POSTED 9/7/12


BRAVE

Disney Interactive
Xbox 360/Kinect (also on PS3/Move, PC, Wii, DS)

Despite being some of the most voluptuous and gorgeous people on the planet, redheads cop an inordinate amount of shit. So Pixar going with a bloodnut firebrand as the heroine of their latest tale – also their first ever chick lead character - was an admirably bold move.

On the surface Brave may appear to be just another Disney princess tale, but said starring firebrand, the very Scottish Merida, is no damsel in distress. Well, not in the typical “I need a bloke to rescue me, whimper, whimper, sigh” kinda way. Mercifully, this vibe of the movie carries over to the gameular version.

As such, you as Merida – complete with original voice work by Kelly Macdonald - kick arse. That’s supernatural arse – on top of botanical arse, if indeed flowers and other plant-like life-forms have poopchutes. Not only do you have an effective line in smackdown, you’re also a wicked-good archerer.

These powers come in handy as your bear of a mother – quite literally thanks to you sorta stuffing up in a wee witchy dealy kinda thing - needs to be unbeared, along with your three little brothers (who do make rather cute fuzzballs, even if they’d likely chow down on you without a second thought). You plough through eight increasingly involved levels, killing baddies, solving light puzzles and collecting more coins than Mario’s had pasta dinners to buy a plethora of upgrades to your thwomp/twang arsenal, along with extra handy implements of destruction in earth, wind, fire and ice – which could also be an interesting collaboration of Chicago soul and New York chick rock. But it isn’t.

With such elements (sorry) of depth, bonus twangerama Kinect-supporting archery levels, vague co-op and four difficulties, Brave’s better than your average movie tie-in, and also teaches a valuable lesson. Not all that family crap, rather never fuck with a redhead...

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