Grab your cane and balloons and get ready to re-live the wonderful story of the Up movie, only this time with you guiding the characters along on their journey.
In the Middle of it All
You play as both Carl Fredricksen, the 78-year-old retired balloon salesman, and Russell, his newly acquired sidekick, as you explore the thick of the [KWLINK 3178]South American jungle. In the game, you travel to the end of each level, fighting and making difficult jumps and climbs along the way. As well, you collect various items, like butterflies and picture portraits.
You can switch between the two characters anytime and use their specialized skills and fighting capabilities to better navigate the treacherous jungle canopy and defeat dangerous wildlife, like snakes and crocodiles. Some sections of a level will need you to switch between the two several times. For example, you may need to have Carl jump up on a ledge, then use Russell to scare away the bats from a vine before using Carl again to swing and jump using the vine. Other times, you will need to use both Carl and Russell together, such as having Russell boost Carl up to a tall ledge and then having Carl lower his cane to pull Russell up.
Ups and Down
As can be expected from a game based off of a Disney/Pixar movie, the graphics and music in Up: The Video Game is wonderful. As well, there is great voice overs that pop up now and then, making it feel like you really are playing a part in the movie.
However, there are a lot of different controls to learn and use and the level design can get a bit annoying. Luckily, there is a free demo of the PC version of the game that can be downloaded from the official website, so you can try out the game first to see if you will like it.
Overall, Up: The Video Game looks to be a decent licensed game. it follows the classic action/platformer style and adds in the ability for two players to play each character, which makes the game great fun for families who enjoyed the movie. The game will be coming out this week with a version for all major systems, including Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, DS, and PC/Mac.
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