A Peek Inside the Wardrobe

The young (as well as the young at heart) are certainly familiar with the classic stories of C.S. Lewis. His works have enchanted the imaginations of millions over decades. With the release of a film version of one of his famous tales this holiday season, it's only natural that a game would be developed to deepen the experience.

Face fantastic creatures ...

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe takes the spirit of the book and film and lets you explore the fantastic world of Narnia for yourself. We took a peek inside the wondrous wardrobe's console contribution. Read on for the full story.

Action and Adventure
In the game you control the four Pevensie children—Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter. At any given time when more than one child is in your party, you can switch between them. Each one has a special skill or ability that makes them the best choice in a given situation. For instance, Peter is the oldest and strongest of the bunch. His powerful attacks make him a natural fighter, though he's too big to fit through small spaces. Lucy, though petite, can heal her siblings and crawl through tight passageways.

You need to juggle the strengths and deficiencies of each child in order to fight the enemies before you, solve the puzzles impeding your progress, and manipulate the environment. The game balances the exploration, combat, and brain-twisters equally, allowing a little something for everyone to enjoy.

Cinematic Presentation
No movie-inspired game would be complete without the occasional reference, and Chronicles of Narnia does not disappoint. At key points in the story, the action switches to a cinema mode where gamers are treated to selected clips from the film. The inclusion of the film bits is not gratuitous; instead they are woven into the game and triggered at plot-specific times.

… and fight them with all your might.

If you haven't seen the film, watching these excerpts will only strengthen your desire to head to the local movie theater for a screening. The presentation is crisp and its integration nearly seamless. By the end of a dramatic sequence, the screen quickly cross-fades back to the game and you pick up the action where you left off. This technique was used to great effect in the Lord of the Rings games and it works just as well here.

Family-Friendly
Though the ESRB assigned a Teen rating for Chronicles of Narnia, the fantasy violence found in the game is neither brutal nor graphic. Sure, you'll swing a club to fend off packs of vicious wolves and chuck tennis balls at bats swooshing by, but at no point does the game devolve into gory or senseless killing. And since the story is rich in character and detail, it's entertaining for players of all ages.

Check back as we share some gameplay tips guaranteed to help you find your way through the many dangers you'll face in Narnia.

Article by Franklin Beans

• Official movie Web site.