Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a movie tie-in based on the popular animated film of the same name, and is available on all types of video game console and handheld system. As is becoming popular for these movie franchise titles, it is in essence rather than plot that the game relates to the big screen version.
This is essentially a platforming style game, although it does include levels that involve some basic driving (actually riding) style gameplay. As the player progresses they can also unlock a range of 'Scrat and Sid' minigames. Both the main adventure and these mini games are played as a single player - no multiplayer options are available.
In the main game, the player controls one of the characters from the film (Manny, Sid, Diego, Scrat and Buck) and guides them through a hazard-filled environment. This involves the usual running, jumping and swinging found in this type of game. Although players need to time their button presses perfectly to proceed, missed jumps are not heavily punished and players can usually climb back to have another go.
The game has somewhat of a "fake" 3D look and feel - similar to that found in the popular PlayStation 3 title Little Big Planet. This creates a sense of depth to the world and enables the player to explore the environments more thoroughly. This does add a degree of complexity to lining up jumps and attacks however, and may make things a little more challenging for younger or novice players. That said, anyone comfortable with the Lego Star Wars platform games should have no problem here.
The Game Guys have officially opened up voting for the 2nd Annual Game Guys' Gamers' Choice Awards. Everybody who votes is entered into a contest to win one of five system-specific prize packs. Each prize pack contains two system-specific games and one accessory, except for the PC prize pack which contains three PC games.
Is it sad that I care less about the actual voting than I do winning the free games?
MEGamers writes: "This season is well known for its movies. Its summer and everyone is up for a little night out at the movies to watch the next best movie ever. Only problem is, that very same period is filled with lackluster movies and pointless sequels. This brings us to the 3rd installment in the Ice Age movies. With it of course, comes a videogame to excite or stun fans of the movie. The game comes with all our favorite characters and scenes from the movie, making it one of the best things to happen to young gamers since the internet."
Nintendo Okie writes: "Video game based upon an existing movie license are generally looked down upon in the gaming world as a simple cash in to get money from an unsuspecting consumer, and a lot of times that may be true. Going into Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs you could have assumed you would be getting the same thing yet again; you'd be wrong. While it is true that the game doesn't break any new ground in any way, it is still a fun romp through the environments of the prehistoric era alongside the characters of the Ice Age franchise."
