The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King
After years of scheming in the privacy of his underground lair, the one and only Boogieman, who we learn is also known as the "king of bugs", has amassed an entire army of worms, slugs, insects and spiders to invade halloweentown and claim it as their own. When he sends Lock, Shock and Barrel out to kidnap the "Pumpkin King" he keeps hearing about, they mistakenly bring back a newcomer to halloweentown: Dr. Finklestein's assistant, Sally.
  "The Pumpkin King" is a beautiful but sometimes frustrating 2-d action title that serves as a prequel to the movie I shouldn't have to describe if you're cool, which I know you are because you're reading my website. As Jack Skellington (accompanied by his ghostly dog, Zero) you must explore Halloweentown, help outs its residents in a series of sidequests, and aquire a variety of special powers to stop Oogie Boogie from ruining Halloween. If you enjoy challenging platformers with massive worlds and tons of secrets to unlock, this game is definitely worth checking out wether or not you're a fan of the film...but we all know you are. Don't lie.
---CHARACTERS---
Jack Skellington
  The king of Halloween! Jack's primary weapon in this game is the short-range "frog gun" - nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath! - though later he'll get ahold of several other weapons. "Bat boomerangs" are his long-range but somewhat weaker attack, "Pumpkin Bombs" blow things up but are limited in number, and the extra-rare "Pumpkin King Elixer" will transform him temporarily into a burning scarecrow! This form can't walk, but can fly through the air as a massive fireball.
The Mayor
  Halloweentown's nameless, two-faced Mayor appears pretty much everywhere, setting up many of your little "missions" or just entertaining us with his babble. He also appears on your status screen at all times to remind you of your current objective.
Zero
  Once retrieved from Jack's house, Zero will follow you through your entire adenture. His nose glows when a hidden item is nearby, and you'll take control of him at three necessary points in the game to play a simplistic "flying" sub-game shown above.
Lock, Shock and Barrel
  Oogie Boogie's demented trick-or-treaters run around in their living bathtub causing all sorts of trouble, but you'll never actually have to fight them. In the final encounter, they drop caged cockroaches in an attempt to slow you down but are never much of a threat. Corner them and they'll open up the way to Oogie's lair.
Dr. Finklestein
  Sally's creator and one of the coolest mad scientists ever, the professor is held captive by the second boss, a giant snake, and will reward you for its defeat by... telling you to go ahead and keep the "bat boomerang" you already picked up midway through his lab. That's the professor for you.
Corpse Kid
  The Corpse Kid's dilemma is that he's stuck inside a "possessed pumpkin". To free him, you must find and defeat the three "evil roots" scattered around the pumpkin patch. Afterwards, you'll be given your first pumpkin bombs.
Werewolf and the Leeches
  Encountered in town square after you escape the pumpkin patch, the werewolf is being drained alive by the normally peaceful "Acid Bath Leeches". As it turns out, Lock, Shock and Barrel have polluted the acid lakes with three "bad blood machines", turning into a quest exactly the same as the one with Corpse Kid, but pretty damn original. Oddly, you'll never encounter any leeches as enemies (I WAS DISAPPOINTED!) but once returned to normal, they'lle grant you their services for the duration of the game::
  By stepping into conveniently located acid pools throughout each stage, friendly little leeches will swarm over Jack and transform him into a gelatinous, crawling puddle; perfect for squeezing through tight passageways.
The Melting Man
  One of my favorite characters from the movie! In the graveyard, you'll find the Mayor toiling over a pot of stew which he DEMANDS you gather ingredients for. Unfortunately, three headless horsemen are wearing the items you need as heads. Find them, defeat them, bring back the "food" (bone-brittle and bog's brains?) and Melting Man will suddenly rise up from the stew. It turns out that Oogie's minions ripped him apart and scattered him throughout the graveyard, and in exchange for reassembling him, he'll equip you with "gum shoes". This allows you to walk up slimy walls.
Igor
  A ridiculously easy rescue. The professor's assistant has been caught by their own security system, and all you have to do is find him, then destroy the single bug one room over that's been eating the control console (and doesn't attack).
The Witches
  On a second trip to the Pumpkin Patch, Jack meets up with the larger witch, brewing your first "Pumpkin King elixir!" All she needs to complete it is a rare variety of mushroom, which she already sent her counterpart off to find. She's not in any danger, but they still make you find her and bring back the mushroom yourself, which is a bigger deal than it sounds because it explodes if you hold it for more than five minutes. Blocking your progress (both ways) are creatures called "noise gnats" and even a boss fight.
The Vampire
  You come upon the vampire babbling on about being a vegetarian and hating the sight of blood. According to the Mayor, he was hit by a mysterious pink gas that caused him to "lose his insanity", and the only cure is to find and destroy its source - which happens to be a gigantic, killer moth. If the same gas hits jack, your controls are temporarily reversed.
The Clown (with the tearaway face!)
  Wandering outside Oogie Boogie's treehouse, the Clown's face has been stolen by bugs. Retrieve it and he will upgrade the power of your pumpkin bombs, which you need in order to access the next stage.
Oogie Boogie
  King of Bugs, the Boogieman himself. I would like to assume everyone reading this has seen the movie, but for the uninitiated, Oogie is actually just the collective conciousness of several million insects, arachnids and the ocassional reptile stuffed into a giant burlap bag, which obviously produces a being with a deep soulful voice and a love of gambling. If you were, in fact, one of the uninitiated, I bet you feel pretty stupid for having lacked such basic scientific knowledge.
---ENEMIES---
The most basic enemies, these big beetles simply run up and punch you.
The most basic enemies, these big beetles simply run up and punch you. Mace-wielding bugs that hide behind walls.
Mace-wielding bugs that hide behind walls.
Mace-wielding bugs that hide behind walls.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
Moths are found in every stage. They fly back and forth, ocassionally dropping poison dust.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
These just fly overhead until they go off-screen. A red variety shoots a single fireball when killed.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
Moths are found in every stage. They fly back and forth, ocassionally dropping poison dust.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
These adorable "Slug Slimers" will strike at you when close.
Baby bugs in carriages that throw bones. The adult charges you if the carriage is destroyed.
Stationary, slobbering worms that hatch from pods.
Stationary, slobbering worms that hatch from pods.
Stationary, slobbering worms that hatch from pods.
Stationary, slobbering worms that hatch from pods.
These bugs jump out of the fireplaces in Jack's house.
These bugs jump out of the fireplaces in Jack's house.
Stationary, slobbering worms that hatch from pods.
Bone hands that swipe at you in the graveyard.
Spiders that live in swinging "chains". Attacking will freeze them into platforms. Roaches live in small heaps that scatter as you approach. Tiny moths that sometimes emerge from item crates.
Stationary, slobbering worms that hatch from pods.
Tiny, hovering gnats.
Sandworm-like bugs that spring out of the ground to spit a single, green arrow.
These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS!
These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS! These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS! These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS!
The green version fires a homing energy ball. The green version fires a homing energy ball. These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS!
Sandworm-like bugs that spring out of the ground to spit a single, green arrow. These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS!
These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS! These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS!
These cool, purple beetles are nothing but dirty old TENTACLE FLASHERS!
If you're in the way when these things flip, they'll cling to Jack's face.
These beetles flip themselves through the air, then explode several seconds later.
Sandworm-like bugs that spring out of the ground to spit a single, green arrow.
Bagworms scatter sticks and spines, or drop their entire bag on your head.
If Jack touches a dung-beetle's ball, he'll get sucked into it and spat out with HEAVY damage. Axe-wielding bugs that hide behind walls.
Axe-wielding bugs that hide behind walls.
These cute little bees drop their explosive pollen-balls, then attack on their own. Technically another obstacle. Spits rolling, spiky balls when your back is turned.
A bagworm after dropping its bag. Awww :( These cute little bees drop their explosive pollen-balls, then attack on their own.
Floating bone-snakes that follow you relentlessly.
Wasp nests that fire whole swarms at you. Swarms from the nests will chase you until you go off-screen.
These cute little bees drop their explosive pollen-balls, then attack on their own. Watch a bone snake for long enough and you'll see the cute little worm controlling it!
Wasp nests that fire whole swarms at you.
Just an obstacle. Takes a lot of damage to destroy.
These bugs stand in place and roll their giant snail shells, which return to them automatically. These beetles throw four kinds of smaller bugs as projectiles, but they're all the same. These beetles throw four kinds of smaller bugs as projectiles, but they're all the same.
Firebreathing, indestructible obstacles.
These bugs stand in place and roll their giant snail shells, which return to them automatically.
Actually just platforms, but some of them explode.
These masks send out identical masks that encircle Jack and slow him down.
These bugs stand in place and roll their giant snail shells, which return to them automatically.
One of the green bug's projectiles. Doesn't even hurt.
One of the green bug's projectiles. Doesn't even hurt.
One of the green bug's projectiles. Thrown very fast. One of the green bug's projectiles. Thrown very fast.
SPECIAL ENEMIES
Boss "Lackeys"
  Somewhat pointless, but cool-looking. One of these multi-eyed centipedes is standing outside every boss battle, doing nothing until destroyed.
Possessed Pumpkin Roots
  Find and destroy three of these to rescue the Corpse Kid. They don't move, but they can fire needles.
Rolling Skulls
  Indestructible, these start out as tiny specks hidden in the graveyard. When you walk by, they begin to grow and roll after you, forcing several Indiana Jones style escapes.
"Bad Blood" Machines
  Three of these float of bubbling acid lakes in halloweentown's lower levels, driving the poor leeches insane. You must destroy them with your pumpkin bombs when they open.
Horsemen
  Another "trio" for you to find and destroy, only these guys can actually attack. Their heads are various clumps of refuse that the Mayor seems to think would make a delicious lunch together.
Noise Gnats
  Obnoxious and iinvincible, but simply darling. Noise Gnats guard several sections of the pumpkin patch, and scan the screen every few moments with a field of ghostly eyes. If you're caught in this field, the gnat will swoop down and carry you all the way back where you started. Why are these eyeball creatures called "noise gnats?" Using your weapons, especially the pumpkin bombs (required to break certain barriers) will shorten the time between their "scans".
The bug in the labs
  Completely harmless unless touched, this lone beetle gnaws at a constrol console in a big, empty room with a conveyer belt floor. All you need to do is shrink it down with a steady stream of attacks until it splatters.
Swarming bug head thingies
  Found only in a single giant egg chamber outside Oogie's lair, these things leap in giant hordes from random eggs and splatter themselves against the ground. A red one, however, takes quite a bit more damage to destroy and is carrying the Clown's face.
OTHER THINGS
  These lazy floating ghosts act as platforms, but must be awoken by hitting a nearby bell before they're solid enough to stand on.
  These other adorable ghosts can carry you up to spiked ceilings where Jack can climb. You must find and attack special tiles to free them.
  Often found only a screen apart, Scarecrows are your save points and electric chairs are how our badass hero recharges his health.
The "possessed pumpkin" after the roots are destroyed.
These generate little, flying clouds of confusion-gas in one area. These floating balls of energy follow you through some parts of the laboratory.
Oogie Boogie statues found throughout his lair.
Hitting these briefly illuminates darkened areas.
Hitting these briefly illuminates darkened areas.
Harmless bugs that act as trampolines
These other snakes will fly you through caves in Oogie's lair.
Flying pumpkin bombs can be stood on, but explode in a few seconds.
These snakes will carry you across acid pools, propelled by your frog gun.
BOSSES
  The first boss is this giant, purple spider. Like all of the bosses - and Oogie himself - it appears to be made of cloth and stuffed with smaller, living bugs. It hangs from the ceiling and attacks either by swinging back and forth, releasing real spiders, or scattering webs that slow you down when touched.
  The giant snake that's captured the Professor, its head attacks from off-screen while you hop around on its coiled tail. Energy it spits can set the floor or different levels of its tail on fire for a brief period of time, and it sometimes spits up flying beetles.
  The locust boss is found in the graveyards. It flies around attempting to pick you up and drop you while smaller locusts hatch out of the ground and fly in a straight line. It ocassionally lands and lays eggs (lovely graphics, there) that hatch into blue flames.
  The boss of the pumpkin patch is this cool, gant pillbug. It sometimes opens up to fling regular-size pillbugs, but mostly attacks by rolling. To defeat it, you must trick it into hitting the winged pumpkin bombs that appear on the battlefield, which knocks it out for a while and leaves it open to damage. When "defeated", hovever, it splits open and reveals its true (???) form...
  Now the biggest boss in the game, the cooler, gianter pillbug is stuffed with pillbugs the size of the one it just hatched out of (which poke through the spit the still smaller "projectile" bugs). Ah, the twisted physics of videogameland. It can only be damaged in the mouth, and the mouth can be reached only by a staircase of deadly pumpkin bombs. Huzzah!
  Source of the evl pink "sanity" gas, this moth has invaded Jack Skellington's own house! Actually the one boss with no visible stitches or living insect minions, this would seem to be the real deal. It flies about the room dripping acid from its wings and breathing gas-clouds.
  When you first meet Oogie Boogie, he simply retreats to the background and lets loose this comical-looking stuffed worm. It attacks by slamming the ground or flying, and its segments can be damaged only when they reveal a pumpkin-face. When all the body segments are destroyed, the head becomes a flying eyeball that fires tinier eyes in all directions.
  Your second meeting and first actual battle with Oogie takes place on his giant roulette wheel. He's invulnerable to damage, and simply runs along the wheel periodically throwing dice. According to where they land, he will either be weakened enough to take damage, let loose giant sawblades that you have to leap over, or summon a giant playing card to fly after you. Once you've weakened him, you're taken to the second, truly final battle.
  For this fight, Oogie rides a styleish bug-cycle, which actually contains Lock, Shock and Barrel (but seems to have a mind of its own as well) who pop out to perform a number of different attacks. Oogie is vulnerable when the cycle is damaged enough to land and close its jaws, but sometimes even the cycle is invincible. Its attacks are best described in an ordered list:


-The bug slams the ground to generate a fast-moving shockwave. Very common.
-A deadly giant "beam" of bugs permanently turns a section of the ground into spikes. Rare.
-Lock appears from the bug's belly and lets loose a barrage of homing firecrackers.
-Barrel pops out of the back with three huge spiked maces if you attack from behind.
-Shock swings a huge, spiked pendulum while the bug floats slowly across the screen.
-A tiny bug swells up and pops in the cycle's mouth to release 2-5 tiny, bouncing balls.

   The last two attacks are always done simultaneously, and the cycle is completely invincible until it reaches the other end of the screen and Shock goes back inside. This is its easiest attack to avoid, but the most obnoxious. Especially when repeated 2-5 times in a row.
The Ending
  Taught to fear Jack Skellington, Oogie Boogie is banished from Halloweentown to lurk forever in his underground hideout, which ties in nicely to the movie. Halloween commences as normal and everyone is happy. Yay!
Assorted screenshots and decor:
Various things from Oogie's lair.
WHO'S SIDE AM I SUPPOSED TO BE ON!?!?
  ...Minigames are given to you by Lock, Shock and Barrel. They're not very exciting, and sadly, the selection screen marks the only appearance of Harlequin Demon in the entire game.
Backgrounds from the caverns beneath Oogie's treehouse and Dr. Finkelstein's laboratory.
The Hydes, the Monster Under the Stairs (a glimpse of him, anyway) and Behemoth never appear during gameplay, but decorate the start menu, collected items list and main status screen, respectively.
All images copyright 2005 Buena Vista Interactive,