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Stuart recently returned for another movie, which was very quickly followed up by America’s favorite cash cow…the video game. Loosely following the storyline of the Columbia Pictures film, Stuart must help Margalow stop Falcon from pulling off a big jewel heist. Yes, this one is definitely for the kiddies. Luckily, however the game isn’t too bad, and it’s actually pretty good for the system it’s on. Sure in the end, it’s a mediocre platformer that has been done over and over by Gex, Rayman, and Mario, but kids will eat this up with no doubt. Why? Graphically the game does a good job of pushing the limits of the PS one. Big, solid 3D environments full of interactive backdrops and lush and bright colors, round up a nicely done engine. Sure the textures are of a low quality, but the game has sort of a Jumping Flash charm to its visuals. While the game looks nice, it is hampered by an evil camera, which likes to change direction far too often. This wouldn’t be so bad if the developer had included a camera center button, but alas you must spin the camera all the way around if it pans in front of you, which can lead to messy collisions with walls and enemies. There is also a hint of slow down when there are a lot of things going on, but aside from that, the framerate is rather steady. Throw in some poor and grainy FMV sequences from the film as rewards, and you have the whole package. All in all though the game looks fairly decent, and to most kids, the game will look fantastic.
On the audio side you are treated to upbeat cartoony music throughout each stage. The music isn’t annoying, and becomes more background fodder than anything. The voiceovers are few and far between, and when they do occur, they are done in typical fashion. Other sound effects, which mostly consist of environmental sounds, are present, but not overly brilliant. The sounds are pretty average, but more as expected, as developers tend to aim low when it comes to developing for younger audiences. The gameplay is the bright and shining star in the world of Stuart Little 2. Once you get used to the camera, the gameplay is rather stellar. Controls are very tight and forgiving. You have tons of moves, vehicles, and other options that keep things fresh from the opening cinema to the end credits. This mouse can climb, swim, run, jump, skateboard, drive a car, and easily target foes by pelting them with objects with the greatest of ease. Some of the collision issues with the camera may cause frustration in a few areas, but mostly the game plays like a dream. This is a big plus for the kids, as we all know if it’s too hard they may loose interest quickly. All in all Stuart Little 2 should be high up on that shopping list for your young one, as this is a title I found pretty enjoyable. You can’t go wrong with a franchise that has mass appeal and does well in video game form.
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