Wall:E (360)

Wall:E, the latest family friendly film from the people of Pixar is Disney’s latest attempt at a big blockbuster. Serving up a cute, loveable character and genuinely charming visual effects, THQ has been given the reigns once again to adapt a film concept into the medium of video games.



Retailing at the a slightly cut price that would lead many to believe that its another piece of mass market trash ready for the shovelware hill, Wall:E (or the 360 version anyway) does enough to raise its head slightly above that crowd. Only slightly. And only if your below the age of eight years old.

As a title firmly targeted at the youngest children in your home, its not a bad job.

However, before I tell you why how this game manages to scrape an “Acceptable”, we must talk about the not so acceptable parts. Graphically, this could be the worst title to come to Microsoft’s behemoth. Ugly, with the most uninspiring dull textures and character models, Wall:E fails to impress. Many Xbox Live Arcade titles have achieved better, more interesting ways to paint its world for you. The quantity of jaggy edges is ridiculous when playing the game through component on my 21” HD LCD. There is no way that Wall:E can ever carry the moniker “Next-Gen”.

In fact, the graphics are so bad that the game could easily be a PS2 or Wii port. No kidding. Levels that have the occasional adverse contextual effects, such as a sandstorm in level one look so terrible as to make you wonder – am I playing a 360 or a PS1?




Disappointment will also come in the form of any type of challenge. I know that this is a game for people a third of my age, but this is without a doubt the easiest game in the 360 catalogue. If, somehow you die, (I did on purpose for test purposes…..*coughs and shifts eyes), you simply respawn within a five seconds journey of the place you died.

This continues with the achievements. After watching the fairly nice and blatantly ripped and chopped up movie intro (from the film itself), I proceeded to move forwards. I touched the control stick, ready to take Wall:E for a drive for the first time ever. Bing. Achievement unlocked and I got 5 gamer score. Need I continue?

Musically, the game picks up. Featuring a musical style that seems to be a blend of classical and techno, the score (whilst not large in the quantity of tracks), is nice and funky. Which is a good thing because you’ll be hearing some pieces a lot, after five hours they where not an annoyance, but they had certainly lost their charm. Sound effects are the usual lacklustre affair, except for the cute sound effects produced by the games titular hero.

Another nice feature is the camera. The camera pans out really nicely, Wall:E moves fairly quickly and this adds to the sensation of movement nicely. Its also gives the game a slightly more dramatic edge. When Wall:E needs you to navigate him through more dangerous locals, such as through the space shopping mall (don’t ask) later on, the camera changes to a more overhead, static position. Clearly giving younger players a fair chance.

Level design falls into the usual movie tie in tedium, but then when your working on someone else’s property, they wont usually design a movie section with the games interest at heart and concessions have to be made. THQ have done quite well with what they have been given. Levels contain not multiple routes, but the occasional addition to the pathway. A good example of this comes early on where players can climb a small hill with the rewards of shooting back down the hill at speed knocking over a large set of barrels stacked nicely. It’s a very basic use for physics but it adds to the variety, giving kids something to do.

To keep things simple, Wall:E attacks by picking up cubes of trash and throwing them at enemies and at set pieces with an auto lock features. Slamming the X button then fires off a cube. Puzzles are all simple variations of this concept, Wall:E will typically use the cubes in the environment to overcome an obstacle and as a visual aid, an inactive Wall:E unit will be seen carrying a certain type of cube. These are light and heavy and energy, each of which can be thrown at enemies causing different damage (with the third being explosive). For a more accurate throw, a first person mode can be entered with the tap of LB, but this will become abandoned when Wall:E later acquires a laser to fire back at his foes.

However, Wall:E isn’t a simple case of wash, rinse and repeat. Almost all of the levels are different, and each of them has a fifteen to twenty minute play time (for an adult). The second level takes you in control of EVE.

Eve’s sections, the second playable character in the game are a completely different ball game. Firstly, the visuals of these sections is far better, not your Xbox 360 standard but definitely better. These levels are a simplified version of a sandbox, with EVE (a flying robot) able to well, fly. This robot (can I say she?) is also able to speed up, shoot lasers and not touch anything. That’s right. A small sandbox area will typically consist of a few challenges, such as flying through caves or tunnels in a specific time limit, destroying 5 of an item and collecting 10 of an item. Whilst an extremely basic concept, it is a good introduction to sandbox gameplay that is often missing in games aimed at a younger audience.

Then the third level (a tad shorter) features Wall:E and EVE working together to get to a space ship. EVE is used in this mode for shooting and for carrying Wall:E short distances. This level has lots of drama, and this certainly improved my opinion of the game somewhat. It also features a small timed dash to the finish that ended things nicely.




After that, Wall:E loses EVE in the space station and using her laser weapon embarks on a quest to save her. Then, once you have blasted what sees like a million robots, the further level returns to an EVE section set in the space around the station. As you see, this is not a one trick horse. All of the sections have the same level of detail to them, with the change of pace continuously refreshing the gameplay. Whilst the game play itself is extremely basic, the changes come at the right time.

Bonus features include the ability to replay the average intro videos, images and replay value comes from hunting out non mandatory Collectibles found in each level. These range from Radios to souvenir models of classic Pixar characters. Each level also contains thirty Wallops (floating “E” logos), and whilst not hard to find, are extra features, even if it has been done a million times before. A very basic multiplayer will keep only the youngest entertained an even then only for a few minutes. Definitely to be avoided.
-Funky, but limited musical score
-Good range of extra’s
-Good replication of the film
-Different level styles create a better experience
-One of the better movie tie-ins
-One of the better kids games available on the Xbox 360
-Awful graphics and generally average animation
-Easy difficulty and achievements
-Horrible multiplayer
-Short, but then aren’t all movie tie ins
A short title that will drive children crazy trying to collect everything in the game. A bit easy for the older kids, it’s aimed purely at the youngest in your family. When you put that into perspective, you can understand the score. Four, five, six and maybe seven year olds only in this average title that whilst no perfection, should be enjoyed. For any kids older than that, up to eleven, then you can half the score, and any older than thirteen, well you’re playing the game because you liked the movie. If that is the case, then expect plenty of nods to the Pixar film, even if it’ lacklustre gameplay probably wont entertain you.

If you can find Wall:E for a price closer to £19.99, and your kids are desperate to have more time with the loveable hero until the DVD release then by movie tie in standards you could do a lot worse. If you’re looking for a kid’s game for the 360 you could also do a lot worse. Not a great game, or even a noteworthy game but a game that manages to be atop its stagnated genre.

If you just looking for a kid friendly 360 game then get Crash of the Titans.
In a word - Acceptable