Over the Hedge (PlayStation 2)

In the OVER THE HEDGE video game, kids have a chance to become the stars of the Over the Hedge movie. Primarily set one year after the movie, the game focuses on a group of undomesticated animal friends who sneak through the hedge that separates the wild from the suburban world, searching for human food and gadgets. They also need to rescue a friend who's trapped by an exterminator.

Kids complete over 30 mission-filled levels to win this game, which has three levels of difficulty. Each mission has clearly delineated primary and secondary goals; completing the primary goals unlocks the next level. Kids can play alone or with a friend in a cooperative mode. Players seamlessly switch between characters, and a second player can come in and out of the game on the fly.

Dialogue is spoken as well as presented with subtitles. Kids can't get lost in the suburban sprawl because the game limits the area for play within each level. It's meaty, too. There are 135 primary goals, and there are three fun Mini games to unlock.

In the end, the game's not as funny as the movie, but it does extend the experience, even providing new characters and locations. Over the Hedge fans will certainly enjoy this game since it provides the same fast-paced action and clever interaction with the human world, while also offering a wide variety of gameplay.