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The Golden Compass (video game)
Encyclopedia
The Golden Compass is an action-adventure game
developed by Shiny Entertainment
and published by Sega
. The game is based on the novel-adapted movie of the same name. It was released in December, before the movie, for all major consoles. It was declared the last game by Shiny Entertainment
before they merged with The Collective
.
(under both the names The Northern Lights and in some countries, The Golden Compass) and movie, players assume the role of Lyra Belacqua
and Iorek Byrnison in Lyra's attempt to get the golden compass (alethiometer) to her uncle, Lord Asriel which she presumes is what the master of Jordan college wanted her to do, and to save her friend, Roger from the General Oblation Board.
In some sections, the game actually follows the book more closely than the film. The sequences in Bolvangar and Svalbard are switched in the film but remain unchanged in the game. Also, some of the ending (unseen in the film) is shown in the game. That makes the game the only place, thus far, to view these deleted scenes.
rated The Golden Compass Xbox 360, PS3, and PS2 versions a 4.5 (out of 10), the Wii and DS versions garnered a 4.0, and the PSP port fared the worst with a low score of 2.0. Nintendo Power
rated the Wii version a 4.0, noting the repetitive environments, simplistic minigames, low-resolution visuals and hard-to-grasp story.
The Golden Compass ranked number 10 in the UK's all formats games sales chart of 2007.
GamePro
says that despite low-res graphics, sound effects, and clunky controls, the video game manages to capture the magic of the original source material; giving it a 3.75/5. (Feb. 2008 issue)
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
developed by Shiny Entertainment
Shiny Entertainment
Shiny Entertainment was an American video game developer based in Laguna Beach, Southern California, and the creator of several popular titles such as Earthworm Jim, MDK, Sacrifice and The Matrix: Path of Neo. Shiny was founded by David Perry in October 1993...
and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. The game is based on the novel-adapted movie of the same name. It was released in December, before the movie, for all major consoles. It was declared the last game by Shiny Entertainment
Shiny Entertainment
Shiny Entertainment was an American video game developer based in Laguna Beach, Southern California, and the creator of several popular titles such as Earthworm Jim, MDK, Sacrifice and The Matrix: Path of Neo. Shiny was founded by David Perry in October 1993...
before they merged with The Collective
The Collective
A collective is a group that makes decisions usually with unanimity.Collective may also refer to:* Collective number, a kind of grammatical number* Collective operation, an operation in parallel computing...
.
Story
Based on the bookNorthern Lights (novel)
Northern Lights, known as The Golden Compass in North America, is the first novel in English novelist Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy...
(under both the names The Northern Lights and in some countries, The Golden Compass) and movie, players assume the role of Lyra Belacqua
Lyra Belacqua
Lyra Belacqua , also known as Lyra Silvertongue, is the heroine of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra is a young girl who inhabits a universe parallel to our own...
and Iorek Byrnison in Lyra's attempt to get the golden compass (alethiometer) to her uncle, Lord Asriel which she presumes is what the master of Jordan college wanted her to do, and to save her friend, Roger from the General Oblation Board.
In some sections, the game actually follows the book more closely than the film. The sequences in Bolvangar and Svalbard are switched in the film but remain unchanged in the game. Also, some of the ending (unseen in the film) is shown in the game. That makes the game the only place, thus far, to view these deleted scenes.
Voice cast
- Dakota Blue RichardsDakota Blue RichardsDakota Blue Richards is an English actress. Her debut was in the film The Golden Compass, as the lead character Lyra Belacqua....
as Lyra - Freddie HighmoreFreddie HighmoreAlfred Thomas "Freddie" Highmore is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Finding Neverland, Five Children and It, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Arthur and the Invisibles, August Rush, The Golden Compass, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and Toast.-Early life:Highmore was...
as Pan - Nick JamesonNick JamesonNick Jameson is an American actor and voice actor, as well as a songwriter, composer, musician and producer. He has appeared in the television series The Critic, 24, Lost and, vocally, in Star Wars: Clone Wars as Palpatine , the radio adaption of Dark Empire, and several other productions of Star...
- Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
- Kath SoucieKath SoucieKatherine Elaine Soucie is an American voice actress. She is sometimes credited as Kath Soucie, Katherine Soucie, Kath Souci, Kath E...
- Fred TatascioreFred TatascioreFrederick "Fred" Tatasciore is an American voice actor who portrays secondary characters as well as monstrous-looking types...
- Nolan NorthNolan NorthNolan Ramsey North is an American actor and voice actor born in New Haven, Connecticut. He has been described as "the nearest thing the games industry has to a bona fide leading man."-Biography:...
- Michael GoughMichael GoughMichael Gough was an English character actor who appeared in over 150 films. He is perhaps best known to international audiences for his roles in the Hammer Horror films from 1958, and for his recurring role as Alfred Pennyworth in all four movies of the Burton/Schumacher Batman franchise,...
- Wally WingertWally WingertWallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
- Wendee LeeWendee LeeWendee Lee is an American voice actress. While she has done voice work for many video games as well as several episodes in the Power Rangers franchise, she is particularly prolific in the dubbing of anime. As of April 2009, with 223 credits to her name, she has more credits in this medium than any...
- Steven BlumSteven BlumSteven Jay Blum is an American voice actor known primarily for his work in anime dubs and video games, using his distinctive deep voice. Among his credits include the voice of Spike Spiegel of the anime series Cowboy Bebop and Mugen of the anime series Samurai Champloo...
- Chris EdgerlyChris EdgerlyChristopher "Chris" Edgerly is an American actor and voice actor.Edgerly was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, he moved to Savannah, Georgia at the age of two with his mother, and two brothers...
- Susanne Blakeslee
Reception
GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
rated The Golden Compass Xbox 360, PS3, and PS2 versions a 4.5 (out of 10), the Wii and DS versions garnered a 4.0, and the PSP port fared the worst with a low score of 2.0. Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
rated the Wii version a 4.0, noting the repetitive environments, simplistic minigames, low-resolution visuals and hard-to-grasp story.
The Golden Compass ranked number 10 in the UK's all formats games sales chart of 2007.
GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
says that despite low-res graphics, sound effects, and clunky controls, the video game manages to capture the magic of the original source material; giving it a 3.75/5. (Feb. 2008 issue)