Archive for the “Wii Reviews” Category

About an hour into Conduit 2 it becomes increasingly clear that this Wii shooter series is suffering from a bit of an identity crisis. While the 2009 original had a more serious alien invasion vibe along with a straight-laced protagonist, that same hero is now slinging PG-rated, Duke Nukem-aping one-liners within a goofy storyline that borders on nonsensical garbage. When it finally sinks in that Jon St. John – the voice behind Duke himself – has replaced Michael Ford’s voice actor from the original game, those groan-inducing zingers quickly transform from seeming unnecessary to feeling totally desperate…

At first glance, Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident looks like another bit of casual flotsam in a sea of Wii shovelware, which is a shame, because behind its dull box art and a title that makes it sound like a Wii port of some bargain bin PC dud, it’s actually a quality game… 

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

Top Spin 4 on the Wii is nothing short of a disaster in terms of matching what EA did back in 2009. The controls are sloppy and inaccurate, there’s a baffling lack of MotionPlus support, no online multiplayer and the Career Mode can’t offer the depth and variety of the HD cousins. In short, Top Spin 4 Wii is an afterthought meted out to the console with the largest install base in the hopes of grabbing a few extra sold copies while the real effort went to the other platforms…

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

Half the fun of the LEGO games is seeing how they’ll render new movie universes. While combining a film series based on a ride with a videogame series based on toys might sound like a recipe for the biggest sellout this side of a Gaga concert, the LEGO series wards off cynicism by the boatful. That is, unless you’re hoping for a LEGO game you haven’t already played…

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

Even though it’s the fifth of the series, Virtua Tennis 4 is - for better or worse depending on your affection for Sega’s tennis games - still very much what we remember playing in the arcade ten years ago. It relies on simple, arcadey mechanics rather than the simulation-based play 2K’s Top Spin series is famous for. In fact, you only really need four buttons (up from VT2009’s three!), a joystick, and a basic understanding of geometry to feel like a master. It’s a system that has transcended the sport, appealing even to those out there who think Federer is that guy who played for the Red Wings. That’s all well and good, but fans are eventually going to start expecting new and exciting things. Too bad VT4 isn’t different enough to warrant a purchase, and due to its slower and less responsive gameplay, actually causes us to worry about where the franchise is headed…

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

What’s the coolest thing about playing as the Transformers? If you said “driving around as a car and never ever being a robot” then you probably work for Activision. That’s right folks: in Dark of the Moon - Stealth Force Edition for the Wii you never play as Transformers in robot form. So what do you do? Well you kinda just drive around shooting stuff and try really, really hard not to die… …

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

Even though it’s the fifth of the series, Virtua Tennis 4 is - for better or worse depending on your affection for Sega’s tennis games - still very much what we remember playing in the arcade ten years ago. It relies on simple, arcadey mechanics rather than the simulation-based play 2K’s Top Spin series is famous for. In fact, you only really need four buttons (up from VT2009’s three!), a joystick, and a basic understanding of geometry to feel like a master. It’s a system that has transcended the sport, appealing even to those out there who think Federer is that guy who played for the Red Wings. That’s all well and good, but fans are eventually going to start expecting new and exciting things. Too bad VT4 isn’t different enough to warrant a purchase, and due to its slower and less responsive gameplay, actually causes us to worry about where the franchise is headed… …

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

Half the fun of the LEGO games is seeing how they’ll render new movie universes. While combining a film series based on a ride with a videogame series based on toys might sound like a recipe for the biggest sellout this side of a Gaga concert, the LEGO series wards off cynicism by the boatful. That is, unless you’re hoping for a LEGO game you haven’t already played… …

Above: 360/PS3 screenshot

Top Spin 4 on the Wii is nothing short of a disaster in terms of matching what EA did back in 2009. The controls are sloppy and inaccurate, there’s a baffling lack of MotionPlus support, no online multiplayer and the Career Mode can’t offer the depth and variety of the HD cousins. In short, Top Spin 4 Wii is an afterthought meted out to the console with the largest install base in the hopes of grabbing a few extra sold copies while the real effort went to the other platforms… …

At first glance, Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident looks like another bit of casual flotsam in a sea of Wii shovelware, which is a shame, because behind its dull box art and a title that makes it sound like a Wii port of some bargain bin PC dud, it’s actually a quality game…  …