Since 1963, Maurice Sendak’s children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are has been read to children all over the world. Surprisingly, it’s taken over 40 years for the book to finally be brought to the big screen, which in turn has also spawned a videogame. Griptonite Games have taken a few chances in bringing the world Sendak created to consoles. Can they live up to the challenge?

Gameplay
 
Alright, I know you’re wondering exactly how do you make a videogame based on a book and movie that contained little to no real action, right? Before you embark on the journey, it’s important that you suspend your disbelief, as Griptonite has obviously had to embellish a little to make the game more compelling. While the older crowd will have a harder time swallowing the embellishments, those who are still young enough to believe they will one day visit the place where the wild things are, will likely have no trouble believing in them at all.

The game actually starts with Max arriving on the Wild Thing’s island. There’s none of the background information to explain anything from the book or movie. In fact, the game is a variation on the tale, moreso than a retelling. The game’s plot, is actually a little darker than the book/movie’s, as Max isn’t there for the wild rumpus alone...he’s there to save the Wild Thing’s world. There’s a dark goo that’s threatening the island, and it’s up to Max and monsters that inhabit the island to save it. Yes, it’s an entirely different plot here, but as a means to an end, it works pretty well. As I said, some will be able to swallow this easier than others.

The game plays much like you’d expect a platformer to play. There’s some jumping, a little light combat, and a few puzzles to work around too. None of these elements really set the game apart from the other platformers out there, but that’s not to say it’s not enjoyable. While the standard actions, such as jumping across dangerous platforms, or climbing walls come off as a little too simple, especially with the linear nature of the title, there are a few challenges that add something to the game.

In some levels, you’ll ride one of the monster’s backs, in an on-rails racing experience. These levels can be quite challenging, as you’ll have to charge through brambles or jump over/duck under fallen logs. Anticipating each set is actually pretty tough at times and you’ll likely see the checkpoint screen a fair few times on these levels. Were it not for the checkpoint system in place here, though, this would be a lot more frustrating than it is. There are also some levels that have Max sailing through rough waters. Overall, these aren’t the strongest levels in the game, but they break away from convention and make for a decent distraction from the repetitive platforming action.

As mentioned earlier, there is some light combat elements to the game, but none of it is overly complex. Simply tap a couple of buttons and you’ll unleash a combo. Most of your enemies, which consist of giant bugs or blobs of goo, don’t seem to be able to withstand more than a couple of hits, though things do get tougher as you continue on. There are some levels that allow you to throw rocks via an IR shooting mechanic. While they don’t appear all that often, it’s nice to see they’ve included a little something for Wii owners.

Graphic & Sound

Wild Things takes its visual cues mostly from the art-style of the book. It’s dark and primitive, but also warm and inviting in areas. While there wasn’t a whole lot of the island on display throughout the book, the environments are fitting. Character models look like their book/movie counter-parts and the action is animated well.

The music and voice-acting are all well done. I’m not sure if the actors from the movie took part in the game or not, but these are all reasonably well done sound-alikes and don’t sound like the usual phoned-in celeb appearances.

Value

Wild Things isn’t an overly long game. The basic gameplay should take the average player around 4-6 hours, give or take. That said, there are quite a few collectibles to find, which could add on an hour or two, depending on how hardcore you are about finding them. Is it worth the money for non-fans to invest into? Probably not. This is a game that, for all intents and purposes, was designed for fans of Sendak’s world and who don’t mind a little embellishment on that world. It’s still a solid platformer, for what it’s worth, but it’s nothing that you won’t find elsewhere if you’re not a Wild Things fan.

Conclusion
 
Essentially, Where the Wild Things Are is a standard platformer. Make no mistake, it’s still a solid effort, but the true selling point is really the chance to play through Sendak’s world, not the gameplay itself. If you enjoyed either the book or the movie, the Wild Things game will make a nice companion piece to either one.