Tim Burton-inspired Alice in Wonderland game announced

Tim Burton's take on the Alice in Wonderland universe is soon coming to theaters, and with that French developer Etranges Libellules has taken up the helm in a few video games versions of the new film.

Mobile game editions will launch later this year, while Wii, DS, and PC versions will coincide with the theatrical release eary 2010.

"These games fully capture the magnificent and whimsical world of Underland while experiencing key moments from the film,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “More than just a retelling of the movie, Alice in Wonderland introduces fans to an entirely new style of innovative gameplay designed to challenge the puzzle solving skills of older players while making the adventures accessible and enjoyable for the younger crowd. Innovative gameplay and distinct artistic styles on each platform gives players a range of unique and engaging experiences."

The game sees you journeying through Underland, unexpectedly enough (it's not clear if this is the universe created by another fantasy author, C.S. Lewis, for the Narnia series), the goal being to restore the world to Wonderland. Familiar faces will still be present though; you'll be able to call on the likes of the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat for help in avoiding traps and solving puzzles.

Each supporting character will have special abilities; for instance, the Mad Hatter can "help Alice alter her perception of Underland and take advantage of optical illusions to open up places in the world the player alone would not have noticed" (we've all been there), while the Cat can make himself and objects appear and dissapear, leading the way to the next area. Combining the abilities is a featured noted as well.

In terms of foes, the Red Queen and her army are of course present, as is the Jabberwocky.

Naturally, the Wii and PC versions will be different from the others, seemingly following the film's storyline closely, while the handheld versions will only loosely be based on it. The former will feature an upgradeable combat system -- you'll collect "impossible ideas", allowing you to replay stages and unlock the secrets of Underland.

The DS edition will see you "combatting the legions of the Red Queen's Army", creating your own path through the same universe using an oracle. An "innovative art style unique to the platform" is boasted, an exclusive playable character, and similar character abilities to the other versions. DSi owners will get a treat: using the camera to detect colours mapped to unlockable content upon completion of certain tasks.

Our take: could be pretty good, actually. Though if it turns out to be another cash-in bomb, there's always American McGee's Alice and its forthcoming sequel.