XB Charlie and the Chocolate Factory review:4 stars (Very Excellent Game) - In "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" you play as Charlie Bucket as he, with the help of the Oompa Loompas, has to rescue each of the naughty children from a horrible fate. The game design is really beautiful with a lot of detail put into each room and characters. The story is told by storybook like cut out characters that move and talk, which at first seems strange but you get used to it, but the opening and end story is computer animation which the characters look like something out of "Nightmare Before Christmas", not to say that the storybook look of the in-between stories is bad, it's just that they should have made each in between story CG.

In game play, you must solve a series of puzzles with the help of the Oompa Loompas to help rescue the children. Sometimes the puzzles are easy but every so often, some of the puzzles are challengingly confusing and you find your self stuck on a puzzle for thirty minutes trying to figure out what to do next. Overall, the game play is fun. The Oompa Loompas are hilarious and really fun to work with! When they are standing still, they begin to do push ups to pass the time. This game is a lot like the Lemmings or Pikmin as in you have to get them to do things to solve puzzles. Grandpa Joe also helps, press a button on your controller (depending on which system you have) and he gives you advice on how to solve the puzzles if you get stuck.

You use candy powers during game play; you throw Everlasting Gobstoppers at your enemies. You use candy balloons to reach high places; even Fizzy Lifting Drinks make it on to this game as you use it to fly! And belch to come down of course.

The game does have a few bugs. When you sometimes tell an Oompa Loompa to do something, it will begin to run in circles or get stuck behind something, but a gentle nudge or follow command will fix that problem, it's not a big deal at all.

The characters are great; sadly Johnny Depp doesn't appear on this game as Mr. Wonka, but the Charlie from the movie does talk for Charlie on this game. James Taylor, doubtful if it really is the singer James Taylor, does a good job in Depp's place as Wonka, almost identical voice of Wonka from the movie.

The rooms and scenery in this game are amazingly detail and at times very beautiful, it is very exciting to actually walk through the Chocolate Room. I loved it.

At the end of the game, after the Mike Teavee stage, you are given a choice to either use the elevator to go up and out and end the game right there, or you can help Willy Wonka collect secret ingredients in three rooms. What you have to do is collect golden W's and when you collect them all the game will end, but you will also have unlocked a bonus menu screen. In it, all of the stories you have seen will be available to watch without having to play through it again. Also, in the bonus menu screen you also unlock two trailers for the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and a photo gallery for the new movie. I recommend doing this, movie trailers are cool and collecting the golden W's is easy.

Overall, don't believe the reviews that say this game is bad, it's not. Maybe because I'm a huge fan of the book and both movies so naturally I would love the game. It really is the next best thing to being there yourself. So if you love the story and want something sweet; take a bite out of this game, but if you're not a fan it may for some reason taste sour, but I don't see why. I had fun with this game; after all, it's like being a kid in a candy store.
4 stars (A game of pure imagination ....) - I am a grown man. I have always enjoyed the first Willy Wonka movie. I have yet to see the new movie. But, if it's anything like this game, it's not all that different. A very similar plotline gives us older folks (35) a chance to sort of exist inside the story we grew up with. But, the gameplay experience is much too simplistic for an adult. Shame. The movie's always kind of been for the adults really. I decided to play it with my son. Now, there was an enjoyable experience. Extremely colorful, and chocked full of mini games. The Factory is alive with things to see and do. A large assortment of logical puzzles as well as quick button mashing games. Quite long as well. It is entertaining. But, Johnny Depp is not doing the voiceover for Willy Wonka. You'll be surprised to hear that it is James Taylor. For us old fogies, he's an incredible singer from thousands of years ago ;-). You really can't go wrong with this, though. It's very magical.
XB Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Features:
Video Games
Xbox (x box)
Microsoft
Action
Adventure
XBox
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)

XB Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the Video Game version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 39.99USD.