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Leave it to Disney to supply the magic that has been missing from video game movies. With fitting nuanced humor, an original storyline, and memorable video game characters, Wreck-It Ralph embodies the charm of Toy Story meeting the digital age.
Out of all the video games coming out this year, Wreck-It Ralph, the movie, was my most anticipated title. If this project were to launch according to plan, this could be the biggest IP for both the video game and movie industries yet. I highly hoped that Disney would deliver a title that could positively permeate both mediums at once.
And deliver Disney did.
With Mickey’s measured hands, Wreck-It Ralph perfected the inventive magic of the video gaming world while being unintimidatingly inviting to novice audiences. Familiar movie and gaming story arcs (saving the princess, good versus evil, try your best until you succeed) permeate the worlds that Ralph visits. One doesn’t need to be a life-long gamer or deeply involved in the hobby to appreciate the nuances dropped throughout the movie. I was slightly fearful that this movie would be highly catered to the gaming crowd, but there were moments I had to strain to find nostalgia. In true gaming fashion, I’m sure there are easter eggs throughout the movie to find if one watches intently enough.
I found the dedication that Disney had for marketing this title to be phenomenal. If one followed the series from the television to the Internet, you would find the actual Gaming Central Station on Disney’s site and each separate world, according to character. The completed custom games could very well have existed in our world, and the replayability of all three is quite high (and they’re free!). The fact that Disney created a realistic retro gaming cabinet for Fix-it Felix, Jr. and took the time to produce commercials for their fake products is what ultimately blew me away.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF_LJfwFsE4&feature=share&list=PLhc_IRGaIEKDhZu85PSCBs_tYS8OmGw2Y ]
The timing for this title is perfect. The current generation growing into adulthood/parenthood has consumed high doses of video game and Disney magic throughout their lifetime. How ideal that the two have combined their powers for good! With this new cast of characters, I would not be surprised if Disney began to sell Vanellope von Schweetz as a Disney Princess by Christmas. I wish I had a daughter to give her to.
My last hope for Wreck-It Ralph is that the actual Wreck-It Ralph video game coming to consoles and handhelds does not succumb to the current movie-to-game port fare. I would be perfectly content with Disney porting over their online games to current consoles as downloads and foregoing the entire tie-in game route. The only other alternate I would accept would be if the games serve as a playable alternate ending to the movie.
I am delighted to see another hidden angle of a childhood pastime animated before my eyes. The fact that Disney dared to do video games made both industries doubtful, I’m sure. I highly hoped that Wreck-It Ralph would wreck and rebuild all preconceived notions that video game movies couldn’t be done.
I am proud to report that Disney didn’t disappoint.