Midnight Ramblings

I just have to share this news.

It's become a growing trend among the entertainment conglomerates to make a video game sequel to a cult classic film that they own. Some of the best examples popping to mind right now are the Evil Dead games and Disney's Tron 2.0. Now, another "video game sequel to a cult classic" has been announced, and it's one that's been rumoured for a long time.

the Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge.

Picking up shortly after The Nightmare Before Christmas, Oogie's Revenge tells the tale of the return of Oogie Boogie and his plot to oust Jack Skellington as the King of Halloween. You will play Jack (naturally) as he fights off Oogie's hordes to keep Halloweentown safe. Along the way, Jack will pick up a handy weapon called a "Soul Robber," and make a variety of costume changes; each costume boasting its own unique attacks.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge will be available for PS2 and Xbox, and in stores for Halloween 2005.

and now, Christmas is drawing near. I can tell because there's about 3 dozen different versions of A Christmas Carol on TV. The Guiness Book of World Records says that Sherlock Holmes is the most portrayed character in film, with Dracula being a close second. I tell ya, Ebeneezer Scrooge has to at least be in the top 5.

But, my favourite spin on the saga of Scrooge still has to be the holiday episode of The Real Ghostbusters. While coming back from a job on Christmas eve, the Ghostbusters fall through a timewarp and find themselves in Victorian London. Here, they accidentally capture the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future on their way to teach Scrooge a lesson. So, the 'busters get back to the future, dump the spirits into the Ecto Containment Unit, and that's when all hell breaks loose. Because Scrooge never learned the true meaning of Christmas, his attitude caught on, and now, the Ghostbusters live in a time where Christmas does not exist. So, a solution is hatched. Egon builds a special suit that will allow him to go inside the Ecto Containment Unit to rescue the 3 ghosts, while the other Ghostbusters go back through the timewarp to take the place of the 3 ghosts and teach Scrooge his lesson.

Man, I'd love to see that episode again.

Next Issue...Happy Holidays!