Console: Xbox 360/ PlayStation 3
It’s a massacre and we’re revelling in it, putting down our machete for a little while, we stop playing ‘Naughty Bear’ just long enough to review the new game developed by Artificial Mind and Movement and published by 505 Games. From the get go just be warned that ‘Naughty Bear’, isn’t at all pleasant – if you are horrified at thoughts of ripping the stuffing out of screaming teddy bears or you are repulsed by the idea of bludgeoning a cuddly little plushie with baseball bat then we suggest you stop reading….right….now!
Good, now that we’ve weeded out those with weak stomachs and members of PETA we can get started!
‘Naughty Bear’ is about a paradise island made for cuddly and soft little teddy bears; the player takes on the role of a bear called Naughty. Known for his mischievous behaviour and shabby demeanour, Naughty lives in a rundown shack away from the other bears. When all the other bears are invited to the attend the birthday party of Daddles bear and Naughty isn’t he decides to gatecrash the shindig but rather than ruin it he decides to bring a little gift for the birthday bear except things don’t work out for the rude bear and he is laughed at by all the others. Returning home, something inside Naughty Bear snaps and he decides to return to the party, armed with an arsenal of weaponry, he’ll make the bears pay for laughing at him!
So, the plot isn’t exactly the stuff that bards will be reciting for years to come but who cares! The gameplay more than makes up for the story – ignore those other folk who tell you that ‘Naughty Bear’ is nothing but a repetitive game, forcing you to revisit the same locations and repeat the massacre over and over – we’re not saying it’s not true it’s just we don’t think it’s a bad thing!
There are seven levels in the singe player mode, and each level comes with four stages or challenge modes – the challenges vary from killing every bear without any escaping, time limits, methods of killing. Multiplayer mode has four different modes – Jelly Run/Cake Walk/Assault/Golden Oozy – cute names for capture the flag, death match etc. While playing multiplayer you can recruit others to come to your aid or you can just go on a rampage and annoy other players as they attempt to complete their goals.
The best thing about ‘Naughty Bear’ are the naughty points and the naughty system – killing and scaring bears will earn you naughty points, smashing up the scenery, sabotaging toilets and cars and causing chaos will also earn you big points and the longer you rampage the higher your multiplier goes and the more naughty points you earn – above your score your friends scores will hover and only drives you to commit further carnage for the sake of thrashing your friends record!
The graphics are adorable; all the bears look like they belong on your bedside locker (in our case beside us as we fall asleep at night). Visually it looks like a children’s storybook has been shoved into your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 and as you rip the fuzzy limbs off or smash their fluffy heads in with a baseball bat, you can’t help but smile at how cute the whole thing really looks.
Yes it is a tad repetitive but at least its not Sonic the Hedgehog repetitive – rather than save the fuzzy critters you get to maim them and laugh manically as they flee at the very sight of you! If you don’t think it sounds like your game then you have to at least rent this and for all your trophy/achievement nuts out there then ‘Naughty Bear’ is a must have!
Now if you’ll excuse us we’ve a picnic to attend and we seem to have misplaced our Uzi….
Rent or Buy: A must have!
Gold Stars: 8 out of 10
