Ben 10: Protector of Earth
Ben 10: Protector of Earth is a video game based on the animated television series Ben 10. This is the first Ben 10 game and it was released for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, the Nintendo DS and the Wii in late 2007.
| Ben 10: Protector of Earth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | High Voltage Software (Wii, PS2, and PSP), 1st Playable Productions (DS) |
| Publisher(s) | D3 Publisher |
| Producer(s) | Joshua VanVeld |
| Designer(s) | Steve Caywood |
| Programmer(s) | Jerome Haraganis |
| Artist(s) | Dave Leung |
| Composer(s) | Andy Sturmer |
| Series | Ben 10 |
| Engine | Quantum3 |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii |
| Release | PSP, PS2, NDS Wii |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, Beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
Gameplay
Ben 10: Protector of Earth is a game where the player controls Ben and helps him to travel into 5 regions from the United States in order to recover all the Omnitrix's DNA samples stolen by Vilgax, which want use it to destroy the world. Its levels consist of solving puzzles, along with enemy waves where the player needs to fight to continue. He also has the access to the Omnitrix, which permits Ben to transform into different alien forms with specific abilities that can be used for combat, puzzles, etc. In the beginning, Ben is only able to access a few of his alien forms for a limited time, but after defeating some bosses, Ben can eventually access five of his ten forms (Four Arms, Heatblast, XLR8, Cannonbolt and Wildvine) and even unlocks the master control, meaning he can stay alien for an infinite amount of time or switch between aliens without draining Omnitrix energy. Attack combos can be unlocked by collecting Omnitrix points. Limited power boosts or invincibility can be gathered, as well as bonuses to make the Omnitrix recharge faster. Three Sumo Slammer cards are hidden in each main level, and once collected unlock features, such as movie clips.
After each level, Plumber ranks are rewarded, depending on how fast the player beats that level. If the player gets an A rank, you get a character view, usually a boss or a villain. In the main boss levels, a quick time event allows players to execute a special attack at certain points.
Version differences
The Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions, developed by High Voltage Software, are largely identical to each other, and are played in three-dimensional environments. A second player can join in co-op mode. The Wii version utilizes motion controls, such as simple flicks of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to perform attacks, and pointing the Wii Remote at on-screen targets to execute quick-time events. The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions require the use of memory cards to save progress.
Unlike the other three versions, the Nintendo DS version is a side-scrolling, 2.5D beat 'em up, in which players can use the touchscreen to operate the Omnitrix, switching between available forms.
Plot
Sleeping near the Grand Canyon, a mosquito-like drone sucks most of the DNA out of Ben's Omnitrix. A giant object crashes into the mountains, and Ben finds out he can't transform into some of his aliens, only Heatblast and Four Arms. After fighting through multiple drones, he defeats a Giant Mech Drone and finds an Omnitrix Crystal which gives him access to XLR8.
Later, they go to Mesa Verde and find Vilgax's Drones and Forever Knights fighting. After defeating all the knights and drones, an injured Forever Knight tells them that Enoch has used all the Technology of Area 51 to make a Big Battlebot to fight Ben. They go to Area 51 and fight Enoch, but Enoch recovers and climbs his battlebot. They think of some hydro-electric place where the Battle Bot is comfortable to fight, and Gwen thinks it is Hoover Dam. They head to Hoover Dam and fight the Battle-Bot. Then Ben finds another Omnitrix Crystal which regains access to Cannonbolt.
When the Tennysons head to San Francisco for a vacation, they find out that Kevin 11 has escaped from the Null Void and has brought some plant creatures with him. He kidnaps Grandpa Max, but later gets sucked to the Null Void again by Ben in a Lumber Mill. Later, after fighting through Crater Lake, they head to the Space Needle, where the mother plant (Wildvine's DNA) has made its home and infecting the whole city. After defeating it, Ben finds an Omnitrix Crystal which gives him access to the last unlockable alien in the game, Wildvine.
In outer space, Vilgax and Zs'skayr are working together to recover the Omnitrix. Ben, Gwen and Grandpa Max head to Effigy Mounds for camping, and find some of Zs'Skayr's Troops hunting there. After defeating Hex at the end, they discover that Zs'Skayr had plundered the Plumber Base in Mount Rushmore. Ben chases him through Chicago lake front and then defeats him in Gold Coast Theater and Grandpa Max sucks him in the Null Void.
After defeating Zs'Skayr, they go to the Historic Battlefield, where Doctor Animo kidnaps Gwen. They go to the Bayou and discover Clancy, in an abandoned mansion. After Ben defeats him, Max asks him where Animo had taken Gwen. He tells him that it is too late to save her now and Animo will make her a mixed-up mutant. Ben and grandpa travel to New Orleans and take a boat to Animo's oil refinery. After defeating Animo, Gwen tells them that Animo and Vilgax have planned to suck Earth into the Null Void. Ben then unlocks Master Control in the Omnitrix.
After going to Washington, D.C., where there are Null Void Portals everywhere, Ben defeats Sixsix and his Detrovite Troops in Cape Canaveral. Grandpa Max uses rockets found there to make the Rustbucket capable of flight. Then, they fly to Vilgax's Ship and Ben tries to defeat Vilgax. After a big battle which ends with Vilgax's defeat, Ben discovers that rest of the Omnitrix Crystals are right there in the ship. But just after he retrieves them, the ship starts powering down and projecting a Null Void Portal, which then sucks in Vilgax and his ship. Luckily, Ben, Gwen and Grandpa Max escape in time and get back to their vacation.
Vilgax is not seen again until the third game of the series, Vilgax Attacks.
Reception
Critical reception has been mainly average. IGN scored the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions a 6.8 out of 10, commenting that the cel-shaded graphics, simple gameplay and on-the-fly saving suits the target demographic but was unable to recommend it for hardcore gamers.[1] Lucas M. Thomas scored the Nintendo DS version one point higher, praising its gameplay and sound.[2]
Eurogamer gave the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions 5 out of 10, highlighting the drop-in drop-out two player mode and decent cutscenes, but criticising the bland environments.[3]
References
- Bozon (November 14, 2007). "IGN: Ben 10: Protector of Earth Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
Ben 10 sets out to do nothing more than provide some basic, two-button action, and it succeeds in doing just that.
- Thomas, Lucas (13 November 2007). "Ben 10 Protector of Earth Nintendo DS review". IGN. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- Ellie Gibson (20 December 2007). "Kids' Game Roundup Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
That sums up Ben 10: Protector of Earth, really: it works well enough. There's nothing here to appeal to adults, or anyone who isn't a Ben 10 fan. But if you know one of those, this is a great present.
- "D3Publisher's Smash Hit Ben 10: Protector of Earth Sells 2.5 Million Units Worldwide". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. November 26, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- IGN Staff (November 26, 2008). "Ben 10: Protector of Earth sells 2.5 million copies". IGN. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- Peckham, Matt (November 26, 2008). "Cartoon Network Game "Ben 10" Tops 2.5 Million Sales". pcworld.com. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
External links
- Ben 10: Protector of Earth at Internet Movie Database
- Protector of Earth (PS2) at IGN
- Protector of Earth (Wii) at GameSpot
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