Bolt (video game)

Last updated
Bolt
Bolt VG Boxart.jpg
Developer(s) Avalanche Software
Altron (NDS)
Publisher(s) Disney Interactive Studios
Director(s) Troy Leavitt
Engine
  • Unreal Engine 3  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Wii
Xbox 360
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
Nintendo DS
Release
  • NA: November 18, 2008
  • AU: December 4, 2008
  • AU: December 18, 2008 (DS, Wii)
  • EU: February 13, 2009
Windows
  • NA: December 4, 2008
  • PAL: January 15, 2009
Genre(s) Beat 'em up, Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Bolt is a video game developed by Avalanche Software and published by Disney Interactive Studios for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, and Microsoft Windows. It is based on the 2008 film of the same name. [1] Mark Walton, Sean Donnelan, and Malcolm McDowell reprise their roles as Rhino, Penny's TV father, and Dr. Calico respectively. Miley Cyrus, who voiced Penny, is replaced by Ashleigh Prather.

Contents

Synopsis

Setting

In the game, the player follows and controls the super dog Bolt and Penny on various missions taking place in the fictional TV show universe from the movie. The levels are shared between Bolt and Penny. By using Bolt's superpowers, the player can fight hordes of enemies. New powers, such as Superbark and Laser Eyes, will be unlocked during the game. While Bolt has superpowers, Penny has only her maneuverability by using her Wheelbar and is incentivized to take down enemies in a stealthy way. The game focuses on Bolt's fake TV life, not the actual movie storyline. Penny's father has been kidnapped by the evil Dr. Calico, and Penny and Bolt must travel through 5 countries to rescue him.

All of this is actually on TV, and Rhino is watching a DVD pack of all the 25 Bolt episodes, possibly at the rural home at the end of the movie with Bolt's family (Penny, Mittens, Bolt himself, and Penny's mother). On the Nintendo DS version, players can play a mini-game called Rhino's Mission, where they go through mazes and avoid obstacles, like cannons.

Despite that the end of the Bolt film shows a new storyline, it can be implied that these episodes featured in the game are mostly the episodes in the first season, despite the movie starting with the chase sequence.

Plot

Penny's father has been captured by Calico and his organization in an attempt to construct a powerful weapon of untold power. Penny and Bolt travel to Italy in an effort to find out more, but they get nowhere other than learning of Calico's location in Belize.

Calico finally manages to capture Penny once she and Bolt find his temple base in the Yucatán jungle. To prove to Penny's father that she is alive and being held hostage, Calico gives Penny a cell phone with her father on the other line. Calico then attempts to flee the crumbling temple with his new captive but decides to leave her there with Bolt to die, saying, "As long as the professor believes she's alive, he will do what is asked and finish the weapon. Too bad we can't all have nine lives".

However, Penny and Bolt survive and discover Calico's new base in the Russian Arctic with a large rocket in the center. But upon entering, Penny notices micro-focusing mirrors and realizes that it is her father's satellite instead of a warhead. All too late as Calico seals the entrance and, to Bolt's horror, launches it with Penny inside screaming for help. Bolt then jumps onto the rocket and dismantles it in mid-flight, crashing it into the snow.

The two then venture to Calico's harbor in China (discovered by Penny by hacking into a computer system), where they discover a ship full of warheads. Just then, Calico arrives at the harbor, enraged to find Penny still alive, and even more so as he watches his prized freight ship sink to the bottom, thanks to Bolt, who then pursues Calico, escaping in his car to a nearby train station. He arrives at the station and boards his train, closely followed by Penny and her dog. Just as the duo finally corners the doctor, he slips into a hidden room and escapes on his private jet, though not before Penny secures a homing beacon onto the hull, leading them right to Calico's base.

Penny and Bolt trace his jet back to his main base, where Penny's father is being held. Upon arriving, Calico tests his new weapon on Bolt, draining him of his powers and strength and capturing Penny, due to her emotions getting in the way of the mission. Once Penny is inside, he explains his plan to use Penny's father's micro focusing mirror-equipped satellites to bounce a beam around the Earth and neutralize all atomic weaponry except for his own, meaning he can nuke anyone, when he wants, how he wants. As he leaves, he violently kicks Bolt's cage proving Penny of her limited knowledge. During this, Penny maneuvers her way out of her hand bindings.

Once free, she attempts to find her father to save Bolt, but is only captured by Calico once again, just as Bolt regains his powers and Penny sabotages the control panel, raising the bridge so Bolt could reach her. Once he does, Penny escapes from her guard captors yet again and launched a pre-prepared, rocket-powered cart at the main power generator (which Bolt exposed). Then, using what power remains in the generator, Calico duels with Bolt, using powerful lightning bursts. After the lengthy and hard-fought battle, Bolt finally defeats him. Beaten and weakened, he attempts to escape on his private helicopter, launching numerous missiles as a decoy, just as Penny finally finds her father (aboard the helicopter). While Bolt tries to apprehend Calico by grabbing his foot, Penny's father pleads to her and Bolt to allow Calico to escape with himself to stop the missiles, reminding her that she had the power to find him again. Regretfully, Penny orders Bolt to stop the missiles as Calico escaped with her father.

The game closes with an epilogue informing the player of Penny's continuing battle. Then, depending on the version, you either get a "tune in next week" style message or cut to Rhino's dialogue.

Gameplay

Disney has released multiple versions for different game systems including Nintendo Wii, PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2 and 3. The main console versions play similarly to each other, where for the majority of the game the player will control Bolt, using various attacks and superpowers to beat up Calico's henchmen, while Penny solves simple puzzles and goes through levels with simplistic stealth gameplay. These versions also have hacking mini-games that are constant throughout the game, where the player shoots at various shapes in a twin-stick Shoot 'em up gameplay. The Nintendo DS version is separate, with reduced graphics quality and slightly different gameplay mechanics. Additionally, the DS version is not voiced, but instead uses captions on the screen to tell the user what the characters are saying.

A mobile game was also released. The game was developed by Enorbus and Disney Mobile. The mobile version is a 2D platformer, with 4 levels in three different locations, making for a total of 12 levels. The three locations are (in order): L.A., Bolivia, and Dr. Calico's Secret Island. The player uses Bolt's Super Bark, Super Bite, and Super Speed to battle enemies and level bosses. One difference between the various platforms are the "host" characters, or the lack thereof. For instance, in the Wii edition, Rhino is the "host", appearing at the beginning and end of the game, and making comments when the "pause" button is selected. In the mobile game, Rhino and Mittens are both seen before and after each level as watching the Bolt TV show. And in the DS version, there's no "host" character to be seen (even though Rhino does get his own mini-game), but letters are displayed onscreen, informing the user on the storyline. [2]

Reception

Bolt received "mixed" reviews on all platforms except the DS version, which received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Ryan Clements of IGN criticized the bland story of the console versions, which he described as "paper thin". He also criticized said versions' optimization, boring voice acting and repetitive music, as well as their short lasting appeal. [17] [18] In Japan, where the DS version was ported for release on August 13, 2009, [26] Famitsu gave it a score of three sixes and one five for a total of 23 out of 40. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Madden NFL 07</i> 2006 American football video game

Madden NFL 07 is an American football video game based on the NFL that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the first in the video game series to debut for the PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles as launch titles and the last Madden game to be released on the Game Boy Advance. Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is on the cover.

<i>Civilization Revolution</i> 2008 video game

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a 4X, turn-based strategy game developed in 2008 by Firaxis Games with Sid Meier as designer. It is a spin-off of the Civilization series. The video game was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Windows Phone, and iOS. A Wii version was originally expected but was cancelled. The absence of a PlayStation Portable version was attributed to a lack of development manpower.

<i>Top Spin 3</i> 2008 video game

Top Spin 3 is the third title in the Top Spin series of video games. The game was developed by PAM Development and published by 2K. New game elements include real-time weather effects, more options of professional tennis players, an in-depth character creation tool and new unparalleled gameplay mechanics. It also features impressive advancements in an audio/visual sense with improved Dolby Digital surround sound and "Evolutionary" visuals. Top Spin 4 was released as a sequel about three years later.

<i>Madden NFL 09</i> 2008 video game

Madden NFL 09 is an American football video game based on the NFL that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 20th annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. The game was released for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, and mobile phones. It was the last video game for the original Xbox produced and released in North America and the last Madden game to be released for the Nintendo DS.

<i>Sega Superstars Tennis</i> 2008 sports video game

Sega Superstars Tennis is a sports video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It is the second title in the Sega All-Stars series, preceded by Sega Superstars (2004), and crosses over characters, locations, and soundtracks from several Sega franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Channel 5, and Super Monkey Ball.

<i>Spider-Man: Web of Shadows</i> 2008 video game

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a 2008 action-adventure video game based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The game was released in October 2008 across multiple platforms, and encompasses three drastically different versions: one released for Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360, which features an open world and non-linear gameplay; one for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, which is a 2.5D side-scrolling beat 'em up; and one for the Nintendo DS, a Metroidvania-style beat 'em up. All three versions have several common elements, such as moral choices that alter the narrative, the ability to summon allies during fights, and a similar plot, despite different characters being featured. Web of Shadows' storyline is significantly darker than most previous Spider-Man games, as it revolves around a symbiote invasion threatening Manhattan, which Spider-Man must stop with the help of several unlikely allies.

<i>Shaun White Snowboarding</i> 2008 video game

Shaun White Snowboarding is a snowboarding video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.

<i>FIFA 09</i> 2008 video game

FIFA 09 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It was released in October 2008 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360 and Zeebo. It was later in November 2008 released for the N-Gage 2.0 and mobile phones.

<i>Mini Ninjas</i> 2009 video game

Mini Ninjas is a 2009 action-adventure game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. A Mac OS X version of the game was released on July 8, 2010, by Feral Interactive. In December 2011, it was announced that the game would be also made available as a browser game for Google Chrome.

<i>The Bigs 2</i> 2009 video game

The Bigs 2 is a baseball sports video game developed by Blue Castle Games and published by 2K for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, and PlayStation Portable. The game serves as the direct sequel to The Bigs. The first trailer for the game was released revealing players like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente, and Reggie Jackson and a number of other Hall of Famers. Milwaukee Brewers All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder is the cover athlete chosen by 2K Sports. For the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii editions of the game, the English play-by-play announcer is Damon Bruce while the Japanese announcer is Kasey Ryne Mazak. It was released in 2009. The game was indirectly followed-up by Nicktoons MLB.

<i>Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing</i> 2010 video game

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a 2010 kart racing video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It was released for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, and Windows, featuring characters from multiple Sega franchises. The game is the third title in the Sega All-Stars series, preceded by Sega Superstars Tennis. A mobile version was developed by Gameloft, and released for iOS in June 2011, as a paid download. A version for OS X was released by Feral Interactive in April 2013.

<i>Iron Man 2</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Iron Man 2 is an action-adventure video game loosely based on the 2010 movie of the same name. It was released in Europe on April 30, 2010, and in North America on May 4 for Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable. Published by Sega, the game was developed by Sega Studios San Francisco for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Griptonite Games for Nintendo DS, High Voltage Software for Wii and PlayStation Portable, and by Gameloft for iOS and BlackBerry PlayBook. A Microsoft Windows version was planned, but it was cancelled.

<i>Where the Wild Things Are</i> (video game) 2009 video game

Where the Wild Things Are is a platform-adventure video game released in 2009. It is based on the movie of the same name, released the same day. The game is available for PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 as well as Nintendo DS. It was developed by Griptonite Games, except for the Nintendo DS, which was developed by WayForward Technologies. All versions were published by Warner Bros. Games.

<i>Toy Story 3</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Toy Story 3 is a 2010 platform game developed by Avalanche Software and published by Disney Interactive Studios. The game is based on the 2010 film of the same name. It was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Microsoft Windows. The game was ported to OS X by TransGaming. A Nintendo DS version was developed by n-Space, while Disney Mobile Studios developed and published an iOS game based on the film. Another version was developed by Asobo Studio and released for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable.

<i>GoldenEye 007</i> (2010 video game) 2010 video game

GoldenEye 007 is a 2010 first-person shooter video game developed by Eurocom and published by Activision for the Wii, with a handheld version for Nintendo DS developed by n-Space. It is a modern reimagining of the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye as well as a remake of the 1997 video game of the same name, developed for the earlier Nintendo 64 console. The game was officially announced by Nintendo at their E3 2010 conference presentation. The game was released on 2 November 2010 in tandem with another James Bond game, Blood Stone, which was also released for the DS, but not the Wii. Nintendo, the publisher of the Nintendo 64 game, published the Wii version in Japan the following summer, where it remains Wii-exclusive. It was the fifth James Bond game developed by Eurocom and their second under Activision, after the PlayStation 2 version of 007: Quantum of Solace two years prior.

<i>Thor: God of Thunder</i> 2011 video game

Thor: God of Thunder is an action hack and slash video game based on the Marvel Studios film Thor. The game was developed by Liquid Entertainment and co-written by Matt Fraction. Thor: God of Thunder marks Thor's first standalone appearance in a video game and features the voices of Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Jaimie Alexander, who reprise their roles from the film. The game was released in 2011 for Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and Nintendo 3DS. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game can be played in 3D on 3DTVs and on 2DTVs via TriOviz Inificolor 3D glasses. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were met with unfavorable reviews, while the Wii, DS, and 3DS versions were met with mixed reviews.

<i>Rango</i> (video game) 2011 video game

Rango is a 2011 action-adventure video game developed by Behaviour Interactive and published by Electronic Arts and Paramount Digital Entertainment for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, & Xbox 360. It is a video game sequel to the 2011 movie of the same name.

<i>Bakugan: Defenders of the Core</i> 2010 video game

Bakugan: Defenders of the Core is a multi-console action-adventure game released in 2010. Despite its title, it is based on Bakugan: New Vestroia. It was released for the DS, Wii, PSP, PS3 and Xbox 360.

<i>The Amazing Spider-Man</i> (2012 video game) 2012 open world action-adventure video game

The Amazing Spider-Man is an open world video game based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and the 2012 film of the same name. It was developed by Beenox and published by Activision. It was released on June 26 in North America and on June 29, 2012 in Europe for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows. A version for the Wii U was released in March 2013 in North America and Europe known as The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition in both regions. A PlayStation Vita version was released in November 2013. A sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, was released in April 2014, itself based on the film.

<i>Battleship</i> (2012 video game) 2012 video game

Battleship is the name of two video games based on the film of the same name, both of them published by Activision in 2012. It was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are a first-person shooter developed by Double Helix Games while the Wii, DS and 3DS versions were a turn-based strategy game developed by Magic Pockets.

References

  1. ↑ "Disney's Bolt at Nintendo :: Games". Nintendo . Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Jamster: Bolt Mobile Game". July 26, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.[ dead link ]
  3. 1 2 "Disney Bolt for DS Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Bolt for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Bolt for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Bolt for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Bolt for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Bolt for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Brian (August 5, 2009). "Famitsu review scores". Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  10. ↑ Schaller, Kevin (December 10, 2008). "Bolt Review (DS)". Game Revolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  11. ↑ Tong, Sophia (December 19, 2008). "Bolt Review (DS)". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Dodson, Joe (December 5, 2008). "Bolt Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ Hopper, Steven (December 22, 2008). "Bolt - NDS Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  14. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (January 19, 2009). "Bolt - PS3 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ Grabowski, Dakota (February 5, 2009). "Bolt - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ DeVries, Jack (December 4, 2008). "Bolt Review (NDS)". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Clements, Ryan (November 24, 2008). "Bolt Review (PS2, Wii, Xbox 360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  18. 1 2 Clements, Ryan (November 24, 2008). "Bolt Review (PS3)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Bolt (PS3)". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK . Future plc. February 2009. p. 100.
  20. ↑ "Review: Bolt". Official Xbox Magazine UK . Future plc. May 2009. p. 95.
  21. ↑ "Bolt". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. December 25, 2009. p. 74.
  22. ↑ "Review: Bolt (PS3)". PSM3 . Future plc. March 2009. p. 74.
  23. ↑ Price, Tom (November 24, 2008). "Bolt Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  24. ↑ Hoggins, Tom (January 30, 2009). "Bolt: Video game review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  25. ↑ Chick, Tom (November 24, 2008). "Bolt (X360)". Variety . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  26. ↑ "ボルト [DS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain . Retrieved May 1, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.