Over the Hedge

Over the Hedge is a new movie just released this summer, and is also featured as an interactive game on all the console systems. This review is of the GameCube version. The movie story is that a group of animals find a new suburb has been planted around them while they were hibernating, and now they must figure out a way to deal with the humans living there. According to RJ the raccoon, the only way to co-habit with people is to exploit them and so he leads them on expeditions to steal their stuff. The console versions stick to the same story for the most part, albeit it leaves out any larger truths about nature versus suburbia encroachment.

In the game, the animals run around on missions to steal various things, while avoiding common hazards associated with people. These hazards, though, have a bizarre life of their own and are imbued with firepower and flying abilities, like a possessed Weber grill. The animals’ defense centers on using hockey sticks and golf clubs to bat enemies out of the way, with occasional help from weapons such as ping-pong ball and bubble launchers to take out the flying hazards. The animals have basic moves such as jumping and double jumping, but as this is an action game more than a platform game, jumping isn’t needed much.

Most of the levels focus on the animals trying to traverse certain areas without dying, taking out all the enemies in the process. Each level has a few goals to meet that center on collecting stuff like DVDs, chips, cookies, soda - you get the picture. But the main goal is to survive by beating the tar out of any critter you find in the way. (Yes, it’s really the animals vs. the animals in most of these levels, supposedly because they’re “mind-controlled” by the leading Bad Dude's Gladys, the housing president, and Dwayne the exterminator). Figuring out how to take out the flying hazards is also a major factor in survival.

Fighting the enemies isn’t too difficult, and players can tag team in two-player mode, and single players can switch between characters while playing. However, the camera angles are set and can’t be changed, which is annoying at times.

There are three types of mini-games along the way: racing, bumper carts and golfing/arcade games. Racing is simply racing, the bumper carts are golf carts, and the golfing games involve hitting balls at various targets. These games are fun enough, but not inspired in any way, although the golf cart bumper carts are kinda fun. There are also a few levels that have the animals racing across the highway from a top-down viewpoint, which looks a lot like Frogger. These levels are pretty short, though.

The game looks great, and the backgrounds and character models are crisp and clear, showcasing the Gamecube’s capabilities very nicely. Kids will really like the look.

This is a standard kids action/platform game for the most part, one that keeps up the pace and action throughout but doesn’t offer a whole lot of variety in the levels. The game isn’t too difficult for kids, but a few of the hazards are pretty tough until the precise method of using a weapon against them is determined.

We’ve had some fun with this game, but overall it’s only a slightly above average game. Over the Hedge is best suited for families with kids, especially ones that may have enjoyed the movie.

Gameplay: 7.0
The game is fun enough at first, but the sameness of the levels wherein players just beat off all the bad guys soon begins to get a little tiring.

Graphics: 8.5
Wonderful graphics! Dreamworks, like Disney, always delivers in the eye-candy department.

Sound: 7.0
The voice acting is adequate and the background sounds are pretty good. The music isn’t anything to get excited about.

Difficulty: Medium
There’s a slight schizophrenic quality as to the difficulty, in that some levels are very easy, and some are pretty hard. The flying Weber grills were tough to beat.

Concept: 6.0
Nothing new is shown.

Overall: 7.2
This is an action game much like any other movie-based platform game for kids. Kids that enjoyed the movie will probably enjoy playing, although parents may want to check out Kao 2 instead, which while not a better game in technical terms, was just more fun to play in our opinion.