With presentation this good, you'll think the cartoon show is actually talking to you. Visually, this is the cartoon - and all the real voice talent in there fools you even more into thinking you're watching interactive telly from the future. It's only when you start controlling Stewie, Brian and Peter that you realise it's a below-average game.
Underneath its impressive looks, Family Guy is a straightforward affair that challenges you (and your patience). You take control of Peter, Stewie and Brian as they platform, fight and stealth their way through the town of Quahog. The in-game action mainly consist of walking, jumping and solving puzzles as you explore and interact with the town's strange array of inhabitants
As is tradition in platform games, there are bits in there that'll make you shout, swear and hate what you're made to do. For example certain levels will see you replaying sections more than once, until you learn the pattern of the police guards. And this is where the game quickly becomes tiresome.
Some of Brian's infuriating stealth sections - more frustrating than Splinter Cell even - just aren't needed as they interrupt the pace of the game and, more importantly, the flow of jokes. Hearing the same voice and joke over-and-over because you have to keep restarting quickly wears thin. The same goes for Stewie's platform levels and Peter's button-bashing combat sections.
Attention to detail in the backgrounds is amazing though. There's a joke in every corner that you won't want to miss. If you do, you're not going to get the true Family Guy experience. Tiny comedy mini-games appear out of nowhere and have nothing to do with your task in hand, but that's Family Guy for you. Take your time going through the levels and enjoy all the developer's hard work - this has clearly been a labour of love.
Compared to the various Simpsons spin-off games, Family Guy holds its own pretty well. But with the show's unique adult sense of humour, we're willing to bet it won't shift nearly as many units as Simpsons: Hit And Run. As a game Family Guy is average at best. If you've never seen the cartoon, you won't get it. If you love the show then your patience will be tried by the mediocre gameplay. Either way, be prepared to have your willpower tested.
A great use of the Family Guy licence and the show's unique humour. Average and frustrating gameplay lets it down.
Uppers
You'll think you're playing your own cartoon thanks to the developer's use of the licence. The show's humour and colourful cast of characters are perfectly represented. It's a fanboy's wet dream!
Downers
Too many frustrating stealth sections interrupt the pace of the game, making you restart too many times. Underneath the flashy licence lies a simple to play, no-frills platform game with frustrating puzzles to solve. Where's the comedy co-op or deathmatch modes? A missed opportunity...
Shouldn't it be "Child's Play Dressed in Adult Humour"? Maybe I'm wrong. I isn't aren't not no the journalist.
I bought this game on Friday last when it was made compatible with 360, and I'd have to agree with this review. Excellent production values and use of the licence, but repetitive and fairly dull. In Stewie's hospital level it's essentially the same 3 or 4 rooms repeating themselves with different obstacles. I like his mind-control gun though, that's a good idea and well executed. Then you have Brian's trek through the prison that must be in the Guinness Book of Records for "most consecutive shower-rooms in any building ever". I haven't gotten far enough to play as Peter yet, but I'm not expecting too much.
You'll think you're playing your own cartoon thanks to the developer's use of the licence.
