|
Chicken
Little is actually a fairly good platform title. It is a
multi-format release, but we had a chance to get to grips with the
Xbox build at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) more
than most.  There
were three levels playable with each one varying greatly from the
others, but all with fairly simple objectives to complete.
In
the first playable level you had to get to school from your house
using a predetermined shortcut route - there didn’t seem to be
much room for exploring, but this isn’t really that much of an
issue with the game; the stage was big enough without feeling you
need to explore past your immediate surroundings. You had to climb
up rails, slide down rails and find coins in order to operate the
drinks machine; there was even a climbing frame to manoeuvre
around.
The
second level was set in space; it was a semi Space Invaders-type
of affair where you have to travel through rings without being shot
down. There were various pick-ups to collect including a shield and
missiles which helped with shooting down bigger targets which would
damage your ship otherwise.
In
the third level you have a sort of toboggan run to go down, a space
age toboggan run at that.  It
is surprisingly difficult to steer around, the slightest movement
of the analogue stick would be enough to send you careering off the
track and it was clear some work is still to be done on fine
tweaking the analogue calibration. The further you go around the
track the more obstacles get in your way, you do have a weapon to
help fend off the gribblies but you go so fast it’s just as easy
to not bother and just avoid them.
This
game is obviously geared to children, but it makes a change to play
a decent platform game, just wandering round collecting stuff,
battering a few enemies without that much fuss, though there is
evidently a difficulty progression to it as I actually had quite a
hard time completing the last level we could play. In it’s
current state I can’t see it having much replay value, but it’s
a good game to while away a few brainless hours should you wish it
so.
|
