Over the Hedge review

Just because a game gets developed specifically for kids doesn't automatically mean that it's going to suck. Similarly, games based on cartoon characters don't have to suck either... but sometimes they do. All of the trademark indications of lameness pervade Over the Hedge, a stamped-out, jog-around 3D platform-jumper. Lousy camera work that you can't control, horrifically repetitive character yelps and claustrophobic, nonsensical level design all work together to drain the pleasure out of what might have been a fairly decent game. At least the multiplayer provides some giggles, but not enough to torture yourself with the rest of the game.

Trundling through the backyards and homes of oblivious and bungling humans, you get to play as RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk. Gameplay itself revolves around stealing food and home electronics from the neighborhood and slogging them back to your forest lair. Throughout your quest for booty, the game's insufferable camera fights tooth and claw against you in an attempt to get your fur singed by lasers or trap you within steel cages - it's practically an enemy unto itself. Simply enabling the player to move the camera on their own would have made the experience infinitely more manageable.

The canned exclamations of your furry characters become annoying instantly, because they're yelled out constantly. RJ's gems include, "Enemy, meet raccoon!" and, "You've been raccooned!" - neither of which make any sense... although that might be asking too much of a talking raccoon.