Phineas and Ferb (video game)

Phineas and Ferb
North American box art.
Developer(s)	Altron
Publisher(s)	Disney Interactive Studios
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	NA February 3, 2009 EU March 27, 2009 AUS September 23, 2009
Genre(s)	Action, platform
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: E PEGI: 3+

Phineas and Ferb is an action platform video game published by Disney Interactive Studios about the animated television series of the same name for the Nintendo DS. The game was released in North America on February 3, 2009, while its United Kingdom release was on March 23. The Australian release came later on September 23, 2009. The game is the first Phineas and Ferb video game and the first to be released for the DS.

The game's basic plot is similar to the show, as the player controls Phineas Flynn and his stepbrother Ferb Fletcher as they take part in several schemes and adventures for their summer vacation. The two as well attempt to avoid their sister Candace, who is persistent in trying to "bust" them. Mini games are scattered throughout the game, building up the side foundation.^[1]

The game notaffiliated with the creators of the show itself, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. The two had little to no information on it until its release.^[2]

[edit]Gameplay

Phineas and Ferb speak with Baljeet during the snow level, which is based on the episode "S'Winter." Above them displays Candace keeping a watchful eye on them, which the player must avoid.

The game allows the player to control the titular characters, stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb, and go to several different locations. Throughout the game, the two search and collect for missing gadgets and other parts to build machines, devices, and rides.^[3] The player is able to switch between the two stepbrothers, doing so by pressing the "L" button.^[1]

The game features seven levels,^[4] along with several mini games, all of which are essential to continuing on through the level. Among the mini games include "Welding," "Wind Blaster," and "You're so busted!"^[5] As the player collects the essential tools and objects, they must avoid the sister, Candace, who wants to tattle on the brothers to their mother.^[1][3] Candace peeks through the fence in the top screen, while a bar above her notes how close she is to "busting" them via percentage. This is not, however, seen while the player is constructing the device.^[6] She as well is unable to "bust" them if the player enters X, Y, L, R, followed by select and is designated by a chime.^[7] Phineas and Ferb hide from her to avoid getting busted by jumping on the other's shoulders. This also allows them to interact with other, normally unavailable objects.^[8]

The controls of the game are simple, basic keys normal for most DS games. To move, the player uses the control pad, while the "A" and "B" buttons are used to jump and run.^[9] The game's final segment takes place on a track where the boys race on their roller coaster.^[1] This particular scenario allows for a turbo boost by use of the "R" button.^[9] The game as well features an in-between mini game, featuring Perry the Platypus fighting and foiling the evil plans of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, an evil mad scientist.^[1]

[edit]Plot

Perry the Platypus as he appears in the game. Above him is his health bar at maximum.

The game's each, individual seven levels are based on an episode of the television series.^[10] The first stage of the game consists of Phineas and Ferb beginning their plans to destroy and construct a giant roller coaster. Phineas primarily is the one in his duo to actually find and gather the tools and objects necessary for it, while Ferb primarily is used to actually utilize each device. The two need to avoid their sister, Candace, as she is persistent in her desire to bust them and get them in trouble with their mom. Once every part in the needed list is found, the two construct the devices in the form of little puzzles which end with the creation of roller coaster tracks and engines. Once everything has been completed, the two race in the roller coaster down the tracks to compete. Throughout their way, they as well build other devices, from a water slide to a winter wonderland, and occasionally bump into the neighborhood bully, Buford.^[1][10] After constructing all 5 rides in the game, Candace prepares her ultimate busting attack, after which Phineas remarks "Hey, where's Perry?" You suddenly find yourself playing as Perry the Platypus fighting in Doofenshmirtz Evil Inc, the player using the Touch Screen to help Perry fight Doof. After Perry's final attack, the resulting explosion obliterates all the rides Phineas and Ferb have made throughout the game, right as Candace drags her Mom into the backyard. Phineas and Ferb, not knowing what just happened, build a time machine and send themselves back to before the rides were destroyed.

[edit]Development

The game was inspired by the top-rated animated series Phineas and Ferb, which was created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh.^[5] The series was inspired by Povenmire's youth growing up in Mobile, Alabama, where his mother encouraged him to go out and do projects. He met and befriended Marsh while working on The Simpsons, later moving on with him to work on Rocko's Modern Life, where they initially created the series. Years later, the two pitched it and got it on Disney Channel.^[11]

The game itself was published by Disney Interactive Studios. Altron, a Japanese private game developer and publisher, developed the game.^[12] The game had no actual connection with the show creators; Povenmire knew almost nothing about the game until he was given it himself.^[2] Phineas and Ferb makes use of a program known as DGamer, which allows the player to connect to an online community via the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.^[1] This was a large part of marketing the game during release and apparently was a key part to development.^[3]

[edit]Release and reception

The game was released on February 3, 2009, in North America.^[5] The United Kingdom release was on March 27, 2009.^[4] Australia released it on September 23, 2009.^[16] In North America, the game was rated by the ESRB "E" with a content warning of "Comic Mischief."^[9]

The games reviews have been generally positive. GameRankings averages a 76.67% approval ratings, based on a cast of ratings. Among them include eight out of ten and seventy-eight out of one hundred.^[13] GameTrailers gives it a 1.0 due to the lack of actual reviews, though the European trailer ranks an average of 4.1. It as well puts it as number 5,420 out of the total games of 8,005, while it is 860 out of the total 932 of DS games.^[14] GameFly ranks it a 6.6 based on 166 ratings.^[9]

Chad Sapieha states in his review on Common Sense Media that the game is "fine entertainment for elementary school kids." He as well states the interaction is entertaining. He does, however, say that the rides that take a great amount of time to construct are very anticlimactic and the weakest part of the game, as well as the controls being stiff. Even so, however, he states it is "undeniably an above-average interactive incarnation of a kids cartoon."^[8]

[edit]Sequel

The second Phineas and Ferb video game was released on the Nintendo DS on September 14, 2010, called Phineas and Ferb: Ride Again. A video game based on the TV movie was released August 2, 2011 for DS, Wii, and PlayStation 3.

[edit]References

[edit]External links

• Official Phineas and Ferb website