Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (DS)

CNET editors' rating: 1.5 stars Poor
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Gamespot editors' review

• Reviewed by: Frank Provo
• Reviewed on: 07/24/2007
• Released on: 06/15/2007

The Nintendo DS rendition of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a prime example of why video games based on movies tend to get a bad rap. This collection of side-scrolling levels, shoot-'em-up stages, and boss battles gives the distinct impression that the developer just quickly threw some levels together then shoehorned the characters in at the last moment. Roughly half of the game involves jumping between platforms and beating up generic enemies. With the exception of a couple of key levels and scenes, the story centers around characters and events that weren't even in the movie. On top of that, you can complete the whole game and unlock every bonus in well under two hours.

Sue can fly, Ben can dash, and Reed has a long reach. But the side-scrolling levels mostly involve jumping and punching.

Roughly half of the game's 20 levels are traditional side-scrolling stages in which you control one of the Fantastic Four members. As you walk through the stage, you'll have to jump over gaps, activate switches, and beat up on various alien or robot enemies. If you run out of health or fall into a bottomless pit, you'll have to start the level over. Each character has a unique superpower (for example, Sue can fly), but the levels mainly test your ability to jump over gaps and rapidly press the attack button. There's nothing particularly noteworthy about how the levels are put together. A surprise trap here and there guarantees that you'll have to go through some of the levels at least twice, though that's not a big problem because most levels barely take longer than a minute to complete. As for the enemies, they simply patrol their own small patch of ground or sky and attack intermittently when you get too close.

The remaining levels are vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up stages and split-screen boss battles. In the former, you control the Fantasticar or the Human Torch. Flying aliens and aircraft constantly appear on the upper screen, making their way to where you are on the lower screen. Your task is to dodge their bullets and shoot them down. Unfortunately, you only have a single-fireball-style attack, and you'll tire of it quickly. The boss battles are somewhat more engaging mainly because you have to use the touch screen to reflect the bosses' attacks. Dr. Doom or another bad guy stands on the upper screen and repeatedly hurls energy blasts toward you, which you then need to tap, slash, or encircle with the stylus before they hit your team members situated at the bottom of the touch screen.

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