Bolt (Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2)

The requisite video game spinoff of Disney's CGI movie, BOLT is actually based on the television show within the film, in which the scrappy little pup Bolt really does have super powers. Players are led on an adventure that spans the globe (allowing for some scenic environments in countries including Russia, Italy, and China) as the superhero dog and his master Penny take on evil criminal mastermind Calico and hundreds of his faceless, ninja-like henchmen as they try to rescue Penny's dad.

The game is composed mostly of sequences that involve platform style jumps over perilous drops, simple puzzles in which Bolt has to figure out a way to progress (such as using his sonic bark to break down barriers) and fights against both hordes of bad guys and the occasional bad guy boss. Penny becomes a playable character in some sequences that involve sneaking and computer hacking.

For a game based on a movie, Bolt is surprisingly compelling. The voice cast, graphics, and animations are excellent; it sometimes feels as though the game is an interactive computer-animated movie. And it's a cinch to learn. On-screen instructions provide all of the information players need to understand and execute Bolt's stock of moves and attacks, and hints pop up if the player is struggling against a particularly tricky foe.

It does, however, fall into repetition a little too often. The game has a tendency to cycle between activities, making players, say, spend a few minutes navigating a treacherous area before arriving in a big open area where they spend several minutes fighting a seemingly never-ending stream of cookie-cutter villains. A better blended series of challenges would have made things a bit less monotonous and more organic. Still, it's short enough that the repetition doesn't become a major factor. If you have a Bolt fan in your household, this is a good pick.

Available on: Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Disney Interactive
Released on: November 18, 2008
Price: 49.99
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Cartoon Violence