Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Every major animated film release must have a video game tie-in - no matter who bizarre the concept. Yes, even if it is as far out there as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Anyone aware of the film would know that the movie's plotline is out of the normal, leaving developers in charge of turning it into palatable playable content.

Honestly, you'd be forgiven for thinking that there isn't much hope for this game. Typically these releases are churned out only to add more revenue on top of the film and delivering the most remarkable average game one could possibly imagine. There's always room for surprises, though - maybe we'll see one here?

Food, Glorious Food!

So what's to be said about the game offering of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? First of all, it's pretty obvious straight away that the game is created for children. The simple platform mechanics and simple control schemes dictate that. However, there has been a little more effort to make it universally playable for a wider audience.

It's to be said that the game looks great. All the food-based colorful environments and fluid animations do complement the film and immerse players into the world of Flint Lockwood and his heroic adventures. You'll be tasked with saving his hometown of Swallow Falls, and subsequently the world, from the rain of food and evil culinary monsters that start to plague the land.

The narrative is uncomplicated - which sets the tone for the entire game. Every level is pretty easy to finish using Flint's assigned gadgets, upgrading them along the way to help overcome your food obstacles quicker. Nothing is ever overly challenging but occasionally requires a little thought. Just enough not for any player to wholly criticize the game as totally bland.

That idea really resonates with what the game is throughout, however. It is just enough. Players with enough focus can finish the game in around 6 hours - where they will feel a bit uninspired - but feel like it's a decent side dish to the movie. Anybody seeking a thrilling food-based platform experience may get bored pretty quickly, though.

Hate to Be The Fly in Your Dessert, But...

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is yet another one of those typical movie game releases. It's cute, colorful, and offers just enough for children that they can get some entertainment out of it. From a critical perspective - the content is nothing more than average. The only reason it feels more polished is to make sure it doesn't dent the prospects of the film's success.

Pros:

• Nice visuals well-aligned with the film
• The game feels very polished throughout each level
• Solid animations and fluid gameplay

Cons:

• Any challenge presented is easy to overcome
• No replayability value
• One of the most straightforward platformers ever

I Didn't Know this was a game based on a "mouth-watering motion picture" but as soon as it loads up, you get that vibe from it. The temptation is to lay into it savagely, but it would be unfair. It's a game for kids and one that you could play along with in the role of Steve the Monkey, as it has a local co-op mode.

Having said that, kids do deserve more than just a cute food-hoovering game. Also consider the fact that most kids will be hankering after titles in which you blow away bad guys with shotguns and grenades.

So, young kids would be a more accurate description of the audience, children who've yet to be tainted by the all-encompassing violence behemoth. In Cloudy they get the chance to be Flint, an inventor who has created a device that rains down foodstuffs on his town. Of course, it goes wrong and he has to clean up the mess. It's your usual platform game dynamic going on, with the addition of a few puzzles here and there. Spraying honey on certain walls allows you to climb up and . moving bits of chorizo onto conveniently placed Xs allows you to jump up onto the next ledge. That sort of thing. The game's charming enough, despite having a wildly differing level of visual quality in certain sections. The lab, which acts as the main hub for missions and upgrades, looks swish, but menus are jagged and ugly. There's not much else to say really, it's just a generic licensed platform game for kids.