GameCube

Disney's The Haunted Mansion

Recovering all “999” lost souls to finish the game might seem like a daunting task, but it’s much worse than it sounds and is very accomplishable with a bit of perseverance and determination. The title is engrossing enough that it should be a non-issue for those that have purchased it. High Voltage and TDK Mediactive look to have a sure fire hit on their hands with this title that rises above the mediocrity that is usually associated with games that are produced from movie licenses. Well done.

I'm waxing neurotic about the ghost issue, which really is an unfortunate oversight, but The Haunted Mansion isn't that bad. Really. It's imaginative, it controls well, and the puzzles are solid and challenging without being repetitive. It's simply that a basic weakness in the engine makes The Haunted Mansion a far more frustrating experience than it really needs to be.

Remember the old Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland? Probably the better question is, how could you not? The creepy hallways, the gliding chairs, the crystal ball, and all of the ghosts -- the popular attraction has frightened children and entertained adults for decades. And now the ride has come to life on the silver screen and on your home videogame system.

Replay is virtually non-existent. Once you have cleared a room, there is nothing left to do. I suppose you could play through the game on a higher level of difficulty, but once is more than enough. Clearly, this is a game with an identity crisis. Kids can’t play it because of the scary ghosts and more mature gamers will be turned off by the puzzles that would be ridiculously easy if not for the occasionally wonky controls. So who’s left?