The Golden Compass

by Sega Of America, Inc.

Product Features

• The Golden Compass game and upcoming movie are based on the first novel of Phillip Pullman’s New York Times best-selling trilogy which has sold over 5.5 million units in the U.S. to date.
• Play as both heroes from the film – Lyra and a giant armored polar bear, Iorek - and combine the strengths of each to progress.
• Following the storyline of the movie, players traverse, evade and deceive their way through action-filled levels.
• Explore 13 vast locations from the movie including two areas that are unique to the game.
• Experience the collaborative bond between Lyra and Pan through the unique ‘Dæmon’ (animal spirit) gameplay mechanic.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000R32IDW
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: December 4, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,480 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Platform: PlayStation2

The Golden Compass is an epic action adventure game that immerses you in the magical parallel world of the $150 million budgeted film from New Line Cinema, the studio behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy. With its AAA cast, including Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig (the new James Bond), the story follows Lyra’s heroic journey from the safety of her home to the dangerous wonders of the North. Armed only with a truth-telling compass, and accompanied by a giant armored polar bear named Iorek, the game takes you on a journey of adventure, exploration, collaboration and discovery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DOESNT GIVE GOOD INSTRUCTIONS, January 1, 2008

By 

GRANDMOTHER "MARIE" - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Golden Compass (Video Game)

VERY UNHAPPY WITH PRODUCT. DOESN'T GIVE GOOD INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW AND CANNOT GO BACK THROUGH LEVELS WITHOUT HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING ALL OVER AGAIN. NO FUN.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Did they make it in a hurry?, January 4, 2008

By 

V. Saengkeo "Tori-Ohki" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Golden Compass (Video Game)

I love he book dearly, and I was excited about playing the game, but I was a bit disappointed.
On the one paw, it was fun to "explore" Lyra's world and change Pan's forms. The play was VERY easy, and there was no way to do any wrong- if you messed up, you started over at the checkpoint. On the other paw: IT WAS SO EASY! Almost to the point of being boring. Actually, in some parts, it was.

I'm trying to think of good things to say about the game...
It was closer to the book, as far as the order of events. But, like the movie, there was no ending. No climax, no sense of accomplishment, no desire to play it again...
It did show clips from the movie but they had an annoying voice over by the witch. The last bit, where Lyra goes to see Lord Asriel, the clip that wasn't in the move, was interesting but can also be viewed on youtube.
Play was difficult as far as controlling the characters. The camera can't be adjusted at all so at some parts you are playing blind. When you are playing Iorek, to jump over a crack in the ice, you just press triangle (on PS2). He jumps by himself. And to fight, you follow on screen prompts. Kind of like DDR.
It was fun to change Pan's forms: He can be a Ermine, a hawk, a sloth, and a wildcat. But only when the game allows you to change him. When he is in hawk form, he can help Lyra glide, but the graphics in the game are quite crude, with little sense of depth perception, so it is hard to judge where to land. It's funny, too, the way Lyra looks... so crude.
I think it would have been more fun if the programmers had utilized Pan more... maybe mini-games with him and Lyra, and more forms for him to change into.
As for exploring, you really couldn't do that. It is a very linear game. I thought you could have wandered around the college rooftops at leisure, looking for hidden items and gathering collectables perhaps. Maybe had an "inventory" and were able to buy things: food, or new clothes, or equipment... And I was really looking forward to escaping Mrs. Coulter's flat and evading the gobblers whilst roaming the London streets at night.
... Nope. There really isn't a whole lot of choice here. "Go here, do that, oh you messed up, try again, there now, it doesn't matter, go here... Kind of like that. For example, in the flat in London, one task is to find the tub stopper. Oooh, I thought, a quest! Where could it be?!... oh. It's in plain sight at the bottom of the stairs. It's even glowing. Well, that was fun.

The alethiometer was a good bit- it was like a mini-game to give you something to do when you got bored. You were supposed to use Pan's "ermine insight" to find the meanings of the symbols...but it really wasn't necessary as the mini-game (a O pops up: push O...and so on...) was easy enough without bothering.

The good, the good... Well, the aurora was pretty.

This might be a really fun game for children. In fact, that's who it was designed for, so there you go. For those curious about the game because they loved the movie or book, I suggest renting it first. You are not likely to want to play it again anyway, so at least you'll get the experience without the high cost. ^^

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Golden Compass, December 31, 2007

By 

R. E. Balser (Orlando) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: The Golden Compass (Video Game)

[[ASIN:B000R32IDW The Golden Compass] is a fun game with good graphics and plot although does not exactly follow the movie line. I am replaying for the second time now. some challenges are pretty tough to beat. This game has no save options except with checkpoints .I purchased the game guide book as well as there is very little info available on line at this time

2115|R83MEG0NWFM1E;2115|RK7NIRBGF7E66;2115|R2SL9GJGDLUX6K;