Open Season

There's a war brewing. It involves two sides – them and us. One hunts, one runs. One is the leader, one will rebel. One of them is a carnivore who relies on humans to catch his dinner. He sleeps in a garage, uses electricity, and has no idea how to fend for himself.

And so the story of Open Season begins, a tale of two animals trying to survive in a world run by humans. It wouldn't have been much of a game without the option to play as both of the film's stars. Guide Boog, the big, lazy, house-pet bear – and Elliot, the wisecracking mule deer with some unfortunate antler issues – on a journey filled with adventure game staples and an enjoyable mixture of two-character objectives.

Traditionally Executed

Two characters, several objectives – one (?) solution. Boog is tall, weighs 900 pounds, and is the most powerful force in the woods (in a gentle giant sort of way). Elliot's smaller figure enables him to run faster to dodge squirrel-thrown acorns. His single horn lets him ram through wooden fences and natural barricades. Elliot can jump – Boog can't. Boog is strong enough to pick up and throw Elliot; the opposite is a power Elliot will never have. The player has to use these two, both as a team and individually, to solve environmental puzzles.

Puzzles are not limited to the push of a button that triggers a moving platform. The game has that, but it's not all you'll be doing. Boog doesn't throw Elliot just for the fun of it, you know. I mean sure, it's fun – but he has to do it. What if you approach an object that needs destroyed and it's too high for Elliot to reach? He won’t be able to reach it until he’s been thrown up to it.

Rabbits make for a great Elliot substitute, acting as live, throw-able weaponry. But they're not always available. Therefore you'll have to rely on Elliot's services as a weapon, switch-pusher, trap-releaser, and object-destroyer. All of these things and more can be accomplished by lifting and throwing Elliot into the designated object. You'll know where to throw by the green arrow that appears. If it doesn't appear, Elliot can't be thrown. And if the arrow is red, that means you have to change your position.

Upon the discovery of a green arrow, pressing the A button will trigger an automatic throw. Elliot will strike the necessary target, triggering whatever action is supposed to happen next.

Rabbits – the aforementioned live weaponry – is one of the throw-able animals you'll find. The porcupines are hilarious. Just looking at them makes me laugh. Their needles stick straight up like a bad hair day, bringing to mind a few personal experiences – and Jimmy Neutron.

The skunks will also make you laugh, especially if you've seen the movie or its trailer. They can be used as – wait for it – stink bombs.

Beavers help out by cutting down trees to build bridges. The French Canadian ducks are also on your side, but don't expect McSquizzy, the evil squirrel leader, to start playing nice anytime soon.

Visually Seasoned

There aren't any screenshots currently available, leaving the box shots as your only visual. Ignore the semi-blurry and pixelated images plastered on the back of the box – Open Season looks MUCH better than that. All of the characters are well-animated and are instantly recognizable. Their motions are fluid and nicely match their big-screen counterparts.

The backgrounds are on par with the PSone cult classic Pandemonium. Open Season gives you more freedom, has sharper imagery, and displays cooler camera changes. Though the game is technically two-dimensional, players can move in and out of the environment as if it were 3D. As you explore, the camera changes automatically to create a semi-3D graphical experience.

Like most movie-licensed games, Open Season does not utilize the Nintendo DS's full potential. Good graphics are a plus, but the touch screen features are pretty basic. To maximize the power of Elliot's ram, tap the two yellow icons on the touch screen. Character selection is also done via the touch screen. There are a few times when you'll have to blow into the microphone – not much fun but at least it's something different, and has a corresponding action that relates to what's going on in the game. So while these elements are anything but innovative, they're not a gimmick either. They're just kind of...there.

Kids and parents alike will find Open Season to be a great stocking-stuffer this Christmas. It's a simple adventure that makes you think. (Simple except for the squirrels – they can be quite the beasts!) It's slow, but not too slow, and has a lot of clever and creative character-driven objectives that disperse equal importance to the playable cast.

Gameplay: 7.0
A side-scrolling adventure of a different nature. Whereas most games go for the “point A to point B” style of play, Open Season has several world-based objectives that must be solved along the way. You’ll need to conquer these objectives and come up with new ways to pass a squirrel-laden area, cross a spiked pathway, fill in a large gap, or one of many other things.

Graphics: 7.0
There is a considerable amount of detail crammed into this game. Most have been delegated to the stages, which will change camera angles automatically to give it that semi-3D feel. Boog and Elliot can move in and out of the background – that’s rare (and pretty cool) for a side-scroller.

Sound: 6.0
Not a bad soundtrack, but not a great one either. The sound effects, however, are way below average, especially by DS standards.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
The squirrels are deadlier than they look!

Concept: 7.7
Open Season belongs to a genre that’s as old as the NES. The pseudo-3D aspect is as old as the PSone. Nothing here is groundbreaking, or fresh to the gaming world. The two-character objectives, however, are very cleverly done. There’s a lot more thought involved in solving these world-based puzzles than you’ll find in the typical kiddie game.

Multiplayer: 6.0
Wi-Fi and wireless communication multiplayer available – one game card per DS required for both. The cumbersome 12-digit friend code will prevent most gamers from logging in. And if you do, it’s very unlikely that you’ll find someone to play with.

Overall: 7.0
Easygoing kid-targeted fun. Fans of 3D side-scrollers like Klonoa and Pandemonium will enjoy this animal adventure. There are moments of amusement, intrigue, and even surprise. Boog and Elliot make a great pair, having required objectives that are relevant to both characters. The story isn’t entirely based on the movie, but the stages and woodland creatures come directly from the original plot.