PSX Extreme writes: "They say it's one of the best animated movies ever made, and the movie-going audience should reward that effort with big box office results. It's not surprising in the least to see a video game adaptation, and it's even less surprising to find that it falls well short of the quality level on display in the film. Coraline tries to be atmospheric and charming but only succeeds in being bland, drab, repetitive, and for the most part, extraordinarily boring. There isn't anything crucially flawed with this production – despite a few obvious technical drawbacks – but the game simply fails to engage and capture the player. We don't even see fans of the movie and novella getting great entertainment out of this title; there's simply too much in the way of drudgery. We don't expect something like Coraline to hold any resemblance to slam-bang, big-budget action experiences, but we still think video games should be fun. You know, like last year's Kung Fu Panda, for example. But this is just…bleh."
Like a lot of licensed stuff, this largely coasts by on inherited elements from the movie. Fans will doubtless gain some satisfaction out of simply being in the world, but, as usual, Coraline isn't very good at being a game. If the developers had been brave enough to explore the darkness of the film, this could have stood tall among the other uninspired licensed dross. They haven't, so it remains firmly and indistinguishably in the murk, destined to be forgotten with all of those other ill-conceived movie tie-in games.
Like a lot of licensed stuff, this largely coasts by on inherited elements from the movie. Fans will doubtless gain some satisfaction out of simply being in the world, but, as usual, Coraline isn't very good at being a game. If the developers had been brave enough to explore the darkness of the film, this could have stood tall among the other uninspired licensed dross. They haven't, so it remains firmly and indistinguishably in the murk, destined to be forgotten with all of those other ill-conceived movie tie-in games.
Guardian writes: "With the movie just out, Coraline the game is more a case of disappointment than delight. Visually striking and with atmospheric sound, once you get down to gameplay things head downhill at a frightening pace."
