The comparisons between Chicken
Run for the GBC and Metal Gear Solid are inevitable. Both games require you to use stealth
and an array of tools to get the mission done. Graphically the two are also quite similar:
clean but not showy. It would be unfair to evaluate Chicken Run using Metal Gear as the
standard. The poultry comes up just a little too lean when theyre placed side by
side.Chicken
Run does, however, have one of the most exciting franchises as its source material. It was
by far the most entertaining movie of last summer. I had high expectations of the Wallace
and Grommit team, and they did not disappoint. A good game from such quirky source
material is no mean feat. And although the developers at Blitz Games dont do a
disservice to the folks at Aardman, they were unable to make a game that really engaged my
imagination like the movie. Chicken Run is one of the best film to video game translations
that Ive played on the Game Boy Color, but I havent yet played a movie video
game on the Game Boy that Ive liked.
In the game you are Ginger, a single voice for freedom lost amidst the clucks of
conformity. Your goal is to lead your feathered compatriots safely out of Tweedys
farm and pie machine. Because reason wont get you anywhere with these chickens,
youre forced to lead them by the beak by creating a trail of chicken feed for them
to follow. Besides the chicken feed there are a number of tools like spoons, mirrors, and
springboards that you need to use to get from point A to B. I like games where the goal is
something other than destruction (I like destruction too, just not all the time). No one
gets shot in Chicken Run. I guess the potential of chicken piedom is a big enough threat
for these critters.
Each
mission is prefaced by some rather elaborate instructions regarding the goals for the
level and exactly how to use the various tools located on that level. This may be a
problem of giving too much help. One of the great satisfactions that came from playing
Metal Gear Solid (I know I shouldnt compare the two) on my GBC was figuring out
exactly how to best use all of tools in my inventory. The tutorials kind of take that
satisfaction away from you. The box advertises 20 levels, which may seem like a lot, but
they are all relatively short and similar. And even though youre using different
tools and techniques to shepherd the masses, each level feels a little too much like the
one before.
The AI for the Chicken drones is either really well done, or really frustrating. I
cant decide. These Chickens are just plain stupid, and, like Ginger, I found myself
shaking my head at their pea-sized intellects. How hard can it be to follow a trail of
chicken feed? In some instances it appears to be incredibly difficult. After playing this
game, I watched the movie on DVD and I found myself a lot more sympathetic to
Gingers plight. I knew what it was like to be a visionary amidst featherbrained
fowl.
This
game is better than most games for the Game Boy Color, but thats not exactly giving
it a seal of approval. Im having a hard time getting too excited about Chicken Run
the Game because after the first few levels I felt like I played the entire game. It was
better than I expected but not as good as I hoped for. I liked the graphics and controls,
but the levels just seemed to get repetitive after awhile and sometimes I found myself
wanting to lead Chickens into the oven instead of to freedom. Its a testament to
Gingers good heart that she didnt leave them all behind, but as for meI
guess Im more of an "every chicken for himself" kind of guy.