Wii – Page 41 – StuffWeLike

Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace In Action (+)

A video game based on a movie that’s based on a video game. Oh boy do we want some chicken.

For being out less than a couple of months, the Wii has gained a great variety of genres. Anti-Nintendo fanboys have always bashed Nintendo consoles for having too many kiddie oriented games. While Chicken Little: Ace In Action may appear to be a kiddie game on the outside, it contains enough comedy and solid gameplay to entertain all ages.

Chicken Little is a prime example of why the Wii can make any sort of game fun even if you’ve played it before. Chicken Little is very similar to Nintendo’s Starfox series. Missions cycle through different gameplay modes such as foot soldier, tank, and a spaceship. Playing rehashes isn’t necessarily a fun process, but because Chicken Little: Ace In Action is the first game to utilize the Wii-mote in these gameplay modes and the fact the game plays very solidly this game shines. This game makes good use of the capabilities that the Wii-mote offers. Destroying your target by pointing your Wii-mote is made very simple by an automatic lock-on feature. Another standout feature is being able to move your space ship up and down by moving the Nunchuck device up and down.

The graphics of Chicken Little: Ace In Action are on par with other Wii games. It’s simplistic graphics don’t really make this game entertaining to look at, but they are suitable to gameplay.

The other aspect that makes this game worthwhile is the comedic dialogue that the characters say. Adam West, Zach Braff, and Joan Cusack are some of the voice actors in this game. For being a kiddie video game, it really has a smart script that both children and adults can find enjoyment in.

The game is loosely based off of the Chicken Little movie. This is great for those unfamiliar with the movie. The story is a lot of fun because it’s about Chicken Little and his friends playing a Wii game that features Chicken Little’s super hero alter ego Ace as well as the alter egos of his friends. So obviously this makes for a lot of funny commentary when Chicken Little and his friends comment on the gameplay and then Ace and his team are talking back and forth about their own actions.

I cannot whole heartedly recommend Chicken Little: Ace In Action because of the minor flaws that it has. If the game had only been fine tuned a little bit more it would have been an overall fun experience rather than frustrating game. All it takes is one nearly impossible level to ruin what would otherwise be an enjoyable time. For $39.99 Chicken Little: Ace In Action isn’t that bad of a purchase, if you’re looking for an experience that will tide you over till the new Starfox game. If there is one thing that I can say about Chicken Little: Ace In Action it’s that this game is going to be the example for future third person shooters and that’s a good thing.

Metal Slug Anthology (+)

A compilation of the Megal Slug arcade series.

One of the great things that the Wii offers is its retro gaming with the Virtual Console. If you love the games on the Virtual Console or just in general like old-school arcade games, pick up Metal Slug Anthology! Not only does this game offer you six different ways to control your character, but it also packages in seven Metal Slug games! Even if you’ve played Metal Slug in the arcades you’ve never experienced it quite like this.

The objective in all Metal Slug games is simple: go from beginning side of the level to the end of it. Fight variety of enemies such as soldiers, mummies, undead, and terrorists. Throughout this game you’ll be dieing over and over. Unlike in the arcade, the Wii version allows you to respawn over and over again. You don’t have to insert more coins, simply press continue and let the mayhem keep on rolling.

It’s amazing to see what the Wii controller allows developers to do and Metal Slug Anthology is a prime example of how the Wii-mote can be used in different ways to simulate similar gameplay. While none of the control schemes work perfectly, it is fun to try them all out. The most difficult of all of these controls Wii-mote and nunchuk, nunchuck only, tilt Wii-mote, Wii-mote, arcade, and Gamecube controller – is the arcade mode. It’s hard to emulate the feel of a joystick by holding the Wii-mote vertical. After a while it hurts your hands.

The 2D graphics aren’t comparable by today’s standards. When they are blown up on any big screen TV they just look nasty. Thankfully though it is still easy to see all of the action on screen. The blood that spews from enemies as you shot them or cut them with your knife is graphically speaking the best part.

There is co-op which allows for at least some replay value. The unlockables, music tracks and concept artwork, aren’t worthwhile though. For seven games Metal Slug Anthology is worth at least a rent. Since all the games were built for the arcades, the gameplay offered in them doesn’t last that long. But again if you like old-school games Metal Slug Anthology is a must buy.

Madden NFL 07 (+)

The first retooled version of Madden NFL in a long time.

It’s amazing that the Madden fanbase is almost like an exclusive club that I simply don’t get. Why do people enjoy football games? They aren’t fun. Nothing about them is entertaining. I never feel that I’m in control. It’s absolutely shocking for me to say that for the first time in the Madden franchise I actually want to play Madden NFL 07 for the Wii.

Do I understand all the ins and outs of the game? Of course not. The game is still full of all this random stuff for which I have no clue what its purpose serves. But Madden NFL 07 is a great example of a game that reaches out to a new audience while still holds onto its current fanbase.

In previous generations Madden has always been a game that you click to throw, click to punt, click to tackle. Because of the Wii controller EA had to rethink how Madden works. The result is a game where you have to throw the controller in order to throw the football, toss the controller to punt, put your arms in the air to catch, wiggle your controller to avoid a tackle, and yeah it still is click to tackle. Overall these new controls give you the freedom that actual football players have in the sport.

Now these controls are exclusive to the Wii version. Also exclusive to the Wii version are the absolutely sucky graphics. Seriously Madden hasn’t ever had graphics as bad as these on a console since the Dreamcast. Sure it’s nice that if it rains the field becomes muddy, but the models are so low polygon especially on the coaches faces that you almost want to throw up. It’s as if their faces imploded.

Multiplayer is ok, but the 3rd and 4th players will find themselves bored as they are not the quarter backs. The quarter back gets the most fun out of the game. Also there is no online multiplayer, hopefully something that changes in Madden NFL 08.

Bottom line is that if you like football and have never really liked a Madden game, definitely check out Madden for the Wii as it’s a whole new experience.

StuffWeLike.com Podcast #7 – Wii Universal Citywalk Launch Coverage

StuffWeLike.com covers the Nintendo Wii Launch at Universal Citywalk.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3: