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2004 saw a family of superheroes fly onto the scene in a computer-animated film called The Incredibles. The action, the look, and even the feel of Pixar's production felt a sure fit for videogame greatness. When the game based on the movie did come out, however, it was a solid but unambitious title that pleased the film's young fanbase. A year later, The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer is released...

Make no mistake: from the very beginning, Rise Of The Underminer pushes for a more golden age comic feel. Giant robots spring out of the ground, the Underminer taunts and laughs maniacally, and the whole cast is put to the side other than two main characters. Frozone and Mr. Incredible throw dialogue almost as much as they throw punches, with plenty of unique speech between the two. You get the feel that these guys are in this just to get to the end and kick some bad guys in the head, a nice departure from the emotionally overbearing storylines many games tend to use as a crutch.

It's too bad the gameplay takes a similarly one-note turn. Combat is limited to a scant few attacks with nary a bit of variety in sight. Mr. Incredible is limited solely to punching and throwing things (which works for 90% of the enemies you'll come along), and Frozone is limited to weaker attacks and freezing (which helps Mr. Incredible clobber, as well as clearing that last 10%). Teamwork isn't really brought into play at all, because it simply becomes an exercise of playing as one character until you need to use the power of the other unto infinity. A simple RPG system is in place for abilities, letting you power up your attacks and health, but it's not enough to make a huge difference in anything.

While the game doesn't do much in the way of gameplay, the presentation makes up for it. Your adventure will take you through a path that includes steaming caves of lava, a shortcut through solid ice, and the center of the Underminer's headquarters. Audio and visual quality stays consistently good throughout and helps solidify the universe Rise Of The Underminer takes you through.

While Rise Of The Underminer won't win any awards anytime soon, the game is solid throughout. Adult gamers will probably give up on it, but the younger gamers in your household will admire the way it takes them through a fun new adventure in The Incredibles' universe.