Alice in Wonderland (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

It's clear that the Hollywood movie machine has all but run out of original ideas and, as with previous years, this summer will see yet another catalogue of remakes and sequels. If you happen to be one of the more respected directors you can get around things by simply 're-imagining' an old story and that's just what Tim Burton has done with Disney's classic Alice in Wonderland. French developers Etranges Libellules have taken a similar approach to the DS version and rather than producing a game which heavily relies on the film as its inspiration, they have instead done their very own 're-imagining'.

Gameplay

If you've seen the movie then you'll find that this DS version follows its basic plot, with Alice the focus of everyone's attentions as she is charged with saving Underland from the evil Jabberwocky. You don't actually control Alice herself, but rather a handful of chaperones who must guide her through the various levels and keep her from harm. This approach to the gaming allows for some intriguing puzzles but Wonderland has its fair share of combat too.

You begin by playing the White Rabbit searching for the other characters and pieces of the map and it's only by locating these you'll be able to travel around Underland because, in this strange land, if you don't have the required piece of the map then the area simply doesn't exist, although you can swap the sections around altering the whole landscape.

Each of the characters has their own unique set of powers. The White Rabbit can control time which comes in vary handy during the first few levels, the Cheshire Cat can make objects appear and disappear whilst the Caterpillar controls gravity and can bridge gaps. Finally there's the Hatter who allows you to see the whole world from a completely different perspective but what else would you expect from this oddball inhabitant? Although this may sound complicated, it's not. You can check your objectives (with your journal and map) and all the puzzles are indicated with a question mark. Your main objective being to locate the various amour pieces (and sword) so Alice can defeat the Jabberwocky at the game's finale. Sadly, this is one of the game's drawbacks and along with the lack of a Multiplayer; it means there's little reason to revisit the game once you've completed it.

Controls

Other than using the 'd-pad' or buttons to activate one of the characters many special abilities, it's all stylus driven.

Graphics

We've already mentioned that the developers take a different direction from the film's lush visuals but the results are very pleasing indeed. The game plays out in 3D (even though it appears to be 2D) and everything from the main characters to the environments is cleverly designed, taking full advantage of the DS's strengths. This allows for some impressive visual effects throughout the levels, including giving the Hatter the ability to actually flip the gaming area around. The animation is also wonderful and the minimalist character designs means they display some wonderful personality traits, even with the DS's tiny screen.

Sound

Throughout your adventure you'll be treated to a rather wonderful orchestral score, which perfectly suits the vast, empty landscapes. The sound effects also do their job and while there's little in the way of voice acting, it's difficult to miss Alice as she screams should you leave her too far behind.

Dual screen

Your whole experience here requires the stylus and, while there's the odd problem with some of the characters, the majority of the control is both intuitive and responsive. Better still the first level is a 'forced' tutorial so rather than having loads of characters and controls to deal with from the start, you will, instead, be drip-fed them as the game progresses. The microphone is also used to blow over cards and even fill powerboat sails. It's all simple stuff, but it's good to see this underused element of the DS integrated into gameplay.

Final comments

While Alice in Wonderland is unlikely to challenge your average hard-core gamer, there's more than enough here to entertain younger fans of the movie and it's refreshing to see the genre treated with a little more care and respect than we've come to expect from tie-ins. Most of the praise here is aimed at the French developers who have produced a unique gaming experience that utilizes both the strengths of the DS and the talents of the team's designers. It's early in the year but given the quality on show here this is surely a contender for one of the best DS games of 2010.

Pro: Looks Incredible, Unique, Engaging Gameplay.
Con: Some Control Issues, Little Replay Value.
Final score: 8.3

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