Ratatouille

Daily PC Game Review Score: 6.5 / 10
Game Category: Action - Platformer, Kids
Date: 29 Jan 2011

When Pixar released their eighth film about a rat who aspires to be a chef, little did we know that the movie would grow to become such a well-loved classic. In fact, when the movie won the hearts of most critics and viewers (adults and kids alike), and also clinched the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2007, I knew at once that any merchandise using the Ratatouille namesake would also be well loved and appreciated.

When Heavy Iron Studios produced their PC game of the movie, I would probably have been one of the few who would rush out there to buy it. But for me, I have learnt a lesson from the gaming industry: Never rush out there to buy a game based on a movie. True enough, according to the reviews I read later on, the game only managed to score average marks.

So a few months down the road, when I found Ratatouille in the budget corner, I decided to give the game a chance and bought it to see where the game's strengths and weakness lie.

Telle splendeur magnifique

There are six huge levels in the game of Ratatouille. These levels are divided into many sub-areas having different tasks for you to accomplish.

The first level in the game "Somewhere in Paris" is set in a farm somewhere in the countryside outside Paris. It also doubles up as a huge tutorial level. Your elder brother Emile (who is either busy eating or making silly remarks during the voice scripted scenes) will walk you through quite a lot - you will learn how to walk, dash, climb walls, carry objects, swing like a gymnast on poles, finding apples in the dark, using a ball like a circus animal, walk the tightrope, run on a beam, jump on a point, play hide and seek with a mean chicken, swing a weapon, row a boat, and even glide down an umbrella.

C'est lourd

With so many moves that Remy can do, you must be wondering whether the keyboard configuration in the game is going to get rather complicated. Well, that is not really true; most of the action can be performed by just one key - the all important Action key. At the same time, you need to use your mouse from time to time to glance around. A few other keys are required to dash, to jump, and to activate your scent vision.

Je navigue sur le fleuve

The later levels are quite varied, and the game rewards you with scenes not seen in the movie. You are also awarded points that can be used to purchase extra game modes and unlock goodies in the gallery.

You will get to meet many the characters from the movie like Gusteau's ghost, Linguini - the human who becomes a great chef with the help of Remy, Skinner - one mean enemy chef, and Django (Remy's dad), plus scores more. All of them are voice by the original actors with additional voiceovers done pretty well too.

Glisser vers le bas de la goulotte

The one thing I disliked about the game is that it can get quite difficult (for some of the fast action sub-areas). And later on, you may feel that the levels tend towards becoming repetitive. I also got myself dizzy at one point as I struggled to maneuver Remy on a ball up a slope while crushing ants with it. The tasks kept getting harder and harder and bordered on frustration too. Though I must say, there were occasional moments of pure fun - though these gems were not too many.

Cette cuisine semble familier

I am sure my kid would appreciate the game of Ratatouille a lot. Personally, I think there is nothing new nor genre breaking in the game, and that I believe is the greatest failing of this game. Everything becomes too formulaic and the game in fact relies on the movie too much just to pull itself through. After all is said and done, I would just retire the PC game disc one side once its done, and return with enthusiasm to watching the movie of Ratatouille for the one-hundredth time.

PS - Use Google Translate to translate the screenshot captions.