Got to say, I love the achievements on the '360. There's nothing better than the bragging rights between mates when you have the higher gamerscore on certain games. Microsoft has done well with the whole social side of Live — Achievements are just one aspect of their multi-faceted approach to social gaming. I don't think Nintendo will ever have the correct mindset to implement something as successful, as they always seem to approach the subject from their own unique angle. I see a lot of the big N's 'social' gaming ideas (Friend Codes, Street Pass) and, well, they aren't the best executed. If I want social gaming on my Nintendo machines, I have to have the people I am playing with in the same room in order to get any decent experience from it; Microsoft and Sony are probably more geared to the opposite — online gaming.

Bottom line is, in my opinion, Nintendo need to get their online gaming to a standard where these social aspects will be able to flourish. Introducing achievements/trophies would be like writing a car manual for a car that hasn't been manufactured. I doubt they ever will quite get there, but it would be nice if they did.

Good job, lads!

Played it a while ago and I really wanted to get it. A bit surreal in the motion and stuff -- reminded me of Salad Fingers, a bit.

Deathmatches... played using only our feet!

Great review mate. Enjoyed going over it. Shame this wasn't as good as the arcade version

This was keeping me entertained over the weekend whilst writing away. Muchos grand, Jon!

I prefer my Mario voice. Should've done it all in that!

Lovely hearding your voice, as always, Jim

@Ezekiel, I was wondering when someone would pick up on that. Truth be told, I'd rather play Copter Crisis! Making it barebones and eliminating the save features is an unforgiveable mistake in my books.

They don't call me Tagline Tom for no reason!

Would have been a 3 bar the fact that the Balance Board makes for some interesting challenges -- ones which I'll actually go back to the game for, one day.

Well, I get my pilot's license with this one today; will let y'all know what I think in due course...

Please check out our Scoring Policy

5 - Average
A five is where you really need to start wondering if this game is for you. We are saying this game is average in our own subjective opinion. You have to judge for yourself if you are so attracted to this game's concept that you are going to take a chance on it anyway. We'll always give our reasons to show why the game failed to impress.

Personally, I don't see how these silo-based 'plankton games can be better than the full release DS game (which was rather good). The original worked well because it had the perfect orchestration of many elements, but these releases contain a lot less - the whole experience is no longer fused together. Just my two cents there....

United we stand, divided we fall. Great work on the review, Des!

I'm going to pass on this one, but that tagline made my day!

@JayArr, This one really stood out to me when I played on it at the London Media summit. Been keen to get hold of a release version here at Nintendo Life Towers.

@vakama94, Olivier told me today that the game's due out on Dec 7th (USA, no EU confirmation yet), for 500 points.

Loved it when I played the earlier build on the Wii; loving it as it looks now. Really stoked for this game!

Ooooh, that would be awesome. I just hope they let people transfer over DSiWare games!!

@Adam, I dread how Damo will feel when he sees that comment!

Now we just need the Wiimote to not RRP at £32.99, Nunchuck at £17.99 and Motion Plus at £22.99 ... That's still a sting in the tail for people wanting 2+ players on their Wii!

I think I'll be getting myself this one, based on that review. Clunky controls can be ignored when a game's as ingenious as this.

Good job, Jon!

@Radio Shadow, the visuals in this one are fantastic. It looks sublime!

And Nevertheless is in a bit of debate about its validity as a word - it's kind of akin to writing to-day instead of today.

Ah, bliss! Now for me to badger you with 101 new shiney things I want added to the site

Good job bossman!

@Wiiloveit, with a few beers, quite possibly.

@LEGEND MARIOID, You're right; a six year old boy might not be too engrossed with this one (but the dances are quite funny)

@mushroomer, You have to allow this writer his indulgences in obsolete words (FYI, nevertheless, used to be recognised as a word, and I, for one, think there is a rather charming appeal in using it)

If this came to the VC, I'd be in 00-heaven!

@brandonbwii, Yes, you can play the game single player (with bots). It's good fun still, and it plays just like the multiplayer game. We'll get our full impressions up with the review (when we can play it enough to justify a score).

@buffalobob, please conduct yourself in a nicer manner on our website - we don't want any flame wars. Thanks.

Fantastic review! I'm craving some Arwing action now!

I'm craving to do a barrel roll!

Starfox/Lylat Wars is one of my all time fave series of games.

@KDR_11k, Yes, Pop Island was fun to play. It will be good short fun to have with a few mates. It's the sort of short 'n' sweet approach that better suits the DSiWare, IMO.

@Malouff, Same one, but this has the Bronze Dragon included - think of it as a bolt on for fans wanting more.

@Odnetnin, Yeah, we're semi-pro and get proper press recognition from the big N. Next aim: to be invited around Shigsy's for tea...

This reminds me of a game my old man played in an arcade when I was a little kid. This could be quite amusing...

@Malouff, it is too hard to hear the sound of a game when in an open-floored press event. We'll have to wait until a more intimate sitting with the game to gauge how well the aural experience compliments that of the gameplay.

@Daz, Night Sky was there - check the midsection of the article.

Oh, and yes, I have Rabbids! There's also the corner of a signed Charles Martinet picture on the left

I actually think this looked quite nice. The guys who developed it took care in making sure it fit the audience. I say good on them for trying to expand the WiiWare market!

Worms can be played against randoms, but you can only play custom built levels with known friends (these levels cannot be trasnferred, either).

It really looks to be a good game: you can even fire weapons with actions now, which I thought was nifty. It's optional, though, so don't fret over the core gameplay being destroyed.

Cheers about the surname; I've always considered a career in showbiz with that one...

And, Damo, don't forget: I hugged him back too!

I actually want to get this one now, Sean.

It looks diveine

Haha, you cruel man, Corbie.

Looking forward to this one!

I'd play this... if I wasn't the site's resident wuss!

Great review, Jim!

What's James doing in another game?

@Ant,

Everyone here knows I am the best looking one

The Rabbit thong really does distrub me :S

I'm also slightly reminded of an old UK TV Gameshow - Supermarket Sweep

Haha, is that actually you Jim?

Good luck to all in the competitions!

@Machu,

Well, writing reviews has its ups and downs. Sometimes you get the fun games, other times you get the dross, and sometimes it's just the average. Still gotta complete the innings though (apologies, still in pun mode!)

I don't really think the game is bad, just that there is a lot more that should have been done with it. Without multiplayer this was in serious danger of falling in the 1-3 bracket - it really does lift the enjoyability of the game that much!

Play it with some friends and you will have some fun (just not that accurate in terms of how the real game plays) I recall one set of innings where I scored 80-odd runs with one batsman, 36 with another, 4 or less with 3 other batsmen, and five ducks. The majority of those runs were sixes too!

Well, I love the Rayman Raving Rabbids series. I'd go as far to say they stand as strong as Zelda in my Wii collection.

I love the imagination you guys have there - keep up the great work!

Sorry guys. Sometimes we just get given goodies that can only be dispatched to certain territories.

Of course, we're doing our best to get stuff for all out users - we love you all, after all - and will try out best to give you all a chance to win something.

Sean,

This bit killed me:

"Apparently these can be viewed in more detail by spraying fluid on pigeons that may appear at your cell window, but in my time with the game this didn't happen"

Looks like a real intersting one...

Times like these, I wish I could enter these competitions!

Good luck to all our members!

Shame it's not Union, but at last there is a Rugby game coming to the Wii!

Good to see that the DS is starting to get more of a basis for adult games, and it's nice to see companies put a few more FPSs out there.

Great review. Made me think about possibly getting this one - although I must admit that I am a wuss with horror!

Also, I will give this one a whirl. Not a while! Review was good, made me want to buy.