Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for PS2
And <SPOILER!>just like Aslan</SPOILER!>, Bytes will now resurrect itself as Bytes: Rebooted, a regular if not weekly blog dedicated to games, Internet and software news and reviews. So it seems appropriate for my first review to take a look at The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, out now for PS2, PC, GBA and Nintendo DS, with GameCube and Xbox versions to follow in 2006.
First, a confession. I might be a bit biased. I have loved C. S. Lewis’s novel for as long as I can remember. But which way am I biased? If I didn’t think the movie paid enough respect to the book, that might turn me against this game. Fortunately, both film and game look excellent.
The game is to some extent the same old same old. Solve puzzles. Collect coins. Collect special tokens. Acquire skills. But because the story moves on at quite a pace, you get a sense of the narrative driving you on. And it does get harder - and more exciting - as the game progresses. So you do get a sense of adventure, a sense of a challenge. And you do keep getting that feeling that it is two o’clock in the morning, much too late to be trying to work out how to get over this particular obstacle so you can complete the level, save and get to bed. And it all gets that extra special kick out of the fabulous landscape of Narnia and of course the atmospheric music.
Tapping on the R1 button enables you to chose which of the characters you want to take the lead, which is handy as they each have different skills. At the end of each level you are rated from poor to excellent, and you can move on or go back and try to increase your score. So it’s a game you can come back to again and again.
The only bit where I feel they go too far with the adaptation is the slalom. I don’t remember a rollercoaster ride being in the novel, not one with coins all the way down, and it’s probably been written into the film so that it can be in the game. It’s a bit more Sonic the Hedgehog than Aslan the Lion. But I suppose that’s the downside of living in the 21st century. The clips in the game certainly make you want to see the movie. Great fun, and I don’t think it would be fair to expect this particular part of the Narnia franchise to deliver a moral message. Let’s just say it’s a better than average adventure and a better than average film tie-in.
I will finish with a comment which I love by Andrew Rilstone, a C. S. Lewis enthusiast, on the current Narnia hype: "Recently, the newspapers have been talking about C. S. Lewis, because there is a new movie coming out, starring New Zealand and a computer." Enough said.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is developed by Traveller’s Tales and published by Buena Vista. Bytes: Rebooted score - 9/10
First, a confession. I might be a bit biased. I have loved C. S. Lewis’s novel for as long as I can remember. But which way am I biased? If I didn’t think the movie paid enough respect to the book, that might turn me against this game. Fortunately, both film and game look excellent.
The game is to some extent the same old same old. Solve puzzles. Collect coins. Collect special tokens. Acquire skills. But because the story moves on at quite a pace, you get a sense of the narrative driving you on. And it does get harder - and more exciting - as the game progresses. So you do get a sense of adventure, a sense of a challenge. And you do keep getting that feeling that it is two o’clock in the morning, much too late to be trying to work out how to get over this particular obstacle so you can complete the level, save and get to bed. And it all gets that extra special kick out of the fabulous landscape of Narnia and of course the atmospheric music.
Tapping on the R1 button enables you to chose which of the characters you want to take the lead, which is handy as they each have different skills. At the end of each level you are rated from poor to excellent, and you can move on or go back and try to increase your score. So it’s a game you can come back to again and again.
The only bit where I feel they go too far with the adaptation is the slalom. I don’t remember a rollercoaster ride being in the novel, not one with coins all the way down, and it’s probably been written into the film so that it can be in the game. It’s a bit more Sonic the Hedgehog than Aslan the Lion. But I suppose that’s the downside of living in the 21st century. The clips in the game certainly make you want to see the movie. Great fun, and I don’t think it would be fair to expect this particular part of the Narnia franchise to deliver a moral message. Let’s just say it’s a better than average adventure and a better than average film tie-in.
I will finish with a comment which I love by Andrew Rilstone, a C. S. Lewis enthusiast, on the current Narnia hype: "Recently, the newspapers have been talking about C. S. Lewis, because there is a new movie coming out, starring New Zealand and a computer." Enough said.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is developed by Traveller’s Tales and published by Buena Vista. Bytes: Rebooted score - 9/10
posted by Graham at 1:20 pm
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