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The Golden Compass
Product: The Golden Compass
Company: Sega
Date: 07/19/2007
Avaliable On:

The Golden Compass is the latest child's book to be brought to the big screen, and along with it, the video game world.

Based on the book by Philip Pullman, players will get to control a little girl named Lyra Belacqua as she discovers her shape-shifting animal friend Pan, as well as a polar bear mercenary named Lorek. In these adventures, Lyra will travel to a magical world and have to use Pan to help her get around.

Pan will be able to change into four animals that will help Lyra climb walls, balance in tight areas, glide to safety and other useful moves that you would want at your disposal in an action-platformer like this.

Joining Pan and Lyra on their journey is Lorek. The two characters will ride on this massive beast's back as you navigate your way through arctic regions and fight off enemies in many different shapes and sizes.

A major aspect of both the game and the movie is the truth-detecting aspects of The Golden Compass itself. While it isn't an instrument for guiding a person on a map, what it does is give you hints about how truthful a person is. Mind you, the compass isn't as straightforward as just blurting out the fact that another character is honest. Instead it shows a symbol and only through determined interpretation of that symbol can the user of the compass really know what is going on.

In the game, you will use the compass' abilities to solve puzzles and progress through levels. This compass will also be used to unlock bonus materials throughout the game.

Shiny Entertainment is developing the console, PSP and PC versions of The Golden Compass, while the DS version is being handled by A2M. Look for all of these games to hit the shelves this holiday season.

J.R. Nip aka Chris Meyer

GameVortex PSIllustrated