Over the Hedge: it Really is a Game for Everyone

Rated E for everyone is a phrase that rings out often from the ads for Playstation games. Rarely is it so true as it is when being used to refer to the game Over The Hedge, based loosely on the animated movie of the same name.

You have the option to complete the game with minimum requirements that allow you to move on, or complete additonal tasks that increase difficulty of gameplay. My 5 year old was able to play on his own, but the game proved entertaining and challenging enough for me to play, as well.

The game follows the movie storyline somewhat, though adds additional locales and characters to supplement the gameplay and make it interesting and meaty enough for a full-length game. Switchable character play allows for flexibility and variety and keeps the game moving along nicely while allowing for some leniency should you take critical damage. You switch to another character and, provided you can gather some additional food stuffs to provide some life, the second character springs back into action to help you on your way.

The graphics are well executed and the objectives for the game are spelled out for you at the beginning of each new section. No guesswork was required to figure out how to proceed forward, making it much simpler to play than many other children's games on the market.

My only frustration with the game would have to be the difficulty in being able to find a walkthrough online. Perhaps the newness of the game, or the genre have kept anyone from writing a detailed guide. The difficulty level doesn't really warrant a walkthrough, however I always find it nice to have should you happen to need a little nudge in the right direction.

We were able to beat the game in under a weeks time, however all secondary objectives were not reached. Replayability is good, as you can go back to gain 100% or simply have fun restarting your quest. You can also acquire unlockable minigames and clips by finding objects or completing objectives.

I highly recommend this as a versatile, fun for the whole family game.