REVIEW: The Adventures of Tintin: The Game (WII)

Ubisoft, you have surprised me.

"The Adventures of Tintin: The Game" has done what many video games based off their movie equivalents have not -- that is, be a pretty good game. The developers succeeded where others have failed miserably, as they delivered an authentic movie-based experience that also used elements from "Tintin" literature.

The 2D platforming environments, although at times repetitive, offer the player more ways than one to complete the goal of knocking out cold unsuspecting enemies. Choosing whether to take out multiple foes at a time with a cleverly placed banana peel, or using a barrel to hide only to surprise them with a forcefully placed lid atop their heads, was fun and engaging. Playing as Tintin's clever little dog Snowy was so much fun during times when his owner was in a bind.

The game attempts to let you experience a variety of moments, including piloting a plane through a storm, getting behind the wheel of a side car, swimming through underwater passageways, and even sword fighting. (Some of which I enjoyed using the Wii Remote Plus controller and Nunchuk.) However, navigating the plane was painfully troublesome. A player could easily get lost in the skies with no indication other than a beam of light that pokes through the dark clouds of the storm.

The two-player mode is fantastic. With a friend, you can work together to take out bad guys just like the ones featured in the story mode. Unlockable characters, each with their own personality and skills, bios, treasures, disguises and new maps, add plenty to keep you coming back for more.

"The Adventures of Tintin: The Game" is a well-rounded offering based on the Steven Spielberg-Peter Jackson film.

Although the game left me wanting more -- the campaign took me only five hours to complete -- it's an experience that offered something for everyone and is definitely worth the purchase.