If you only remember the story path in the first Narnia game, it is easy to miss how much of the real progression is tied to replay and cleanup.
This is one of those mid-2000s licensed games where collectibles are not just decoration. Bonus shields, statues, coins, and unlocked skills all feed back into how complete your save file feels and what extra material opens up in the wardrobe.
Why bonus shields matter
Multiple surviving guide references describe bonus shields as the main completion tracker for unlocking the extra wardrobe content. In other words, they are part of the game's reward structure, not throwaway filler.
That is why replaying stages for missed shields is normal here. The game expects you to improve previous runs rather than clear everything perfectly on the first try.
Why statues matter too
StrategyWiki and older walkthrough references both note that freed statues help with support options in the Great Battle later on.
So even if you are not chasing full completion, statue hunting still has a direct gameplay payoff instead of being purely cosmetic.
A practical cleanup rhythm
Finish a stage once to learn its layout, then replay it when you have a better feel for each child's abilities.
Watch especially for Susan music spots, Lucy crawl spaces, icy-path sections, and objects that only become obvious once you know who is supposed to interact with them.
If you are aiming for the bonus drawer unlocks, treat shields, coins, and statues as part of one shared completion loop instead of three separate chores.
Reference links
- StrategyWiki table of contents — Handy starting point for stage pages plus shields/statues appendices.
- StrategyWiki Glimpse of Narnia page — One surviving example that explicitly reminds players to collect statues for later use.
- GameFAQs walkthrough listing — Longer fan guide with unlockables/completion references.
- Our walkthrough page — Start there for the stage order before doing cleanup runs.
- Our cheats and unlockables page — Use this alongside completion cleanup if you are revisiting the game now.