The film Monsters vs Aliens might have won itself plenty of fans since its release, but who can help being a little bit dubious as to the quality of its mobile game tie-in? Games based on films aren't renowned for having quite the same quality control as Dreamworks after all.
And there are definitely reasons to be cautious about Monsters vs Aliens: The Mobile Game. While it's an easy-on-the-eye platform game which borrows plenty of personality (as well as two of the characters in playable form) from the film, it's also a generic platformer that will struggle to keep more experienced gamers entertained for longer than an hour.
The game begins with you taking control of Ginormica - a woman who, after a run-in with a radioactive meteor, has grown to nearly 50ft in height.
This opening level, and all of Ginormica's subsequent levels, has you trying to stay ahead of one of Galaxhar's giant robots while scooping up innocent people trapped atop buildings and laying them safely on the ground.
Ginormica doesn't have an attack move, but she can stomp all over skyscrapers, climb up the sides of them a little like King Kong, and jump or duck to avoid the robot's piercing laser weapon.
Her levels are fun, if a little lacking in originality. They're straightforward, run-from-left-to-right affairs, with speed power-ups scattered about to collect. Once you've rescued your requisite number of people and reached the end, the level is won.
Next up, you take control of Missing Link, a 20,000 year old fish-ape hybrid who also happens to be a dab hand at martial arts.
His levels are also straightforward left-to-right platform outings, but he can smack up enemies too, using his fists and tail.
So progression is simply a case of vaulting across static and moving platforms, collecting fish and duffing up enemies that get in your way.
Level design-wise, things are pretty bland, although at least you have two different characters to play as.
Cut-scenes in between levels keep you up to date on the story and why exactly you're having to take down all these pesky robots. The occasional boss fight springs up to lend a bit more variety too.
Going on looks and sounds alone, Monsters vs Aliens is high quality and it's bound to appeal to younger fans of the film for those reasons alone.
The gameplay too is far from poor. But it very unashamedly keeps things simple and easy. Anyone with a basic grasp of holding a mobile handset and timing a few jumps and punches will sail through the game's 12 levels in no time at all. So the game's biggest problem is its lack of longevity and additional modes or replay factor.
Levels can be replayed for high scores, but there aren't any collectables, secrets or extras whatsoever.
While younger players might not be disappointed with the game, they also aren't getting very much for their money. There's no doubting there are far better platform adventures already available on mobile, so whether you settle for Monsters vs Aliens depends on how much the film has made you like the characters.
Monsters vs Aliens: The Mobile Game
Monsters vs Aliens scores high on looks and sound - it's a decent tie-in to the film. But the platform action lacks originality and it's all over too quickly
Kath Brice
Kath gave up a job working with animals five years ago to join the world of video game journalism, which now sees her running our DS section. With so many male work colleagues, many have asked if she notices any difference.