Ben 10: Protector of the Earth review

Oct 30, 2007

Following in the cel-shaded footsteps of Dragon Ball Z and Naruto comes another cartoon-turned-game, Ben 10. And like those, this is an all out beat 'em-up featuring cartoon children. Playing as Ben Tennyson, you own an alien device called an Omnitrix - a watch-like object that when activated can transform Ben into all manner of interesting beings, each with their own unique abilities.

Among his repertoire of alter-egos is a four-armed beast that's strong as a box of bears. There's a flame man who can extinguish fire by absorbing the heat, and a speedy reptile thing that can zip around quickly. You'll be flicking through these forms to overcome various puzzles, while repeatedly knocking the bolts out of waves of robots.

Also pleasing is the fact that button mashing combat is free of remote-waving interference. You can choose to unleash fiery blasts or cannonball-leaping manoeuvers with wrist flicks, but a far more responsive set of button inputs comes as default. And just as the game seems to settle into monotonous robotic fly-swatting, it throws in a near idea, such as Samus-life morph ball action.