Developer(s) – 1st Playable Productions
Publisher(s) – GameMill Entertainment
PEGI – 3
Based on the hit Disney film of 2013, Frozen: Olaf’s Quest is a 2D platforming game centering around the anthropomorphic comic relief snowman Olaf. Who despite being a snowman, yearns to experience the summer. However, his game makes for a very fleeting experience. Not only compared to other games based on existing popular licenses but compared to the film itself.
Graphics – 5/10
Although the game is set mainly in mainly snowy environments, there is a small basis in level design diversity. Since the settings do sometimes alternate between those and summery settings on beaches. And two levels are even set on a boat in the ocean. However, apart from that, there isn’t a great deal to marvel at in terms of conceptual design. And I think it would only work fractionally better for fans of the film.
Gameplay 1/10
The object of the game is to clear 60 short levels whilst gathering as many collectible items as possible. But although I prefer easier more accessible games as opposed to more challenging ones such as Mega Man or Castlevania, I found this title pathetically easy; even for a kid’s game. There is no true basis in either legitimate challenge or enjoyable gameplay. And I have played many other games aged 3+ infinitely more engrossing. Luigi’s Mansion and Super Mario 3D World to name but a few.
Controls – 10/10
The best thing I can say about this title is that there are no problems with the controls at least. There is actually some small basis in innovation with the ability to throw Olaf’s head to collect certain items that are otherwise unobtainable. It could be said that the player character moves too slowly. But in a game that has taken an average of one minute to clear each level, I go. And this has little bearing on the overall control scheme.
Lifespan – 0.5/10
To complete all 60 levels, even to 100%, will take an average of a mere hour since completing the game to 100% is incredibly easy. But since there’s no viable incentive for doing so, I wouldn’t advocate even playing it for that long. A lot of platformers, especially today, can be made to last far longer. But since there’s very little enjoyment to be had in terms of gameplay and absolutely no replay value, it feels less like that much of a fleeting experience.
Storyline – 0/10
presumably following the events of the film, after the character Elsa grants him immunity to melting past the point of winter, Olaf sets out on a quest across the winter and summer with no apparent goal other than to collect a bouquet of flowers for the main character Anna. The game was apparently heavily criticized for its lack of story by most mainstream review sites. And after playing it, it’s easy to see why.
Though I had an idea of how empty the game was in terms of story, I was still sitting on the fence about it. Since it had found its way into the top 40 on multiple occasions this year. And games based on licenses don’t generally tend to sell as well unless they’re pretty good. Especially my following the release of ET back in 1982, which I will be talking about later on in this blog. But unfortunately, on this occasion, I was disappointed with this title. Bot only in terms of gameplay but because of its lack of story too.
Originality – 1/10
As far as I could deduce whilst playing this game, the only vague sense of uniqueness did indeed come from that one aforementioned gameplay mechanic of throwing Olaf’s head to reach distant items. But apart from that, it does play out as a bog-standard 2D platformer with small Angry Birds influences behind it too. There was nothing present to truly make it stand out among the many games of its kind that had come before it.
Furiious
In summation, Frozen: Olaf’s Quest is a boring atrocity of a game. And I can’t figure out for the life of me why it sold better than many other games released in 2014, such as InFamous: Second Son and Child of Light. even with the Frozen brand attached to it. To me, it does indicate that although there have been great games released based on existing licenses in recent years, there are also some dreadful ones made from time to time that undeservedly hog away attention from games that are deserved more recognition.