Rango the World is an online game that can be played via most standard, non-Apple Web browsers.  The game places players into the world of Rango and is set about a year after the events of the movies.

As a “massively-multiplayer” online game, players will encounter other live players as they walk through the world.  The game offers many filters and options to allow parents determine what level of action players can have with others while they are playing.

Rango the Game is free to play, but players do have the option of upgrading to a paid membership.  These range from $6.99 a month to $59.99 for an entire year, and allow players access to various in-game extras, ranging from items to special members-only quests.

The first thing players will do in Rango the World is create their character.  Each character is a lizard that resembles the main character in the feature film, but can be customized as a boy or a girl.  Players can also switch their character’s hairstyle, headshape, hair color and body color.

After a quick tutorial explaining how to move and interact with the world, players are set loose into the game world, and their first task is to find to and talk to Rango.  All commands and interactions are completely text based, so strong reading skills are an absolute must for Rango the World.  The game’s text isn’t dumbed down either, using words like ‘gargantuan’ and ‘heroically,’ indicating that the game does employ an advanced vocabulary level.

To get to where you want to go in Rango the World, you’ll point and click the mouse where you want to walk.  This doesn’t always work though, as you need to make sure you have an unimpeded straight line between you and your desired destination.  If not, the game will run you into objects on the street, and you’ll find yourself doing lots of smaller clicks to make your way around them.

Although the world is populated by the characters of many other players, there also are characters from the movie placed throughout the world.  By talking to them, players will not only learn information about the world, but also receive quests which they can complete to earn water (the game’s currency).  Throughout the game, players can also pick up objects that have been placed on the ground that can be used later, but picking up objects does cost energy, so players will have to carefully pick and choose what they want to carry.

In addition to walking around the world of Rango and interacting with characters from the movie, players can also play various online mini-games.  We tested out four games in all when we played, which were a mixture of puzzle games and skill-based activities.  The puzzle games were Crystal Cavern Pop in which players click on groups of like-colored balls in order to clear them away and Mail Madness which is essentially a version of Bejeweled but with different colored pieces of mail as the icons.  In Road Runner players must help a running Road Runner jump over obstacles and gaps, and Area 102 Rescue requires players to fly their UFO using either the mouse or keyboard, attempting to pick up Road Runners and deliver them to a pre-selected base.  Although we did receive water for completing missions and objectives throughout the game, we didn’t get any for playing these mini-games.

As players go through the world, they can not only buy items to customize their character, but also fill their private rooms with items. 

In addition to on the streets, these rooms are another place where players can have a chance to interact with other gameplayers.  Only the players themselves can go into the private room, except for when a player decides to have a virtual party.  In a virtual party, everyone who is your “friend” in the game is invited into your personal area where you can chat and interact should you desire.

One other way in which players can get together with their online “friends” is in the game’s movie room.  In this area, players can select to view movie trailers or scenes from the movie.

The game does offer many filters and safeguards for parents to control the level of interaction that kids can have with others, ranging from a “Super Safe” chat server to a “Filtered” chat server, which filters out certain words.

Rango the World is a great online world for fans of the movie, allowing players to feel like they are part of what they saw on the big screen.  The high-reading level of the completely text based directions make this one appropriate for older kids and tweens and will challenge their vocabulary.  Although a fun trip into the universe of Rango, we’re not sure that anyone but the biggest Rango fans will be interested in playing this for more than a couple of weeks, though, so we’d recommend either sticking to the free version of the game, or only buying a one- or three-month membership.

Essence of the World...
Rango: The WORLD allows fans of the movie to step into the Rango universe and become a citizen of the town of Dirt. Fans can create their own avatar, join their friends, and explore the dynamic world of the film.  Along the way players will embark on quests, compete in games and customize their own personal space in town.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY FEATURES:

• Live the Expanded Story – Interact with the characters from the film as they send you on missions directed by the creators of the film.
• Customize Your Character – Choose from thousands of combinations of colors and features, name your lizard and then unlock hundreds of new clothing options as you explore the WORLD.
• Authentic Visuals – The WORLD incorporates characters and assets built by the movie’s animators and featured in the film: cutting edge technology brings these characters and objects to life on the web,  creating one of the best looking social worlds ever revealed.
• Kid-Safe – Rango: The WORLD is fully COPPA compliant and monitored by experienced staff to create a safe online environment for all ages
• Free Forever – Play for free as long as you want with premium options available for subscribers ($6.99/month for subscription)