Bolt

Developer: Avalanche Studios
Format: DS, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, X360
Genre: Arcade

Every dog has his day - few get a game.

Not heard of Bolt? You will, oh you will. The latest animated adventure from Disney Studios is all set to be a Christmas cracker at the box office - thanks to a reportedly razor sharp script and some A-List Hollywood voiceover acting.

John Travolta plays the voice of Bolt, a dog with delusions of grandeur. The plot in a nutshell: Bolt (voice of Travolta), the star of a hit TV show, is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, and thus he begins his biggest adventure yet - a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers that he has in his show are real, and with the help of two unlikely travelling companions: a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voice of Susie Essman) and a TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball named Rhino (Malcolm Macdowell), Bolt sets off on his quest into the Wild West.

The videogame version, due in November, promises to be true to the licence - but also extend the 'Bolt Universe' to include different scenarios and locales. Bolt and Penny (his owner, played by Miley Cyrus in the film), travel throughout five international locations, including Russia and Italy. As Bolt, players can use his superpowers, including laser vision and his superbark, which sends out a sonic blast to devastate opponents, and as Penny, players utilise stealth, hacking skills and a wheelbar, inspired by her scooter seen in the movie, to outwit enemies.

The handheld version, forthcoming on Nintendo DS (no love for PSP gamers unfortunately), looks set to be the most feature rich. The Nintendo DS version of the game will include competitive and co-op multiplayer, mini games as well as DGamer, Disney Interactive Studios' dedicated online server. With DGamer, players earn content, interact and chat with others on Nintendo DS through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or on a computer through the Disney.com website.

Family fun? Undoubtedly. But with Christmas on the horizon it's these types of stocking fillers that keep the little'uns happy. Let's just hope this animated canine caper doesn't end up as a cold festive turkey.

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