| | First Encounter
DreamWorks’ Shark Tale™ is a game based on the feature film of the same name. Typically, such formulas go a little something like this: Some guy at a production company gets the bright idea to sell the license to a summer blockbuster. The production company won't have to foot the bill, they get the money from the license, and they may even get revenue from the game. Then, a mediocre game company figures they desperately need a license to sell the big pile of poo they've been creating, and so some time in the distant future a forgettable platformer emerges. Breathe a sigh of relief, though, because DreamWorks’ Shark Tale is happily notamong such titles. DreamWorks' Shark Tale seems less concerned with following the stereotypical path of the movie-licensed game, and more with setting up environments, missions, and circumstances that mesh with the spirit of the film. A spirit that is vibrant, goofy, happy, and often irreverent.
Run Oscar, run!
The feature film (starring Will Smith) bursts with a richly created tapestry of aquatic-themed visuals and an energy that just never stops. Add to that a cast of quirky, fleshed-out characters that help immerse you into the world, and you've got a fun ride through an oceanic fantasy land. DreamWorks' Shark Tale—the game—is just as engaging. It retains all of the charm of the movie without becoming a slave to its plot points.
Of course, even if you have great characters, funny dialogue, and a beautiful world, you're still going to need some quality gameplay to back it up with. It's in this department that DreamWorks' Shark Tale takes a few steps away from the well-trodden path. Take for example the first event in the game. 
Everyone's happy.
You play as Oscar (the hero of the film), but instead of being plopped down into a ponderous tutorial level, you're immediately thrown into a frenetic bit of shark-attack action. Oscar is being chased by a very frustrated and apparently hungry shark. Big green arrows pop up on the screen, showing which direction you need to head towards in order to escape the shark's next attack. The farther along in the chase you go, the quicker the arrows pop up, building the chase's intensity. Just as you think you can't keep up anymore, you're greeted to a quick scene of Oscar waking up from a nightmare. It was all just a dream, but a fun one at that.
The importance of the opening sequence is not just that it's a lot of fun, but it's that the developers allowed the situation to dictate the gameplay, and not the other way around. You'll find that DreamWorks' Shark Tale alters its gameplay consistently to fit the situation, allowing for a bevy of different gameplay experiences all within the same title. For example: 
A British dental plan at work.
- Side Scrolling: You'll find yourself chasing through the byways and alleyways of Reef City in a side-scrolling action affair, as you dodge spiky puffer fish, snag pearls from oysters, and even erase Oscar-derogatory graffiti (placed by the mischievous "shortie" fish), as you go.
- Fish Attack: You'll also participate in fighting-game action, as you master the art of the fish-fu (I'm not making this stuff up), and slap your enemies silly.
- Get Your Groove on: There's also rhythm dancing gameplay sequences to participate in, as Oscar struts his stuff to impress anyone and everyone. Think of a Dance Dance Revolution mini-game with the Xbox® controller. It's hilarious fun and quite challenging as well.
Put simply, DreamWorks' Shark Tale goes beyond the call of duty of a standard movie-based game, and its story goes beyond the film while still including many familiar moments and environments. Beyond that, its gameplay is not tied to one genre. It mixes and matches the action to suit the moment.
If you're searching for an elegant, child-friendly but still adult-savvy game, take a look at DreamWorks' Shark Tale. Chances are, you'll be pleasantly surprised. By Alex McLain |
