power up

Space Chimps
Wii £40 
Brash Entertainment

In this 3D action platformer, based on the movie, you’re one of two simians — mischievous circus chimp Ham or his cheeky chimp pal, Luna.

Ham is sent into space to lead a mission exploring a mysterious new planet as a publicity stunt, but when the spaceship crashes into this beautiful but bizarre world, Ham and his crew find their lives in serious danger. 

Naturally both chimps are great at climbing, swinging, jumping and platform-hopping. The well-presented platform segments make up the majority of the action but, when the combat situations kick in, both chimps also have their own special skills. 

Ham is a dab hand at stomping on alien enemy heads which knocks them out cold, while Luna wields a whip as well as Indiana Jones. 

There are some aircraft flying and track-based aspects to the game which provide a nice diversion, as well as some sections where Luna has to fly around with butterfly wings. 

Then there are the puzzles which are, for the most part, really well thought out — including tasks such as moving stones to prop up precarious gates, using blocks to wedge open doors or rooting out keys to open up new pathways. 

The game’s environments are luxuriant, colourful and varied, the chimps are cute and expressive and the beasties abundant. Some sound voice acting is provided by Andy Samberg as Ham while the music and sound effects certainly evoke the right atmosphere.

With platform action, puzzles and combat all interwoven seamlessly into a generally good-looking and endearing game, this one may not send you bananas but it’s certainly worth monkeying around with. 

Paralympics — They opened on Saturday. Let’s hope Team GB does as well as they did at the last Games in Athens in 2004 — we came second in the medals table, bagging 94, 35 of which were gold. 
By Royal Command — The new Young Bond adventure has finally hit the shops. Written by Charlie Higson, it’s published by Penguin, ISBN: 9780141384511. 
Britney Spears — The pop princess will “kick off” this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. But MTV said that instead of performing, she’ll be doing something “fun and unexpected”. She got a lot of stick for her comeback performance of Gimme More, which opened last year’s show. 

Usher — The American R&B star is to perform a load of gigs in the States — but he’s only letting girls buy tickets. Doesn’t seem fair to us!
Big Brother — It’s finally over!

Hilary Heath

by Kevin Scully

© All copyright D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd., 2008