Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

"It's new, it's different, but it's still mediocre."

Innovation is most always welcomed in new games. So is lightheartedness. These are arguably two of the most important characteristics that the “modern” games of today are severely lacking. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg is chock-full of both. (And it doesn't hurt that the makers of that obnoxious blue bullet slash licensing tool, Sonic the Hedgehog, were also the makers of this game...) So does this “killer-combination” of Innovation, lightheartedness, and Sonic automatically mean “great game?” Not quite... Sure, the game may be a great break from the ordinary, and it's always good to see game developers trying new things... but Billy Hatcher cannot ride on the sole fact that it's only different from the rest of the pack and nothing else for long. Once you get into the actual game, you will most likely realize something the game makers should have heeded: To only be different is to only be mediocre.

Story: 5/10 (Average)

Billy Hatcher, like most other games of its like, has a very simple premise. Its story is easy to grasp and the main part is told within the first five minutes of the game. What's unique about this story, however, aside from the fact that it's weirder than Tak and the Power of Juju and makes half as much sense, is how surprisingly empty and not well-thought-out enough it seems. It's like they just give you an introduction and then they expect you to figure out the rest all by yourself. The fact that there are almost no cut-scenes and absolutely NO spoken dialogue (just a lot of smiling) doesn't support this technique at all.

Basically, the morning (yes, I did say the morning) has been stolen by a bunch of, would you believe it, crows! Leave all of your perceptions of reality at the door; this game will be going places where a cartoon even shouldn't. First of all, HOW THE HECK DO YOU STEAL THE MORNING? The game suspiciously fails to ever give you a clue as to how this feat is accomplished. That's a plot-hole bigger than the entire state of Texas. But I'm sure you'll be rolling in the aisles when you find out how Billy Hatcher, the stereotypical misguided young Hero taken unawares, will get the morning BACK. Allegedly, he dons a hen suit and gains the power to hatch and control giant eggs. Seems like a pretty useless power, right? Well, good thing for Billy, there are dozens of these giant eggs lying around in each level. However, in a complete twist of fate (and logic), these eggs are not important in the grand scheme of things. At the end of each level are “Rooster Elders” trapped in golden eggs. Hatch the elders and they unleash a fierce crow that shakes the mountains and lets the sun rise... over your particular location, and no place else. Great job, Billy Hatcher! On to the next morning-deprived location!

Gameplay: 7/10 (Good)

However, even with the wacky story containing more plot holes and open spaces than an overlarge hunk of Swiss cheese, it's possible to still get some fun out of Billy Hatcher. Let's face it- who wouldn't want to roll a huge egg over enemies to kill them instantly? However, you will be doing more than just rolling eggs-- the gameplay is heavily based around different techniques you can execute while in control of these huge, multi-colored mounds of shell. The controls for these techniques are surprisingly simple, yet there is a certain complexity to them that you can take advantage of once you get experienced. If you really look at it, you'll realize that basically, without an egg, you're without a paddle, which is a far distance from the average assumption that carrying around a huge egg would hinder you (perish the thought!).

Want an example? Here's one: don't expect to move anywhere fast without a giant egg handy. Billy Hatcher is, of course, but a small, weak boy; and his puny legs somehow cannot propel him with enough velocity to outrun even the slowest of bugs. However, with a giant egg handy, it seems that his legs gain an unusual amount of power, thereby enabling him to run slightly faster, despite the heavy weight he's pushing. He will also gain power to perform an “egg dash” which gives him a temporary burst of incredible speed. But our newfound friends, the giant eggs, don't only aid us in the art of “managing to run faster than a snail,” they also aid us in the art of “being able to jump higher than a brick.” With a well-timed “egg bounce,” Billy will be launched high into the sky, with his egg held tight in his arms. Did I forget to mention “egg landing?” All of the egg techniques, while hardly distracting you from how weak Billy is, are admittedly fun and never a pain to execute.

The giant eggs, in addition to aiding us simply because they're... well, giant eggs, also have the ability to “hatch” and bestow upon Billy Hatcher new super powers, or even animal companions! However, to hatch a giant egg, you will first have to partake in the activity of “feeding it lots of fruit.” Do not attempt to find a reason for this, as there is none. Around the level you will find vast quantities of fruit all in strategic locations, just roll your egg through them and it will slowly grow. After it is fully grown, Billy will hatch it in a totally unconventional way, by merely crowing into it. Now all that's left is to cross your fingers and hope for a good power.

Graphics: 7/10 (Good)

Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, along with having a totally new premise and completely genuine gameplay, also sports a fresh new look to help it out. It draws from a vast and bright color palette, and it is able to pull off the bright and cheerful look that it was going for. It's almost as if you're playing a 3D cartoon, actually. However, the pre-rendered scenery in the levels will almost always have you forgetting about the look and sighing about how outdated that technique is. And, while Billy looks great, his animal companions hatched from eggs and his enemies all have a very low polygon count, and it is very possible for them to bring up reminders of the average video-game model on the Nintendo 64.

However, great lighting effects and stuff like Lava bubbling slowly almost manage to make you forget about how outdated the rest of the game is. If they had managed to polish up the rest of the graphics of the game, we could've had a winner here.

Sound: 3/10 (Poor)

Here's a word you'll constantly be thinking while playing this game: “annoying.” The game sounds so... ANNOYING. Could it be the music, which will constantly repeat itself over and over again throughout the levels? Maybe it's those out-of-place sound effects for actions like killing an enemy? Or maybe, just maybe, is it Billy Hatcher's grunts (for just about every single action imaginable) THAT WILL HAVE YOU WANTING TO JUMP INTO THE SCREEN AND STRANGLE HIM!? No, it's all of these reasons combined that make the game so annoying. I swear, playing this game will be the ultimate test to your ears. Mute button, anyone?

Replay-Ability: 7/10 (Good)

This game, if you are able to enjoy it enough, will have you playing for quite a long time. In true Sonic-Style, each level can be played again, but with new goals to accomplish. Due to the fact that there are many levels, you could be kept playing for ages. However, that's not the whole of it. Beating certain missions gives you the ability to unlock different characters, three in all. However, these characters, while they look and sound different, do not play different from Billy in any way, making this cool extra somewhat pointless. However, you may get a kick out of playing with the chick... Ha... Ha... No? There are also many other modes of play, bringing this game's amount of replay-ability up to decent.

Overall: 6/10 (Okay)

Well, Billy Hatcher was new, and it was different. While I must give the game kudos for that, sadly, when you actually play it, you'll find that it's much to shallow to be considered great. While it does have its good points, it will ultimately stay at rental or buy-for-you-younger-sibling level.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 08/24/04