Boom Blox: Subtly Subversive?

Boom Blox. You’ve probably heard of it, but you may not know that it stars a bunch of characters cooked up by Benicio Del Toro and Johnny Depp after they dropped a bunch of peyote in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

When you boil down the game to its essential element, it’s Jenga on steroids. The game, a collaboration between Electronic Arts and Steven Spielberg, appeals to gamers of all ages in the same way that most casual games do: Take a simple concept (in this case, knocking down blocks) and add a few interesting bells and whistles.

One thing is clear: The art direction caters to the younger audience. Can you look past the dancing animals and truly appreciate the game on the merits of game play and design? Some of you can. But if you stop focusing your attention on the blocks and take a harder look at some of these creatures, you’ll notice there’s some pretty weird stuff going on that’s borderline subversive.

Exhibit A

First of all, what animal is this? It looks like some kind of skunk. Or is it a panda? A skanda, perhaps? And why is he all bleary-eyed? Clearly, this animal knows the rave scene better than me. And what is he ogling at? Is that a miniature glow stick?

Exhibit B

This is just plain wrong. This “koala” is kind of short. Notice that he’s carrying a camera. And he’s got slanted eyes. You can’t tell from this picture, but this particular koala excels at math and science, too.

Exhibit C

Overexposure. Plain and simple.

Exhibit D

Hey kiddies! That Boom Blox character has a funny-shaped ax, doesn’t he! When you grow old and leave this Earth, he’s gonna hunt you down and cut you up real good.

Exhibit E

This is not a chicken. Stare deeply into its eyes; this is a heartless, square-faced monster with some kind of mad-chicken disease who will murder you in your sleep.