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Review

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

6.0

Format Xbox 360

Developer Traveller's Tales

Publisher Disney Interactive Studios

Genre Adventure, Beat 'em Up, Action

26-Aug-2008 Way more interesting than the back of a wardrobe

So just how bad is Prince Caspian? Not a very positive attitude, true, but wave after wave of rubbish movie tie-ins, from Transformers to Spider-Man 3, has led us to approach any cinema-based game that isn't preceded by 'LEGO' in the title with some dread.

Praise then to Traveller's Tales; the developer overlays a decent interpretation of the next instalment of the Narnia universe onto a hack 'n' slash game type, mixed in with puzzles. Use a dwarf's grappling hook to reach a higher ledge, or a Minotaur's strength to chuck huge boulders out of the way. Sit back down puzzle fans - it doesn't get more brain-taxing than that.

However, a nice touch is taking that basic framework and applying it to a variety of scenarios that fit in logically with the film's storyline, thereby keeping the gameplay fresh.

So you're clearing a landing space for Gryphons by tackling mace-wielding knights, piggyback riding on giants to repel an invading army, luring bears into woodland traps, or using torches to ward off killer insects while exploring caves.

It feels like the developer has approached each movie scene to work out how it can make it an interesting gaming challenge.
While there is the occasional misfire, it's always forgivable because something half-decent is always round the corner.

That said, this is a game better played with a friend - the computer AI is a few cards short of a full deck, staring dumbly as you're attacked rather than joining in the fray, or wandering off when you need to quickly swap between characters. Solving puzzles while a mate protects your back is a lot more satisfying.

So just how bad is Prince Caspian? Not bad at all - this is a decent romp that's the best of a bad bunch of formulaic action-adventures. So even though this is your conventional hack 'n' slash movie tie-in, it's not entirely run-of-the-mill.

OXM Staff

Overview

Verdict

A handsome prince rather than a frog

Uppers

More robust than most hack 'n' slashers

Looks good, for a multiformat release

Enjoyable two-player mode

Downers

Camera gets caught behind scenery

Stealth sections a mistake

Screens

Interactive

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Screens

1 / 7 Screenshots

Reviews:

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

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