Disney's Treasure Planet

Clearly aimed at a younger audience, the game still offers plenty of challenge to the seasoned platform gamer. But due to a clever game structure allows you to see the end of the game without collecting absolutely everything and completing all of the more demanding tasks. If you enjoyed the movie you'll undoubtedly enjoy the game, which is a credit to the Disney name. And if you haven't seen the movie you'll probably want to after playing this surprisingly enjoyable title.

The game looks very good, and plays quite well, but it could have been a much better game. Linear gameplay and regeneration features (which preserve some things, such as drubloons found, but not other elements like green energy) do take away from the overall game.

Disney's Treasure Planet is a good platforming game, whether you're interested in the film or not. What's disappointing is that the film extracts are not subtitled and this takes away the intended ambience for deaf gamers. Deaf gamers aren't really going to be able to appreciate the game's story unless they have seen the film, which is a shame. That said though even without the film's story to enjoy, Disney's Treasure Planet is still a fine game.

While the new Disney movie still looks hit-and-miss to me, the PlayStation 2 version of Treasure Planet is an ambitious stab at breaking the "games based on movies all suck" stereotype. In some ways, Bizarre was quite successful.

Disney's Treasure Planet is a good platforming game, whether you're interested in the film or not. What's disappointing is that the film extracts are not subtitled and this takes away the intended ambience for deaf gamers. Deaf gamers aren't really going to be able to appreciate the game's story unless they have seen the film, which is a shame. Of course taking it purely as a platformer it's still a pleasing title but there are better ones out there such as the superb Sly Raccoon.

I can't vouch for the game's faithfulness to the film's characters or concept, but regardless of that fact, Treasure Planet is a pretty decent outing. The big names in platforming have nothing to fear from Jim Hawkins, but it's really no worse than a number of other mid-level games. Add in the extremely enjoyable Solar Surfing challenges, and the disc gets nudged into a higher bracket. Players looking for something that breaks new ground in action-adventure or platforming should steer clear, but if you do end up with a copy of the game, don't be upset—you could definitely do worse.

The surfer levels also suffer the same feeling of disconnect with the storyline suffered by the platform levels. For example, Dr. Doppler might tell you that it is very important that you complete the course within the allotted time, but no attempt is made to explain why this is the case and what exactly it has to do with reaching Treasure Planet. The movie didn't feature Jim traveling to different planets and space stations to complete time trials because it wouldn't have made much sense, and wouldn't have been an enjoyable movie to watch.

In the end, though it wasn’t a chore to play for review, it is hard to recommend Treasure Planet as a purchase. It is a little too derivative of the better games in the genre, a little too short and a little too easy.

As with all businesses, in the gaming industry, timing is everything. If Treasure Planet was not released alongside the likes of Sly Cooper and Ratchet and Clank then perhaps it could have been considered to be an above average 3D platform adventure game. But with other games in the same genre raising the bar for how these games will be judged from here forth; leaves Treasure Planet, with all of its sub-par aspects, to be the oddball out. After the holidays, when there is a new release drought, I would definitely suggest to give this game a try, by that time it should be in your local EB's bargain bin.

Treasure Planet hearkens back to the bygone age of movie-licensed games, back when all of them were published by Ocean and they all played more or less the same. The difference now is that they're boring 3D platformers, rather than boring side-scrollers and/or boring top-down shooters. Back then, there was no reason to buy a movie-licensed game when you could play something like Mario or Gunstar Heroes. Now, there is no reason to buy Treasure Planet when you can play something like Ratchet & Clank or Sly Cooper. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Treasure Planet follows the traditional, generic map of a 3D platformer, but there's no treasure to be found. For the less discriminating gamers who are simply looking for the Treasure Planet look and label, it's all here, but the pirate spirit is completely gone. Aye, matey - don't be after this plunder. It be cursed!