When developers make video games for children, you do run into the possibility of developers making a game so easy that it won’t present any challenge even for a child. Over The Hedge has been turned into a video game for many different consoles. This is for home consoles and portable consoles. Was the Game Boy Advance port of Over The Hedge a game that was made too easy?
There are 24 levels divided into six chapters. Every chapter has four levels. The hub world hub is a forest with different logs that you can walk through and each log is either a different chapter or an option like stage select or credits. The objective of every level is to get to the yellow area which marks the exit of the level. Sometimes you have to push logs or rocks out of your way or use stealth to avoid the sight of humans as you get to the end of every level. Even if a human does see you, you won’t get busted unless a human runs into you. If you sneak by walking but don’t touch the human, you can walk by without getting busted. A human may gasp if they see you but if they don’t touch you then you will be fine.
This game is way too easy. I completed the first 12 levels in about a half hour. While I am an adult, I don’t see this game as challenging for a child. I mentioned the stealth areas, you don’t get busted unless you make physical contact with a human. If a human sees you, they gasp and then continue like normal. I think kids if they played this game, they would also find it too easy.
I have no problem with the controls. Sometimes you may have to push or pull a log or rock or hide your head inside your shell when you play as the turtle or activate switches to get humans to move and I was able to play this game without experiencing any problem with the controls.
The story starts that the raccoon RJ trying to steal food from Vincent the bear who is still hibernating. RJ does not get away with the food and Vincent stops RJ. However, the wagon that had the food gets away and RJ says he can get Vincent’s food back if Vincent doesn’t eat him. Vincent says he has one week left of hibernation and RJ better get his food back and if RJ fails, Vincent will come looking for him.
RJ finds more animals who realize their forest has shrunk and RJ points out that it’s because of the hedge humans put to separate their yard from the forest. The animals are worried that they may starve so RJ points out that if they can get Over The Hedge, they can take food away from humans. That is the story at the beginning of the game.
I have no problem with the graphics. All the characters look different and so do the animals. While what you do in these levels is the same thing over and over, the levels also look different. The levels are colorful and I don’t think the graphics could be any sharper. So I have no problem with the graphics.
I also have no problems with the music or sound effects. The music is enjoyable to listen to and the sound effects are upbeat so there is nothing I would change about the sound.
If you do complete the game, there is no reason to play the game again unless you want to play different levels. This game could also be completed in an hour, maybe two by a child. Once you beat the game, there is no reason to play it.
The gameplay is pretty boring and it is way too easy. I have no problem with the controls. The story makes sense and I don’t have any problem with the graphics or sound. This game will not take long to complete. So I give Over The Hedge on Game Boy Advance 4 out of 10. If you have a Game Boy Advance or a Nintendo DS, this game should be left behind wherever you find it.
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