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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       25th October 2005: Stuart Little 3: Big Photo Adventure  Taking elements from practically every genre there is in videogames, this is one of the most ambitious kids games ever. Find out if it works, read our review... Posted by Chris Barnett - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe The Stuart Little franchise is certainly a strange one when it comes to computer game cross-over. The first movie only had games on the PC and GameBoy Color (sic); the second had GameBoy Advance and PC versions and the latest game, Stuart Little 3: Big Photo Adventure is not based on a movie at all! It is also the mouse's first game on the PlayStation 2. With no movie to confine to, the game is free to do as it pleases with the character and all his gimmicks. These are namely in his ability to be the size of a mouse due to the fact that he is actually a mouse. This results in levels such as a kitchen and backyard being huge and involving; as much as a level in any standard game in fact. The story setup for the game is that Stuart (the mouse) has ruined his human owner's photo album (the goofy kid with glasses from the movies) ahead of a planned school photo project. In return for this error, Stuart offers to take every last one of the photos again to correct his mistake. This opens up possibilities that are very varied and often involving. The task of completing the photo album takes the form of a quest based around a central environment in each level. From this centre you must complete all the photos for that area; easily explained to you by a talking cat. Each of the photos involves a different task in order to set it up. There are no simple 'look at the object and take a picture' moments; something must always be done in order to create the correct scenario for the photo. In setting up the photos the game shows its huge variation. You can drive 15 vehicles including quad bikes, tanks, skateboards and his famous red car (the one that featured in the movies no less) and partake in many different types of gameplay. There are golf sections, flying sections and brief puzzles. All are explained with clear instructions so that even young players can understand what is going on. With the camera needing 'charge credits' in order to function, you must collect little icons to replenish the battery for the camera along the way. This basically guides you to every corner of a given area with little chance of ever getting lost. When a photo situation is successfully setup the game automatically gives you the option to take the photo - switching to a 'camera lens' view to take the perfect shot. This is then added to the album and another can then be tackled. The structure of the game pretty much follows this same route all the way through and is very consistent in terms of controls and character interaction. In fact, the dialogue and cut scenes are what many children will enjoy. Quirky dialogue and friendship between the characters really give the game a heart like the films. But this sentimentality will grate after a long play, so it is suggested to play for maybe around three photos at a time. The presentation attempts to be as neat as possible, but the graphics are nowhere near what we expect form games in this generation. This is especially noticeable in this game due to the fact that Stuart is so well animated in the movies; as are his team of animal friends. In the game they appear as if they are robotic versions of themselves; even though Stuart can move with the grace of a ballerina when on his skateboard. This probably stems from the main problem to the game: over ambition. With the 15 vehicles each involving different tasks as well as various costume changes affecting gameplay (a Native American costume allows arrows to be fired for example), there is just too much to keep together for the developers. Instead of a balanced game, we have a collection of around three good games with the rest latched on. The golf sections are particularly poor to say the least (the caddy character will annoy even a 'super nanny' type parent). But the good parts are just that; the air balloon sections really are enjoyable. In fact, the multiple vehicles give this a sort of 'Grand Mouse Auto' mentality as the selection of how to play is always up to the player. As the game requires all photos to be taken in an area before progressing to the next, there is a real sense of achievement often ignored in children's games. And since the whole thing is quite easy, it is rewarding at least. Children will probably find a lot to enjoy here as it gives more life to the existing characters and storylines that they will likely have seen in the movies (or in similar animal movies). But for anyone over the age of 12 this will feel like a Nickelodeon marathon without the option to turn off. Chris Barnett             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  A varied game that captures the feeling of the two movies. losing a little along the way. Ideal for children (in short bursts) but not really good enough to cause interest to anyone else. The blimp sections are inspired though!  Related Games:  Stuart Little 3: Big Photo Adventure for PlayStation 2  10  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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