Ice Age 2: The Meltdown is loosely based on the movie of the same name. The game takes place in prehistory - you play as Scrat, the hapless (but not totally helpless!) proto-squirrel, helping your friends escape the coming of a huge flood.
The gameplay involves exploring levels, hunting down acorns and other nuts for health renewal or bonuses, while also completing mini-games. The game features various actions that can be performed with the mouse, such as camera movement and some special moves using Scrat's unique abilities.