Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs for the PC PS3 Wii DS AND Microsoft XBox 360 Walkthrough Guide.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs comes at the same time as the animated movie and having watched the previous Ice Age movies can agree that they are witty, well produced and perfect light entertainment for youngsters and adults alike. We're not here to talk about animated movies but more the dreaded movie tie in games that go with them. Sure, there's always a feeling that movie tie-in games have a limited budget and rely perhaps too heavily on the movie itself to help shift the games from the stores; but as gamers and judging them on their own merits against similar titles that don't have a movie backup is what we have to look at. So, as a game which offers familiarity (for those who have seen the movies) and adventure for gamers looking to while away the hours, how well does Dawn of the Dinosaurs stack up?
You'll be controlling the likes of Sid the sloth, Scrat the squirrel amongst others from the original movie, as well as newcomers like Buck. They are all here and remarkably play very different from each other. The game opts to provide a fairly linear path through the levels, although on occasion you're able to deviate to a degree or choose which aspects of a level you'll tackle first. Like all games of this ilk, you'll be collecting items galore such as food stuffs so you can purchase upgrades and unlock more goodies. This is a perfect excuse to use the game's attack moves not only against those dinosaurs, bats, spiders etc. but the stationary objects like mushrooms and ice blocks.
The game does present some mild puzzles which for most adult gamers will prove to be a breeze, although for very young gamers shouldn't pose too many problems after one or two attempts. They mostly revolve around navigation, such as with Sid you'll need to make use of fire to illuminate your path whilst avoiding water and wind (which extinguishes your flame). It's all very tame and for adult gamers should prove fairly relaxing (no shouting at the TV and smashing controllers here). There are some clever uses of the level design and not only lots of elements borrowed from other games, but several moments that go beyond cute and offer some nostalgic moments. The 'Scramble' like level being one that stood out and was a surprising entry and admittedly very fun (even for this reviewer). Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Walkthrough Strategy Guides
Younger gamers will surely find much enjoyment from this game as the developers have really made sure that with waning attention spans, keeping the action well paced and ever changing is the best course of action for capturing the imagination.
The film was released in RealD where available. The release sparked some controversy when Fox announced that it would no longer pay to supply 3D glasses to theaters,[2] which led to a number of exhibitors threatening to only show the film in standard 2D projection. [3] The film's original trailer debuted with the film Horton Hears a Who! on March 14, 2008. There are three others that have been released, with the third and fourth (which shows Buck) being the most closely resembling each other. Queen Latifah recorded a cover of the song "Walk the Dinosaur".
The sound features voice overs from the movie, which adds credibility to the characters during the cut scenes and as you play. The sound bites are entertaining, and with a narrative between levels paints the story for you in an easy to understand manner. The music is non intrusive and well scored, and like the graphics there really isn't much to fault here especially as there's lots of variation and flawless performances throughout.
There are a number of levels, some lasting more than others and with collectibles to hunt down, the option to replay any level and a number of challenges; not forgetting a local multiplayer component. For younger gamers there's enough here (and challenge) to keep them well occupied for some time. For older gamers, you're most likely to breeze through the game very quickly gaining those 1000 points with relative ease - although some challenges might get the better of you for a while.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a welcome game and one that doesn't just follow the tried and trusted formula of the 'movie tie-in' video game. The developers have actually tried to add some personality and quirks of their own (albeit unoriginal) and in this case works very well. If you're a fan of the movies, then this is highly recommended especially for younger gamers, although it's questionable as to how well it would stack up for slightly older gamers who are well skilled with video games. Either way, it's fun, entertaining and well worth picking up whether you're renting or purchasing. It's clear the game is aimed at the younger market, and in this respect succeeds comfortably in what it sets out to do
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is the third movie in the Ice Age franchise. While reviews have not exactly been generous for the movie, it can be assumed that families that enjoy the series at-large will probably show up to watch it anyway, and they will probably get a few laughs out of it as well. The same is true for the game. Though it isn't likely to wow anyone who plays it, the game based on this popular movie franchise is a perfectly adept platforming experience that will surely delight fans who enjoyed the movie.
The game opens with Diego and Sid telling a mystery character a story about their most recent adventures. Of course, they both crack some jokes, but as they get into the story, you'll be launched into the gameplay through flashbacks. Each level allows you to play as a different member of the Ice Age cast, including Sid, Manny, Diego, and new friend Buck. Each of these characters has their own special skills, resulting in several specialized levels tailored around each character.
For instance, the character Diego, who is a saber-toothed tiger, is very adept at running, so levels featuring him involve high-speed chases. However, Sid the Sloth's levels focus more on exploring and platforming, and Manny's levels feature top-down objective-based gameplay. The result is a nicely varied experience that is sure to entertain players of all ages.
However, even though each level has a character-specific format, there are also collection quests that are consistent through all the different levels, and they can be completed no matter who you are playing as. There are two types of items that you can find: fruit and crystals. The fruit in the game acts as currency, and as you gather more fruit, you will be able to purchase health and weapons upgrades as well as unlock multiplayer modes. The crystals, on the other hand, can be gathered to unlock more technical features like background music and vocal tracks.
Control in the game is very easy, as it should be, considering this is a kid-targeted game. You can run around the various levels using the left stick, and use the face buttons to jump and attack. Many levels also involve interacting with items, and you'll be prompted to press a certain button in order to light a fire or pick up a stick. In addition to these basic mechanics, the game also has a weapons aiming system that uses the right bumper to initiate first-person mode and the attack button to fire. The controls here aren't especially complex, and they are definitely simple enough for even the youngest of players to be able to use.
The only thing that I really found complaint-worthy about the game was how much it stuck to the animated movie-game formula. If you've played the games based on Monsters vs. Aliens or Up, then this should feel very familiar. I'm all for sticking with what works, but I felt like there was a lot more that could have been done with the Ice Age franchise than just business-as-usual platforming.
On top of the single-player platforming mode, there are also quite a few mini-game style multiplayer modes as well. Although they aren't incredibly deep, there are some fun competitive modes like Sloth Says (which is a variation on Simon Says) and Sloth Barge, which challenges you to knock off a small iceberg using snowballs. In addition to these, there are six other multiplayer modes (each limited to two players). However, the game does not give you these multiplayer modes automatically, and you will have to purchase them in-game, or unlock them by completing advanced levels.
As far as graphics are concerned, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs fares pretty well. The character models do a good job of recreating the look of the familiar faces from the movie, and I was surprised at the level of detail on some of the characters. The animation was also very impressive, and the game's cutscenes featured a consistent framerate and smooth textures. However, even though these aspects looked good, I couldn't help notice that the background visuals were a little bit lacking, and the environments didn't have much variation. Still, the game does look decent overall, especially considering it is based on a kids' movie.
One aspect of this title that was quite surprising was the quality of the sound. Anyone who has played a number of movie-inspired titles knows that voiceovers generally consist of a number of sound-alikes standing in for the actors from the original movie. However, I was impressed to learn that many of the actors from the actual film, including Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, and John Leguizamo reprised their roles for the game. However, even though the voiceover is nice, the background music is a little lacking and very repetitive.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, like the movie of the same name, it won't win any awards for breaking the mold or taking any gameplay risks. But the game accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, and I can't really complain about that. There are plenty of fun movie-inspired platforming levels, and the unlockable multiplayer modes certainly add some replay value. If you or someone you know loves the Ice Age franchise, then this game will certainly please fans without giving them too much of a challenge.
Ellie (Queen Latifah) and Manny (Ray Romano) are expecting their first child, and Manny is obsessed with making life perfect and safe for the family, since his first experiences as a husband and father went bad when his family were killed by hunters. At the same time, Diego (Denis Leary) finds himself unable to catch a gazelle he has been stalking and decides to leave the herd, believing that he is losing his predatory nature as a tiger. Sid (John Leguizamo) grows jealous of Manny and Ellie and "adopts" three apparently abandoned eggs that he finds in an icy underground cavern. Manny tells him to put them back, but Sid instead looks after the eggs, which hatch into baby Tyrannosaurus ' the next morning.
Although Sid tries his best to raise the three dinosaurs, their rambunctious behavior scares away all the other animals' young and ruins a playground Manny built for Ellie's baby. A female Tyrannosaurus, Momma, whose eggs Sid stole, soon returns and carries both Sid and her youth underground, with Diego in pursuit. Manny, Ellie, Crash, and Eddie (Seann William Scott, Josh Peck) follow as well and discover that the icy cavern leads to a vast jungle populated by dinosaurs thought to be extinct. Here, an Ankylosaurus threatens the herd despite Diego's efforts to fend it off; they are saved from a further crowd of angry reptiles by a one-eyed, insane weasel named Buckminster, or Buck (Simon Pegg).
Buck has been living in this jungle for some time and is chasing Rudy (a huge white Baryonyx), intending to avenge the eye he lost to it. He agrees to lead the herd through the jungle's perils to Lava Falls, where Momma has taken Sid and her babies. In the meantime, Sid and Momma try to outdo each other in feeding the offspring; he loses this contest, but is soon welcomed into the family regardless. The next day, however, Sid is separated from the family and attacked by Rudy. Sid is knocked onto a loose rock slab that is floating on a river of lava and about to plummet over the falls.
As the herd moves toward Lava Falls, Ellie goes into labor and a Dilong pack strikes, causing a rock slide that separates her from Manny and Diego. Manny doubles back to protect her and Diego fends off further attacks, while Buck takes Crash and Eddie ahead to rescue Sid. Just as the sloth goes over the falls, the trio swoops in on a commandeered Pteranodon and saves his life. Manny reaches Ellie, and there is suddenly a reaction, the cry of a newborn baby, then he sees that it is a girl. He wants to name her Ellie, or Little Ellie, but Ellie instead names her Peaches after the fruit (the codeword they had chosen for Ellie to use if she went into labor during the trip). Sid is saddened at the fact that he never had a chance to say goodbye to "his" children as he returns to the herd and learns of Peaches' birth.
Before they can exit the jungle, Rudy attacks at full force; Buck lures Rudy away from the group and is nearly eaten himself, before Diego saves him at the last second. They then ensnare him briefly, but he escapes and resumes his onslaught. The herd is saved by the timely arrival of Momma, who charges at Rudy and knocks him off a cliff. As she and her children wish Sid well, Buck – now without a purpose in life since Rudy is gone – decides to join the herd and live on the surface. However, a distant roar tells him that Rudy is still alive; he changes his mind and sends the herd home, blocking off the path to the underground jungle at the same time so that no one else can go down there. Manny and Ellie welcome Peaches into their frozen world and admit that Sid did a good job looking after Momma's children (though Manny tells Diego that he will never let Sid babysit Peaches). Diego decides to remain with the herd, while Buck stays where he wants to be: underground, battling it out with Rudy.
Scrat and Scratte As in the previous Ice Age films, Scrat (Chris Wedge) does everything he can to retrieve his precious acorn. His efforts are complicated by the presence of the beautiful and wily Scratte (Karen Disher), a female of his species, with whom he is instantly smitten. Scratte outsmarts him a number of times, once by demonstrating her ability to glide like a flying squirrel, but the two eventually fall in love after Scrat saves her from falling to her death in the lava river while she is unconscious. He even chooses to focus his attention on her instead of the acorn until the end of the film, when he tires of her finicky nature and reverts to his old ways. The ensuing fight between the couple leads to a volcanic explosion that hurls Scrat and the acorn back to the surface, leaving Scratte trapped underground. However, as Scrat is about to enjoy his acorn, a stray piece of ice falls on him and knocks the acorn back into Scratte's hands. He screams in frustration, having lost both his love and his acorn.
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Posted by Silvia on February 17, 2010