Ben 10: Protector of Earth

Rating Everyone Genre action Publisher D3 publisher of America External Links Official D3 publisher of America Website

Based on the Cartoon Network series, Ben 10: Protector of Earth is the first in what I am sure will be a long line of game releases. Ben Tennyson discovered an alien device called the Omnitrix, which allows him to transform himself into one of ten different alien races, each with their own unique abilities. Thankfully the people at 1st Playable Productions have created an enjoyable, if not exactly mind-blowing translation of this popular series.

Designed as a traditional 2D platform, the player travels to several unique locations, occasionally having to fight random enemies to progress further into the game. The game begins with Ben being attacked after discovering that most of the crystals in his Omnitirx, which holds the Alien Templates for his transformations, are missing. Ben starts with only Heatblast the Human Torch and Fourarms who is your basic brawler. Throughout the game you will gain access to three more templates in the form of XLR8 the resident speedster, Cannonbolt the rolling barricade crusher, and finally the sentient plant Wildvine.

The game is played almost completely with the use of the D-pad, as the touch screen is used only to control the Omnitrix itself. This is a great balance for this type of game, as the touch screen provides quick changes in the heat of battle without having to use a lot of button controls. You will change forms frequently since each level is designed to utilize all of your abilities. Also, despite the advanced alien technology that the Omnitrix represents, it is constantly running out of power at the wrong time and reverting you back to your human form.

Each template can be upgraded at the completion of each level by purchases from a virtual store. Except for a single upgrade to extend your time in the selected template, each upgrade is a special attack that can be triggered by using the same button combinations for each form. While this is a great concept for this style of game, the engine is a little buggy and attacks don’t register as the really should. Additional side quests are available, providing opportunities for players to further upgrade their forms into the ultimate fighting machines.

The graphics of the game are designed to look as much as the series as possible, and they do a fairly accurate job. While the character animations often feel like they were designed for an online Flash game, the overall feel is still quite enjoyable. While the game doesn’t sport any voice acting, the music and sound effects are identical to the series and help support the overall experience. Appropriate for children of all ages, Ben 10 is a short but entertaining side-scroller that stays true to the feel of the show. As a starting venture, 1st Playable Productions has made a decent title that shows a lot of promise for future releases.