Chicken Run
Score: 80% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: THQ Developer: THQ Media: Cart/1 Players: 1 Genre: Puzzle
Graphics & Sound: Before Chicken Run made a huge splash onscreen, Aardman Productions had to its credit only some animated shorts and the incredible Wallace and Gromit. Anyone who saw the kooky yet brilliant antics of Wallace and his sophisticated canine companion knew what Aardman was capable of, but I doubt anyone expected something on the magnitude of Chicken Run before the movie actually appeared. Chicken Run for Game Boy Color is every bit the quality production its cinematic cousin turned out to be. All the level design is simple but well done, and images of Mac, Ginger and Fowler are painted in large pixel-strokes, matching their movie-mugs quite nicely. Music is equally nice, and levels have boppy background ditties that you won't tire of quickly.
Gameplay: It's no spoiler telling you that the idea in Chicken Run is to save chickens by leading them out of their incarceration, much like the movie. Playing as Rocky, you use chicken feed to lure hens past all kind of danger in 20 different levels. Levels are split between The Farmyard and The Pie Machine, growing steadily more challenging. Before each mission, Rocky gets a briefing from Mac on dangers that will show up in the next level. Also, in a very 'James Bond' way, Mac plays 'Q' in developing tools Rocky can use to overcome obstacles in levels and bypass Tweedy's fortifications. In The Farmyard, most obstacles involve roaming dogs, spotlights and electrified fences or barbed wire. Some of Mac's devices include a common spoon that Rocky can use to dig under fences, boxes to put in front of sleeping dogs and instructions on disarming the searchlights. The hens will follow a trail of chicken feed, but once they get on track, they'll also go back the way they came. As Rocky goes through disarming traps and making progress through the level, he'll need to also go back and pick up feed to keep the hens moving. Some areas include extra bags of feed in case you run low, but recycling also solves the shortage problem. The Pie Factory has more high-tech devices, including cameras, laser fences and metal grates. Rocky can use a wrench on the gates, but cameras require deflection by mirrors that Mac provides and key cards disarm the laser gates. Also, a hilarious catapult item will send hens flying over an obstacle, if need be. Rocky is able to jump over pipes or boxes, but the hens are grounded. This makes for good gameplay, since Rocky can't always lead the hens along the most direct route. Many times, you run ahead and prepare the route by disarming traps and spreading feed before leading the hens through. Two things make it something other than a pleasure cruise. First, there's a timer counting slowly downward. Second, all the surveillance and prowling dogs can alert a Tweedy guard to your escape party, if alerted. Getting through levels unseen and under time grows increasingly more difficult as you play, but that's what makes it fun.
Difficulty: There's nothing better than a game with well balanced difficulty, and Chicken Run passes with flying colors. It's not that there's an adjustable scale for difficulty, but THQ worked each level to the point that you learn new skills initially which become second nature by the later stages. Once you know what you need to do to complete a level and how to use your tools, Chicken Run is all about planning and execution. It's possible that the logical thinking required may be beyond the youngest gamers, but not likely.
Game Mechanics: Moving Rocky is done with the D-pad, and chicken feed is dropped or retrieved by a press on (A). (B) does several things, exposing the only gripe I had in the control department. Basically, in levels where Rocky needs to use more than one item, you're required to use-and-drop then grab-use-and-drop instead of just storing items in inventory. I guess this could be portrayed as another strategic element in solving the puzzles and completing levels, but I found it a bit annoying. Also, since jumping is done with (B), holding items means no jumping until the item is dropped. Strange... This small quirk aside, Chicken Run is simple to play and few things in the interface get in the way of clearing levels. Big, bright icons and items fill the levels, and gauges show things like the timer, number of chickens remaining to rescue and items you're holding. Also, an icon of the Tweedy guard's face on duty grows noticeably agitated when a camera or dog is alerted to your presence. Watching all this during the level is useful, but most energy goes into finding the exit and looking for clues on solving puzzles or getting by obstacles. The save system is password, and comes as a series of medals Fowler gives Rocky after successful completion of a level. Chicken Run is lots of fun, and I just wished there were more of it. Replay value isn't very high, and it would have been nice to have some kind of advanced difficulty level or time trial option after the main game was beaten. But, the levels look great and don't suffer from any kind of cheap AI or bad design. With Mac's steady introduction of new tools and challenge that notches up gradually, Chicken Run keeps up a steady pace to the end, and is a solid puzzler for just about anyone. Of course, if your Mom works at Tyson, you might play this one when she's not around.
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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