Dana Jongewaard of GameTap writes: Brash Entertainment, a new company that is looking to work with a variety of movie studios to make companion games for upcoming films and popular movie franchises. While fans of horror movies were probably thrilled to learn that soon they'd be able to virtually act out their own gory sequences in the upcoming Saw game, don't think that Brash is neglecting younger gamers. This summer, the company will be releasing the companion game to the animated family film Space Chimps.
The game follows the main story of the movie, although to flesh things out, it has additional levels and enemies not featured in the film; developers Brash Entertainment and Red Tribe worked directly with Vanguard Animation, the team in charge of the movies, to remain consistent with the movie world. The platformer takes place over 13 levels, where you'll alternate playing as Ham and Luna (one of the other chimps along on the journey). While Ham makes his way through levels using hand-to-hand combat, the levels featuring Luna will be focused more on puzzle solving; she'll also get an alien companion who will sit on her shoulder and can then be used to shoot at targets. While Ham won't be using any weapons, he can use stealth to help him make his way through levels.
There will also be two-player co-op play available for the game, which would allow parents and kids to play the game together. When kids like a movie, it's hard for them to get enough of it; Space Chimps the game looks like another option for parents who don't want to sit in a theater full of screaming children multiple times in a row.
Tim from Tech Olive writes, "Today, I tap into my childish nature and try a game that no self-respecting gamer would ever attempt. It's time to go from CoD4 to Space Chimps. As the name suggests, Space Chimps is a video game adaption of the recent animated movie. I never bothered to see the movie, so I might be a bit out of my element here, but that won't stop me!"
Nintendo fansite DS-x2.com put Space Chimps for Nintendo DS to the test. With a score of about 6/10, Space Chimps features nice visuals and solid platforming action. On the downside, it also brings in poor flying sections and terrible touch-screen controls.
Square-Go Writes:
"You jump, swing and battle your way through the levels - Ham punching and kicking at the King's army, and Luna flying with butterfly wings and shooting goo from a little alien she befriends! Swing on the vines to get through the jungle, but if none are obvious a sticky green substance on nearby walls can assist. Look out for creatures who don't try to attack you, they will give you a helping hand, and help you progress through the game. The bananas scattered all over the place have healing properties, and statues of Zartog himself, when activated, will present you with a Zartog head. These will enable you to progress in the game; the little bright blue and yellow heads act as keys, and the larger heads as weights. Saving any golden bananas will give you buying power later. Also, remember that although water is frequently dangerous, it is sometimes the only way to get ahead."
"On the downside, older gameplayers may find the game a bit repetitive, but all in all, Space Chimps works pretty well - good movie, good game. So do think you got the skill to save Malgor?! Because if you do, you'd better hurry and…unleash your inner chimp!"
