Over the Hedge (video game)

For the Nintendo DS version, see Over the Hedge (DS game).

Over the Hedge
North American cover art for PC
Developer(s)	Edge of Reality (GameCube, PS2, Xbox, PC) Vicarious Visions (DS, GBA)
Publisher(s)	Activision
Engine	Touque and Havok Physics
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance
Release date(s)	NA May 9, 2006 PAL June 23, 2006 Game Boy Advance NA May 5, 2006 PAL June 23, 2006
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E10+ OFLC: PG PEGI: 3+

Over the Hedge is a 2006 video game based on the film of the same name.

In the video game, which takes place a year after the movie, RJ, Hammy, Verne, and the gang feel that they need to have more things for the log (the area behind the hedge). This leads them on a wild romp through six different areas to snatch different things such as a popcorn machine and a TV for themselves. There are several mini games as bonuses in the game.

All through the game, they try to take these things while avoiding the Sniffer, (Dwayne the Verminator), who tries to defeat them by using mind-controlled vermin he has captured as his "henchmen." At one point, many animals, including weasels, badgers, and even Vincent the bear are controlled. Sami Kirkpatrick, Madison Davenport and Shane Baumel reprise their roles from the film.

Plot

A family of animals who hibernate in winter are joined by RJ the racoon, who helps them get food for winter by stealing it from people in the neighborhood over the hedge which separates it from the forest. The story of the game starts at the middle of the story of the movie. After after Verne the turtle(the leader of the family) loses all the food, the animals go to the house of Gladys Sharp, the president of Home Association, to steal back the food. Avoiding traps set up by Dwayne La'Fonte the Verminator(who was hired to get rid of the critters), they manage to steal enough food for hibernation, only to be captured by Dwayne. However, RJ escapes with the food. It is soon revealed that RJ had actually planned to use the food that the family collected to pay back Vincent the Bear, whom he had stolen from. However, RJ quickly has a change of heart and goes to save the animals. He collides with Verminator van using the wagon of food, freeing Stella the Skunk and Hammy the hyper-active squirrel, who free the rest of the family. The van crashes into Gladys' house. Gladys and Dwayne try to catch them, but they escape through the hedge, only to encounter Vincent. Verne and Hammy run through the hedge, avoiding the attacks of Vincent and Gladys, and make it to the end of the hedge, and activate a trap device, which cages Vincent, Gladys and Dwayne. RJ survives because Verne's shell(which he was wearing) protected him. The animals return to the forest with some stolen food. Meanwhile, a year later, the animals return from another heist, only to find everything they foraged has been stolen. The animals then continue to get back the food. Vincent also joins them after RJ tricks him, saying that they are planning to capture the humans.

Gameplay

Over the Hedge features 3D platform gameplay as well as mini games. Players navigate a series of homes searching for luxury items, controlling RJ, Verne, Hammy or Stella. Character voices are provided by soundalikes rather than the original actors who recorded the voices for the film (except Bucky Spike and Quillo).

Two different kinds of attack can be employed, melee and ranged. Weapons include golf clubs, sticks, baseball bats, plungers and other everyday items. Ranged attacks consist of throwing boomerangs, frisbees and shooting golf balls, these attacks can be charged up. There are also energy attacks, projectile weapons and objects to pick up and throw at enemies. The game has several pickup weapons, such as weapons that only opponents have (i.e., a trowel). There are also guns that can be picked up, such as a toy ball launcher, a freeze ray, a bubble shooter, or a lava blaster.

Players can jump or double jump. The game allows a second player to press a button on the second controller and join the game at any time, as well as pause the game and drop out. There are also plenty of obstacles and hazards to overcome, as well as objectives to complete and extras to collect. The game also has an array of hats, which when collected make a humorous sound and act as armor. These include a chef hat, a crown, a witch hat and a hockey helmet amongst others.

Several locations from the movie (and some that are not) appear to give a greater playing ground than the suburbs, the home base being the woods where all the loot is stored. Players can switch around between the four characters to give the storyline some slight twist, as each character says something different when a situation arises, to slightly alter the story.

External links

• Over the Hedge at MobyGames