to highlight the super powers of the character
you are playing. Mr. Incredible levels are standard punch
and kick fare, Elastic Girl will use her stretchy powers
to fight and solve puzzles, Dash speeds his way through
timed obstacle courses and Violet adds unwelcome stealth
missions.
None of the missions are very engaging.
You'll either have no problem getting past them or be on
the verge of throwing your controller down in frustration.
Fighting
henchmen is an exercise in patience as none of them are
smart enough to fight their way out of a paper bag. You'll
mow a batch down, walk a few paces and then prepare to trounce
another batch.
Some
of the puzzles are interesting but most require that you
perform a long series of steps that if you make a mistake
require you to start over. Add a timer to them and awkward
camera angles and it's an experience you'll soon grow weary
of.
Dash's missions are probably the most fun
in the game, but require a quick reflex that younger players
may not have. Violet's missions are the worst because her
powers are inconsistent and seem buggy at times. I was never
sure if that was by design or the product of a rush job.
The game does assume you've seen the movie
and doesn't go out of its way to retell that story for the
unenlightened. Samuel L. Jackson is the only cast member
to lend his unique voice to the game (as the narrator) with
the rest of the cast being voiced by patchwork sound bytes
from the movie. That didn't bother me, but the lack of any
real diversity means you'll hear each character's few lines
of dialogue repeated constantly.
The game is rated "T" for Teen but there
is nothing in the game that wasn't in the movie. Most teens
would probably get bored playing it, but I'd bet a ten year
old might really enjoy parts of it. The easily pummeled
henchmen would be something a ten year old could tackle
but a parent might have to help out with a puzzle now and
then.
On the positive side, Amazon.com sells the PC version of
the game for a measly $22. You probably paid more to see
the film than you will to play the game. If you have kids
that really liked the movie, than the game might be just
the thing to keep interested. (Proven at the McCaw household
with the PS2 version and several children.)
With
games running upwards of $50 lately, The Incredibles
game does offer some hours of entertainment without breaking
the piggy bank.
The
Incredibles Amazon Page
