Sadly Chicken Run fails to rise above that curse. Based on the brilliant claymation film from last year, the movie itself was quite tasty. Dreamworks deserves some credit for being a creative with it's game, but when push comes to shove...

Well let's talk about the positive before we dwell on the negatory. The game takes a break from the standard licensed game formula (Crappy Platforming+Characters remotely related to the licensee, for those not in the know) and follows the theme of the movie--rescuing chickens. While I'd munch rather be munching on their fried remains, in CR for the Gameboy you'll be trying to lead the little poultrites to their salvation. This is accomplished in a semi-Lemmings fashion, placing seed in front of the chickens trying to lead them to the exit. The problem however, lays in the present in the owners of the chicken farm, who are intent in turning you into pie.

Do you like pie? Well these chickens don't.

So the point of the game is basically to run about either the farm or the pie machine without getting turned into a decidedly English baked good. You'll have a variety of obstacles to avoid from searchlights, to guard dogs....mildly amusing, but a bit dry for my liking. The game never has any of those intense critical moments that titles of this nature have. I'm reminded of many an intense moment of screaming "Build, damn you, build!!!" only to have my lemmings all either fall to a horrendous death, or reach the promised land to cheers of "Yipee." I never felt such ardor for the characters of Chicken Run, however. And since the key element of puzzle games is intensity, the game lacks quality as a result.

The graphics are a very mixed bag. While creatively utilized, reminding me a bit of the original Nintendo Metal Gear, they are on the whole fairly dull and lacking in the variety. As you only have two main areas, you don't see too many different surroundings, and the chickens are all similiarly animated, so not much there either. Comes off pretty drab, on the whole.

Ultimately Chicken Run deserves A for creativity, but a D- for effort and execution.

· · · Riisuke