Much like the show seemed destined to an unceremonious end after its cancellation in season 3, we didn't expect to see Family Guy get a gaming reprieve after its disastrous 3.5/10-scoring debut on the original Xbox. Cut away to November 2012, and the series just celebrated its 200th episode, while Family Guy: Road to the Multiverse will release next week on Xbox 360.
Our hands-on time with the game brought us through one of the many levels you'll traverse with the series' most-globetrottingest duo -- megalomaniacal infant Stewie and caustic talking dog Brian. Taking after the dimension-shifting episode "Road to the Multiverse," Back to the Multiverse will have the two most diminutive members of the Griffin family following bastard baby Bertram through a multitude of bizarre locales, including outer space, the high seas, the Amish countryside, and the level we were able to play -- an alternate version of the North Pole where online shopping has rendered Santa and his toy-building operation obsolete, forcing the disgraced icon to become a mercenary-for-hire.
Riffing off 2010's "Road to the North Pole," the level we tried pit Stewie and Brian against waves of mutated elves that defended their weapons-manufacturing plant as the duo sought out Stewie's illegitimate half-brother, platforming through toxic brown swamps and deadly conveyor belts before discovering the jolly red menace himself, Santa Claus. Both characters (who can be played in co-op or swapped out in multiplayer) offered exactly-similar stats for strength and speed, with slightly different weaponry. Stewie utilized his own inventions, destroying enemies at medium range with laser weapons, while Brian used more traditional weaponry, including a sniper rifle. Each Griffin also had secondary weapons, including grenades and turrets styled after inanimate teddy bear Rupert and wheelchair-bound policeman Joe Swanson (used by Stewie and Brian, respectively).
Our final destination during the demo was the rooftop of the Claus compound. As we repelled ground attacks from giant elves wielding melee weapons as well as tinier creatures toting high-powered weapons and kamikaze grenades, we were able to launch attacks at his getaway accomplices -- nine armored reindeer, felling Father Christmas when he lost all horsepower.
As is usually the question when licenses are involved, we can't exactly vouch for Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse after limited hands-on time. It's obviously not going to match Activision's "other" shooter this month, but the simple mechanics may work in the game's favor (especially when extrapolated into four-player competitive multiplayer, with modes like "Capture the Greased-Up Deaf Guy"). On the other side of the coin, while the platforming was a hair too difficult during our brief time, it's something that might be more easily mastered earlier in the campaign. We're far more confident that it'll bring nearly the same level of humor the show brings week-to-week (which will be a blessing to some and a curse to others), so it should be worth keeping an eye on, depending on your affinity for McFarlane-universe hijinks.
PUBLISHER: Activision • DEVELOPER: Heavy Iron • MULTIPLAYER: Yes • RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2012 • FOR FANS OF: Violence in movies and sex on TV, All the things that make you laugh and cry
