WALL-E RIP [126 MB]
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If you've played Wall-E on the XBox 360, PS3, or Wii, you might be surprised to discover that the PC version is a completely different. It's actually a port of a separately developed PS2 version made by Asobo Studio, and I advise suspending judgment until trying it out. Even the demo does not do justice to the retail game, as it lacks any areas in which Wall-E is free to explore.
Wall-E for the PC is primarily a platformer. As a platforming hero, Wall-E (who is essentially a small trash compactor robot on treads) stands unique in some ways. He doesn't jump upward but rather forward, and relies on building up speed (visible via an on-screen meter) and using hills and ramps to gain ground. He can drive up and down certain ramps like they're skateboard half pipes. He has a laser, can turn himself into a box, can compact trash into boxes, and can throw boxes. He can play music to recruit the help of nearby Reject Bots. These and other abilities are used fairly creatively to solve puzzles and defeat enemies throughout the platforming portions of the game.
The gameplay is remarkably varied in that not every chapter plays as a platformer. Some chapters are timed races, a few involve flying as Eve (Wall-E's high tech robotic object of affection) and some are on-rails shooter sequences. Even during the platforming sequences, there are mini-games involving overriding security panels, and sometimes Wall-E plays as Frogger when transversing a dangerous area. It's to the developers' credit that they mix things up enough that one doesn't get bored easily, although some of the platforming areas can take about 30-60 minutes to complete with no means to save.
Surprisingly, the engine used in Wall-E for the PC is better than many PC games I've played. Once reconfigured via the launcher, it can display some good high-resolution anisotropic filtered texture detail while still pumping out a respectable frame rate even on my sub-par (ATI X1600XT) PC system. (Although a VSync setting is surprisingly missing, resulting in some tearing unless perhaps you force it from outside of the game.) The game also never crashed on me once. Also via the launcher, I was able to configure it to run using a Saitek P880 GamePad, though I never did figure out how to make the door lock mini-game selection key work with it.
Chronologically, the campaign follows the story of the movie, but there are many little changes and additions here and there, including a prologue and epilogue not in the movie. I want to congratulate the level designers on the excellent job they did on the worlds in the game, as there's many memorable chapter environments ranging from gritty industrial to pristine technological. The only blemish I can cite are that some of the high tech props are too bright (perhaps intended for TV screens) and that the background music is somewhat simple, too short, and sometimes a bit inappropriate.
From what I've read and seen, the next-gen versions might be a little better in terms of character and cutscene detail. The characters in Wall-E for the PC look and play decently enough, but the cutscenes don't have the same emotional clout as was in the movie. They tried, but I think the limitations of the PS2 and development time restraints presented a definite limit to how well they could do. There is, at least, some excellent unique vignettes that play when Wall-E recovers a human artifact.
In terms of replay value, Wall-E for the PC has its ups and down. You can revisit old chapters to earn more points if you've yet to destroy all the crates or find artifacts in that chapter. Points are spent on "cheats" (largely cosmetic) and concept art. However, once this is done, there's really no compelling reason to go back and play those chapters because there's no difficulty level to adjust. There's also a number of mini-games that are unlocked with chapter completion, but these are primarily multi-player in nature -- good if you've people who want to play with you, but otherwise probably won't get much use. Without multiplayer, you can probably get about 10-15 hours out of Wall-E.
Overall, Wall-E for the PC won't impress the hardcore gamers, who are ever-hungry for something new and innovative on the largely starved PC market. However, this game is a capably executed platformer with a decent balance, good production values, and varied gameplay. For a movie title, that's outstanding. At a $20 price tag (half that of the largely identical PS2 version) it's a value that's hard to beat.
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http://rapidshare.com/files/195771593/WALL-E.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/195776561/WALL-E.part2.rar
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