Stitch stars in solid platformer

There's something to be said for a game where your finger is almost constantly on the trigger.

Unfortunately, when you can't see what you're shooting at, some of the air comes hissing out of the balloon.

That's the problem with "Stitch Experiment 626," from High Voltage Software and Sony Interactive for the PlayStation 2.

The game is a sort of prequel to "Lilo & Stitch," the popular Disney animated film now in theaters. In the movie, a multi-armed, shark-toothed creature named Stitch lands on Earth and moves in with a family whose tolerance for exotic pets is a lot greater than mine.

In the game, however, Stitch is fresh from the genetic stew brewed up by an eccentric scientist named Jumba (apparently he had eccentric parents, too). Jumba sends Stitch off on a mission to collect DNA for the scientist's unconventional experiments.

To do this, Stitch must wade through endless cartoon monsters, collecting guns (one for each of his four hands), special weapons like the Freeze Ray and the aptly named Big Gun, along with DNA and scores of secrets.

Stitch is a classic platform game, and he's good at it. Perspective throughout the game is excellent, so you rarely misjudge a jump because it's farther or closer than it looks.

That is, of course, when you can see it at all.

In common with what seems like every other game on the market, the camera work in "Stitch" is frequently atrocious. First, there's a serious lag between the time our hero turns in a certain direction and when the camera shifts to see what he sees. Second, the camera sometimes just jams up and nothing you do can get Stitch to look where you want him to.

It's simply inexcusable to take a game designed for children and then drive the little tykes crazy. Don't the developers play these games after they design them?

Making up for the messy camera work are the excellent graphics, and the variety of levels.

You'll love the Grapple Gun, a sort of tractor beam which lets Stitch swing like Tarzan as he soars above acid pits or pools of bubbling lava. Or the Jet Pack, which powers Stitch high above the fray.

Graphics get an A. They are crisp and clean, with dazzling explosions, a great palette of colors and nicely detailed environments.

Sound gets a C. Sound effects are decent, the music is blah. Crank up the effects and turn on your stereo.

Control gets a C-. While Stitch goes where you point him well enough, the infernal camera often makes that moot. The control scheme is easy for even tiny minds to grasp.

"Stitch Experiment 626" gets a C. This is a solid title for children, doomed by its evil camera design.

ON THE NET

www.high-voltage.com

www.disneyinteractive.com