Generally speaking, games based off movies and television shows aren't always the greatest. There's a variety of reasons behind this, but it usually comes down to problems with time and money, with the studio that can most quickly put out a game for the lowest price usually the one who ends up behind it. And given that children's movies are especially notorious for marketing tie-ins, with a wide variety of merchandise aimed at the wallets and purses of their target demographic's parents, one could be forgiven for thinking Over the Hedge is just the latest example of throwaway marketing fluff. Thankfully, Over the Hedge isn't a low quality cheap cash-in. Behind the license is a solid game, and though it has a few problems, it's still an enjoyable romp.

Here's how Over the Hedge works: The game puts players in control of a two-animal team of their choosing, with an available roster of Verne the Turtle, RJ the Raccoon, Hammy the Squirrel, and Stella the Skunk. Each has the same core abilities, so the game plays the same regardless of character choice, the only difference being which two animals are featured in the cinematics.

From there, the game assigns the team a mission and a list of objectives for said mission. Two types of objectives are displayed, the first a primary set that will be fulfilled as players progress through a level. The other set, with objectives like "Don't activate any motion sensors," is purely optional, but as the game unlocks mini-games and other bonuses based on the number of objectives completed, they're not totally worthless.

As stated above, finishing a mission is just a matter of making your way through that particular stage. These stages aren't much different than those of a standard platformer, requiring players to explore the level, avoid obstacles by jumping, solve some simple puzzles, such as activating the switch to open a cage, and fight enemies, with numerous items, including hats, which temporarily increase health, food, and other goodies scattered throughout the area. Combat is a simple matter of repeatedly hitting the square button, with a special attack and a long-range attack also available.

If it sounds simple, that's because it is. Over the Hedge doesn't break any new ground when it comes to gameplay, but what it does, it does well, with the added charm factor of watching a turtle wearing a chef's hat run around smacking rats with a hockey stick. And since a second player can hop in and take control of the other team member at any time, there's also the fun of multiplayer.

However, there are some slight problems. Though the camera is scripted to avoid the issues that typically plague 3D platformers, there are still moments where an odd camera angle or an object obscuring one's view of the characters can make things like jumping harder than they need to be. And those optional objectives, like "Don't activate any motion sensors," can be tough to complete when computer-controlled partners trigger the motion sensors. Sure, the computer-controlled partners behave intelligently when exploring a level, but during a fight, they'll focus entirely on combat, often neglecting one's hard work to ensure those motion sensors weren't tripped in the first place.

Furthermore, there are times the game can get a little tough. This wouldn't be so bad, but as level checkpoints are so sporadic, dying means replaying most of the stage again. And sludging through the same battles only to die at the same part over and over again just isn't a lot of fun. Also, some of the lines the characters spout from time to time can get a bit repetitive.

Lastly, the main game isn't all that long, coming in at about five or six hours. In a way, that's a good thing, as I can't imagine the game lasting much longer without things starting to get a bit old, plus the multiplayer and mini-games will probably add a few more hours to the mix for younger gamers. Still, it's something to be aware of, especially if one is considering spending $40 on the title.

Our Final ScoreMediocre

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