Phineas and Ferb Ride Again
Score: 93% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Disney Interactive Developer: Altron Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1; 2 -4 (Ad Hoc) Genre: Action/ Platformer (2.5D)
Graphics & Sound: One of the best opportunities to come out of this year's E3 show was getting to talk to legendary designer Warren Spector. In addition to tossing out all sorts of game design nuggets, he gave us his thoughts on how to handle a license. You can check out his full thoughts in our video coverage, but to sum it all up, he basically said good licensed games are possible, but only if the developers are willing to really get under the hood and learn what the license is all about. Phineas & Ferb Ride Again is an excellent example of what Spector was talking about. The game looks, sounds and feels exactly like an episode of the show. There's a slightly awkward hitch that comes with seeing 2D characters rendered in 3D, though the game still manages to hold on to the show's unique style. Everything looks like it would fit within the cartoon's world. Eagle-eyed fans will even notice a bunch of smaller callbacks to the show hidden in every level. Music is an important aspect of the show, and the one part that doesn't quite make the journey to game form unscathed. What's here is fun and upbeat, but doesn't seem right. It's just repetitive. One big positive is the voicework. Though not completely voiced, all of the show's key phrases make it into the game.
Gameplay: Every level plays exactly like an episode of the show. Phineas & Ferb, stepbrothers with the imagination of Walt Disney and scientific know-how of Doc Brown, decide on a project for the day. One day they'll decide to build a rocket-powered skateboard, the next they build a rocket ship. Once they know what they're going to do for the day, it's off to the Tri-State area to find parts. Platforming and exploration are dotted by building mini-games. Occasionally, the boys will come across items in need of an upgrade. Provided you have enough parts, you will enter quick touch-based puzzles, such as bolting nails into a board or destroying objects on a conveyer belt. All games are timed and, while not hard, help break things up. After completing the project, you're presented with a mini-game based around the project. For example, when testing out the rocket-powered skateboard, you'll race against characters from the show in a large, looping course. These games provide a lot of variety. Every project adds something new, and the games are usually just as offbeat at the projects themselves. These sequences are, logically (well, for the show) comprised of a short side-scrolling area starring Phineas & Ferb's pet platypus, Perry - or rather his alter ego, Agent P. Perry's levels are all action; you'll beat up evil robots and use Perry's gadgets to get through obstacles on your way to foiling Dr. Doofenshmirtz's plans (and, inadvertently foiling Candace's plans to get her brothers in trouble). Completing projects unlocks them for use in multiplayer, and it's worth playing through each game a couple of times to unlock upgrades. Some mini-games aren't as enjoyable as others, so mileage will vary, though the developers were smart and included both single and multi-card play. Even if your friends don't have the game, they can still join in.
Difficulty: There's no way to die in Phineas & Ferb Ride Again. Instead, the two face a worse fate, getting caught. Rather than taking damage from big falls or traps, each action instead depletes a "worry" bar. Once the bar hits zero, the boys are "busted" and tossed into yet another mini-game, Pac-Man. If the boys can collect all of their bolts without Candace catching them, they can re-enter the level at their last checkpoint. It's a neat idea and, as is the case with nearly everything else, really fits the license. The game throws a lot at players, yet manages to never feel overwhelming. New mechanics are introduced slowly, but fast enough to avoid long lulls in action. All in all, it's a great example of smart, balanced play design - at least for the game's younger audience. Older players will likely breeze through most of the game, though one or two parts are really hard to find. More than once I ended up having to scour areas just to find one part. Locations are pinpointed on the map, but the path isn't always as clear. This may cause problems for younger players, but isn't a deal breaker.
Game Mechanics: Though primarily played as a side-scroller, some areas are presented as a 2.5-D perspective, giving each area a bit of depth to explore. There are only a handful of levels, though each features a bit of Metroid-style play. Certain areas require specific gadgets to access other parts of the map. For instance, you'll need Phineas' upgraded tractor beam to move heavy blocks, or Ferb's jetpack to cross wide chasms. There are also a few timing challenges found throughout each level, introducing a few interesting control mechanics. Although there are a handful of "standard" cues requiring you to hit a button when a meter hits a certain part of a bar, some are pretty unique. To climb, you'll need to hit the shoulder buttons in succession, while blowing into the microphone knocks power-ups from their lofty perches in each level. Gameplay fits the license perfectly. The show's concept is perfect for a game, and I really couldn't have envisioned it any better. The execution is nearly flawless and absolutely works. Everything either informs the overarching theme, or plays into another play element. To quote Spector, it "...gets to the heart..." of what the show is all about. Phineas & Ferb Ride Again is easily one of the better-licensed games to hit in the last few years and a must-buy for fans regardless of age.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Game Vortex's E3 2010 Video Interview with Warren Spector
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