N-Philes

No, you are not reading this wrong, nor is this a joke. Monsters, Inc.: Scream Arena, while not the pinnacle of gaming experiences, is still a title that delivers a lot of simple, fun gameplay, as well as a wonderful multiplayer mode.

There are too many reasons why a game like this would be passed off by any gamer. For one thing, it's obviously made for kids. I mean afterall, it is fashioned after a Pixar film. Secondly, movie-to-game transitions rarely end up making a big splash in the industry, and they've gained a pretty bad reputation from such games as Batman Vengeance, Catwoman, and Enter The Matrix. Lastly is this: if you know anything about games in general then you know that whenever you see the THQ logo, it's a game you can probably afford to miss. But Scream Arena should truly not be dismissed so quickly.

Like most people, I would never have picked up this game out of my own curiosity or even free will. Yet on a stroke of luck it did come across my path--free of charge. On a boring Saturday night, while hanging out with a few friends, I saw the game and decided to boot it up and give it a go. I mean afterall, what's the harm in that? After a few immature jokes passed around among the friends we started up the multiplayer mode.

Two hours later, we were still playing. The game is literally a virtual form of none other than the schoolyard favorite, dodgeball. You have a selection of characters to choose from (all whom starred in the Monsters, Inc. film) and although they don't boast any sort of advantage over each other, there are around fifteen total characters to earn after unlocking. Then after selecting from an assortment of arenas (again all of which can be found in some shape or form in the film) you can get to the fun part: hurling balls at each other. The arena is filled with different kinds of dodgeballs, each of which have a different special power, and by hitting your opponents you are rewarded points. The player with most points at the end of the round wins.

Sounds simple, right? Well it is; the major downfall to the game is lack of depth. Although Scream Arena does sport a single player mode, it's almost identical to the multiplayer mode except that you play mindless computer A.I. instead of real people. It's certainly not a game you're going to enjoy on your own, but with four Wavebirds and plenty of caffeine, you'll have a roaring time, and all at a very small price-point. Usually Monsters, Inc.: Scream Arena can be purchased at a used-game store for only around $10.00, and it's well worth the cash, in my eyes.

While some may be put off by the outdated graphics and overall lackluster development display, Monsters, Inc.: Scream Arena features simple gameplay for gamers that don't require something fresh or cutting edge to have fun.