UP (XBOX 360)

Gamecow’s Price	RRP $79.92     Save $6.97 $72.95
Availability
Genre	General
Platform	XBOX 360
Release Date	27/08/2009
Rated

UP (XBOX 360) Product Information

By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isnt alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

UP (XBOX 360) Review

The beauty of Pixar's projects are their all-encompassing appeal. Instead of pandering to a younger audience through crude humour the studio has found a way to introduce mature themes and characters that can be enjoyed by children as well as their parents. Up the game is a pale shadow of the film as far as story and presentation are concerned but in terms of pure accessibility it's a success.

The game stars the same main characters from the film allowing you to take control of Russell (the young and impressionable scout), Carl (the crotchety old man), and Dug the dog. First off I want to warn that the first level is not indicative of the rest of the game and is set in a scene from late in the movie. While the segment avoids spoiling the ending it is a strange design choice and unwelcome glimpse at where the film goes if you haven't seen it yet.

After this awkward intro the game transitions into the meat and potatoes of the experience which consists of Russell and Carl tramping through the wilderness collecting merit badges and overcoming simple obstacles. Both characters have unique abilities that allow them to help the other navigate the environment. For example Carl can push over large rocks with his walker and Russell can help his elderly friend up inclines by extending a rope. The story is dished up through grainy film scenes and loosely ties together the levels by delivering a bare bones version of the movie's plot. This part of the presentation is an afterthought and it shows.

Perhaps the most humorous part of the experience are the audio clips that are pulled directly from the film. The characters maintain a running dialogue that only gets better as characters like Dug the dog join the crew. The soundtrack is light and airy, which is as much as you can ask for.
If you enjoyed Pixar’s brilliant film, Up the game will keep the good times rolling for the younger audience for another few hours. The experience is simple enough to appeal to children and the ease of jumping in and out of cooperative play means that mom or dad can join in or leave as they please.
Full review IGN