Intro: For many kids who grew up in the 2000s, they were fortunate to meet the iconic claymation duo Wallace and Gromit thanks to the 2005 film The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. That was unfourtanty not the case for me—I actually missed out on seeing it, both in theaters and when it hit DVD at the time. Surprisingly, my first introduction to the Aardman British staple was a very little-known video game simply titled Wallace & Gromit: In Project Zoo. Frontier Developments—the folks behind RollerCoaster Tycoon and the Thrillville series—released this game back in 2003, and at the time, it got a pretty mixed response from fans and critics alike. Though I am aware of the game’s many flaws, this was the game that sparked my whole fascination with Wallace & Gromit. I spent so many hours on it as a kid, and looking back, it really made a positive impression on me.
Summary: Wallace & Gromit head to the zoo to celebrate the birthday of a polar bear they adopted named Archie. However, things take a turn when they see him captured by a villainous penguin known as Feathers McGraw. Wallace and Gromit venture further into the zoo to rescue their friend, only to discover that he has captured other baby animals and forced their parents to work hard to help him achieve an unknown dastardly plan. It's up to the British duo to free the animals and stop Feathers from enslaving more innocent zoo animals.
Story: Aardman Animations has a unique style of humor. To translate into a video game format seems like a challenging task. Though with Aardman working closely alongside Frontier, they managed to retain what makes Wallace & Gromit so charming, with its tongue-in-cheek humor that works both visually and narratively. The gags feel like they belong in a typical Wallace & Gromit short; there are many callbacks to previous adventures, while also adding new material to make a fresh experience. It also helps that the story itself is very charming. It's not trying to be complex or deep but rather easy-going and fun. I would argue that the shorts and movies did a better job utlizing clever jokes and witty dialogue, but for a small game to go this far into maintaining the spirit of Wallace & Gromit is still very admirable.
Characters: Fans of the original shorts and films will instantly recognize the characters, thanks to the game’s impressive faithfulness to its source material. Nowhere is this commitment clearer than in the casting of the late Peter Sallis, who returns to voice Wallace, the lovable, eccentric inventor and frequent punchline. Gromit is just as perfectly realized—his signature deadpan looks and silent comedic timing are captured with genuine care, making him feel every bit as authentic as his claymation counterpart. Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin, makes a comeback as well. His mischievous schemes are spot-on, echoing his memorable appearance in “The Wrong Trousers.” Even players unfamiliar with Wallace & Gromit will find him a standout antagonist. While the new addition, Archie the polar bear, doesn’t get quite as much time to shine, the rest of the small cast more than makes up for it. Whether you’re a longtime fan or brand new to the series, you’ll likely find yourself drawn in by these quirky, charming personalities—maybe even curious enough to explore more of the Wallace & Gromit world.
Gameplay: I won’t lie, the gameplay is where things wobble a bit. Gromit takes center stage as our main playable hero, with a delightfully varied toolkit—think jumping (both standard and super-high), swinging across ropes, climbing, swimming, and wielding all sorts of quirky contraptions whipped up by Wallace. Wallace himself isn’t playable, but he’s far from idle; he’ll pop up to repair gadgets, create weapons, and help unravel puzzles, opening up new corners of the zoo for you to explore. Scattered throughout each level, you’ll discover hidden zoo coins—sometimes tucked away in secret nooks, sometimes earned by conquering bonus challenges. Collect enough, and you’re rewarded with unlockable clips from Wallace and Gromit’s classic shorts, which feels like a warm nod to the duo’s roots. It’s the kind of bonus that makes longtime fans grin and newcomers curious. But if I’m being honest, the fun sometimes gets tangled up in the controls. Platforming and puzzle bits can veer into “that’s not my fault!” territory, thanks to some occasionally clunky handling. It can make those challenges feel less satisfying and more frustrating, especially in a 3D setting where precision matters. This is especially apparent in the tougher bonus platforming challenges, which are clearly meant to push the player’s skills to the test. I understand they’re meant to be difficult, but some moments feel like they needed just a bit more fine-tuning. Despite some questionable controls and frustrating moments, at its core, the game aims to feel just like the story: simple, charming, and delightful. For the most part, it succeeds, even if a little extra polish here and there could have made the gameplay shine even brighter.
Graphics: There’s something endlessly endearing about those PS2-era visuals, isn’t there? They’re simple, a little chunky, and somehow manage to bottle up a kind of nostalgia that newer, flashier graphics often miss. That’s especially true here, where the challenge isn’t just plopping Wallace and Gromit onto a screen—it’s translating their unmistakable claymation charm into a world built from polygons and pixels. For the most part, the game does a pretty admirable job. Sure, the characters come off a bit shinier and smoother than their stop-motion cousins (CG will do that), but you can still spot all the right details: Wallace’s delightfully jittery mannerisms, Gromit’s legendary eyebrow game, and reactions that would make Aardman proud. That attention to personality isn’t just for the stars, either—the animals scattered around the zoo, from elephants to gorillas, all fit right in with that classic Wallace and Gromit design language. It’s as if they all stepped straight out of a lost short film. The environments are no slouch, either. One minute, you’re wandering through lush jungle; the next, you’re braving a frosty tundra, then delving into mine shafts or dodging lava in a volcano. It’s a playful, varied mix that feels like a proper adventure. Even if the graphics show their age here and there, they capture the heart of Wallace and Gromit’s world far better than you might expect. Sometimes, a little bit of old-school charm is exactly what you need to make things feel just right.
Music: Surprisingly, Julian Nott—the musical mind behind just about everything Wallace and Gromit, including that instantly recognizable theme—also found the time to score the 2003 video game. Honestly? That alone feels kind of special. Naturally, the classic theme makes its appearance (and it’s still as charming as ever), but what really caught me off guard were the original tracks written specifically for the game. The melodies feel right at home—playful, a little quirky, and unmistakably Wallace and Gromit. Nothing here is trying to shout for attention, but that’s part of the charm. Every time a new piece kicks in, it feels like it belongs in this world of cheese-loving inventors and silently judging dogs. That sense of cohesion of music feels stitched into the fabric of the franchise and is more valuable than any over-the-top score could ever be.
Conclusion: One of the loveliest surprises about this adaptation is that the heart of Wallace and Gromit is still very much alive. It understands what makes this world special—the offbeat humor, the expressive characters, the wonderfully tactile visuals, and that unmistakable, jaunty music that makes you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a stop-motion set. This isn’t a grand, boundary-pushing masterpiece, and it doesn’t quite reach the sparkling heights of the original short films or feature outings. The controls can feel clunky at times, and the difficulty occasionally tips into frustrating rather than challenging. And yet… there’s something undeniably charming about it all. If you’re willing to forgive its mechanical missteps, In Project Zoo still offers a genuinely fun time—especially for fans of the cheese-loving inventor and his ever-loyal (and delightfully snarky) canine companion. For me, it was actually a gateway into their world, a slightly wobbly but heartfelt introduction to two of animation’s most endearing creations. Sometimes that first adventure, imperfections and all, is part of the magic.
(Final Grade: B)