DESCRIPTION

Nick Park's claymation feature film, Chicken Run, serves as the inspiration for this stealth-action Dreamcast game, which follows the film's plot to a tee. Destined to become the main ingredient in Mrs. Tweedy's new line of chicken pies, Ginger and her friends set out to escape from the farm, trying one zany plan after the other. All escape attempts involve an invention of some sort, requiring players to scour the farm in search of the various items needed to build the many gadgets. Viewing from a slightly angled overhead perspective, players must sneak either Ginger, Rocky, or the rat duo, Nick and Fetcher, through different areas of the farm, being careful not to be found by Mr. or Mrs. Tweedy or the many guard dogs on patrol.

An on-screen radar is provided that displays the position of all threats as well as their range of vision. Though players are unable to perform any attacks, sprouts can be acquired that, when tossed, will distract guard dogs and throw them off the trail. Walking in lit areas will alert the Tweedy's, as will running over noisy surfaces such as metal grates. While exploring, pieces of a torn map can be found to help Ginger find her way around the various areas that make up Tweedy Farm.

Once the required items have been found and returned to the chicken coop, a mini-game is initiated that sees the player attempting to execute the corresponding hair-brained escape plan. Mini-games require basic button-tapping or aiming skills and include launching chickens over a fence with a catapult, and strapping fireworks to the back of chickens and firing them through gaps and holes in the scenery. Successful completion of each stage's objectives rewards the player with a humorous cut-scene from the movie.

Scattered throughout the game are carefully hidden pictures taken from the movie that, once found, can be viewed in The Gallery mode. Here players can also view their best times for the various acts that make up the game, medals earned in the various mini-games, movies that have already been unlocked, the game credits, as well as the ability to replay any previously beaten level or mini-game. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide