Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game, based on the movie Flushed Away, is easy to play and rather short in length. Kids older than about 12 won't find much of a challenge here. But younger children will probably enjoy playing as main characters Roddy and Rita in the world of the London sewers. Game violence is limited to Roddy's toothpick fencing and Rita's kicks, and opponents are simply stunned instead of hurt. As in the movie, the play environments cleverly use everyday items in interesting ways.
Families can talk about Roddy's behavior. Was it fair that he tried to flush Sid down the toilet? What could he have done instead to let Sid know he wasn't welcome? Which of the mini-games did you enjoy most? Was controlling a soccer game with your voice harder than you thought it would be? How do you like this game compared to other movie-inspired games?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen
If your kids were tickled with the adventures of Roddy St. James, the mouse who was "flushed away" in the Dreamworks movie, then they'll probably enjoy exploring the Underworld Metropolis offered in the Nintendo DS FLUSHED AWAY video game.
Different from the console version, the Nintendo DS game provides kids with a romp in the sewer town, lets them drive the Jammy Dodger Boat, and offers three short mini-games that take advantage of both the DS touch screen and its built-in microphone. But because the game is pretty easy to play and short in length, it fits best for kids 6 to 12.
The game follows the storyline of the movie but expands the play environments. It's a mission-based platformer with some boat racing thrown in, culminating in big "boss" fights with The Toad and his cousin Le Frog. Kids play as either Roddy, the well-to-do rodent from Kensington who's been flushed down the toilet, or as Rita, a gutsy mouse whom Roddy befriends in the sewers. They can even switch between the two. Some of the missions allow kids to play as Rita's ship, the Jammy Dodger.
This game has kids running, jumping, and occasionally fighting their way through the Underworld Metropolis. Players should collect as many coins (called Quid) as they can, because several parts of the game require the player to purchase Mission Maps to unlock new areas of the game.
There are several aspects of this game that make it good. First, the camera angle sets it apart. While this is generally a 2D side-scrolling game, at certain times, the camera angle will rotate, creating a 3D effect. For example, if Roddy rounds a corner, so will the camera, thereby creating the sense of 3D.
Second, the layout is expansive -- this isn't your typical linear game. As kids explore the levels, they'll discover several divergent paths that eventually lead you back to solving the goal for your mission.
Third, the game offers frequent checkpoints and an easy save mechanism so kids won't be frustrated by losing ground when they need to quit or when their character uses up all his or her lives and dies.
While testers missed seeing video sequences from the movie and were disappointed that the storyline was mostly told by still photos, they did enjoy watching the characters move within the game and appreciated that they resembled the winsome clay-animated look of the movie.
Within the game, kids will find three unusual mini-games. Once unlocked, kids can replay them. In one, players blow on the DS microphone to release a soccer goal kick -- the stronger they blow, the faster the ball rolls.
As in the movie, the Flushed Away DS game creates interesting environments by using everyday items in clever and unusual ways. One of the quick transport methods is to use a mousetrap as a catapult. And propellers can create great wind currents for mice to use to fly up to hard-to-reach places. Who knew going down the drain could be such fun?
Families looking for other fun movie tie-in games should check out Over the Hedge.
Rate It!
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ViolenceToothpick fencing and karate kicks. |
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Social BehaviorStory about friendship. |
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CommercialismBased on the movie Flushed Away. |
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