A Bug's Life Action Game

Copyright: KBkids.com

What would a Disney movie be without several computer games? Unlike the Active Play and GameBreak programs which were released with Lion King II and A Bug's Life, this program plays more like a Mario console game, Sonic 3D Blast, or Croc: Legend of the Gobos.

For those who have not seen the movie yet, the plot is much like the old Ant and the Grasshopper fable. A colony of ants provides food year after year for some grasshoppers, led by a thug named Hopper. One year, due to the foibles of our hero Flik, the colony has no food to give the grasshoppers. This begins a long string of events which finds Flik saving the day. In this program, he must find bugs who will help him, and conquer the grasshopper hoards.

The program contains fifteen game play levels, and many video clips. The clips may be viewed from the main screen, and are given as 'rewards' for good gameplay. The sound is very good. You may find some annoying repetitive comments from Flik, but the music is incredible. The graphics, while fairly good, have a few flaws. This program does not require any special hardware, but you will be happy if you have it. The program needs a rather powerful machine, and testers felt the minimum requirements were marginal. Even with a fairly powerful machine, the graphical backgrounds pop in and out, giving an annoying effect for any gaming fan. Most younger kids will never notice, and even experienced gamers were somewhat forgiving in that the rest of the graphics were fairly well done.

The gameplay is more immersive than Croc: Legend of the Gobos, but Croc is a more playable game, and would be more appropriate for kids nearing the age of twelve. This program is more appropriate for the eight to ten beginning gamers. The program is not choppy, but it is slow moving. You may also find it difficult to find your way around. Without a good map-view, it is often difficult to know where you are in the world, and where you should head.

Flik is put through a training mission as the program begins. This is important, as the keyboard controls are odd at times. Once he learns how to throw berries (his main weapon,) jump, run and generally move about, it is time for the game to begin. As Flik moves about through Ant Island, he must find seeds which can be turned into various powerful plants. Some give him extra powers, and some help him battle the enemy. If Flik finds enough tokens, he can change the seeds into whatever power source he needs. Throughout the level are grain kernels. If Flik finds enough of these, he is given special rewards.

Your basic objectives throughout are to run around, find things, look for passageways and special powers, all in the hopes of defeating a 'boss' at the end of each level. All in all, a pretty good game, but slow moving for more experienced gamers. A good beginning point for your kids who want to play 'what the big kids are playing.'

Bottom Line: A decent game with multiple levels and 'bosses' to be conquered. Graphics are pretty good, but nothing like the movie.

Ratings: (based on KBkids.com's 4 star rating system)

Overall: 2 1/2

BrainGain: 2

FunFactor: 2 1/2

EasePlease: 2 1/2

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