Treasure Planet is the latest game adaptation of an animated Disney movie, and it aims to capture the look, feel, story, and characters of the film it's based on. Just by taking a quick look at the game, you can tell developer Bizarre Creations went to great lengths to do so. At the same time, the difficulty of the game is clearly aimed at the same young audience the movie is. Treasure Planet isn't a bad game--it just might be a little too easy for experienced players.
The game follows the exploits of Jim Hawkins, a young adventurer on a quest to locate a mythical world known as Treasure Planet. In order to do so, he'll need to travel to a variety of whimsical locations throughout the universe and complete various tasks before he finds the ultimate prize, "the loot of a thousand worlds." These tasks are quite similar to the ones found in nearly every action adventure game on the market, ranging from finding a certain number of items to catching runaway animals to flipping a series of switches. Completing these tasks lights a beacon, and when a set number of these beacons are lit, the next level is then made available. The game follows a linear path that you'll be right at home with if you're familiar with the source material. While most of the required objectives involve simple item collection, Jim is also able to enlist the help of his trusty pal, Morph, to get him past areas that require a little more thinking. In these cases, Morph is able to change his shape into a helpful item such as giant robotic arms or a jetpack. These power-ups can be used for only a certain amount of time, so you'll need to be quick about making decisions in how you use them.
Another key aspect of the film that is re-created in the game is solar surfing. During these missions, Jim is able to pilot a futuristic surfboard and complete objectives. As is the case with the rest of the game, these sequences are pretty easy, so if you've had experience with other extreme sports games, you'll be able to get through these missions in a snap. As a whole, Treasure Planet plays just like any number of other action adventure games on the market, such as Jak and Daxter or Ratchet & Clank. Controlling Jim is easy, although he does seem to move much quicker than his enemies. In addition to this, his movement looks somewhat jumpy and out of place in relation to the other inhabitants and enemies he encounters in his journeys. Aside from this, the game plays fairly solidly.
As is the case with most games based on Disney films, a great deal of work was put into translating the world found in the movie into an interactive environment. Graphically, Treasure Planet does a good job of staying true to the environments found in the film but expanding upon them to make them levels that suit the gameplay. Jim and his friends are modeled and animated well, too. If you've seen the film, you can tell that the developers of the game paid close attention to the source material and did their best to re-create it. The game's audio, on the other hand, does an adequate job but isn't particularly memorable. You get a standard assortment of explosions, robot sounds, and ambient music and not much else. Another key element of Disney games has always been the between-level cutscenes. In this case, they are taken directly from the film, so you'll be able to relive some key moments from the movie on your way through the game.
All told, Treasure Planet is a decent enough game. It plays well and stays true to the source material. While it is clearly made easier for younger players, older fans of the film will be able to still enjoy the game, although it doesn't pose much of a challenge. If you're looking for an action adventure game to rent for a few days, or to purchase for a younger player, Treasure Planet fits the bill quite well. Gamers looking for a challenge, on the other hand, are better off looking to a game like Ratchet & Clank.
