Designer(s) Ollie Sykes Series Charmed Publisher In-Fusio Mode Single-player video game | Initial release date 4 January 2003 Developer Fox Interactive Genre Platform game Platform Mobile game | |
 | ||
Release date(s) EU: January 4, 2003
NA: September 18, 2004 | ||
Charmed is a platform video game based on the fourth season of the television series of the same name. The game was developed by In-Fusio and Fox Interactive, and released in January 2003 in Europe, and September 2004 in North America by In-Fusio for mobile phones.
Contents
Introduction
The Source of All Evil, the ruler of the Underworld, has managed to kidnap two of the Charmed Ones and imprisoned them in his treacherous tower with many traps and dangers, and guarded by a host of demons. The third Halliwell must use her unique powers to save her two sisters by fighting the demons and eventually rescuing the remaining Charmed Ones from the Source's grasp.
Development
In early 2003, In-Fusio developed seven Java mobile games, including Charmed, for 123 Multimedia which, via its Gamezilla Multi-Format Platform, was able to co-manage and distribute the games to customers. Gilles Raymond, CEO and founder of In-Fusio, explained that "as the market for mobile games reaches adolescence, In-Fusio is able to effortlessly add-in our customers requests for mobile game content distribution." These games were available in Europe and China and compatible with most mobile phone providers, including Nokia, Motorola, Orange, Vodafone and China Mobile. By the following year, In-Fusio had the largest share of the mobile games market in Europe, and has been described as "the leading mobile game publisher and pioneer in the concept of downloadable games for wireless phones". In April 2004, the company began expanding its service of mobile games to the U.S. and opened its first office in Los Angeles. In September of the same year, Charmed was released in North America.
The decision to make a game based on Charmed is probably due to the popularity of the series and the large fanbase it has attracted. After the game was published, demand for another video game spin-off (and one available on other formats than mobile phones) led to a PetitionSpot for "Make a Charmed video game".
Tie-in with TV series
The game is a spin-off of the popular fantasy drama Charmed. The game is set in the first half of the series' fourth season, featuring the three main characters from the season, with Paige Matthews as an active Charmed One, as opposed to Prudence Halliwell who was killed at the end of the third season. Also featured is the first on-screen incarnation of The Source, the principle villain of the series' third and fourth seasons (and referenced to in the first two seasons). As such, the game's storyline occurs before the Source was vanquished midway through the fourth season in episode "Charmed and Dangerous". Leo Wyatt, the protagonists' whitelighter, also appears on the game splashscreen.
The game uses licensed music from the television series itself.
Gameplay
Charmed is an action platform game with side scrolling where the goal is to climb at the top of each level vanquishing demons, using special powers and bonuses placed along the path. The games places the player in control of one of three main characters: (Piper Halliwell, Phoebe Halliwell or Paige Matthews). The player must defeat a variety of enemies using the chosen character's unique powers, using a combination of fast reactions and strategic thinking to get to the top of the tower and rescue the Charmed Ones. The time is limited to increase the stress of the player. The player must jump from platforms to platforms to reach the final door of each level. There are three parts of the tower, each with 10 levels, resulting in a global gameplay of 30 levels with a dozen of monster types.
Allies
Enemies
Reception
Charmed received a fairly positive reception from consumers. At GameSpot, the game has a user score of 9.2/10 based on 13 votes. At MobyGames, Charmed is given an overall MobyScore of 4.5/5 based on gameplay, graphics and personal enjoyment.
Fox Interactive team
Game Designer
Ollie Sykes
Programmers
Neil Galbraith, Francis C. Bullen
Graphic Artist
Derek Dow, Alan Grier
Producers
Francis C. Bullen, Neil Galbraith, Keith Hawley
Studio Manager
Wendy Ellis
Executive Producer
Mark Greenshields
In-Fusio team
Lead Tester
Emmanuel Cacouault
Game Testers
Olivier Bonnemaison, Pierre Granier
Product Manager
Noëlle Béronie
Producer
Eric Thommerot
Cast
Piper Halliwell
Holly Marie Combs
Phoebe Halliwell
Alyssa Milano
Paige Matthews
Rose McGowan
Leo Wyatt
Brian Krause
Prue Halliwell
Shannen Doherty (uncredited)