Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
Developer(s)	Razorback Developments (Game Boy Advance) Altron (Nintendo DS)
Publisher(s)	THQ
Released	July 7 2006
Genre	Third-Person Action Adventure
Mode(s)	Single player
Ratings	PEGI: 7+ OFLC: PG
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker is a video game based on the 2006 film of the same name, which in turn was an adaptation of the original book. It is only available for the Nintendo DS and the Game Boy Advance.

Gameplay

Gameplay (for both Ian and Alex) includes combat, stealth missions and the ability to drive vehicles and use gadgets to advance in the game. Main mission briefings come from MI6 officials, Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones. Also included is an array of minigames by weapon inventor Smithers. There is also an MI6 training camp mode for players to test out their skills.

Storyline

The game begins with the player controling Ian Rider, Alex's uncle, who must escape Darius Sayle's mansion and dodge enemy motorists in order to safely return to MI6. Alex soon discovers that his uncle was not a banker but a spy. The MI6 briefs Alex that Herod Sayle is going to give a Stormbreaker computer to every school in Britain. Alex must go undercover to figure out what Ian Rider meant by a "virus". The players is given a Nintendo DS by Smithers that contains different games for different causes.

Screenshot of Nintendo DS version of the game

Reaction

The game was criticised by many gaming sites magazines. It was commented on by UK games magazine ONM who gave it a final score of 29% and said that the game was lacking in decent gameplay and had disappointing 3D graphics, the only exception being the pool mini game, which was not enough to save the game from its shamefully low score. It was also stated that Alex Rider fans, of which there are many, deserve better. The game for the DS normally was rated T. But the US version confined the game and changed the rating to E10+.