Alice In Wonderland is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, the movie is sure to be one of the big success stories of 2010. Of course, as we all know, any blockbuster movie needs an accompanying tie-in game. Alice In Wonderland is no exception and Disney Interactive has created what looks to be a very exciting offering for the Nintendo DS.
EF has been lucky enough to be able to preview the game and we can tell you that you’re in for a treat. Anyone expecting the usual licensed title cash-in can breathe a sigh of relief as Alice In Wonderland is very different to what you’ll be expecting. Disney Interactive has shied away from trying to recreate Burton’s visuals and instead has taken a more stripped back and almost gothic approach. The characters look hand-drawn and the environments, for the most part, are mostly devoid of colour. The menace of the Underworld has truly been captured.
In terms of gameplay, Alice In Wonderland utilises the DS touch-screen admirably. Using the stylus you can direct McTwisp (the white rabbit) around the environments to explore what’s on offer and solve puzzles. With Alice in tow – you can choose to let her follow you or make her stay put – you soon stumble across a multitude of puzzles that require you to use your brain and your logic. Often you have to use McTwisp to help Alice get around and she’s prone to being targeted by vortexes and Red Knights who try to steal her away.
Disney Interactive has worked hard to ensure that Alice In Wonderland is a fully interactive experience. Alongside the stylus control system, there are nice touches that make the game even more interactive. You can pinpoint areas to remember on the map, use a combination of the buttons and the stylus to pause, fast-forward and rewind time and tap on items on the screen to interact. There’s also a fairly simple battle system that allows you to move the stylus in a variety of ways to carry out attacks.
Based on the preview we’ve seen Alice In Wonderland looks to be a strong title for the DS. With a fantastic combination of puzzles, action and great visuals, the game is one of the most stylish and exciting that we’ve seen on the DS since Scribblenauts. Check back on EF soon for our full review of the game.
