In Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, you will get the chance to discover a side of the Smithsonian that you have never seen before. The game’s action transports the player from the New York Museum of Natural History to the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution. The film on which the game is based was directed by Ben Stiller. After the enchantment cast by Ahkmenrah’s magic tablet brought the inanimate exhibits of the Smithsonian to life, Larry is now responsible for getting some kind of order back to the otherwise disorganized museum. The player assumes control of Larry Daley (Stiller), who is tasked with rescuing the tablet of Ahkmenrah from the grasp of the nefarious Kahmunrah.
The keychain and flashlight that Larry carries around are the “ritual tools of office” that are the primary focus of the gaming mechanics, despite the inclusion of more fundamental movement mechanics such as running, jumping, and climbing. These things, combined with Ahkmenrah’s tablet’s power, grant Larry new talents that allow him to do more. Larry can rise to heights, swing across wider gaps, and fast hang the chain to create a shield. This is all because of the upgraded keychain. With the help of his upgraded flashlight, Larry can give mechanical gadgets more power, fix broken items, tame wild animals, and even call down lightning. Players will make use of these talents to accomplish tasks across a variety of museums.
