''Over the Hedge'' is a
platform
Platform may refer to:
Technology
* Computing platform, a framework on which applications may be run
* Platform game, a genre of video games
* Car platform, a set of components shared by several vehicle models
* Weapons platform, a system or ...
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
published by
Activision
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one ...
and based on the film of the
same name. The game was released on May 9, 2006 on
Microsoft Windows and the
PlayStation 2,
Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
,
GameCube, and
Game Boy Advance
The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console developed, manufactured and marketed by Nintendo as the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, in North America on June 11, 2001, in the PAL region on June 22, ...
platforms, alongside a
separate handheld version for the
Nintendo DS. Sami Kirkpatrick,
Madison Davenport
Madison Danielle Davenport (born November 22, 1996) is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Kate Fuller in '' From Dusk till Dawn: The Series''. She also appeared in '' Kit Kittredge: An American Girl'' as Kit's best friend ...
and
Shane Baumel
Shane R. Baumel (born February 12, 1997) is an American former actor. He made his film debut playing Crispin in ''Daddy Day Care''. He also had a role in ''Wild Hogs'', starring Tim Allen, and appeared on TV a few times, in shows such as ''The Em ...
reprise their roles from the film as the baby porcupines Bucky, Quillo, and Spike.
Story
In 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 are controlled.
Gameplay
''Over the Hedge'' features 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. Your
arsenal includes golf clubs, sticks, baseball bats, plungers and other various items to use as
improvised weapons. Ranged attacks consist of throwing
boomerang
A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning ...
s,
frisbees and 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., a
trowel
A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving small amounts of viscous or particulate material. Common varieties include the masonry trowel, garden trowel, and float trowel.
A power trowel is a much larger gas ...
). There are also guns that can be picked up, such as a toy ball launcher, a freeze ray, a bubble shooter, or a
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
blaster.
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
''Over the Hedge'' was 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 to
review aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
.
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
gave 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.",
[ 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."][ ]IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
gave the console versions a 6.5 out of 10, saying, "A turtle with a hockey stick. How can that not be fun?"[
]
References
External links
*
*
{{Over the Hedge
2006 video games
3D platform games
Activision games
Cooperative video games
Over the Hedge video games
Xbox games
Beenox games
Windows games
GameCube games
PlayStation 2 games
Game Boy Advance games
Vicarious Visions games
Torque (game engine) games
Video games based on comics
Video games based on animated films
Video games about raccoons
Video games about reptiles
Video games about bears
Works about friendship
Video games using Havok
Video games set in Indiana
Video games set in forests
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Video games developed in the United States
Video games with 2.5D graphics