PSone REVIEW:
I suppose it would be only fair to begin this review of Chicken Run by saying that I haven’t seen the hit movie, but I have glanced at a number of clips and read much about it’s critical acclaim. The reason I mention this is because when playing a game with a movie tie-in it’s very easy to fall into the trap where emotions become over-run by nostalgia. With this in mind I feel as though I can comment on Chicken Run purely as a computer game and not get too over-excited by many of the themes and ideas linked to the hit movie.
For the uninitiated among us the game is set in England during the 1950’s on a Yorkshire chicken farm. It follows a group of chickens as they attempt to break out of their confinement in a style that’s often been associated to the classic war film The Great Escape.
Tasty clips from the actual movie, as well as in-game engine cut-scenes, serve to set the scene before the player eventually takes control of the finger-lickin’ chicken Ginger, cooped up in Hut 17 along with her fellow flock. Rather than divide the game up into individual levels Chicken Run uses the idea of finding sections of a map, which serve to expand the current playing area. The game is played out in several 3D polygon constructed playing zones, which may be fairly small but they do include a tremendous amount of detail.
Now creeping around some old farmyard in the dark may not seem like your idea of fun gaming, but I have to say the atmosphere is greatly increased by some excellent lighting effects. All around searchlights constantly pan the playing area, lampposts are strategically placed, while guard dogs and the farmer can be spotted constantly patrolling the grounds. To assist in your task there is a Metal Gear Solid style on-screen radar indicating the enemies scope of vision, which adds an element of stealth to the gameplay.
You quickly realize that Chicken Run is going to be one of those games where the player must constantly run (sneak) back and forth around the farm gathering items that will allow further progress. For example, working from a devised plan Gingers first task is to escape through the wire mesh fencing that leads into the farmyard. A butter knife and broken shears must be found somewhere within the present enclosure. These are then combined to create a new tool to cut through the rusty wire and therefore open a new playing area.
Moving further into the game various items must be gathered to construct gadgets that will allow an escape attempt to take place. Should the chicken ever be discovered out of its hut then it’s back to the start of the present area with one of your collected items taken away and put back into it’s original finding place as a penalty.
Once a task has been satisfactorily completed a Boss style mission must be completed before a new scenario is then set. Tips are available by conversing with fellow chickens whose voices are acted out brilliantly along with legible text at the foot of the screen. To further increase the atmosphere you are constantly aware of the ‘prison camp’ music constantly playing in the background, which has that ‘Great Escape’ feeling to it.
FEATURES:
· Huge detailed 3D immersive environments
· Characters, voices and locations based on the movie
· Highly involving gameplay and an easy control system
· Something for everyone including stealth, puzzle-solving and arcade elements
· Control different characters throughout the game including Ginger, Rocky, Nick and Fletcher.
· Unique sub-games using catapults, fireworks and seesaws to enable the chickens to escape
· The ability to interact with the environment, objects and other chickens.
OPTIONS:
• 1 Disk(s)
• CD Media
• 1 Block required on Memory card per save (min)
• Up to 1 Players (without Multi-tap)
• Uses Dual Shock Pad Buttons
• Uses Dual Shock Pad Analog Sticks
• Uses Dual Shock Pad Vibration facility |
