Where the Wild Things Are (video game)
Encyclopedia
Where the Wild Things Are is a video game, released on October 13, 2009 in North America, November 25, 2009 in Australia and November 27, 2009 in Europe. It is based on the film of the same name
, released the same day. The game is available for all seventh generation consoles
: PlayStation 3
, Wii
and Xbox 360
as well as Nintendo DS
. It was developed by Griptonite Games
, except for the Nintendo DS which was developed by WayForward Technologies
. All versions were published by Warner Bros. Games.
The game then goes through a series of events with Max helping out the Wild Things, or exploring the island with them, all the while investigating the appearance of strange black gunk and the "shadow creatures" emerging from it. Tensions rise in the group, however, causing some of the Wild Things to try and get rid of Max. But Max saves them from the shadow creatures and rescues them from Nowhere, a strange dimension accessed by portals on the island, causing the Wild Things to crown Max their king for his bravery. They throw a wild rumpus to celebrate.
Douglas, a bird-like Wild Thing, soon realizes that the moon is falling to Earth and will destroy the island. After a bid to find a new island fails, Carol, a third Wild Thing, proposes that they escape to the moon by building a tower to reach it. Upon its completion, the Wild Things and Max climb the tower, battling the shadow creatures and avoiding the rising gunk, and successfully reach the top. Max jumps and almost doesn't make it, but is rescued by the Wild Things.
As they celebrate in their new home, Max's scepter begins to shoot fireworks into the sky. The Bull, who decided to stay behind in Nowhere, sees this and smiles. He lies down happy in his new home, as the camera pans up to show the moon, back in the sky in its rightful place.
versions of Where the Wild Things Are have the player controlling a young boy named Max as he interacts with creatures and explores an island. Max can attack enemies with his scepter, and as the game progresses, he acquires new abilities such as physical feats and commands over the creatures. While platform
segments make up a large part of the game, it also includes racing and a boating stage. Max is also able to discover hidden items and unlock new paths in the village.
The Nintendo DS
version of the game consists of 2D
side-scrolling
. Max is essentially limited to running and jumping, roaring at enemies, and throwing objects. Some levels allow Max to traverse background and foreground layers of the stage.
, the Xbox 360
version has an average critic score of 5.5 based on 7 reviews. While acknowledging its graphics and other elements as commendable, the majority of critics noted the game's lack of depth as a major pitfall.
Seth Schiesel of The New York Times
considered the Wii
version "more than a little disappointing." He also noted that while it's "not a sloppy or slipshod game," "The combat in Wild Things could charitably be described as minimalist in that all you ever have to do, or get to do, is pull the same trigger over and over." Schiesel added that "nothing in the writing, the story, the gameplay or the world design lends any depth to their characters or the environment around them."
GameDaily
's Robert Workman called the PlayStation 3
version "a breezy little adventure. However, it only lasts a few hours, and once it's over, all that's left for you to do is hang around the Wild Things village." He praised the audio with its musical cues and "terrific" voice acting. Workman sums it up by stating that the title "doesn't earn a strong recommendation. Although the platforming isn't bad, the lack of replay value and small visual problems take away from the overall adventure. However, if you've got kids or you're a fan of Spike Jonze
's film, you might be up for some Rumpus."
Ryan Clements of IGN
gave the Nintendo DS
version a "passable" 6.5 rating. He considered it "much better" than the console versions but noted its "repetitive design" and "not terribly exciting" gameplay. Clements stressed the frustration of the roaring and items pick-up actions being accomplished by the same buttons as well as a lack of actual platforming
. He summed up with: "As it stands, Where the Wild Things DS is easily recommended over its console brethren, but I'd rather play New Super Mario Bros."
Where the Wild Things Are (film)
Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 American fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book Where the Wild Things Are. It combines live action, performers in costumes, animatronics, and computer-generated imagery...
, released the same day. The game is available for all seventh generation consoles
History of video game consoles (seventh generation)
In the history of video games, the seventh generation of consoles is the current generation , and includes consoles released since late by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony...
: PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
as well as Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. It was developed by Griptonite Games
Griptonite Games
Griptonite Games, is an American video game developer developer located in Kirkland, Washington. It is currently wholly owned by Glu Mobile, but was formerly a part of super-developer Foundation 9 Entertainment, where it was previously a studio of Amaze Entertainment.-History:Steve Ettinger opened...
, except for the Nintendo DS which was developed by WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies is a game development company based in Valencia, California. Founded in 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational...
. All versions were published by Warner Bros. Games.
Plot
The game begins with Max, a young boy, arriving on an island and discovering a scepter among a pile of bones. After following a bull-like creature, he stumbles upon the village of the Wild Things, a group of fearsome looking monsters. The Wild Things attempt to eat Max, who cries "Be still!" causing them to jump back in fear and knock over the village. Impressed, they introduce themselves and invite Max to stay with them.The game then goes through a series of events with Max helping out the Wild Things, or exploring the island with them, all the while investigating the appearance of strange black gunk and the "shadow creatures" emerging from it. Tensions rise in the group, however, causing some of the Wild Things to try and get rid of Max. But Max saves them from the shadow creatures and rescues them from Nowhere, a strange dimension accessed by portals on the island, causing the Wild Things to crown Max their king for his bravery. They throw a wild rumpus to celebrate.
Douglas, a bird-like Wild Thing, soon realizes that the moon is falling to Earth and will destroy the island. After a bid to find a new island fails, Carol, a third Wild Thing, proposes that they escape to the moon by building a tower to reach it. Upon its completion, the Wild Things and Max climb the tower, battling the shadow creatures and avoiding the rising gunk, and successfully reach the top. Max jumps and almost doesn't make it, but is rescued by the Wild Things.
As they celebrate in their new home, Max's scepter begins to shoot fireworks into the sky. The Bull, who decided to stay behind in Nowhere, sees this and smiles. He lies down happy in his new home, as the camera pans up to show the moon, back in the sky in its rightful place.
Gameplay
The consoleVideo game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
versions of Where the Wild Things Are have the player controlling a young boy named Max as he interacts with creatures and explores an island. Max can attack enemies with his scepter, and as the game progresses, he acquires new abilities such as physical feats and commands over the creatures. While platform
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
segments make up a large part of the game, it also includes racing and a boating stage. Max is also able to discover hidden items and unlock new paths in the village.
The Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
version of the game consists of 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
side-scrolling
Side-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
. Max is essentially limited to running and jumping, roaring at enemies, and throwing objects. Some levels allow Max to traverse background and foreground layers of the stage.
Reception
Where the Wild Things Are received largely mixed reviews. According to GamespotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
, the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version has an average critic score of 5.5 based on 7 reviews. While acknowledging its graphics and other elements as commendable, the majority of critics noted the game's lack of depth as a major pitfall.
Seth Schiesel of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
considered the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version "more than a little disappointing." He also noted that while it's "not a sloppy or slipshod game," "The combat in Wild Things could charitably be described as minimalist in that all you ever have to do, or get to do, is pull the same trigger over and over." Schiesel added that "nothing in the writing, the story, the gameplay or the world design lends any depth to their characters or the environment around them."
GameDaily
GameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
's Robert Workman called the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version "a breezy little adventure. However, it only lasts a few hours, and once it's over, all that's left for you to do is hang around the Wild Things village." He praised the audio with its musical cues and "terrific" voice acting. Workman sums it up by stating that the title "doesn't earn a strong recommendation. Although the platforming isn't bad, the lack of replay value and small visual problems take away from the overall adventure. However, if you've got kids or you're a fan of Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
's film, you might be up for some Rumpus."
Ryan Clements of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
version a "passable" 6.5 rating. He considered it "much better" than the console versions but noted its "repetitive design" and "not terribly exciting" gameplay. Clements stressed the frustration of the roaring and items pick-up actions being accomplished by the same buttons as well as a lack of actual platforming
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
. He summed up with: "As it stands, Where the Wild Things DS is easily recommended over its console brethren, but I'd rather play New Super Mario Bros."