When we last saw The Incredibles, the superhero family had defeated Syndromes Omnidroid and saved the citizens of Metroville. However, on their way out of the stadium where Dash has just earned a respectable but not overwhelming showing in a track meet, a new villain appears: the Underminer.
Im always beneath you, but nothing is beneath me! he booms. I hereby declare war on peace and happiness!
Unfazed, the Incredibles don their masks, ready for action. Mr. Incredible pulls open his shirt to reveal his supersuit
and then the credits roll. The movies legions of fans who anxiously wanted to see the popular superheroes take on their latest foe need wait no longer, thanks to the development team at Heavy Iron Studios and publisher THQ.
We kept a film-like narrative. Its like a buddy movie.
- Steve Townsend, producer
A Buddy Game
It made sense to continue where the film left off, as well as introduce Frozone as a playable character, explains producer Steve Townsend. We also wanted to explore his relationship with Mr. Incredible as they fight crime together.
While Elasti-Girl, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack secure the situation topside, Mr. Incredible and Frozone hearken back to their early crime-fighting days as they head underground to pursue the Underminer. The movie gave us some insight into the relationship between Mr. Incredible and Frozone during the scene in which they save the residents of a burning apartment building, and The Incredibles 2 builds on that.
Frozone and Mr. Incredible have new dialogue as they come across new enemies and further penetrate the Underminers lair, Townsend says. Those lines not only tell the players what to do but also give insight into the characters relationship.
He adds: We kept a film-like narrative. Its like a buddy movie.
Complementary Skills
Townsends development team worked closely with Pixar as they created the game. They received full access to the companys archives, which brim with artwork and ideas that flesh out the characters back stories. Inspiration could come from anywhere for example, some of the Underminers robots first appeared on an invitation Pixar sent out for the Incredibles wrap party.
With the games script, notes Townsend, wed come up with ways the characters communicate, and Pixar would say it was great, or maybe theyd say Mr. Incredible wouldnt talk to Frozone like that because theyve known each other for a long time.
When asked why the game concentrates on Mr. Incredible and Frozone, Townsend replies: We wanted to explore these two characters. Mr. Incredibles brute strength is complementary to Frozones agility and ability to freeze, and the theme of teamwork is part of what The Incredibles is all about.
Strategic Thinking
You alternate between controlling one character or the other as you progress through the game, an option thats vitally important when, for example, you come to a chasm that can only be crossed with an ice bridge built by Frozone.
Game Hardware
Check out our systems for your best gaming experience.
- Site: The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
- Publisher: THQ
- Developer: Heavy Iron Studios
- Genre: Action
Game Media
Mr. Incredibles brute strength is complementary to Frozones agility and ability to freeze, and the theme of teamwork is part of what The Incredibles is all about.
- Towsend
You can direct Mr. Incredible to throw boxes, or even stunned robots, at enemies on the other side, buying Frozone a few precious seconds to put his freezing power to work. During another level, Frozone may need to freeze enemies so that Mr. Incredible has something to throw at control panels he must destroy.
You can get through certain areas much faster by constantly switching between characters, Townsend explains.
He adds that theres a certain amount of strategic thinking you should apply if you want to make it past all the obstacles and discover the Underminers true plans for the surface world. Part of that strategy also lies in choosing the right time to tell the AI-controlled character to be more aggressive, guard a specific area while you scout out the situation ahead or closely follow you.
While the action gets more intense and complicated with each new level, you get to compensate for that by upgrading the characters core powers. (See Super Moves for more information.) Armed with stronger power punches and freeze rays, Mr. Incredible and Frozone soon possess the ability to take on even deadlier enemies.
However, dont forget to explore your surroundings between battles. Look for canisters you may find in out-of-the-way places. Collect them to unlock bonus menu items, including concept art, character sketches, a making-of video and more. You can also earn codes that unlock secrets, such as the ability to engage in unlimited super moves, which are normally usable only a certain number of times.
Grab a Partner
And when we say You, we mean not only those who want to play the game solo but also gamers who want to tackle the Underminers challenges with someone else. In two-player cooperate mode, you and your companion each control a character and work together to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles.
We noticed that kids like playing with their parents, and parents really get into it, Townsend notes. There arent too many games where parents and kids can play together. And its a good thing not only for parents and children but also siblings or friends.
So grab a partner and get busy saving Metroville. And dont feel too bummed out when you reach the conclusion: odds are you havent seen the last of The Incredibles and the extended cast of colorful characters.