The Golden Compass » ChannelFlip

games: The Golden Compass

December 14 2007 | WilHarris

Now, as you might expect, I am a big fan of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, of which Northern Lights (mistitled as The Golden Compass in America) is the first book, and I heartily recommend them to children, or lovers of fantastical adventure or metaphysics.

While I wasn’t bowled over by the movie, I didn’t find it dreadful either, but with the dilution of quality that you usually get with each new adaptation for a different medium, can the game possibly be any good?

Join me here in Pullman’s Oxford to take a look at the 360 version before you are seduced by sin and fall into the trap of buying this one for the kiddies this Christmas.

Don’t forget to subscribe and check back next week for a long awaited look at Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

Katharine

comments

Norbit

December 14th, 2007 - 9:10am

I must say those graphics are pretty piss poor for a next gen console.

Deceive, inveigle and obfuscate eh? That’s one for fans of obscure references lol

On that subject did you know they are making another film at the moment?

Joseph

December 15th, 2007 - 12:57am

Dear Katharine,

Cool shoot; nice location, thanks for the look.

It is refreshing listening to your reviews; I get the impression that, if I continue, I will never waste money on a bad game again.

Also, for part of her birthday, I did end up getting my mother a PlayStation 3 with the Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction–reviewed here–and a few Blu-ray movies, (Crash, Curse of the Black Pearl, and Ratatouille).

Have a blessed holiday to everyone.

`Joseph

Ken

December 15th, 2007 - 11:28am

Thanks for the most in depth review yet.

Seeing as you reviewed this with an older audiance in mind, how would a kid like this game? Seeing as they would really care too much about the graphics and alike.

Nice hat btw

Don Simon

December 15th, 2007 - 12:54pm

Your reviews have not changed from the start - are very, very fun and informative. Hope all the good response you receive will change into $$$ and help keeping this site up for long.

Are you planning on choosing the best game of the year for different genres and/or consoles/PC?

I am really looking forward for your insights on PC and DS…

Cheers
Simon

ctzto

December 16th, 2007 - 3:06am

Great review as always. Finally the Uncharted review! thanks a bunch.

Kai

December 16th, 2007 - 8:01pm

kath wats with the scary old guy who came on after??

Katharine

December 18th, 2007 - 5:51am

Haha - props Norbit! I didn’t know there was another film in the offing. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’m a big fan of the show and will have to go see it, but I’m not really sure what else it has to say.
Maybe we should just have faith, I mean, I want to believe…!

Katharine

December 18th, 2007 - 6:08am

Ken - good question. I do think that there are aspects of the game that younger children would like if they are fans of the film. It is very playful and accessible with simple controls and objectives, and feels at times like an interactive version of the film. Also, the repetitive and almost laborious nature of the mini games might be fun for the ‘again, again’ age group. That said, some children are aware of things like graphical quality, and it seems unfair that so little care has been put into this just because it is a movie spin off and aimed at kids. Some kids will enjoy this but it really does depend on the kids in question. I hope this helps!

Katharine

December 18th, 2007 - 6:20am

Thanks Don Simon, I’m afraid I’m not going to be doing a round up of the year, partly because the show has only been up since September so it might not be particularly helpful to people to see releases from earlier in the year, e.g. Bioshock, in there without being able to see my more detailed opinion on the game in a review. Also there will be tons and tons of these 2007 retrospectives flitting about anyway. The first show up when we get back after the Christmas break will be a round up of hot games to look out for in 2008 though, so I hope that will be useful and interesting.

Katharine

December 19th, 2007 - 10:15am

Kai - thanks for the posts! That scary old man is Stephen Fry, a very popular and clever English writer/presenter/actor/director - I actually have most of his books myself. He’s advertising the books and dvd associated with a comedy quiz show he presents called QI. Click on the ad banners for more information if interested!

ktchong

December 27th, 2007 - 4:22am

Hm… Do you go to Oxford? O_o

Katharine

December 27th, 2007 - 6:37am

We are an Oxford based company, but we have all graduated and are doing this full time. There is an about us section in the channelflip page.

tom s williams

December 28th, 2007 - 9:14pm

Hello Katharine, Im watching you on my zune that I just purchased. I look foward to seeing you in 2008 podcast at playdigital.You are very cute and hot!!!! keep up the good work! later ,tom

ktchong

January 1st, 2008 - 2:13pm

Whoa. I didn’t know you have a Master degree in literature from Cambridge University.

Impressive…

Now, join me, and I will complete your training and journey towards the Dark Side!
Hey, good luck on your book (assuming you’re working on one.)

And Happy New Year!

ktchong

January 1st, 2008 - 2:20pm

Um, wait… if you’ve already been through a graduate school, that means you’re not a teenager… you’re OLD!

Wow! You’re very well preserved!

Jay

January 3rd, 2008 - 4:40am

Hello, just found your show on iTunes and just wanted to say thanks, it’s a well presented, concise show with fair unbiased reviews and a cool collection of plastic figures too! All the best for 2008.