As a Scottish princess, Pixar’s latest hero was born into a life of wealth and privilege. When Merida bristles against the bonds of fate, her mother gets turned into a bear and barrels off into the woods. To put things right, the wee lass must cleanse eight corrupted realms of angry elemental enemies, and dispatch the malevolent one-eyed Mor’du.
It’s strange to see a movie about self-determination turned into a steadfastly linear third-person march across cliffsides and swampland, but Brave’s predictability also makes it approachable for youngsters. As you cavort and double-jump, four different magical charms let you coax plants and ice floes into service as platforms. It’s hard to call the process “puzzle-solving” when prominent icons indicate which power to use on which bit of scenery every step of the way, though.
It often pays to pick off foes from a distance with your bow.On the other hand, those same charms lend combat a somewhat frantic feel. Walking trees readily succumb to slashes and arrows imbued with fire’s energy, while rock golems stand strong against everything but the power of wind. Switching between charms is a breeze, and will keep kids engaged and adults from dozing. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that destructible scenery spits forth handfuls of gold to spend on simple upgrades such as power attacks and charged shots.
Brave can be endearing and diverting, particularly if a parent and child work together via local co-op. Unfortunately, the whole journey lasts only four hours or so, and the bonus Kinect archery mini-game won’t keep you playing for much longer. Unlike Merida’s royal family, we’re not all swimming in coin, and we’d hoped to get a little more for our money.
A second local player can join as a blue wisp.PUBLISHER: Disney Interactive • DEVELOPER: Behaviour Interactive • ESRB: Everyone • MULTIPLAYER: 2 on same screen • ACHIEVEMENTS: Easy • COST $50
+ Low-pressure platforming in pretty environments will absorb younger players.
+ Reasonably exciting elemental combat; serviceable upgrade system; local co-op is perfect for a parent and a child.
– Omnipresent icons solve every jump puzzle for you; ridiculously short; overpriced.
? Why didn't Merida ever learn to swim?
