Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs review

What could you really expect from this?

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

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    Multiple characters to play

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    Jewels to collect

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    Won't have much time to get bored

Cons

  • -

    Unoriginal gameplay and design

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    Invisible walls

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    Should look better

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Yay! More movie-themed item-collecting and platform-hopping! *Claps excitedly* We’re being sarcastic of course, viewers – Ice Age 3 really isn’t anything to get excited about. As with Up, this is packed with bits and bobs from the film (multiple characters, various locations) but it’s totally unoriginal in terms of gameplay and design. Short levels have jewels to collect, enemies to stamp on and the occasional boss to outwit. There are moving platforms, collapsing platforms and environmental elements that are supposed to add variety but are old-hat, such as vines to climb or poles to swing round.

The stages appear to encourage three-dimensional play, but too often invisible walls funnel you into a left-to-right route. And it’s all so angular. Given the quality of animation in films like Ice Age, why can’t the games look better? Still, at least this is short so you won’t have much time to get bored.

Aug 11, 2009

More info

GenreChildren's
DescriptionOffering more than six playable characters, Dawn of the Dinosaurs allows players to master the unique abilities and combat skills of each through a variety of gameplay including action-platforming challenges, side-scrolling missions and puzzle solving.
Platform"PS2","Xbox 360","Wii","PC","PS3","DS"
US censor rating"Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+","Everyone 10+"
UK censor rating"Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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