Ratatouille
SCORE: 84
The rat with the long name Ratatouille has made it to the Gameboy Advance (GBA) thanks to THQ. The key element to this game is exploration of levels to find key ingredients. Once all of the ingredients are found then we gamers can leave the level. When all of the levels are completed then we got some cooking action. The cooking action is a little limited especially if you have played the Cooking Mama series. The exploration levels more than balance this out, because they can be huge. Some of the mazes were frustrating especially with a time limit on them. Speaking of frustrating a password function is used. I have never been very fond of those things, unless I am playing an 8-bit NES video game.
The artistic value found within Ratatouille on the GBA in the graphical department is evident. This game uses characters from the cartoon movie, but the drawings look like they are from comic books. The little rat will take damage from things like fire, but does not damage others in this game.
The music in Ratatouille is okay. I would not write home about it, but it was not annoying either. There are some fun little sound effects especially when the player gets too close to the flame. No offensive sounds were heard while I was playing Ratatouille.
THQ made sure that plenty of lengthy levels were included in Ratatouille. Each level is a labyrinth that hides specific items that must be found in order to exit the level. In some ways this game reminds me of those good old days of playing hide and seek with my brother. Once Ratatouille is beaten there is little reason to replay it though.
There is some major intelligent design to the layout of the levels in Ratatouille. I found myself back tracking quite often just to get past an obstacle. The game is very forgiving when it comes to avoiding hazards and jumping. The one drawback to Ratatouille is the timer in each level. When I am hunting around through a large maze trying to find one missing item, being pressed for time does not make the experience pleasurable. The cooking game was fun, so there is some saving grace to be found.
Ratatouille teaches a
couple of things, mainly in regards to paying attention to detail.
Certain items are hidden in out of the way places that can easily be
missed. Striving to find them is part of what THQ has the player learn.
If the timer was taken away then this would have been a much better
game, and a sequel should do that.
- Sam
Graphics: 85%
Sound: 87%
Replay/Extras: 81%
Gameplay: 79%
Family Friendly Factor: 88%
System: Gameboy Advance
Publisher: THQ
Rating: 'E'
for Everyone
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