Xbox

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge

I can totally recommend this game for Halloween, or even Christmas if you haven't picked it up before then. See the film, buy the game and enjoy it. It's not always that simple, as some film games are the pits. Capcom and Buena Vista have done a great job in every respect, really bringing Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge to life. Sometimes it gets a little bit confusing and while the running around and hitting things is nothing new, this game certainly has some memorable characters. Twenty four levels and secret areas should last any player a while, but after that, there's probably not much reason to go back, except to relive some of the boss battles and maybe get perfect scores. Oogie's Revenge shouldn't be overlooked; it's like a work of musical art, with plenty of eventful gaming moments.

Aside from perhaps earning itself one of the longest names of any Xbox title, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge managed to put to use the license it was based on, which often seems like an after thought on a title such as this. Although the combat lacks fluidity, and the gameplay needs help in the innovation category, Oogie’s Revenge stays truthful to the film from which it was spawned, and is sure to please fans. Casual games looking for a platforming romp won’t be disappointed in checking this experience out, but a purchase would be overkill for anyone but Tim Burton nuts. In the end, an average platformer, with an awesome license.

Depuis le temps qu'on l'attendait, cette adaptation de L'étrange Noël de Monsieur Jack ne nous déçoit pas. Certes, le titre est loin d'atteindre le génie du long métrage, mais les fans seront satisfaits de voir que Capcom a su exploiter intelligemment une oeuvre qui ne se prêtait pourtant pas vraiment à ce genre d'adaptation. On se retrouve avec un jeu d'action sympathique bien qu'imparfait, boosté par une licence culte qui enrichit à elle seule l'atmosphère générale du titre.

I definitely file this game under, "lost potential." It's not bad, it's just that it should be great. I am a fan of Tim Burton and his cronies, including Danny Elfman, the composer, and I can tell you that I enjoyed this game from the standpoint of the production values. The tunes are excellent and there are plenty of songs to revel in. But this is a videogame after all and the gameplay is simply not good enough to compete with the production values. The developers were unable to match Burton's creativity. This game may have been saved if it were just a point-and-click, interactive movie. Either that or Burton's going to have to take a few years off and learn how to program games so that he can eventually produce the perfect product.

Unfortunately, it gives you teases of diverse gameplay and fun, but mostly you get the same old repetitive gameplay. It was fun at first, but got grindingly boring as I kept playing. I would pass this game on by. It's just not as good as I was hoping it would be.

It's really too bad about how Oogie's Revenge turned out, because were it not for the part where you actually have to play it, fans of the film could have had a conceivably great time with it, as so much attention has been paid to the details of the movie's universe. Between the musical numbers, the detailed character and environmental designs, and the quality voice acting, it all adds up to create a great sequel--that is, a great sequel if it were some kind of animated film, and not a game. The fact of the matter is that very little of Oogie's Revenge plays that well, and the few parts that do aren't enough of a factor to make the game itself recommendable. If you loved The Nightmare Before Christmas, there might be a rental's worth of enjoyment to be found in Oogie's Revenge. If you're anything but a diehard fan, though, then you're better off spending your time elsewhere.

Unpolished gameplay and poor pacing won't ever make for an outstanding product regardless of however endearing the source material may be.

There's plenty of game in Oogie's Revenge, with 24 levels spanning a variety of holiday-themed worlds, and a collection of figurines awarded for excellent performance will keep the completists coming back for more. And once you gain new abilities by upgrading the Soul Robber and transforming into Santa Jack and the Pumpkin King, it takes the edge off of some of the more repetitive gameplay elements. But by the time this starts happening, it's simply too little, too late.

Although it's the pseudo-sequel to the film fans have wanted for years, Oogie's Revenge stacks up against the original about as well as Devil May Cry 2 or Blues Brothers 2000.

The decision on whether this game warrants a purchase is tough. As a fan of the movie, I really love the characters, but the uninspired and repetitive gameplay really hurts it in the long run. Especially when you consider the game is stretched out over 25 levels, it's a bit tough to truck thru the entire thing. There are a few unlockables to be found, some video, production art, etc, but nothing that warrants a second play through, which also hurts when you've spent $50 on it. Once again, I'd say give it a rent, even if you're a huge fan of the movie or all things Burton, before dropping some of that hard earned cash on a pretty lackluster game.

Apparently the Nightmare Before Christmas is somewhat of a cult favorite in Japan and this is clearly the market that was being aimed for – fans of the cult film that may also be casual gamers. But even they will have to admit that the shear amount of repetition squelches most of the fun.

A vaguely solid effort, and strides ahead of most emetic licences, but still crushingly repetitive and disappointingly dull, considering the generally well-regarded imagination of the film. A clichéd and oft-mouthed caveat, but ardent fans of the film will be more tolerant of the game’s retroactive semi-laziness than Joseph Schmoe. Worth enduring a year’s worth of localisation delay for? Not particularly, but the game’s semi-budget price point (inevitably this will also wing its way into the bargain bin sooner rather than later) and, if you’re so inclined, the joy of anything Nightmare Before Crimbo-related (including a host of unlockable art etc.) make it a not completely unappealing purchase.

There's no reason not to recommend Oogie's Revenge to the Nightmare Before Christmas fan base; they're a rabid, Hot Topic-loving group who, despite its flaws, will really enjoy this. Oogie's Revenge isn't a particularly great action game, the story's hackneyed beyond belief, and there are plenty of reasons to be upset about the game's music, easily one of the reasons people are so crazy about the original film. In the end, though, it is a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas, and if this and the GBA game are successful, maybe Capcom will have another go next-gen (just imagine the visuals!). Until then, though, this reviewer waits for the return of the true Pumpkin King.