Ratatouille | DJcube

Action has a new flavour!

NA release: 26th June 2007
EU release: 3rd August 2007
JP release: N/A
Developer: Asobo
Publisher: THQ
NGC Magazine Score: 63%
Mods Used: None

Based on the Pixar film, Ratatouille is the name of several different games released on 11 different platforms – probably one of the widest releases of all time. Due to wildly different platforms, it meant multiple different games: you a Next Gen version, Last Gen (plus Wii and PC) version, the handhelds all getting their own different game (GBA, DS and PSP) plus a Java mobile game. The last gen version – the one GameCube got – is considered to be the best version of the game, and was developed by Asobo, who would go on to make games like A Plague Tale and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.

The GameCube version of the game loosely follows a rough outline of the story: Remy, a rat, is whisked from his country house into the city of Paris, where he stumbles upon the restaurant of his favourite chef, Gusteau’s, which is struggling under the deceased chef’s son, who can’t cook. Remy end up helping him, although the game is focused a lot more on helping his rat family steal food from the kitchen and other locations. One really odd thing is that there’s no ratatouille in the game – either a traditional version or the modern variant seen in the film.

The game is, as most kids film adaptations, a 3D platformer. Except that Asobo have done a great job with Remy’s movement, with precise jumping, fast movement and a speedy sprint on all four legs, which is quite satisfying when you string it with some jumps. The fundamentals are rock solid and it’s always a good sign when just getting around the level is fun.

After the tutorial section, the game follows a specific structure; an open level with objectives, some minigames, a chase sequence and then a slide to get back to the sewer hub. The minigames aren’t anything special, just mash buttons at the right time and make up the few cooking sections of the game, the slides are a nice but of fun between levels and the chases are frantic.

The main levels are quite open, with collectibles to find, some of which are quite difficult to work out how to get to, so trying to trace the route back is an important skill. You’ll have to help out there of your rat brothers while avoiding humans (the stealth is quite forgiving thankfully) and other hazards. There’s only four main levels like this, and two of them are set in the same kitchen. Another thing to keep an eye out food are plates of food.

Sniff these and Remy will fall into a food coma, dreaming about floating food in the sky. These levels are entirely optional, but are easily the most enjoyable parts of the the game, with lots of great platforming challenges within them. It’s a sign that a game is good when you actively sek out more to play. This is the penultimate GameCube game, and it’s nice that it’s open or the better licensed games on the system.

Fun

The film may tell us to follow our dreams, but Ratatouille should stick with what it does best, as simple as that may be.
Matthew Castle, NGamer Magazine #14 (Wii Review)

Remake or remaster?

A re-release would be fine.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to buy Ratatouille