Even taking into account the relatively frequent and amusing mini-game diversions, like Sid's downhill ice slalom and impromptu aerial dance routine, it's hard to argue that there's much meat on these prehistoric bones. As global warming melts their icy environments, Sid the sloth, Diego the saber tooth tiger, Manny the mammoth, his newfound girlfriend Ellie and her possum brothers Crash and Eddie survive a flood and emerge as a unified family. As in, 'holy crap that's a whole hell of a lot of acorns.' On most levels, collecting over a thousand unlocks a bonus video interview with the cast, and finding your way into hard-to-reach areas only digs up more nuts for the hoard. The immediate sense of familiarity pulls you in, and just watching Scrat scramble about, constantly emitting little grunts and grumbles, pulls a smile out of your face. Controlling this wide-eyed bundle of energy is a breeze, because all his moves have been seen before - double jumps, ground stomps, roll attacks, pebble tosses, all that stuff. Most of the time, players control Scrat, the ever-twitching prehistoric squirrel-rat that always seems to be finding or inadvertently causing trouble.
Hold your horses: Ice Age 2 might not be terribly memorable or innovative in the slightest, but its run-and-jump levels will melt the hearts of kiddies, no sweat. We know what you're thinking: another movie game just means a new high-water mark for the Ocean of Suck.
