Game Details

• Title: Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Adventures Episode 1: Fright of the Bumblebees
• Developer: Telltale Games
• Publisher: Xbox Live Arcade
• Released (UK): 27/05/2009
• Initial Price: 800 MS Points
• Age Rating: E
• Game Type: Point and Click Adventure (Monkey Island type game)
• Multi-player: None

Background

Fright of the Bumblebees is the first of 4 graphic adventures starring Wallace and Gromit. These are being developed by Telltale games who were formed from a group of former Lucasarts employees who had been involved with such classics as the Monkey Island, Grim Fandango and Sam and Max, and are best known for the episodic Sam and Max games.

Game Modes

There is only 1 “Game Mode” and that is the story itself. For anyone unfamiliar with point and click adventure games, you wander around a limited environment picking up a few items and using them in conjunction with each other or the environment in order to solve simple puzzles. This type of game has 1 major flaw and that is that it is very easy to get stuck on a puzzle if you dont know what to do, or missed an item. The strength of these games when done well is that they can be very enjoyable to “watch”.

Technical Stuff

I thought the graphics were of a high level, and made you feel that you were watching a Wallace and Gromit film, though not quite up to full “plasticine” quality. Likewise the sound and music fitted with what we have come to expect from Wallace and Gromit. The voice acting was also of a high quality, and even though Peter Sallis is not involved, his substitute is close enough in tone and inflection in his performance of Wallace that it is not that noticeable.

Difficulty/Achievements

The game is quite easy, though as in all point and click adventures, it is easy to get stuck on some puzzles if you missed something. I also thought that the hints are not that helpful as when I got stuck they just told me to go to the puzzle I was stuck on. As for the achievements, they are all attainable in one play through if you know what you are doing, though are well implemented given the game limitations.

Positives

• Feels like a “Wallace and Gromit” movie
• Good Graphics and Sound

Negatives

• Quite Short (Completable in under 5 hours)
• Limited Environment
• Standard Point and Click Flaws

My Recommendation

Consider – 7/10

While the game is short and can possible be completed in under 2 hours with a walkthrough, it is enjoyable to play. There are also few if any similar games available for Xbox 360 at the moment (though a Monkey Island port is rumoured). This is one of those games which if you enjoy the genre (point and click adventures) or Wallace and Gromit then you will probably find it to be a worthwhile purchase, if you do not then you wont.

Note on PC Version

The game is also available for PC, and checking on Steam it currently appears to be a comparable price on the Xbox 360 assuming the price for all 4 episodes is 800 points and there is no hike to 1200 (or 1600!) for later episodes. I have not checked on other PC delivery platforms though, so it is possible it can be found for less elsewhere.