Beauty and the Beast presents a more refined combination of involved gameplay and simplicity, the latter of which Grimm fans have come to expect, and the former... well, not so much. Though even the most casual gamer will still breeze through Grimm's eighth adventure, gamers waiting for a bit more of a challenge won't find anything too complex, but there are deeper mechanics here that seem to indicate an increased emphasis on exploration in season two.

Simply put, the levels in Beauty and the Beast are massive. The Beast's courtyard and Beauty's village are filled with nooks and crannies, some of which hold secret coins, and Beauty's dream stages contain lots of moving platforms that, instead of frustrating, are used as a way to view the entire level and take note of any secrets and pathways the player might have missed.

Level design itself effortlessly one-ups the artsy and beautiful backdrops Godfather Death, with both standard scenery and its corrupted state induced by Grimm's presence proving impressive sights to behold. Level 2 is a winter wonderland that maintains its breathtaking scenery even after Grimm has polluted everything in sight. This stage also entails plenty of Platforming skill, as the slickness of ice and snow require players to expertly control Grimm while he bounds over platforms and runs in between bottomless chasms.


As in the last few episodes, larger stages mean more NPCs intent on cleaning up after Grimm, and Beauty and the Beast is no exception to this rule. Because the stages here are the largest seen in the series, players should find plenty of challenge in spreading disease and pestilence over as much ground as possible while finding ways to dispatch the meddlesome do-gooders, yet those who simply wish to rush through and finish the story can still do so within a matter of minutes.

The fun of exploring, platforming, and corrupting wears off after level 4, at which point the player begins to realize that most of the episode's eight levels are being recycled. You'll visit the Beast's castle and Beauty's village a few times each, exploring roughly the same areas during each visit. Some layouts are altered slightly, but make no mistake: they're the same levels, and the lack of originality does detract from the impressive size of each stage.

More problematic is Grimm's flubs in control, which is unfortunately anticipated at this point in the series. The mischievous scoundrel still tends to get stuck in between architecture, but most infuriating is his complete lack of response when sliding down one of the many pits in level 2. When Grimm gets stuck on the slope that leads down into darkness and an eventual respawn, the game often ignores any press of the jump keys, making it impossible to pull Grimm's fat out of the fire... er, ice.

Just like the entire first season as a whole, Beauty and the Beast's few technical mishaps pale in comparison to the product's whole. Hardcore gamers will find a bit more to like here, while casual players already know what they're getting into and either love it. Both groups of gamers, however, might be ready for a new experience. Will our wish be fulfilled with American McGee's Grimm: Season 2? We'll find out this fall.