PlayStation Move Heroes
PlayStation Move Heroes is an average action game based on a strange crossover between Sony’s three main platforming franchises: Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper.
It was conceived as a showpiece for the Move controller, but is ultimately a hodgepodge mix of simple platform and combat mechanics with the usual array of competent mini-games.
It is refreshing for a title such as this to actually contain a meatier side than the average motion mascot min-game collection, and although a little absurd, it is quite nice to see Sony’s varied cartoon characters come together in the same game.
But after the initial interest wears off, the throwaway conceit and paper-thin story fail to live up to each franchise’s quality bar and, if anything, damage the brands involved. Naughty Dog, Insomniac and Sucker Punch all care about the characters they’ve created but Nihilistic isn’t quite up to the task.
Visually, at least, they’ve done an admirable job. Ratchet looks like Ratchet, Jak looks like Jak and so does Sly - the first made-for-HD version of him we’ve seen.
They’re faithful to the originals, though slightly marred by a new set of hands that are not used to their quirks and details. The environments, however, are a little bland.
Most of the levels are based on areas from each franchise and some, such as Sly Cooper’s Paris levels, are really evocative of the original games in both look and design, but the rest are generic layouts with a rough skin plastered on top.
Actually playing Move Heroes is a varied affair. As with any mini-game collection, some are fun, some are bad.
None of those on show here are memorable, and the bulk of them feel like the sort of things you do for two minutes as a diversion in a normal platformer. For the most part the Move controller is used well.
It can be used in a variety of control schemes, including alongside a navigation controller or Dual Shock. Playing like this in some of the game’s more polished moments can be a genuinely fun experience and shows flashes of Move’s potential as a HD Wii.
But more than anything playing Move Heroes makes you want to play fully-fledged Ratchet, Jak and Sly games using the Move controller.
Thinking about those games’ variety, polish, charm and sheer gameplay fun puts this game in a harsh light.
It’s not meant to stand up to the original games, it’s meant to complement them as a more child-friendly, casual gamer-friendly alternative which combines the approachability of Move with a recognisable and iconic cast to appeal to a wide audience.
In that, Move Heroes is quite successful, but it still feels like developers Nihilistic slightly missed the target, especially as younger gamers become more shrewd and difficult to please. It’s one of the better Move titles out there, but isn’t for everyone.
Verdict: 6.5/10
Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: Fighting
Developer/Publisher: Nihilistic Software/Sony
Release: 22/03/11
FemaleFirst Michael Moran