First off, I'll get the bad news out of the way. Graphically this game isn't going to wow anyone. The graphics are adequate and never go beyond that. The sound and music is instantly forgettable. The characters are saccharine cute, uninspired and half of them make weird grunting noises like a puppy with a bad case of painful gas. Hardcore gamers will likely dismiss this game as a throw-away cutsie/kiddie title. I wouldn't blame them, but that would be their loss. On a side note, if you're a fan of Happy Tree Friends, the characters bear a striking resemblance... except they are block-shaped.
The good news is that just about everything else in this game is very well designed and fun. To truly grasp how the gameplay works you have to see it in action, but I'll try to describe it as best I can. The premise of this physics-based puzzle game is that each level will have a challenge, such as destroy every gem block or carefully unstack a pile of rectangular blocks much like you would as if you were playing Jenga. Some levels will have you throwing tennis balls, bombs, or bowling balls at to interact with the level while others may have you spraying fire hoses and blasting things with lasers. Some levels encourage you to operate with delicate precision and others encourage reckless, destructive behavior. Overall, the game has a good balance. The gameplay is varied and the use of the Wii controls is very impressive (with one minor exception being the light-gun style mini-games which are very rare). This game really could have been terrible. Too many developers would have slapped some half-baked control scheme onto this game and called it good, but this is one of those rare games where the developer obviously put a lot of thought into the control.
I haven't played multi-player very much, but what I've played is very fun and enjoyable. Single player is addictive, so much so that I was late to a dinner meeting because my friends kept urging me to check out the next level. Most of the levels are clever and leave the player with a great sense of accomplishment when completed. After every five or six levels a new feature or function is opened up, which keeps the gameplay from getting stale. From what I can tell there are hundreds of levels built into the game PLUS the game includes a full featured level editor allows you to modify existing levels and create your own in addition to being able to share your creations with others on the internet.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I know the first thing that almost prevented me from buying this game was the $ price tag. Now let me just say that the game is worth every penny whether you're a casual or hardcore gamer. I myself am a hardcore gamer and usually pass over casual games like Boom Blox, but it's incredibly addicting.The basic idea of the game is you throw, grab, or whip around balls, blocks, or whatever to accomplish whatever goal is given to you, either it be pull out the blocks without splattering the cow on the ground or destroy everything as quickly as possible. You do this with the Wii remote (nunchuck isn't required for most of the game but helps with precise camera movement) by pressing A and throwing or grabbing. Every movement with the remote is picked up very precisely and feels like you're in total control. Combine this with the Havok physics engine (the most recent physics engine released) and the game is incredibly accurate and realistic.
The graphics themselves aren't top notch, but they're aren't horrible either. The only frame rate drops are when you're creating your own levels and you place too many objects on the screen where the physics engine can't handle every item because of the Wii's horsepower.
The best part of the game is located in the multiplayer component. Basically it's a combination or everything in the single player mode along with a Jenga-like mode which is the best use of the WiiMote yet. Every movement is picked up perfectly and you can't help but taunt your fellow players to accidentally jerk their hand and topple whatever they're doing.
Not enough levels for you? Create infinite numbers of levels with the editor. I cannot delve too deep into this since I've just begun messing around with the mode, but this is definitely where a bulk of the fun is. combine it with the fact that you can send your levels to Wii friends via WiiConnect24 and you're all set.
Overall, unless you have friends to play the game with, the single player levels may grow dry unless you enjoy building your own, but that shortcoming cannot stop me from giving this game 5 stars just because of the amount of material within the game. A+ in my book.
Best Deals for Boom Blox - Nintendo Wii
No, the title isn't hyperbole. I do honestly believe this is the best Wii title I've purchased. Granted, I do not own No More Heroes, Metroid Prime 3, or Zelda: Twilight Princess but I do have all the rest of the so-called "best" Wii games (Super Mario Galaxy, Zack and Wiki, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Okami, etc.). Those other games aren't bad, not by a long shot I've loved them all they just don't have the downright pure fun factor that Boom Blox does.Boom Blox is astounding in its simplistic design yet addictive nature. This is a game all ages can enjoy. It has decent colorful graphics, nice relaxing music, and tons of puzzles to solve. While some puzzles aren't as fun or enjoyable as others it is still never a chore to finish any portion of this game. I have yet to even try the multiplayer or create-a-puzzle modes, but after having just played most of the single player I doubt my opinion of this game could get any higher.
Is it a technical marvel? No. Is it high action super polished AAA? No. Is it the most fun I've had playing the Wii? YES.
This game has made me believe my Wii purchase was not in vain and that there can be good inventive games that will tear me from my Xbox 360.
Honest reviews on Boom Blox - Nintendo Wii
Overall, the game was alright, but certainly had several flaws.Graphics: Graphically, the game is cute. In general, the graphics are good, cutsie, and intended to be on lines with the wii mii's as far as being smoothmapped and cartoony. For what the game is, you get what you need out of the graphics.
Gameplay: For those who are not aware of exactly what boomblox is, Boomblox is simply an assortment of minigames on lines with Rayman: RR (replacing grossness and strangeness with cuteness). Each minigame is build on blocks, which take on a variety of shapes and sizes. The games are sorted in easy to follow menus. The variety of the games follow a few "trends". Either you toss bombs at structures or people to blow them up, toss tennis balls or the slightly larger bowling balls to knock down structures, or pull blox out of the structure. Some games are time based, others are point based, others are based on using the least amount of turns to knock down everything. The games are fun, and range from Jenga Like games, to protect the castle type games, to a blox shooter. There are essential 4 different types of themed backgrounds, such as jungle and med evil castle. The games are fun and can be addicting, especially if you are determined to get a gold in each game. When you start, nothing is available and everything must be unlocked, a bronze is the minimum required to do as such. Many of the games are really just puzzles, where you try to figure out the weak spot(s) that enable you to knock down everything or pull out everything in the given time. Most of the games are really simple to do, and anyone teen level and higher will figure out most of the puzzles instantly. Occasionally, you will find one that you just can't figure it out. Other times, your success has to do with more dumb luck (as to where the explosion goes) than actual skill.
Story: The game does actually have a story. In adventure mode, you face 4 of these stories, they consist of a small cartoon scene from beginning to end that roughly explain why your doing what you are doing with the blocks. It is weak in story, and really just done for a laugh.
Multiplayer: It consists of a pretty good multiplayer. People can verse each other for the best score, or work together to get the best metal. It is one of the main reasons to get this game in my opinion, as it has several games that can be played easily as a group.
Overall: The game is a fun game, potentially addictive, and best played with a group or party. It is fun for kids. The reason it scores a 3 instead of a 5, is that it really just doesn't have much to it. The story mode is lacking, and is just loosely done as a joke more than for a reason. The games are limited, and most of them are similar, not really offering much in the ways of variety. The single player has absolutely no re playability, once you solve the puzzle, there is little point in replaying. The one exception is the save the castle modes, where you try to protect your jewels from oncoming attackers. But most of them are so easy you will get a gold on the first try. Multiplayer has a little more re playability, but since levels don't change, once you complete one, there is very little point in returning to it. This game has tons of unlockables, since just about everything needs to be unlocked on every level, including a large amount of the pieces you can put in the 'build it your own' mode. However, it is a simple and easy game, and once your done playing and beating all the levels(maybe a 10 hour endeavor assuming you don't get stuck for 2 hours on a specific level)there is nothing else to the game to keep you interested.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Boom Blox - Nintendo Wii
I'll keep it simple. Much like this game. If you are looking for a game that is fun and easy to pick while still maintaining that in-depth, mind mashing, just-one-more-game-feeling, this is that game. Think of it this way: Single player mode lures you into the game by starting you off with simple puzzles. Puzzles that many people will not only find easy to do, but rewarding to see solved as pieces go flying about in a spectacular true physical display of awesomeness. You'll feel good about your success. You'll love the little gold medal. And you'll want to play more. And that's where it gets you. The challenges increase. The puzzles get harder and soon you'll find yourself judging each puzzle with a strict eye, analyzing each structure for the weakest point or the perfect spot where the nice gentle lob of a bowling ball with bring the whole structure down with an elegant explosion. You will want that gold medal--and trust me, this game in later levels will make you work for it.That aside--the shear number of levels for single player is astounding. You'll be at this for a while. And the best part is--you won't mind. You'll find yourself every day going back to this game just to finish off more and more of this monster. Honing your skills. Perfecting your shots. Like an addict of crossword puzzles, you'll desire the gratification of "beating" the puzzle. It's fantastic feeling.
As for multi-player. Well, get ready to gather with some friends. Play against each other. Strike with strategy in mind. Or play together. Your choice. But the number of options in this mode will lend itself to hours upon hours of unpredictable play. And that my friends is one of the main reasons to own a Wii. Nothing says Wii like friends gathered around vying for ultimate victory at the expense of their peers. Every move by your opponents, even those made by you, can lead to ultimate victory or you giving the game away to the lucky mug who will take advantage of you smashing the structure "just enough" to let him/her bring it down with a gentle toss.
So here is the bottom line. Buy it. Play it. Thank me.
No comments:
Post a Comment