Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat [PS2]

Graphics
I hope you like bold, colorful graphics because Cat in the Hat is filled with just that. Like the movie the game is based on, there is no lack of exaggerated shapes and creatures, all colored using super-bright colors. Fitting for a game of this type (read: a kid's game), or those looking for some trippy visual stimulation.

As bad as you think they might be, the graphics aren't too bad. Yeah, they're a bit simplistic, and maybe a bit too gaudy, but the game runs smooth, has a sharp textures, and the Cat looks remarkably like his movie counterpart. Granted, he's really, really small onscreen, but that doesn't mean he looks bad. Even Alec Baldwin's character bears a nice resemblance to the movie character. Woohoo.

Sound
In line with the circus-like graphics is the bouncy, surreal music. The level tunes, while different, all sound very similar. Think Danny Elfman, but ten years old. Like the graphics, the music is appropriate for the game, but unless you have yet to hit puberty, you're more than likely to find it irritating than enjoyable.

Outside of the music, the thing you hear the most is the Cat's voice, performed by none other than the Cat himself, Mike Meyers. Every minute or so, get ready to hear a hokey one-liner relating to what's happening onscreen. Granted, this is a licensed game so having voice samples is expected, but damn, there are a lot of them. Also, the advice-giving fish and Mr. Quinn make their vocal presence known, but to a lesser degree. I found the game much more enjoyable with the volume down, and The Unicorn's "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone" blasting through my Timex alarm clock radio.

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