November 25, 2005 - It should come as no surprise that the many films of Tim Burton are an acquired taste and generally cater to a niche audience. There is a certain visual style about them, as well as a recurring theme, that makes them instantly recognizable to anyone. Over the years, Burton has also amassed a group of people that he seems to continuously work with and who have helped establish the Burton Brand; namely actor Johnny Depp and composer Danny Elfman. Tim Burton’s vision has also been associated with many works that he hasn’t actually directed but which he has helped produce and/or written, The Nightmare Before Christmas being one of them. Henry Selick may have actually directed the stop-animation classic but the visuals are so striking (in a Burtonesque fashion) that’s it’s impossible not to associate them instantly with Beetle Juice or Edward Scissorhands. This is the impact of Burton’s vision and this is why so many fans repeatedly fill theaters to sample his works. Of the most enduring, The Nightmare Before Christmas figures prominently as one of the most popular titles, but as with any of Burton’s works, you either love it or hate it. This videogame, a sequel of sorts to the movie, plays very much in that fashion as well. Younger children will instantly be drawn to it due to its colorful appeal and musical stylings, but among teens and adults, your appreciation and love for the film will be exponentially representative of your love and appreciation for Oogie’s Revenge.

The story begins shortly after the events from The Nightmare Before Christmas as Jack Skellington, the “holiday leader” of Holloween Town and resident Pumpkin King, is again disappointed by the same-oldness of Halloween. In the hopes of lifting his spirits, Dr. Finkelstein hands Jack a Soul Robber (a green goo-like armband that stretches and whips around grabbing things) with which he can improve Halloween. Happy with his new device, Jack sets out to find new ways to make Halloween new and exciting for the next year. During his absence however, Lock, Shock and Barrel find a way to stitch Jack’s nemesis Oogie Boogie back together again. Bad things ensue and upon Jack’s return, the citizens of Pumpkin Town are too frightened to leave their homes and traps have been set everywhere. Jack will again have to save the day with the help of The Mayor, Zero, Sally and all the established characters that we’ve come to know so far.

The basic premise of the game is to control Jack as he tries to figure out what has happened to Pumpkin Town and then set things right. To accomplish this, Jack will have to fight a lot of monsters, look for some secrets, do menial tasks for several residents and kick Oogie’s butt once and for all. For the most part, controlling Jack is easy and fun, but oftentimes repetitive. You’ll control Jack’s movements with the left analog stick, which works quite well, but Jack also has this annoying habit of sliding/stopping every time his direction changes. This is easy to get used to, but is really annoying none-the-less. The rest of the controls are well implemented and controlling the Soul Robber is not only a breeze, but fun as well. The main application of the Soul Robber is to whip enemies until their life bar (which can be toggled on or off) diminishes and changes color until the monster is dispatched. Other applications include taunting, grabbing and slamming enemies around, creating a protective circle around Jack and also using the Soul Robber as a grapple to attain hidden areas. The Soul Robber can also be charged up for extra powerful attacks and upgraded at the Witches’ Shop after it has been discovered in the game.

The combat in Oogie’s Revenge is never too taxing or challenging, but novel enough to keep you interested throughout the entire adventure. Each type of enemy has his own type of attack and motion and there are many choices available to dispatch each. The game also features a combo system and you’ll find yourself constantly wanting to beat your own best combo records as the game progresses.