Video Game Vintage Title: Ratatouille

Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a video game based on the Pixar film, Ratatouille . It was developed at Heavy Iron Studios and released by THQ, Nintendo and SCEA on June 26, 2007, two days before the first theatrical release in Russia. Ratatouille was initially released on twelve systems�Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Windows, Mac OS X, and Mobile�making it the most comprehensive simultaneous cross-platform launch in THQ's history. It was the last Disney/Pixar game to be released on Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance as well as the last official GameCube game to be released in Europe. Also it was the first video game ever to enable auto save.

Ratatouille Plot

Similar to the plot of the movie, the game starts in a farm setting. Remy goes off with his brother Emile to retrieve apple cores for his father. On the trek he is taught the basic skills he will need to know so that he can accomplish what he faces later on. After the task, the old lady living in the farm catches Remy and Emile, alerting the colony, thus forcing them to escape. After Remy successfully escapes the shotgun-wielding woman, he is caught in the rapids of the sewers, and he wakes up in front of Gusteau's restaurant, where the rat witnesses the garbage boy, Linguini, attempting to fix the soup he accidentally ruined by scrambling in a bunch of random ingredients. Remy drops in and fixes the soup, but Linguini witnesses him, thus beginning a chase outside with Linguini on pursuit. After that, Remy joins Linguini and helps him with what he is forced to do for Skinner, the chef. The next day Remy helps Linguini cook the food for the customers while also helping his colony that he has reunited with. Skinner catches Remy, and another chase is on. Later, Remy helps his colony steal prized foods at the market. After that, the food critic Anton Ego, also known as the "Grim Eater," has arrived at Gusteau's for a review; one that will be very important to the cooks. However, they all leave after finding out about Remy. Now it is up to Remy, Linguini, and the chef Colette to cook for many people, including the critic Ego.

Reception
On Metacritic, the multiple versions of the game generally scored in the mid-to-low 60s, indicating "mixed or average reviews." The Game Boy Advance version received the highest score at Metacritic, with an average of 65 out of 100 based on 4 reviews. The Xbox 360 version received the lowest score at Metacritic, with an average score of 56 out of 100 based on 9 reviews. The Wii version was considered the worst among the releases due to unresponsive Wii controls, outdated graphics, and a few glitches. No score was given for the PlayStation 3, Xbox, Mobile and Windows versions of the game at Metacritic because not enough reviews had been tabulated.

Alex Navarro of GameSpot gave the game a score of 60 and called it "a sufficient, if unfulfilling, platformer." Navarro wrote, "There's little difference to speak of between any of the older console, PC, or Wii versions of Ratatouille. The PC version predictably looks the sharpest, and the PS2 version looks the dullest, though the differences are minor all around" and said "The PC version requires a decent gamepad to play properly, and the Wii version dabbles in motion controls." Navarro said the gameplay is fine for younger players but too simplistic for older players. He said the film's cast gives solid voice work but that the missions are a bit dull and repetitive. Navarro wrote "if your kid is desperate to relive Remy's adventures for him or herself, Ratatouille isn't a bad game to rent" and also wrote "it's the sort of game that will satisfy a younger fan of the film for a few lazy afternoon hours, and then be forgotten about immediately afterward."

Justin Davis of Modojo.com gave the mobile phone version of the game by THQ Wireless a rating of 3 stars out of 5. Davis said the game appears like the game Diner Dash, but it's set in the kitchen instead of the dining area and instead of serving drinks, the player is dropping meat onto a stove, and Linguini's hands are controlled independently. Davis said the game was a "pleasant surprise" but that it was a little too short, with not enough depth. Louis Bedigian of GameZone gave the mobile phone version a score of 7.7.

The video game won the award for the "Best Animated Video Game" award at the Annies in 2008.