Hollywood mastermind Tim Burton is ready to show the world his vision of Roald Dahl's classic novel. It's the tale of young Charlie Bucket—a poor, wide-eyed kid with a golden heart. For years his family struggles to survive, subsisting on meals of cabbage soup and stale bread. Despite the meager surroundings, Charlie and his family are a happy bunch. He dreams nightly of the wonders tucked inside the magical candy-maker's palace just outside his bedroom window. Down the road sits the mysterious Wonka chocolate factory, owned by the eccentric recluse Willy Wonka. Unbeknownst to Charlie, he'll soon get his chance to explore its fantastic halls …
I spent some time playing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the game adaptation of Burton's film. Read on and take a glimpse into the wacky and wondrous world of Willy Wonka.
Take the Money and Run The game begins as Charlie wanders the snow-covered streets outside his humble abode. He happens across a pleasant surprise—a $10 bill—fluttering in the icy wind. At this point, grab the controls and chase the nimble currency through a series of alleyways, up narrow fire escapes, and across rooftops.
The game's mechanics are not unlike other platformers: Move Charlie with a tilt of the left thumbstick and the camera view with the right. Jump to reach high objects, and use certain environmental items to your advantage. Right off the bat, shuttle boxes under a fire escape to keep pace with the flying bill. The series of quick-stacking puzzles is simple enough for young players to grasp, but spices up the "run and jump" gameplay with more involved interaction.
After catching up with the elusive cash you tumble down a chimney. At this point, the game switches to kart-racer mode, whizzing down the streets at breakneck speed atop a garbage can lid. Sparks shower into the air as you whip through town, dodging stray dust bins and trucks. Moments later, the thrill ride is over as you nab your elusive prey. After a few cutscenes, Charlie is whisked inside the Wonka factory for some hardcore platforming action.
Chocolate covered platform action.
Sweet Delight The interior of the Wonka compound is brightly colored and emanates a whimsical quality. Various plants and bits of machinery dot the landscape, bisected by a raging chocolate river. One of Charlie's less modest tour-goers—a chubby brat by the name of Augustus Gloop—is wedged firmly inside a clear pipe rising from the center of the cocoa stream. The boy's mammoth girth blocks the flow of the dark, sweet liquid, and it's Charlie's job to free him.
Start by wandering around the hilly environment and look at the odd sights. Upon encountering an Oompa-Loompa (one of Wonka's stout helpers), a simple tap of the control pad is all it takes to get the little guy to follow you around. Per Mr. Wonka's onscreen instructions, seek out the assistance of a pair of Oompa-Loompas to help Augustus out of his bind. After finding your men, a brief cutscene reveals the next destination—the river pumps. Lead the group down a secret ramp and give them their work orders with another press of the control pad. Seconds later, the little guys are hopping up and down on the pump's bellows, gradually building pressure in the pipeline. You can probably imagine what happens next …
Sliding through the streets.
Flavor Pack In the short time that I roamed the environments of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I noticed a variety of different gameplay mechanics at work. Over the span of an hour, I raced through cobblestone streets, climbed buildings, and managed a group of midgets. It's fair to expect some very interesting things from this visually impressive platformer. Check back for additional coverage, including game tips and details on the film.
