I'm not going to lie: I've never watched an episode of Ben 10, I've never played a game based on Ben 10, and I've only ever randomly stumbled onto the series' Wikipedia page like, three times before. I'm pretty out of the loop when it comes to all things Ben, so when I sat down and began to play Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks I didn't know what to expect. Besides, obviously, a kids game.

I'm also not going to do research. There's no need for me to watch a bunch of episode of Ben 10 and try and summarize the series for you. If you watch the show you care, if you don't you don't. The backstory isn't as important as the gameplay, which is, to be honest, pretty solid. All you need to know is that Ben has an object of some type that allows him to change into different aliens, which the game uses as a major feature. All of the ten characters will be available in the game, each having their own benefits and weaknesses. Before long, I quickly became obsessed with trying to exclusively use the weird ice moth, but others had said that they were enjoying playing more as the dinosaur or spider monkey.



In other words... it's a kids game. The level design seemed very simple and the game played a bit like Crash Bandicoot. Changing between characters on the fly is a cool mechanic, but it's nothing groundbreaking. There is going to be little in Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks that will draw in anyone who isn't already interested in Ben 10. The graphics are passable, the sound is fine, and it looks to be something that should be awesome for Ben 10 fans.

But that's it. It's just... that. If you're not already interested in the series it's not going to be anything special. It's not like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, where it could stand on its own. "Hardcore" gamers have no need for this title, but you know what? Their Ben 10 loving siblings might, and that's what really matters.

Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks is due out this fall.