Wall-E computes on all platforms

Part two of my Wall-E preview brings us to the video game developed by Heavy Iron Studios for THQ. Walking in, I wasn't really expecting much from the game. I assumed it would be directed entirely at kids and be too simple for me to find it interesting. I learned the hard way that not all kid games translate to adults. Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue (DS), I'm talking to you. My six-year-old niece would have found Nemo challenging but it left me bored. Fortunately, even though the Wall-E game is aimed at youngsters, it's accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

There's always a lot of lead time with animated features. The Disney/Pixar movie Wall-E took about four years to make and THQ was there along the way in order to get the best possible product made. Sometimes THQ would get ahead of Pixar but they were always communicating to make sure they were going in the right direction. Wall-E Director/Production Designer Ralph Eggleston believes that for the first time, "The THQ game has really captured the flavor on every level of the movie."

Gameplay has Wall-E traveling from Earth to the Axiom Starliner in nine different worlds. On some you'll be solving puzzles, others you'll be shooting, racing or flying. You can have up to four players in mulitplayer challenges and mini-games that you unlock along the way. Lyle Hall, the V.P., Product Development and General Manager of Heavy Iron Studios is very pleased with how the game is set-up. "We get a chance to sort of expand on moments in the film and give you things in the game that you actually might not see in the film for more than a few seconds or are alluded to," he said. So even though the game was released today you may want to see the movie this weekend first so you can appreciate some of the in's-and-out's.

The game begins with Wall-E on Earth doing his job. Picking up trash and turning it into cubes. "We decided as we saw the film to use that as his primary weapon to interact with the world," explained Hall. Vending machines throughout the game supply Wall-E with different kinds of trash cubes to be used for different kinds of effects such as a "heavy cube." Wall-E must also turn himself into cube form in order to traverse certain obstacles.

While on Earth there are actually many Wall-E's that no longer function. "He's not the only Wall-E that exists and as he moves through the space he can find other robots that he can use to repair himself so that he can do different things that he was not able to do previously," said Hall. Also, being solar-powered, Wall-E can use solar stations to heal himself when needed.

Wall-E's love interest EVE is also a playable character. She even gets a few boards to herself. One of them has her zooming through the engine tunnels of the Axiom which are not seen in the movie. She also has a very different play-style since she's a much newer robot. One of EVE's talents that comes in handy is her flight capability. "We've actually got two levels in which you play both Wall-E and EVE together," said Hall, "EVE can pick him up and she can carry him to high places or far places that they couldn't get to if Wall-E tried to jump there by himself." It's very reminiscent of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 where Tails could be used to fly Sonic to those hard-to-reach spots.

Just like in the movie, Wall-E eventually leaves Earth for the Axiom. "He's got a lot of different tools on the ship that he didn't have on Earth," said Hall. One of those tools is another type of trash cube, this time it's an "energy cube." The adorable compulsive cleaner robot Mo shows up to clean up your mess and you must distract him with more trash to make a getaway. At one point, Wall-E even gets a laser gun to defend himself against security droids. Watch out when you hit the freeway of humans on the ship. Here we get a glimpse into the future of the human race, we ride around in hoverchairs all day that feed us all the information we need.

Obviously the graphics for the XBOX 360 version of the game look a lot better than the Wii but for those of you who enjoy using the Wiimote the developers put a lot of effort into making the most use out of it. "The controls for the Wii are really dynamic," said Hall. "EVE can fly and she can shoot and she can fly and shoot at the same time," he continued. All you have to do is point the Wiimote where you want her to go. You can also use it to throw trash cubes at targets.

At the time of the preview the Playstation 3 version of the game was not available to be displayed but Hall explained it would be similar to the other consoles except with a few different levels. However, he said the DS version would be quite different, "We actually have 100 rooms and the goal is to get out of each room and use Wall-E's ability with his different kinds of cubes and his ability to throw them." Similar to Portal, you must place certain cubes on platforms to weigh them down. "There's about five or six different cubes that we actually don't have on the console games that are unique to the DS," said Hall. The main action happens on the upper screen while the touch screen is used to pick up cubes and throw them. You also get to play as EVE for a short bit as well but overall it seems the DS version is much more contained in it's environments.

Parents, don't be ashamed if you're playing it long after you're children have gone to bed or if you don't have kids and you just want it for yourself. Wall-E the video game has set the standard for all future Pixar related titles. You can be sure they're already hard at work at the next one and that it will be even more impressive. For me it'll be hard to compete, Wall-E's my new best friend.

Johnny-5's still alive in Wall-E

It's not lost on many people that Disney/Pixar's new Wall-E looks a lot like Johnny-5, the reflective glassy eyes, the tank-tred wheels, the lovable nature. But in my opinion, it's something Wall-E lacks rather than something he has that puts him ahead in the game. The ability to speak.

About two months ago I attended a preview of clips from the film as well as demos from the video game both of which are being released this week. I was already anticipating the film for it's title characters precociousness but I was more impressed when I found out there's not a whole lot of dialogue in the film at all. In fact, there's really only one main character who talks, the Captain, voiced by Jeff Garlin. "We went back to studying a lot of early silent films to create this film," said Director/Production Designer at Pixar, Ralph Eggleston. "It was very difficult because everything had to be done visually."

Placing the success of a animated film in the hands of a main character who doesn't speak was a bold move by Pixar. Wall-E and the other robots in the film make only noises, which sometimes can resemble words, but they were left in the hands of a master. Ben Burtt of Star Wars fame. His sound design brings the oldest, and only, robot left on Earth to life better than any actor could have.

Wall-E stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter - Earth class. His job, along with others like him, was to clean up Earth after humans abandoned it for the Axiom Starliner. "He's been there for 700 years," said Eggleston, "and you'll find he's evolved a personality on his own by finding bits and pieces of stuff around the planet." Day in, day out, Wall-E continues his job cleaning up Earth by compacting trash into cubes in his body, then popping them back out and piliing them on top of countless others. Sometimes he finds objects that interest him and brings them back to his home where he lives with his pet cockroach. Of course, the only creature still living on the planet.

Wall-E's monotonous life is finally disrupted when another robot lands on Earth. EVE is her name and Wall-E becomes instantly smitten with her but she's on an important mission. Of course EVE stands for something too but telling you would give away part of the plot. Needless to say EVE completes her mission and takes off again but not before love-sick Wall-E is able to hitch a ride without her knowing.

Soaring past a sign on the moon that reads "Outlet Mall Coming-Soon" Wall-E's eyes are already wider than ever before. Finally landing on the Axiom he sees all types of new robots that are very different from him. For one, they are all impeccably clean and a robot you'll come to know as Mo takes a compulsive interest in cleaning Wall-E. But Wall-E has no time to spare and sets off to find EVE. "He finally does track her down and she wants to send him home after fear for his own safety but he won't give up the fight so easily," explained Eggleston. It's easy to see there's something more going on here than just cute robots. My guess is Wall-E saves the day and looks adorable doing it.

Up next, Part Two of my Wall-E coverage: Wall-E the video game

How Super is your Squad?

Game publisher THQ grabbed the rights to a huge franchise earlier this month, Marvel's "Super Hero Squad" animated series, which doesn't even have a network to air on yet.

THQ is probably best known for their long standing relationship with Disney/Pixar and Nickelodeon so it's no surprise they were chosen to develop a game for this new Marvel series. "Super Hero Squad" is a fresh look at well known Marvel heroes aimed at 4-10 year-olds. Instead of each hero coming from their original hometowns, they'll be based in the newly created Super Hero City and work together. Besides the animated series set to launch in 2009, Marvel is really taking advantage of every outlet possible for their new venture including the video game and a line of toys from Hasbro.

THQ will likely produce more then one game if the series becomes popular. Variety reports they made a multi-year deal with Marvel that enables them to make games independently or tied to the property's various incarnations in other media. The first game, like the animated series, is set for 2009.

THQ's current project, a video game adaptation of Pixar's latest feature film Wall-E, is set to be released June 24.