There comes a time when a reviewer must give way to a higher power … or at least the target audience of a game. When Bratz The Movie was received for review on the PlayStation 2 platform, it was an ideal fit in a family with three girls ranging in age from 11 to 13 to 19. It was a no-brainer that the youngest would play it, but what was surprising was the way the 19-year old attacked the game and played it as much as her work schedule would allow.

Rather than launch into a review by an adult male, it seems more appropriate to allow the younger players to talk about the THQ game.

As a precursor, though, a bit about the story that propels this game. Players are invited to join the Bratz girls – Cloe, Jade, Sasha and Yasmin – as they journey through three months in the life of putting out Bratz magazine. Burdine and the evil Tweevils are out to foil their plans, but with the girls working hard to accomplish game goals, it seems likely they can succeed. And maybe, just maybe, they will get to meet a few celebrities in the process (like Lo J, or Alonce, or Hillary Fluff).

Strike a pose ...

Emma, age 11, filed this report about the game:

“Bratz is a really fun game. There are a lot of mini challenges that you get to do as you work on the Bratz magazine. You have to get a pet at the beginning of the game – a cat or dog, which will follow you everywhere.

“Bratz is a game of finding or doing things for other people. At the beginning you will go shopping for clothes and jewelry. You can switch between Cloe, Yasmin, Jade and Sasha. During the game you will collect blingz, which is what you buy stuff with. For your pet you have to make or buy treats. Treats are very important for your pet as they must eat. They are also used to make your pet find things for you.

“When Cloe’s grades begin to drop she tries to get an easy “A” by doing a class on fashion and design. Soon you will find that Burdine, writer of “Your Thing Magazine,” is your new teacher. She gives Cloe tons of hard assignments. As a mid-term, Burdine will make the Bratz girls put on a fashion show – in three days!

“At the music academy you will learn to play new songs on the guitar by hitting the right button, like Guitar Hero.

“You will also get to model clothes for Adventure girls and travel on the Bratz tour bus to interview someone. On the trip something will go wrong.

“I had a lot of fun playing this game. When you begin a task, remember you have to finish it in order to be able to get back to the office and a saving point. So be patient.”

Same pose, different setting

More game information …

In addition to the wandering and purchasing, players will also be able to fiddle with makeup and hair, strike a pose on the fashion runway and even go ice skating. There is a multiplayer component, which involves dressing up and playing a matching game.

The sound can be a bit on the repetitious side, with the same music coursing through the game. Graphically, the game goes for a three-dimensional look that switches into two dimensions when you get to some fashion segments. As for the controls, these are kept simple and everyone who tried was cruising through the game in a matter of minutes.

The 19-year old, who played this over the course of three days, finally finished it with a sense of excitement. “I don’t know why I played that,” she said, “but it is addicting.”

Gameplay: 6.5
Accessible interface allows younger players to pick up and play. The game does seem to lack a lot of diversity and save points can be a problem in that you have to accomplish certain tasks before you have access to the save point.

Graphics: 6.4
Serviceable. Do not expect great animation or environments here.  

Sound: 5.0
Repetitious to the point of annoying – but that is an adult perspective.

Difficulty: Easy

Concept: 5.5
Typical platformer taking advantage of a license. Nothing particularly new or different here.

Multiplayer: 5.0
Very limited and relegated to the type of games that are very easy to understand and play – you know, as in keeping in line with the target audience (though a personal opinion is that the target audience has been underestimated).  

Overall: 6.0
The score was agreed upon by the 11- and 19-year olds. Emma said that “it’s a kids game so most adults wouldn’t like it, but kids – I think – would really like it.” Jessi, the 19-year old, said it was not a particularly great game but it was addictive and had a certain amount of entertainment value.