Game Review: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Title- Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
Platform- Nintendo Wii
Release Date- November 1, 2011
Developer- 1st Playable Productions
Publisher- Red Wagon Productions

Introduction:
Merry Christmas once again my readers. Since I own it, I decided to finally take a look at the other Rankin/Bass Special video game for the Wii produced by Red Wagon. This time however, I decided not to do a video play for it.

Anyway, a year after 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' was made for the Wii, next came 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town' once again based on the Rankin/Bass stop motion special. This time however, it is done by a different developer so maybe it will be better...

Story:
Unlike Rudolph, this game actually follows the special pretty much note for note. There are a few minor changes to make the game flow a bit better but still it follows the movie pretty closely. Never seen it? It's basically supposed to be the origin of Santa Claus.

Gameplay:
It's a basic side scroller, collecting snowflakes and other items. Most of the game is just doing that while bouncing on things and on some levels giving out toys to children.

While doing all this, there are a couple of mini-games spliced in the mix of the main game. One of them is making toys and the other is leaving presents in children's homes.

Graphics:
Eh, still nothing special, looks like a low end PS2 game.

Controls:
Well...if there is anything that Rudolph did better in than this game, it's the controls. The side scrolling part way too sensitive especially when the Winter Wizard gives you power-ups. It's so sensitive that it's just impossible to control.

One of the mini-games is next to impossible to play as well. Since it is a Wii game, the developers made it a point to utilize the motion controls. However, there are times were the game will not pick up your movements. Following the instructions does nothing, so levels I made no progression because of it.

Music:
Eh, just Christmas music, nothing really much to complain about. The only song that stood out is the "Put one foot in Front of the Other" song. (I don't remember what they called it in the credits of the original film).

Additional Comments:
The game surprisingly is kinda lengthy. It's only about an hour which isn't much but still that's about the length of the special itself. I don't know, I guess I figured it was going to be like Rudolph and only be about 12 minuets long. But at the same time, 25 Chapters!

Much like Rudolph, the game is impossible to lose. Getting the snowflakes and giving out toys and collecting letters addressed to him is all optional. As long as you get to the other end of the stage, you win. The only purpose they serve is unlocking things like still shots of the special.

On a number of Stages, the Winter Wizard will be there to give the player power-ups like turning invisible, super speed, and super jump.

The giving out presents mini-game is pointless. You literally just point at the screen and swing your Wiimote around like a wand and the presents magically appear...it's takes literally 3 seconds.

Only one level stands out from the rest which is the song stage. Basically you just let Kris and the Winter Wizard walk on their own as the song goes only getting animals.

After you beat the game you unlock 'Super Santa' which is basically Santa having all the power-ups permanently.

Conclusion:
Well, is it better than Rudolph? I don't know. I will say that this game actually feels like it has more of a point to it unlike Rudolph. But Rudolph also functioned better than this game did. But this also followed the movie, perhaps even too much so, but still more related to the source material that Rudolph was. It's better I guess... but not by much.

OVERALL SCORE: 4.0