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How Metascores Are Calculated
47
Alone in the Dark
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Step inside the magical world of Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory. Based on the feature film directed by Tim Burton and the classic Roald Dahl book, the game allows players to explore deep inside the factory and play the beloved story as Charlie Bucket. Find a Golden Ticket and, along with four other children, win a personal tour of Willy Wonka's factory guided by the notorious and reclusive candy-maker himself. Embark on a fantastic adventure exploring the many extraordinary environments of the factory, including some from the book that do not appear in the film. Discover what happens after the other children, greed-driven and unrestrained, wreak havoc throughout the factory. Then save the chocolate factory from their destruction by solving mystifying puzzles and using inventive candy powers. By helping the Oompa-Loompas and restoring order to the factory, Charlie can earn the respect of Willy Wonka and win an unexpected prize. Acquire incredible abilities by using fantastic new candies in order to save the factory. Stop the "rotten" children from causing chaos and destruction throughout the candy factory. Repair huge, bizarre candy-making machines by solving puzzles and enlisting the help of the Oompa-Loompas. Explore numerous rooms and environments inside Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. [Global Star]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 60
BonusStage
It follows the beloved storyline with a wonderful cinematic flair, top-notch audio design, colorful yet simple graphics and a basic set of gameplay mechanics. However, a lacking of innovation and overall gameplay and graphical polish stunt the game’s full potential and leave it as a just-above-average title only fans of the material and/or genre will find any value in.
 50
GameZone
Charlie and the Boring Factory. It's hard to make a fun game based around these kinds of properties, but that doesn't justify bad gameplay, or a lack thereof.
47
Next Level Gaming
With all of the gameplay and control issues, the game simply isn’t any fun.
45
PSM Magazine
The surreal visuals occasionally impress and the voice acting is fair (no Depp though), but there's too little fun. [Oct 2005, p.94]
45
Play Magazine
A bare-bones run-of-the-mill 3D puzzle-actioner saturated with eye-bleeding color and overflowing with tired devices and clunky gameplay. [Sept 2005, p.56]
45
Game Informer
This has to be one of the worst games I've had the displeasure of playing in quite some time. [Sept 2005, p.100]
45
IC-Games
Started with brilliant presentation and gameplay and deteriorated from that point on. Although the novel twist of trying to save the ‘bad’ kids does add something for fans of the book, they’ll be advised to rent this title before the sugar sweet memories turn into a sour aftertaste after shelling out for this lacklustre platformer.
45
IGN
It could have played like a slimmed down version of Pikmin crossed with quirky, yet solid platformer elements. Unfortunately, bad control and poor execution ruin the experience.
41
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Budget release or no, this is a pretty disappointing effort and a waste of time for most.
40
GameSpot
This factory comes off more like a real industrial complex than the fantastic playground of a fop who makes candy with magical midgets.
40
AceGamez
Kids aren't going to want to rescue the bad guys of the movie, kids want to explore the factory, swim in the chocolate lakes and hijack cars.
40
DarkStation
One of the most celebrated children's tale turns out as a dreadful platformer, sporting way too many flaws to be a remotely fun game.
30
1UP
As I painfully maneuvered my Charlie from room to room, I grew more and more desperate in my attempt to find redeeming qualities in the game.
30
Cheat Code Central
Atrocious. And not "atrociously good fun" either. Simply atrocious. It's like biting into an Oh Henry and discovering that it is indeed, a big fat solid chunk of stanky human dung and undigested peanuts.
30
Gamestyle
The game play is too repetitive and a combination of poor controls and poor visuals make it frustrating to complete the levels. It's hard to imagine many people, whatever their ages, having the supreme patience to actually sit through more than a few hours of this game.
20
VideoGamesLife
It's clear that the game is aimed at a younger audience, but this is no excuse for repetitive levels, broken controls, lazy design and releasing a game that's so frustrating, it'll make you turn off the console in disgust.
20
EuroGamer
Even if you loved the film, even if gullible children are tearfully begging you to buy them this game, even if there's been a nuclear holocaust and the only games to survive are this and "Army Men: Green Rogue"; please, just say No.
20
Loaded Inc
Give this to your kids only if you hate them, or want them to stop gaming, or feel like being asked how to solve "the next bit" time and again. Life’s too short. Play something else.
16
Gaming Age
The product just feels unfinished, likely rushed to launch alongside the film, lacking the polish and additional development time that would have made this a worthwhile experience.
10
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Allowing your kid to play this game is considered child abuse in 29 states. [Oct 2005, p.102]
5
Gamers Europe
So to sum up – it looks like a homebrew net Yaroze demo, sounds worse than a knackered monophonic mobile phone with the Crazy Frog ring tone on it, moves with all the fluidity and beauty of a giraffe trying to control a pedalo and is so shatteringly tedious and yawn-inducing you could mistakenly think you’ve contracted narcolepsy while playing it.
Ben F. gave it a6: Paige gave it a1: Tony W. gave it a1: Roberto L. gave it a1: Pete S. gave it a10: Chris M. gave it a5: John R. gave it a9: |
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