GameSpy Review of WALL-E

Just about everyone expects that videogames based on movies aren't going to be particularly good, but sometimes a movie game comes out that you really want to like. Such is the case with Pixar games. The movies are so darn good, chock full of colorful characters and interesting locales. Why wouldn't you want to step into the shoes (or wheels or flippers or paws or treads) of a beloved Pixar character? Okay, maybe the other Pixar games weren't all that hot, but maybe this one will be the exception.





That was the hope going in to WALL-E. The movie is outstanding, and if the game were half as charming as its source material, you'd be in for a good time. Unfortunately, this game seems eager to remind us that we can go ahead and continue with our negative assumptions about movie-based games. Though not a bad title by any stretch of the imagination, WALL-E ends up being about as average as a game can get.





Like the film, the game begins with the little trash-compacting robot all alone on a trash-filled future Earth. As he's the only "living" thing left on the planet (save his cockroach buddy), there aren't any enemies to fight in the first few levels. Instead, your goal is to simply navigate the often hazardous environment and collect items along the way.












To get through the stages, you'll need WALL-E's ability to create trash cubes from random piles of garbage or vending stations. There are four types of cubes to create, each with its own purpose. The Simple Cubes are the most common, but they're only useful for tossing at switches. Heavy Cubes make a bigger impact when tossed, allowing you to knock over large objects. Charge Cubes power up energy beacons (usually to activate a machine), and they explode a few seconds after they're tossed. Finally, Magnet Cubes attract and repel certain objects in the world.







The multiple cubes are a nice concept, but not enough is done with them. Switching between different cubes for different occasions would have added an interesting puzzle element to the game, but as it is, the proper cube dispenser is usually right by the area where you need to use it. With no strategy in using the cubes, gathering and tossing them quickly becomes a chore. You'll also get quite tired of the slightly-too-long-for-its-own-good animation of WALL-E scooping trash into his body, compacting it, and tossing the completed cube up over his head.















Rogue Robots







In the second stage, EVE arrives. EVE is, of course, the sleek, streamlined Justin Long of a robot that the John Hodgson-esque WALL-E falls in love with. Given EVE's ability to fly, there's quite a bit more freedom when controlling her. She's also able to deal with enemies thanks to her arm-mounted laser gun. Occasionally you'll be controlling both robots at once, with EVE hovering behind WALL-E providing cover fire while he uses his cubes to bypass obstacles. EVE can also grab WALL-E for extended jumps.







Unfortunately, neither of the robots control all that well. WALL-E seems to be constantly slipping on ice, no matter what terrain he's rolling over. This problem becomes even worse when he jumps. While in midair, he retracts into his cube-shaped body and begins to erratically bounce around if you keep the jump button held down. Even with a quick tap, however, the little guy never seems to properly land from a jump. EVE's flying mechanics take some getting used to, and even when you've got them down you'll be constantly frustrated by the invisible barriers that trap you within a location. Attempting to fly to a seemingly open area will sometimes cause the camera to wildly swing around as the game reverses your direction to send you back into the "real" part of the level. The camera's not only a pain during these course corrections, you'll be fighting with it throughout the game, as it often seems determined to give you the worst possible view of the action.












Despite not having that many stages, WALL-E is a fairly decent length for a kid's title. There are about eight to ten hours of gameplay here, but given the extremely bland platforming action, boredom will set in well before you're finished. About the only mildly innovative feature is the occasional "tumbler" section of a stage. Here, you're able to control the rotation of large, triangular level segments. Clearing tasks on all three sizes of the tumblers (or six -- they're usually found in pairs) unlock hidden areas or bonus stages. These few segments don't do much to mask the rest of the bland levels, however. A few dull multiplayer modes have been added, but they feel more like an afterthought than actual extra modes.







If you have some kids who are flying high on WALL-E after seeing the movie, this would make a decent weekend rental. Otherwise you can toss this in the same pile as all the other Pixar games: a pile of uninspired, by-the-numbers gameplay and missed opportunities.

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