Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, aimed to the youngest of the house, is a game for those who loved the film and for parents to enjoy along with their children. The game offers a simple diversion, educational and without much action, that follows the goal of entertaining without having the ambition of going for more. Sadly, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is another point for the argument that games based on films aren't the best choice for your catalog. At least the experience here is not frustrating, and is over in less than the time it takes to blink of an eye.
TGH Writes:
"Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian (NATM2 for short) is based off the movie of the same name and takes a lot of great things from the movie and turns it over to the game. In the end the question has to be asked, is this a game for the hardcore gamer, or just one for the family/casual gamer looking for a fun time."
DreamStation writes: "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is the video game adaptation of the movie with the same name. It uses many of the same characters and locations and many of the same story telling elements as the movie. Most games that are based off movies tend to fall short however. Will this be the same? I grabbed my keys and my flashlight and set off to find the answer."
GameFocus writes: "Licensed games come with an inherent bad reputation. It's no secret, and to be honest, most of the time it's deserved. Majesco and Pipeworks' Night At the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian is attempting to shake off the misconceptions and thankfully for parents, and fans of the movie, there's more to this licensed game than just a quick and dirty cash-in."
Pros
+ Ingot power-ups are well-done.
+ Audio tours are a neat idea, and educational.
+ Follows the movie plotline well enough.
+ Puzzles are simple, but entertaining, and never frustrating.
+ Never overstays its welcome. Fast paced.
Cons
- Quick pacing makes the game extremely short
- Repetitive voice-acting.
- Platforming is a bit stiff.
- Some of the more interesting power-ups and abilities aren't used as often as they could be
