Snoopy vs. the Red Baron

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Snoopy vs. the Red Baron

Developer(s)	Smart Bomb Interactive
Publisher(s)	Namco Bandai Games America
Release date(s)	2006
Genre(s)	Flight simulator
Mode(s)
Rating(s)	ESRB: E10+
Platform(s)	PlayStation Portable, PS2, PC

"Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" is also a 1966 song by The Royal Guardsmen.

Snoopy vs. the Red Baron is a flight combat game released on PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PC.^[1] As the name implies, the protagonist is Snoopy, the dog in Charles M. Schulz's comic Peanuts. The game is based on one of the most famous Snoopy alter egos: a World War One flying ace battling against Red Baron and his Flying Circus.

The game is introduced in a scene as Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt found Snoopy sleeping on top on his doghouse as usual and wondering what Snoopy might be dreaming about. Snoopy quickly wakes up shooting imaginary enemies. Charlie Brown replies that Snoopy is probably dreaming about being a famous World War I flying ace. The game then focuses on Snoopy's dream.

The game ends with a similar cutscene where Snoopy is acting out flying on his doghouse while typing a story. When Linus asks Charlie Brown what his dog is doing, Charlie Brown replies that he is probably working on a sequel, thereby implying a sequel to the game.

Snoopy vs the Red Baron is the first (and so far only) time the characters have been animated in 3D with the express permission and tacit approval of Creative Associates and the Schulz family for an officially licensed Peanuts product.

[edit] Gameplay

The game has 22 missions to complete, with upgradeable WWI-era planes, including Snoopy's Sopwith Camel, to control. Unlike the original comic, many Peanuts characters appear in the game as officers and pilots. The main characters are:

Marcie-The flight instructor and scientist of the allied side
Lucy-The commander for the allies
Linus-The intelligence officer
Pig-Pen-Snoopy's mechanic that also runs a shop for Snoopy to purchase comical secondary weapons
Sally-The spy for the allies
Charlie Brown-The janitor resposible for cleaning the allied hangar
Woodstock-Snoopy's sidekick that helps out by either operating the secondary weapons, or acting as a tailgunner on certain missions
Peppermint Patty-Flies the allies' bomber, but she needs help defending the relativaly slow bomber

Other minor characters

Franklin-Helps defend the bomber
Rerun-Helps defend the bomber
Schroeder-The sailor for the allies who helps Snoopy on select missions

There are also several enemies for Snoopy to shoot down in campaign mode. There are:

Blue Fighters-The weakest, and slowest planes that the Red Baron owns, which makes up the bulk of his fleet
Green fighters-Stronger airplanes that are more powerful, and can fire a secondary weapon (Water Balloon).
Purple fighters-The most agile and powerful planes that the Red Baron owns. These can also fire a scondary weapon (Sky Rockets).
Spy bot-A small robot that hovers around buildings that are generally harmless, except in great numbers.
Bomb bot-A spy bot equipped with an explosive payload, which flies towards any allied vehicle
Blimps-The storehouse for all Heli-bots. After releasing all of the heli-bots, it will start firing missles at you.
Mines-Modified Bomb bots that hover as a wall, preventing you from going to a specific area. If you come too close, they head toward you and explode.
Tanks-These can move on any terrain and have a powerful cannon.
PT Boats-Boats equipped with missile launchers. Mainly used to destroy buildings, or allied watercraft.
U-Boats-Large submarines that pop out of the water, and try to shoot you down.
Driller bot-A small, defenseless piece of mining equipment that drills for Unobtanium, or are used for destroying allied buildings.
Crawler bot-A large robot that is positioned on small legs that are shaped like legs of bugs. They guard the driller bots and shoot missiles at you.
M2 Gun-The standard anti-aircraft gun, but if you fly low enough, they cannot aim at you.
The Red Baron-Fights Snoopy in the final mission. He has powerful missiles that will tail your plane, until you confuse it. The Red Baron is the most skilled pilot in the Flying Circus.