Portable video game picks up Wall-E

By Matthew Price

Published: July 18, 2008

In the future, humanity has made a mess of earth. Wall-E — a Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class droid — is one of the robots created to clean up the mess, so that humans can perhaps someday return.

"Wall-E” is the star of the latest Pixar film, and he comes to gaming in this PlayStation Portable game. Gamers take on the role of Wall-E in the game.

As the game begins, it's early in Wall-E's career, as a series of tests measure the quality of Wall-E's work. As the game continues, it moves more into the storyline shown in the film. Farther along in the game, the gamer can take the role of EVE, a new robot for whom Wall-E develops affection.

The game has multiple levels, each with different problems to solve. Gameplay types include puzzles, mazes, races, shooting and smashing. In several levels, crates must be smashed to get energy charges to move to the next level of the game.

Wall-E can use his "box form” to smash crates. Other times, Wall-E needs to create junk cubes by compacting trash. These cubes can be used to open doorways or move levers. Wall-E also has a laser that can be used to destroy obstacles. Minigames are also included, which add to the replay value.

The graphics are good, as Wall-E's movement and the level designs are both artistically rendered. The music is straight from the feature film.

The worst aspect of the game is the control, as the small analog stick on the PSP doesn't always perfectly respond to what the gamer wants to do.

The game is rated E for everyone.

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