The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe the video game was released in 2005 directly following the release of the 2005 Disney film. This game is an action-adventure video game and was developed by Traveller’s Tales, and published by Buena Vista Games. The game is made for the Gamecube, PC, Xbox, Playstation 2 and Nintendo DS. The game is a one to two player game and is rated T for teen. Players can live through the adapted adventure while playing as one of the four main characters of the story: Lucy, Peter, Edmond, or Susan as they work to defeat the adapted archetypal boss character represented as the White Witch. The game was created at such a high fidelity with the film that the characters within the game are designed to look like digital versions of the actors themselves, as well as the game's different environments are modeled directly from scenes from the movie.
In the Gamecube, Playstation 2, PC, and Xbox versions of the game there are fifteen levels and each level starts and ends with direct film clips from the Disney film, which not only help maintain the fidelity of the story but they also help to guide and explain the levels. Similar to the movie, the game begins by players entering the world of Narnia while it is in the course of a 100-year winter thanks to the evil White Witch. As in the film, while on the quest to defeat the White Witch and return Aslan to his rightful place as King of Narnia, the characters must battle various Narnia creatures who are working for the White Witch in order to move forward with play. The game utilizes difficult and confusing puzzles as well as combat skills to engage players throughout. The game for the most part gives the characters the same skills that the movie and original story designated to them. Each character has unique skills that are appealing to players at different points throughout the game, and players are able to alternate between characters depending on which one would defeat the opponents the best. For example, just as they are able to in the movie, the character of Susan is extremely skilled with archery, as well as the character of Peter is with his sword, are both able to use their skills to fend off opponents. However, this is where the close fidelity is altered a little bit as the two younger characters Susan and Edmund, who do not have specific skills attributed to them, are given the abilities of carrying a torch while climbing, and taming and riding various animals, respectfully. These additions do differ from how the film characterizes these characters by giving them specific physical skills that they did not necessarily uniquely posses, however the personalities of the characters within the film as well as the original novel definitely resonate with these skills. Lucy is depicted as the most compassionate character, as well as the character that is able to relate to the Narnian animals the best, which fits perfectly with her designated power. Similarly, throughout the film Edmund is eager to prove he is just as able as his older brother and is constantly putting himself through daring missions. Therefore his designated skill of being able to climb while carrying a torch not only allows for him to be a daring character but it also allows for him to lead the group at moments, which remains true to his adapted film character’s desires. This slight alteration within the game is done to make these characters more appealing in game-play, as well as a way to incorporate all of the characters in each level. A major theme in the film is working together as the four siblings learn throughout the story that they are stronger together than alone. The game mirrors this throughout game play by allowing players to team up the characters and produce combo moves against the villains, that would otherwise not be possible alone.
In the handheld version of the game players would play on a Nintendo DS or Game Boy Advance. Play is a little different in the handheld versions as there are seventeen chapters, as opposed to levels, and players are not able to change their characters during a level as they are in the game console versions. The handheld version plays as level-based (or chapter based) progression, meaning the characters will gain their skills, and the ability to use their skills throughout the game, rather than having them from the start. Both versions use coins and food, and other various rewards as commodities to collect and earn throughout the game, all of which enhance the performance of the characters. By having the ability to learn more skills, gain more strength, and acquire new skills as the game goes on, both versions are able to keep the fidelity of the theme within the film, as well as the original text, of coming of age. The characters are able to mature, learn more, and increase their abilities as they progress through the game, similar to what the actual characters are able to do throughout the film as well as the text.
The underlying references to Christianity that are present within the film as well as the original text are the least obvious here within the video game. The game does have many of the same plot points but as it takes longer to get to each plot point, due to the fact that the player must win each level to progress to the next, the symbolism is not as evident, nor can it be as the game definitely promotes some points of violence which contradicts those values of Christianity.
It is worth noting that this game has tie-ins with the original text, however only through the lens of the adapted Hollywood film. The game keeps the fidelity with the archetypal characters; plot points, and settings from the film, as well as the original text, by giving them relevant and realistic skills and abilities, and the ability to do so in familiar settings. A major difference between the game and the film and text is that it is rated T for Teen, meaning that in order to reach a broader audience, creators marketed this game to an older group of players. Rather than the initial younger children audience that the book was aimed towards, and the slightly extended audience that the film was, the videogame increased tits level of difficulty as well as content (i.e. violence) to be able to appeal to more consumers. The game, both visually and through narrative, is a very tight adaptation of the film, rather than the original text and takes on the role of conveying a unique sense of intimacy with the characters as well as the story.
Sources:
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." IGN. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://www.ign.com/games/the-chronicles-of-narnia-the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/gcn-683999
"The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the Video Game."Narnia Wiki. Wikipedia.com, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia:_The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_Wardrobe_(video_game)
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (video Game)."Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia:_The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe_(video_game)>.
