WiiWare | Reviews

Retro City Rampage (WiiWare) Review

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Retro City Rampage is a unique offering on WiiWare, with an utterly chaotic sense of gameplay and storytelling that's as baffling as it is often brilliant. Occasionally the zany focus can slide a bit too far, with sections of the story or relentlessly difficulty levels that seem to be there to amuse the developer rather than gamers, showing it can be a thin line between parody, satire, and self-indulgence. That's a small gripe in the overall context, however, and what this represents is a stylish, bonkers and loving dedication to old-school gaming; essential for gaming veterans, and well worth consideration for those that want to know what all those old-timers are talking about when referring to the "good old days".

Babel Rising (WiiWare) Review

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Babel Rising has an interesting concept with potential at its core, but it's squandered thanks to overly repetitive gameplay and uninspiring presentation. There's some limited fun to be had in shorter sessions, but there isn't enough to be worthy of your songs of praise here.

Vampire Crystals (WiiWare) Review

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Vampire Crystals isn’t going to win any awards for originality, but by no means does that make it a bad game. There are some issues with frame rate slowdown later on, but beyond that it’s a fun scramble worth playing through over and over again, both solo and with some friends. Boasting classic twin-stick shooter gameplay with a variety of different power ups and multiplayer modes, this is definitely a worthy addition to any gamer’s library, even if the difficulty curve might drive you a bit batty.

Back To Nature (WiiWare) Review

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:00:00 GMT

To be blunt, this is a pathetic excuse for a video game. While some games simply miss the mark when it comes to key aspects such as game design, visuals or overall fun, Back to Nature manages to fail spectacularly in each and every single one of these areas. No effort has been made here to provide an entertaining experience, and this title is clearly nothing more than a blatant attempt to cash-in on unsuspecting gamers. Avoid at all costs.

Reel Fishing Ocean Challenge (WiiWare) Review

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:00:00 GMT

There’s so much potential packed into the idea of a fishing game for the Wii, But Reel Fishing Ocean Challenge doesn’t take advantage of any of this. Faulty motion controls, uninspired gameplay, and unattractive visuals do nothing but hinder this game, and the fact that you have to pay more for “extra” content just to unlock levels that are already visible in the full game is offensive. If you’re looking for a satisfying fishing experience on the Wii, you’d be better off sticking with the original Reel Fishing Challenge instead.

Successfully Learning English: Year 5 (WiiWare) Review

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Successfully Learning English: Year 5 represents a steady progression in difficulty from its predecessor, with the now standard level of competence. The bonus game is surprisingly tricky, but could be a good challenge for pupils with a helpful adult, while the lessons are perfectly decent. Still, after all this time old Freddy the Vampire is a little jaded and in need of some new ideas; if this proves to be his final outing, he's unlikely to be missed by many.

Drop Zone: Under Fire (WiiWare) Review

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Drop Zone: Under Fire is a game that does what it says on the tin, and when what's on the tin is as cool as futuristic free-fall, that's high praise. A few issues with the controls hold it back, but Drop Zone is still well worthy of a spot on your radar, especially if you're after a fun arcade-style experience on the fast waning WiiWare service. If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, dive in.

La-Mulana (WiiWare) Review

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:05:00 GMT

It's been a long wait, but WiiWare fans can now finally get their hands on this lesser known indie classic. Beating it can be an incredibly daunting task for less experienced players, but despite all of the difficult puzzles and fights there are lots of features that make the experience much less frustrating than you'd think it would be. With this title's significant size, if you can't beat one area you can just go to another first, so there are always options to progress. The lack of DLC is a bit of a disappointment, but the basic game is still, in a word: perfect.

Successfully Learning English: Year 4 (WiiWare) Review

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Successfully Learning English: Year 4 continues exactly where its predecessors left off, but does bring a welcome boost in challenge for young pupils. The exercises are all competent, and the Bonus Game provides a brief distraction even if it's lacking the good design needed to make it compulsive. Overall it does little wrong, but also highlights that this is a series that would benefit from a fresh approach.

Successfully Learning English: Year 3 (WiiWare) Review

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:30:00 GMT

Successfully Learning English: Year 3 carries on where its predecessor left off. The exercises are decent if not as substantial as on the DSiWare equivalent, while the bonus game is an unremarkable but solid part of the package. The usual quirks and idiosyncrasies apply, but it earns its customary passing grade.

Successfully Learning English: Year 2 (WiiWare) Review

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Successfully Learning English: Year 2 on WiiWare benefits from a more stimulating presentation than the DSiWare equivalent, but with just one test per category is light on content. The bonus game is thoroughly decent, albeit out of place, but the pointer controls are particularly sensitive and fiddly. Overall, it’s a decent effort that may be useful for patient young pupils.

Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition (WiiWare) Review

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition is a reasonable attempt to inject new life into an ageing franchise. A couple of the new game types are great, and the original is still pretty decent a few decades on, but unfortunately the other modes aren't really up to par. At 1000 Nintendo Points, it leans on the expensive side for what is a rather slim package that you'll only get the most from if you have a few Frogger-loving friends to hand. Think carefully before you dive in.

Let's Create! Pottery (WiiWare) Review

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Let’s Create! Pottery sets out to offer a relaxing and easily accessible experience, but unfortunately misses the mark. While the improved controls do make this a more playable experience than its DSiWare counterpart, Let’s Create! Pottery is still far from being the zen-like experience that it sets out to offer. If you really enjoy spinning virtual clay then this might be the game for you, but the daunting lack of fun here is enough to make any potential potters turn away.

Save the Furries (WiiWare) Review

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Save The Furries is a real mixed bag. Some levels feel focused and work very well, but others are floaty and chaotic to a degree that just isn't fun. It has its merits, but unless you're a big follower of this sort of puzzle game, you might be better off saving your Nintendo Points instead.

Rush Rush Rally Racing (WiiWare) Review

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Senile Team has clearly put a lot of effort into revamping its game for WiiWare, and it pays off. Rush Rush Rally Racing is an addictive, tightly-controlled retro racer that paints its inspirations brightly on its bonnet. It might look feature-light, but there's more than enough to keep your engine running if you want to beat and find everything on each difficulty setting.

Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Island of Diamonds (WiiWare) Review

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:30:00 GMT

If you’re looking for an exciting and new gaming experience, then you’re going to be severely disappointed in Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Island of Diamonds. If instead you’re one of the die-hard fans who have stuck with this series since the very beginning and are just pining for a conclusion, then you’ve found exactly what you’re looking for. The Island of Diamonds isn’t going to win any new gamers, but it’s a fitting conclusion to a series that tried its hardest and ended up falling just short.

2 Fast 4 Gnomz (WiiWare) Review

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

2 Fast 4 Gnomz doesn't have the most unique concept in the world — or even on the WiiWare service — but it does have a fun soundtrack and an oddly addictive charm. It's just a shame that deaths are more frequently the result of unclear visuals and gameplay quirks than any mistake on the part of the player. Those looking for a polished gaming experience should probably look elsewhere, but somebody itching for another non-stop platformer with forward momentum might well find something to enjoy here.

BurgerTime World Tour (WiiWare) Review

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

An updated version of BurgerTime sounded like a nice idea on paper, but World Tour has most certainly not succeeded in bringing the arcade game's fun factor to a new audience. The challenge is almost non-existent, most of your deaths will be control or camera related rather than from genuinely messing up, and a loop of an annoying 40-second song plays endlessly. The icing on the cake is the removal of arguably half the game's content for the WiiWare version. Even if all of it was still intact we wouldn't recommend this, but as it is now this title is simply a major disappointment.

Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Great Gateway Grab (WiiWare) Review

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Before you even read this review you probably knew whether or not you were going to purchase Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Great Gateway Grab. Fans of the series thus far won’t be disappointed in the least because, with the exception of having a different plot, this is essentially exactly the same as the previous episodes. Despite the moderate price-point of 600 Nintendo Points, less than an hour of gameplay with no replay value is a hard sell. Though consistency is an expected staple in episodic gaming, the unchanging nature of these games does absolutely nothing towards even attempting to attract new fans.

TNT Racers (WiiWare) Review

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

TNT Racers sets itself apart by refusing to focus on the traditional ‘win the race’ conditions of other driving titles, meshing in cross-car combat well. Its difficult later levels will ensure that you stay in the driving seat, more than possibly cursing while repeatedly hammering the retry button, for a while to come.