Fans of the Griffin family's exploits have been waiting a long time for this game, so we could only sit and hope it wasn't going to be like
The Simpsons: Minutes to Meltdown all over again.
Happily,
Family Guy is an improvement in the licensed animation stakes. It still has the style - and bags of humour - but it also comes with a fine selection of mini-game levels. Only seven in total, which means most players will see the entire game within an hour, but you can at least replay these mini-games once they're all unlocked at varying difficulty levels.
The game begins with Peter watching TV (a programme of dubious educational value) and the electricity going off. Cue Brian complaining to Stewie, then Stewie demanding the family dog give him back the $100 he owes him and the first mini-game begins.
You control Brian as he runs away from Stewie, making sure Stewie doesn't catch him more than four times. Stewie, meanwhile, is armed with a whole arsenal of different guns, so you need to dodge up and down on the screen to avoid a series of grenades, missiles and laser beams.
With that game done and dusted, Peter takes a walk in the street only to run into Quagmire rueing the power cut that has cut short his enjoyment of 'Jungle Babes'. The next game - Jungle Love - has you swinging Quagmire across a series of jungle vines, while dodging the odd native, to reach his lady on a distant platform.
Next up it's Chris, who's popped his last quarter into an arcade machine only for the lack of 'lecky to ruin his game. Instead he draws his own game, which results in a mini-game where you control Chris sitting astride a miniature spaceship shooting down flying (and armed) pigs. Picking up items as you go upgrades your guns, and there's a big boss battle at the end.
And on the game goes with Peter running into different characters who prompt a new mini-game. I won't ruin them all for you (although I will say that Peter vs Chicken is one of the best).
All of the games are distinctly different - ticking off platforming, shooting and fighting - and visually they're all great. The cut-scenes in between them are funny too, with characters like the greased-up deaf guy popping up at random intervals.
The thing is, once you've seen them all - which, as I said earlier, will be within an hour - there's no more to see in the game.
You can go on to play the mini-games again at increased difficulty levels, which roughly doubles the length of the
Family Guy experience. But most don't have quite enough depth for you to keep revisiting them for days on end. A few trophies and hidden items would have increased longevity to a more respectable level.
Glu has produced a quality
Family Guy game that doesn't disappoint in most ways. But it's over a little too soon and for the money you'll fork out for it you could buy a much fuller game, just minus Peter and pals.
