X-BOX 360 When I first received Activision’s “Bee Movie Game” I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
It was a little hard to follow at first and didn’t seem to have much of a point at times. My two young daughters joined me as I tried to navigate the lush world depicted within the game, giving me a better idea of how the game is viewed through young eyes — the game’s intended audience. We must have played five or six times before I finally gave in and decided to look into the movie, which is currently in theaters.
After reading a few reviews of the flick, I realized that the game was designed to emulate the film itself. After a little more research — and considerable time searching the Internet — it became obvious that the two share common adventures and scenes. Short of seeing the film, which we actually have made plans to do as a family, I figured the best way to approach the game was to keep in mind that this was more of a cinematic experience than the average button smashing game for kids.
Once I finally relaxed and let the game lead me where it wanted to go, I actually came to enjoy the easy to understand game play and excellent graphics. In addition to following the plot to the movie, Activision wisely inserted a series of mini-games into the gaming experience. It broke up pauses in the action nicely and gives gamers a chance to take a break from following the story and just enjoy themselves.
Jerry Seinfeld actually does the voice of the primary character, a fact not often shared with games based on movies. It gives the game an authentic feel and helps tie the game and the movie tightly together.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 1, 2007. Read the original PDF.