Bionicle

Rating: 4.3
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Web site: www.bionicle.com
Phone: 800-245-4525
Copyright: 2003
Price: $39.95
Platform: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Windows
Age range: 8 up
Grade Level: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, S, Jr, Sr.
Teaches: logic
CSR Review: This is a fast-paced action adventure with a strong good-versus-evil theme and rich content for exploration. Testers found the PC version frustratingly hard to use -- besides coming on two CDs and requiring a massive installation, the mouse and keyboard don't translate into game controllers, so stick with a game console version. The storyline follows the BIONICLE toy line and movie. Players find themselves on the tropical island of Mata Nui, where trouble is brewing. Makuta (the bad guy) has returned and wants to rule the world, using laser spitting giant scorpions and other nasty insect-like critters to keep the villagers in line. The good guys (you choose which one to play) are the six heavily armored and gadget BIONICLE characters, each with specific abilities. To win the game, players take the role of each character and make it through six adventures. We finished the first (Ta-Wahi) and found it to be typical move around and blast stuff, with very interesting monsters and maze like challenges. It is easy to get frustrated, and there is a steep learning curve -- hints are given with cryptic dialog boxes. An easier intro with a better tutorial would raise the rating. Borrow it. This is the first BIONICLE title for consoles -- there have been two prior titles for GBA. Developed by Argonaut Games for EA.

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