Animals get animated

Kid-friendly Over the Hedge is the latest in the long line of recent games based on animated films based on comics. Our unusual heroes this time are a philosophic turtle named Verne (voiced by Garry Shandling of Larry Sanders fame) and his chum, a spiky raccoon con artist RJ (Bruce Willis). Together they're are out to halt the expansion of suburbia into their woodland, although what's actually worrying RJ more is the food supply he's stolen from a hungry bear, which he needs to get replenished as soon as possible.

Cue what its Dreamworks animators are labelling a 'classic heist movie', with plenty of hilarious japes as the animals decide to invade the 'burbs for food while the humans fight back via the dreaded Verminator.

In terms of the gameplay, it's platforming action, with you swapping back and forth between RJ and Verne as you play. Each has his own special attack, with RJ's golf ball barrage and Verne's spinning shell attack being upgraded over the the game to build up more powerful combos. The dynamic duo can also pick-up armour and tools as the game progresses.

Other characters such as Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk will come into play too, although it's yet to be confirmed whether we'll be able to play as Heather, the embarrassed teenage possum voiced by skatergirl Avril Lavigne. Shame, maybe she could catwaul the enemy into submission.

With the film due for release in the US in the middle of May, the game version of Over the Hedge should make it over the pond soon after.