Video games

Monsters Inc. Gameboy Color THQo

Launched to coincide with the cinema release of Disney/Pixar's Monsters Inc. this version for Gameboy Color is based on the same story currently delighting thousands of kids (and adults) on silver screens throughout the country.

For the most part you play the gentle giant and number one kid scarer James P Sullivan or 'Sulley' for short, though at certain stages of the game you must also play his one-eyed sidekick Mike Wazowski.

The object of the game is to find the door that can return Boo (the little girl) to her home.

Along the way you must collect Blort Cans, paperwork and takeaway boxes while dodging the evil CDA (Child Detection Agency) who are out to get hold of Boo.

There are several bosses to defeat to progress through the levels. They are the film's villians so expect to meet and hopefully defeat Randall and Watermoose if you want to get Boo back home safely.

The graphics and sound are pretty good but it's the gameplay which really makes this enjoyable. There are 15 levels to navigate with different challenges to overcome as you progress. The game is definitely suitable for gamers of any age though some younger fans may need help from their older brothers or sisters (perhaps even mum or dad) to complete some of the tasks.

So the next time your own Monsters Inc. are up to no good, power up the GameBoy and let Sulley, Mike and Co occupy them for a while. You never know, it might just work.

f=helveticaRatings: Graphics 4/5, Sound 3/5, Gameplay 4/5, Gamespan 4/5, Overall 4/5

Dave Hopwood

Monsters Inc. Gameboy Advance THQo

The Gameboy Advance version of Monsters Inc. also follows the film's storyline, but whereas the Gameboy Color features Sulley, Mike and Boo and their attempts to navigate through Monstropolis to find the door back to Boo's home, the Advance version focuses on Sulley and his quest to actually find pieces of the door (which Randall shreds in the game's opening sequence) and put them back together in order to save the little girl.

As with the Gameboy Color version you must work your way through the levels collecting various items as you go but this time there are more items to collect, including sweets (necessary to perform Sulley's fearsome roar attack), laugh canisters, snow equipment and keys.

The GBA (Gamboy Advance) version also incorporates bonus levels which need to be completed either to unlock a boss level or to supplement your reserves of sweets, laugh canisters and health.

The graphics and sound make good use of the GBA's enhanced capabilities with some excellent and smooth animation, coupled with a neat soundtrack. Once again the gameplay is great and with over 20 levels to explore there's plenty of enjoyable fun to be had for gamers young and not so young!

f=helveticaRatings: Graphics 4/5, Sound 4/5, Gameplay 4/5, Gamespan 4/5, Overall 4/5

Dave Hopwood