Can Chicken Little save the day?

BASED on the Disney movie of the same name starring Joan Cusack, Steve Zahn and Zach Braff, Chicken Little tells the familiar story of the goof-ball chicken - called Chicken Licken in children's books - that thinks the sky is falling in. In fact, he had just been struck on the head with an acorn.

Unfortunately, now the sky really is about to fall in because alien invaders have arrived. Will anyone believe Chicken Little's warnings? Can he save the day?

Those among you who have been playing video games for some time will no doubt be thinking: "Ho-hum not another platformer based loosely on a kids' film." But while you'd be right to think there's plenty of platform-style adventuring to be had, the team behind Chicken Little have at least put some thought into mixing things up a bit.

So the game starts with Chicken leaping about in typical proto-Mario fashion, but the next level has your character racing down a school corridor in a bucket, evading the many obstacles in his path.

This certainly keeps you on your toes but bestows on the game something of a disjointed feel.

Unsurprisingly, some levels are more satisfying than others. The platforming stuff is reasonably well done. Chicken runs and leaps around as you trace your path to the next challenge. His main weapon is a yo-yo that can knock down bad guys or double up as a grappling hook to climb obstacles or swing from platform to platform.

You can employ his skills - but only at certain moments - and the game signposts just when with a giant on-screen arrow. Kids will find this a help but adults may be forgiven for thinking it's just insulting their intelligence. Nor does such an obvious device encourage the player to explore; there's simply no need.

The jumping dynamic could do with some refinement. Chicken can jump or perform an extra "double" jump. If the double jump is mis-timed, he inevitably plummets to his doom. When you've done this for the 20th time, it becomes very annoying.

The camera sometimes get stuck behind solid objects, making your precision jumping a real leap of faith because you just can't see where Chicken is going.

The racing levels are simplicity itself - just hurtle down a track and move your character out of the way when an obstacle crops up. A later variation on this sees Chicken blasted down a tube in a spaceship. The lack of gravity enables him to rotate 360 degrees.

There are also some shoot-'em-up levels and even a musical baseball section where you must press your pad buttons in time to the music if your character is to hit the ball.

Friends can join in on the multi-player games but Chicken must collect hidden cards in order to unlock them.

As a game for kids, Chicken Little offers enough diversity to keep little ones amused. The graphics are fine and there are plenty of cut-scenes from the film. Not one for adults though.

CASTLEVANIA: CURSE OF DARKNESS, Format: PS2, Publisher: Capcom, Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 12+.

DRACULA is dead, betrayed by his disciple Hector and killed by vampire slayer Trevor Belmont.

Don't you just love the Japanese use of Western names? Who else would call a vampire slayer Trevor?

Having realised the error of his evil ways just in time, Hector has renounced evil and settled down to live a normal life. Unfortunately for him this change of heart doesn't prevent the love of his life being burned at the stake for witchcraft after a sham trial.

And when Hector discovers the trial was manipulated by his evil rival Issac he embarks on a revenge mission to the land of Valachia. But Issac doesn't seem particularly worried. Could it be that he has planned for just such an event all along?

Long before Resident Evil made horror cool on the consoles we had Castlevania. Capcom's long running series has survived several video gaming generations and the transition to 3-D graphics. Curse of Darkness doesn't break with the successful formula of gory hacking and slashing undead opponents, ghosts and boss monsters.

All this mayhem would get mighty lonely for one man so Hector can use his powers to call up good spirits to help him vanquish the baddies. Their special abilities can make the difference between victory or defeat. They can also help Hector reach previous inaccessible areas.

For instance, the powerful Battle Devil can smash through obstacles and pry open locked doors. The Flying Devil can grab Hector and carry him to lofty new levels. Hector can switch devils on the fly but only one can fight by his side at any time so careful thought is needed. Defeated enemies give up "evolution crystals" that transform your spirit world buddies into even more powerful allies.

Graphically the levels look suitably dingy (only the on-screen blood-letting adds anything like a dash of primary colour) and the animation of the main characters is excellent. The soundtrack, too, has been configured with sympathy and attention to detail, although the music would have benefited from a full orchestral score.

And as Hector fights his way to the game's conclusion you'll start to realise that the real villain of the piece awaits... in castle Dracula.

Good gory fun. Horror fans will be itching to stake a claim to their copy of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness as soon as possible.

Published: 07/02/2006