Over the Hedge (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

You've probably realized, now that we're half way through the year, just how many animated feature films are heading to our cinemas this year and although we've already had an abundance of original offerings and sequels there are still many more to come, most of which will also have a GBA or DS title to accompany them. There's PIXAR's Cars and Monster House from THQ, Ant Bully and Happy Feet from Midway, not to mention Flushed Away and Barnyard later in the year. There are many theories as to why this particular art form has become so popular but one thing's for sure, with the money they generate; they're likely to be around for some considerable time. Obviously with over a dozen CGI movies to choose from this year the output is going to be of varying quality, although initial reviews for Over the Hedge are very favorable. Let's hope the same is true for this handheld version.

Gameplay

If you've seen the movie you'll know that the animals have awoken from hibernation to find that their once expansive forest is now somewhat smaller and surrounded by a housing estate. All the missions span from here and this hub allows you to visit different parts of the surrounding area. Led by RJ the Raccoon you'll be sent out on missions which generally involve bringing goods back to the enclosure (although some require you to sabotage the building site and its machinery) and while this should be simple it's really not. For starters this new generation of overly paranoid resident has alarmed and booby-trapped their home so even the smallest of creature (that means you) will set it off. There are also humans and pets patrolling the corridors and that's before we even mention The Taxidermist.

Even in single player mode you'll generally be working in partnership with another character with each bringing their unique skills to the mission. Hammy the Squirrel, for example, is incredibly fast and can also jump great heights and although Verne is the slowest he can hide in his shell at a moments notice. You'll also discover that objects can be moved to aid your progress and many of the traps can be switched off. Incidentally the TV and music system are also considered traps here as your character can become easily distracted. In other words they'll start dancing or sit down to watch 24 hour news rather than complete their given tasks. Anything which may be dangerous can be seen on the bottom screen and it's only here you can see both the animal's and human's field of vision and if you come into contact with it the color will quickly change from green to a far more urgent red alert. It's then up to you to escape as quickly as possible. Just make sure you've remembered where the exit is and switch off all the traps and other distractions.

Controls

While this is a dual screen game your characters are moved around in a very traditional fashion. That's not to say that the developers have ignore the touch screen capabilities though because Vicarious Visions have done some of the most impressive integrated work yet with Ultimate Spider-Man.

Graphics

The 3D engine is very good indeed and, ignoring the odd glitch, very solid. This is even more impressive when you consider that it's at work on both screens (one from a third person point of view and the other top-down). This allows you to concentrate on the task at hand but also gives you a wider perspective, showing items you may require in other areas. What you can't do is look up or down which occasionally causes problems especially when you are close to, or on top of, a large object. The rest of the visuals are also excellent and while the majority of the story is told via static cut-screens there's also a fair amount of FMV too.

Sound

While the soundtrack is far from spectacular it does fit the on-screen action perfectly. There are also a number of voice samples, a rarity lately in movie-licensed games.

Dual screen

One of the main uses of the touch screen is to fine tune the gameplay so if you wish for an object to land in a given area, for example, you simply select it and then throw. At least that's the theory; in practice this is one of the few minor glitches in the game. It's by no means serious and doesn't detract from the game's enjoyment but if you are going to make something a feature, at least test it. The other use is for the mini games, which are reasonably enjoyable, but certainly not the best we've seen.

Final comments

It's fair to say that most movie tie-in titles aren't that entertaining and the majority of these take the classic platformer as their template. Clearly aware of the pitfalls of this genre, Vicarious Visions have taken Over the Hedge for the DS in a very different direction and the co-operative puzzler with stealth elements makes for a thoroughly entertaining romp around 'the burbs'. It's not without its problems of course, but small oversights such as not being able to look up or down don't detract from what maybe one of the best movie tie-in titles of the year. It short, don't be put off the fact that this is meant to be aimed towards the younger gamer. It challenging, rewarding and a visual treat and belongs in every DS owner's collection.

Pro: Looks Wonderful, Great Gameplay.
Con: No Ability to Look Up or Down.
Final score: 8.1

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