There are certain constants in the universe that people can count on. The sun will always rise. Water will always be wet. And a new Disney cartoon will always result in a merchandising blitz. The latest proof of this is Disney's upcoming feature film, Chicken Little. This new cartoon has already spawned everything from plush dolls to dinnerware sets. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that Disney has also released a video game based on the film. What may surprise people though is just how fun this game really is.
Chicken Little follows the story of, well, Chicken Little, the young chicken who once believed the sky was falling when an acorn fell on his head. After suffering the embarrassment of that situation, Chicken Little is determined to prove himself to his family, his friends, and the rest of the his community. His opportunity finally comes up when the world is invaded by aliens form outer space. Now, it falls to Chicken Little and his crew of misfit friends to save the day.
A lot of times in my reviews, I've had to point out when a game isn't meant for kids. This is one of the first times I feel like I have to point out that a game IS meant for kids, specifically kids within the 6 to 12 range. That's not to say older gamers won't have fun with Chicken Little. It simply means that if you're looking for a deeply engrossing and challenging gaming experience, you may be clucking up the wrong tree.
Chicken Little is a game that tries to give players a little bit of everything. The opening level begins as a fairly standard platform adventure. Chicken Little can roam around the environment, running, jumping, and swinging from ledge to ledge. Then, just about the time you get used to the basics, our hero pops open a soda bottle and launches into the air for a hair-raising flying section. Over the course of Chicken Little's 20+ levels, the game offers up everything from standard platforming and top-down flying to Crazy Taxi-styled driving and dodgeball. None of these stages are particularly long or difficult. In fact, the game feels more like a collection of mini-games than a full-fledged adventure. The cinematics do a decent job of tying things together, but as a whole the game still feels like an experiment in Attention Deficit Disorder.