VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

'THE INCREDIBLES: RISE OF THE UNDERMINER'
Publisher: THQ.
System: Microsoft Xbox, also for Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC.
Price: $39.99; $19.99 PC.
Age rating: Everyone 10+
Grade: C
"The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer" differs from its source material, but for other reasons. The game picks up from the tail end of the movie and the first game, with a villain calling himself the Underminer, uh, undermining a parking lot with his big drill car and making threats.
One might think it's time for some Incredible family action, but think again. This isn't like the first game, where the whole family of heroes took part.
Here, Mr. Incredible sends his wife, Elastigirl, away with their superkids to battle the Underminer's robot minions while he and old buddy Frozone chase down the mole man himself. It's kind of jarring, since the whole point of the movie was how this family of superheroes learned to work together. And Elastigirl was cool in the first game. Ah, well.
This time around, players control the big guy and his cool friend, switching between the two when needed. That's a bit awkward for one gamer, so two players can also take part, one controlling each hero. Either way, both characters are crucial. Mr. Incredible is big and tough, and he can bash and throw objects and foes long distances -- often into other foes -- and lift heavy things out of the way.
The game's not exactly deep, or very long. Children who liked the movie will enjoy the colorful, good-looking visuals, the familiar music and sound-alike characters, but the game doesn't have the movie's knowing wit or much of its charm.
--Justin Hoeger, Sacramento Bee
'THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE'
Publisher: Buena Vista Games.
System: Microsoft Xbox, also for Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC.
Price: $49.99; $39.99 PC.
Age rating: T, for Teen.
Grade: B
Movie games often feel like quick cash-ins, especially when they're aimed at the younger, less discriminating set. However, this one is worth at least a look for fans.
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has its work cut out for it, being a videogame translation of a movie that was already padded in its adaptation from C.S. Lewis' children's book.
The "Wardrobe" game has even more padding, with many events either stretched near the point of incredulity or inserted entirely into the proceedings, and parts of the story are shuffled around a bit. This is not an entirely faithful adaptation of the adaptation. But it is a decent game, and the game play sort of takes advantage of the family dynamic among the four Pevensie children.
For anyone who doesn't know the outline: Four children stumble through a magical wardrobe into the land of Narnia, which is locked in a century-long winter by Jadis, the White Witch. Aslan, a powerful lion, has returned to defeat her, and the children have crucial parts to play.
Each of the four main characters -- Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy -- has his or her own talents in the magical land of Narnia (and in a few real-world sequences). And they gain new ones as the game goes on, and they're given new items.
Peter, the oldest, can swing sticks and swords and smash through enemy armor and obstacles. Susan can throw snowballs and fire arrows, play pipes and blow an enchanted horn. Edmund is similar to Peter, but more agile; he can shimmy up trees and posts. And Lucy, the youngest, can fit in small places and heal the others. Two players can opt to control a character each, switching as the situation warrants.
In a neat touch, each sibling can team up with each of the others for unique moves. Edmund and Lucy, for instance, can bash through barriers and foes, while Peter can hoist Susan onto his back for better aim.
"Wardrobe" looks really good, better than average for this sort of game. The trees and backgrounds shimmer with snow, and the children and their foes are detailed and well-animated. The digital likenesses of the film's actors are just fine -- Peter looks least like his real-life counterpart, and Edmund the most. The girls are both pretty close. All four characters are helped by decent voice acting, and the bits of the film scattered about are well-placed and edited to fit the flow of the game, which differs quite a bit from the movie.
--Justin Hoeger, Sacramento Bee