PlayStation Holiday Preview Event
Where the Wild Things Are
By Jorge Figueiredo - October 10th, 2009
When I first heard that Spike Jonze was helming a film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, I was somewhat skeptical. How is such a short book going to translate onto the big screen? Of course, if memory serves me correctly, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was originally an eighteen-page short story in a magazine in the early half of the century before it was adapted into a three and a half hour movie. Strangely enough, game adaptations don’t puzzle me as much, so when I approached the display for Where the Wild Things Are at the PlayStation Holiday Preview Event, I wasn’t really surprised.
At first glance the game looks just like the movie. Actually, for a brief moment I thought it was the movie and that perhaps Warner Brothers was using a PS3 setup as a trailer display. When I finally clued in, I was enthralled by how life-like the game looks (which is something to say considering all of the characters except for Max are monsters).
The game focuses on the island where the Wild Things are, rather than the depressing home life of Max, whom you play as in the game. You are the “King of All Wild Things” and you roam their island, which incidentally is on the brink of destruction, to try to figure out a way to help your newfound friends escape to safety before it’s too late.
The game combines a platform element with action-adventure, as you solve puzzles, collect artifacts, and gain new abilities as you gather experience from your travels. There are plenty of obstacles in your way, as well as battles to fight as you pursue your mission. Along the way, you also learn new abilities and acquire new skills from your monster friends.
At any point during the game you can take a trip to the Wild Things Village, a safe haven of sorts filled with mini-games and power ups from each of the different creatures you encounter.
The characters are really well done, each brimming with endearing personality. Voice work is great and the score really immerses you in the experience and in the fantastic world. While this will appeal to a younger crowd, I’m pretty sure that many of us older folks will enjoy this title as well – especially those of us who remain young at heart.
Where the Wild Things Are hits the shelves on October 13, 2009.
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Jumanji made it alright on the big screen. and from what I remember managed to be pretty darn faithful to the source material. I don’t remember WTWTA as well but the trailers look decent. guess the game does as well
I didn’t even see that this game was at the event. I guess I was too busy serenading the Band Hero girl.