ESRB Rating: E 10+ Available at Amazon.com
Disney UP PS3 game takes the characters from the movie and plants them in the middle of the jungles of South America. As a team, Edward, Carl, and Dug the Dog have to navigate the hazardous of the jungle, fight mean dogs, and collect those all important merit badges. In addition, the game offers the chance to fly an airplane in a fight against the evil dogs. The multiplayer mode introduces Kevin.
The jungle is very creative and in some ways deviates from the movie. The biggest deviation comes in the huge creatures that are encountered along the way. You face huge crocodiles, anacondas, and some really big bugs. These are drawn with enough of a cartoon-edge to take the edge off of any real fear of these creatures. The characters sport all the characteristics of their movie counterparts.
The game has imported many of the more amusing lines which brings the characters in line with the movie version. The music is pleasant and light without the annoying repetitiveness that other games have. Although, some tones do repeat themselves when an achievement is reached or a coin collected.
Children ages 5 and up will find Up a joy to play. As a single player, the transition between characters is smooth and the computer player steps up to assist in the teamwork aspect. The additional option to change the game from one player to two player allows parents to step in and help. But it is the four player option that gives the entire family a chance to jump in and play.
The game stresses the importance of working as a team. It also shows how two entirely different people have to come together and overcome their differences to survive. The violence is very mild but not missed during game play. Other than an occasional bug being squashed, the vicious dogs after defeat are gently floated away with a balloon. Even dying is a relatively smooth transition without the death splat. However, it does not deal with some of the more difficult themes that are present in the movie.
Up captures many of the movie elements that children love. The game play is not complicated with the single exception of flying the plane which some may have difficulty with. It stresses teamwork and overcoming obstacles. Overall, Up is a good acquisition for the PlayStation 3. It has all the fun without containing any of the violence of more hardcore games.
ESRB Rating: E 10+ Available at Amazon.com
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