Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is hunting involved in this game, but no animals die. The hunting theme could as easily been any other theme with goofy bad guys; these guys just happen to wear hunting clothes. Parents should also know that even though we recommend the movie for ages 5 and up, this game is better suited for ages 7 and up.
Families can talk about the difference between the cartoon guns in this game and real ones. They can also talk about Boog and Morris' friendship. Does their friendship get stronger when they're down and out? How does their teamwork help them out? Do you think their friendship is stronger because they faced new challenges together? What has made your friendships stronger?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Anise Hollingshead
Boog, a domesticated bear who used to live with Ranger Beth inside the town of Timberline, has recently been booted from the only home he's ever known. He became persona non grata around town after Morris the deer talked him into stealing chocolate from the convenience store. The two have been released in the wild and are trying to find their way home -- now, if they can just get past those hunters!
OPEN SEASON is an action/adventure game for kids that features lots of missions, collectibles including animal factoids (from the ranger badge collectibles), and several mini-games. There is no platforming because the missions mostly involve Boog and Morris trying to sneak past hunters and hostile animals to fetch things. There are also some very funny weapons to use against these hazards, like rabbits and skunks, which can be thrown at enemies. Boog can also use his loud roar to scare off enemies.
While some of the levels are a hoot, others are disappointing. Players enjoyed racing down icy slopes while stuck to a snowball in a downhill pinball run. They loved throwing rabbits and skunks at the hunters because the rabbits clung to the hunters' faces and slapped them silly, while the skunks gave off quite a smell when tossed. Players disliked jumping Morris onto some rocks to get him across the water because every time he fell off before crossing, he had to swim back and try again.
Likewise, the mini-games were a mixed bag. They are available for separate play either for single-player or multiplayer after they're unlocked. While fun at first, the games are so simple that they soon become boring.
Despite having some zany moments, the game as a whole suffers from a schizoid sense of design. Too much of the gameplay is repetitive. The levels are extremely short and gameplay stops at the end of every level for load time, which interrupts the flow of the game. As a result, the entire game feels like a long tutorial.
While this game features some fun racing levels, six separate mini-games for multiplayers, interesting animal facts collectibles, and some humor that is reminiscent of the movie, the overall game experience lacks pizzazz. Open Season would have been better if it had included the racing games as part of the mini-games feature (the racing games can be replayed, but only as part of replaying the level as a whole).
Families interested in extending the fun of the Open Season movie might want to rent this one, or buy the Nintendo DS version instead.
Rate It!
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Sexual Content |
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ViolenceHunting is a theme, but no killing is shown. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorStory reinforces the value of friendship. |
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CommercialismMovie tie-in. |
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Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
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Educational ValueCollectible ranger badges offer animal facts. |
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