October 11, 2006 - Current-gen gamers feeling the pinch with all the next-generation hub-bub this fall might find a little relief in just a week. Comic relief, that is. 2K Games is shipping Family Guy to PS2 and Xbox Tuesday with a trio of game styles, hundreds of in-jokes, and that special mix of rudeness/humor that makes Family Guy one of the most popular, most wanted games on IGN.com.

Sitting down with Walt Williams, a "game analyst" (aka game dude) at 2K Games, we saw and played the Xbox version of the game in all its primitively designed, hilariously written deliciousness. Family Guy is not designed as a Metal Gear Solid 4 and Halo 3 killer. Hardly. This mixed platform and arcade-style action game harkens back to the coin-op iteration of The Simpsons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or more recently, Vivendi's rendition of Futurama on PS2 and Xbox.

Stewey, the precocious, talking child, is your platformer dude.

For a game of this nature, one really dedicated to its fans, Family Guy is all about the characters and the stupid/hilarious things they say and do to each other. On that note, the entire voice cast from the show handles their own voices in the game, and the writers from the show also handle all of the dialog in the game. Essentially, Fuzzy Door Productions has been all over this game, ensuring that all the color of the show carries over to the game without a hitch.

And it does. As Stewie, you'll use mind control on your mom, Death, and anyone else who gets your in you way as you try to dominate the world through Pete's satellite TV dish. Oh, and in the process of trying to control the world you'll even shrink down to microscopic size and jump into Pete's testicles to get the job done. Stewie is a platformer guy so his moves are comprised of physical activities, double jumps, and little puzzles to solve. He also harasses and insults you as the pathetic gamer you know you are.

Brian, the pooch, takes on the role of a stealthy fugitive.

As Brian the pooch, you're framed as the rogue inseminator of the neighborhood tramp and thus thrown in jail. Since Brian is the stealth character, he sneaks around in the shadows while using a lampshade as a disguise (and it works!). Family Guy doesn't hold back on anything, so the first thing you'll do it sneak through the prison showers, which show naked men (in simple Family Guy animation) showering together and enjoying it. You'll just have to see it (check out the videos; it's borderline funny/sick), but don't worry, parents, you won't see male parts. Brian has a few moves of his own, too, executing sneak maneuvers, spin attacks, and dash moves to high-tail it out of any trap he's found himself in.

That's Pete, the hardcore brawler.

Finally, the Family Guy himself, Peter, is the brawler of the trio. He pulls off triple combo attacks that range from hits, kicks and throws to head butts and Chun Li helicopter kicks. It's stupid fun. And naturally, you're convinced that everyone is out to get you, so your first mission is an all-out attack on anyone you see. You'll beat up old men and women, grandparents, street venders, babies, and police. Old people and children, when pummeled to death, vanish in a puff of smoke, throwing cookies into the street. Cops hand out donuts upon their deaths, and street vendors give up everything from hot dogs to cakes. Indians throw out corn when killed and so on. The 3D platformer/action game is generally shown from a medium-angle third-person perspective that sometimes moves, while other times remains stationery. It's ill-humored fun, it's sick and tasteless, and it's just what the doctor ordered.

The game isn't terrible either. It's not only funny and enjoyable from a bystander's point of view -- offering old gags from the show with new original ones -- but from a gaming perspective, it's got that old school simplicity, mixing tough challenges with simple mechanics. You'll find upgrades for Stewie's laser gun, you'll use grenades, and modify a heat-seeking missile. Stewie wields a sweet grappling gun that often works in conjunction with a balloon glide device to get from neighborhood rooftop to rooftop. The game is split up relatively even, so while each character follows his own plotline, the story is interconnected. You'll control Peter in five missions, Stewie in four, and Brian in three, altogether offering gamers approximately 10-15 hours of gameplay.

Graphically, Family Guy follows the formula previous TV/videogames have used in the past. The characters are created in 3D with hard, dark comic-style outlines, creating a virtual 2D effect. The show's distinct art style is carried over without a hitch, so you'll instantly recognize all of your favorite characters.

Slated to ship October 16 on PlayStation 2 and Xbox, Family Guy will deliver nothing more than a really fun, fan-oriented game built specifically for dedicated followers of the show. The game design doesn't do anything new, instead holding firm with previous TV-style designs. It's a single-player, offline game, plain and simple. Thankfully, the show's real essence has been captured and delivered without compromise. It's definitely rated M for mature, packing all of the distinct humor that's made Family Guy popular.