In every way,
Lilo & Stitch is a standard Platformer. In fact, if there's a weakness in this game, it's the fact that nothing here really comes off new and exciting. So, we have a license game that is fun to play and characters you'll appreciate from the movie and enjoy seeing in the game, but it won't be the game you (or your kids) come back to again once you beat it. Getting through is a lot of fun, but it's a once-through experience.
Starting from the beginning, you'll get a little background by way of a cut from the movie that shows just how Stitch got to Earth and how he landed in the hands of Lilo. From there, you'll switch back and forth between Lilo and Stitch to play through a series of levels. I like the way each character alternates, and unlike some games that only put you in the shoes of one particular character to accomplish some specific task, you'll get to play through similar levels with each character and see how they can accomplish tasks in different ways. Lilo has some interesting attacks, the strongest being Voodoo. She can also pick up a power-up that turns loose a Tourist on an unsuspecting enemy, and being from a tourist town, I can attest to those tourists as a dangerous lot. The attack animations are hilarious. Stitch is more lethal, and has a wide range of attacks. He can use a butt-bounce or bash, which Lilo actually uses as well. But, his Spit Attack and Spin and Roll Attack are all his own and they are devastating to enemies. The Roll is the attack mentioned earlier that is keyed into coffee consumption, and once you gather 20 cups Stitch starts to giggle and his 'Bad-O-Meter' fills up red. With a quick press on the Triangle button, you can transform Stitch into a rolling, destructive little alien/dog/ball.
Enemies aren't the only objects for your attacks, and you'll actually spend a lot of time mowing down pots and other objects looking for power-ups, special items and health. Traps, ladders and pits will get in the way and you'll have to jump or find ways to avoid them creatively. I didn't find any of the levels too interesting from a puzzle standpoint, and the most creative item usage was the explosive barrel that can be picked up, activated for timed release or blown up immediately (not a good idea). Otherwise, most of the action is predictable and may get a little old after the first series of levels. Boss battles are present but infrequent and not as satisfying as they could be given the source material.
