I've played both and went for a Jurassic Park over Willy Wonka. I logged a good hour with these two games literally side-by-side. Even though I own and love JJP and WW is my favorite movie of all time. There were just a few dealbreakers for me with WW. Before I get to them, it is worth noting that WW feels very well made, is exceptionally fun and has many great things going for it that will make its owners very happy. Here's why I passed:
1. I was exceptionally disappointed with the artwork and layout in person. I like when the playfield feels like a diorama and everything inside feels like its there for a reason. WW could have done this amazingly. Instead, its like a bunch of WW themed merchandise was dropped on the playfield without cohesiveness. In fact, the entire upper left quadrant is just a mess of clear plastic and steel. Why isn't that a factory? Glass elevator? Chocolate tube ramp? Gobbstopper machine? The scary chocolate river tunnel? The first edible candy room? So many ways to make great effects and an intentional layout. But instead it's a standard mini TV a giant out-of-scale gobstopper and a plastic undiscernable something on top of the ramps. I just didn't get it. It didn't make me feel like I was in exploring the factory. JP2 is the exact opposite in this regard.
2. The silliness is very appropriate but it reminds me too much of WOZ (which I own). In a way. It's almost too light hearted. WW had darker moments that I feel wasn't captured right and from a pinball standpoint, is almost like a revamp of WOZ. In fact, WOZ feels a bit darker than WW at times.
3. The rules. While this can change, I just didn't feel the game was purposeful enough. What is the real goal of getting all these points? I felt like I was just lighting things up. Things were more working in parellel than linear. (Whereas WOZ was a good mix of that, this felt too flat to me).
The story and my goals weren't cohesive to me.
Now JP2 has it's problems, at least one major one (see 4). But I can deal with them:
1. Many non RGB lights. WW has amazing light shows. JP2's main playfield is pretty much fixed colors. It severely darkens the game and makes it harder to follow certain instructions and game animations (like the missle). I justify this away as its a darker theme so the lighting doesn't need that level of vibrancy. But it is missed.
2. It takes place after the movie. A terrible decision in my mind. I want to find these dinosaurs and escape them. But it sort of explains away some weirdness with missles and such that weren't in the movie. It also makes the experience a little more personal to me and not a bad rehash. It also partially explains not getting appropriate sound clips from the movie.
3. I would have liked some "real" fake plants and not just pictures of a jungle and leaves.
4. The voice acting is inexcusable.
I think each have serious downsides to consider but depending on what bothered me the least, I chose JP2.
Now, from a very casual perspective, I was continually drawn to WW for like 1 game, then switch away. (WW and JP2 we're next to each other and the original JP was also there). I'd play WW casually for 1 or 2 games. Then switch over to JP2 for 4 or 5 games and it wasn't enough JP2. I even played the original JP more than WW that day. WW was a lot of fun, but JP2 just kept me captured more.
And lastly..... This was WW against JP2 Pro. The premium is likely going to be even better with the interactive trex.
Orlando, FL
