Over the Hedgeis aplatformvideo gamepublished byActivisionand based on the film of thesame name.The game was released on May 9, 2006 onMicrosoft Windowsand thePlayStation 2,Xbox,GameCube,andGame Boy Advanceplatforms, alongside aseparate handheld versionfor theNintendo DS.Sami Kirkpatrick,Madison Davenport,andShane Baumelreprise their roles from the film as the baby porcupines Bucky, Quillo, and Spike.
| Over the Hedge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Edge of Reality Beenox(PC) Vicarious Visions(GBA) |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Programmer(s) | Jacob Meakin |
| Artist(s) | William M. Sullivan |
| Engine | Torque |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player,multiplayer |
Story
editIn the video game, which takes place a year after the movie, RJ, Hammy, Verne, and the gang feel that they need to have more things for the log (the area behind the hedge). This leads them on a wild romp through six different areas to snatch different things such as a popcorn machine and a TV for themselves. There are several mini games as bonuses in the game.
All through the game, they try to take these things while avoiding the Sniffer (Dwayne the Verminator), who tries to defeat them by using mind-controlled vermin he has captured as his "henchmen". At one point, many animals, including weasels, badgers and even Vincent the bear(who later helps them), are controlled.
Gameplay
editOver the Hedgefeatures 3D platform gameplay as well as mini games. Players navigate a series of homes searching for luxury items, controlling RJ, Verne, Hammy or Stella. Character voices are provided by soundalikes rather than the original actors who recorded the voices for the film (except Bucky, Spike and Quillo).
Two different kinds of attacks can be employed, melee and ranged. Yourarsenalincludes golf clubs, sticks, baseball bats, plungers and other various items to use asimprovised weapons.Ranged attacks consist of throwingboomerangs,frisbeesand shooting golf balls, and these attacks can be charged up. There are also energy attacks, projectile weapons and objects to pick up and throw at enemies. The game has several pickup weapons, such as weapons that only opponents have (i.e., atrowel). There are also guns that can be picked up, such as a toy ball launcher, a freeze ray, a bubble shooter, or alavablaster.
Players can jump or double jump. The game allows a second player to press a button on the second controller and join the game at any time, as well as pause the game and drop out. There are also plenty of obstacles and hazards to overcome, as well as objectives to complete and extras to collect. The game also has an array of hats, which when collected make a humorous sound and act as armor. These include a chef hat, a crown, a witch hat and a hockey helmet amongst others.
Several locations from the movie (and some that are not) appear to give a greater playing ground than the suburbs, the home base being the woods where all the loot is stored. Players can switch around between the four characters to give the storyline some slight twist, as each character says something different when a situation arises, to slightly alter the story.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBA | GC | PC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| GameRankings | 49.54%[2] | 66.39%[3] | 68.80%[4] | 62.85%[5] | 65.59%[6] |
| Metacritic | 49/100[7] | 61/100[8] | 65/100[9] | 58/100[10] | 61/100[11] |
| Publication | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBA | GC | PC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| Eurogamer | N/A | 6/10[17] | 6/10[17] | 6/10[17] | 6/10[17] |
| GameRevolution | N/A | N/A | D[12] | N/A | N/A |
| GameSpot | 5.4/10[13] | 5.6/10[14] | 5.6/10[14] | 5.6/10[14] | 5.6/10[14] |
| GamesRadar+ | N/A |   [18] | [18] | [18] | [18] |
| GameZone | N/A | N/A | N/A | 6.8/10[16] | N/A |
| IGN | N/A | 6.5/10[15] | N/A | 6.5/10[15] | 6.5/10[15] |
| Nintendo World Report | N/A | 6/10[19] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Over the Hedgewas met with mixed reception, the consoles and PC versions was met with "mixed or average" reviews, while the Game Boy Advance version was met with "generally unfavorable" reviews, according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.[7][8][9][10][11]GameSpotgave the PC and console versions a 5.6 out of 10 saying, "A few unique touches are overshadowed by crushingly dull gameplay in this perfunctory animated movie tie-in.",[14]while they gave the Game Boy Advance version a 5.4 out of 10, writing, "Over the Hedge on the GBA is a simple puzzle game best suited for very young children."[13]IGNgave the console versions a 6.5 out of 10, saying, "A turtle with a hockey stick. How can that not be fun?"[15]
Despite the mixed reception, theAcademy of Interactive Arts & SciencesnominatedOver the Hedgefor "Children's Game of the Year"at the10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.[20]
References
edit- ^"Updated Australian release list, 12/06/06".PALGN.12 June 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2006.Retrieved4 June2018.
- ^"Over the Hedge for Game Boy Advance".Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2019.Retrieved4 June2022.
- ^"Over the Hedge for GameCube".Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2019.Retrieved4 June2022.
- ^"Over the Hedge for PC".Game Rankings.Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2019.Retrieved4 June2022.
- ^"Over the Hedge for PlayStation 2".Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2019.Retrieved4 June2022.
- ^"Over the Hedge for Xbox".Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2019.Retrieved4 June2022.
- ^ab"Over the Hedge for Game Boy Advance Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJune 23,2019.
- ^ab"Over the Hedge for GameCube Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJune 23,2019.
- ^ab"Over the Hedge for PC Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJune 23,2019.
- ^ab"Over the Hedge for PlayStation 2 Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJune 23,2019.
- ^ab"Over the Hedge for Xbox Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJune 23,2019.
- ^Ferris, Duke (May 31, 2006)."Over the Hedge".GameRevolution.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 30,2022.
- ^abProvo, Frank (June 5, 2006)."Over the Hedge Review".GameSpot.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 28,2022.
- ^abcdeDavis, Ryan (May 18, 2006)."Over the Hedge Review".GameSpot.CBS Interactive.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 28,2022.
- ^abcdBozon, Mark (June 8, 2006)."Over the Hedge".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 28,2022.
- ^"Over the Hedge – PS2 – Review".GameZone.4 May 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2022.RetrievedSeptember 28,2022.
- ^abcdReed, Kristen (August 18, 2006)."Over the Hedge".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on July 6, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 28,2022.
- ^abcdGraziani, Gabe (May 22, 2006)."Over the Hedge review:" Ugh... another sad movie tie-in bleeds fun out of our lives "".GamesRadar+.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 28,2022.
- ^"Over the Hedge".Nintendo World Report. May 31, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 29,2022.
- ^"2007 Awards Category Details Children's Game of the Year".interactive.org.Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2024.Retrieved8 November2023.
External links
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