THQ Exclusive:
Wii games for wee gamers.

by Jeb Haught
September 9, 2006

Screenshot of Cars. Courtesy THQ. Click image to enlarge.

I recently visited THQ studios in LA to demo early versions of four Wii titles. While they were all kid-oriented games, they did show some of the wide range of experiences that the Wii can offer. Whether it is driving, throwing darts, or hacking away at enemies, using the Wii controllers seems to add an extra level of fun to almost any action.

One thing worth mentioning is that the Wii controllers need an external sensor to...err...sense player movements. There is one sensor used for all controllers, and it is shaped to easily fit on top of most TVs. It is about 1/2 inch tall, 2 inches deep, and 8 inches long. Using small stick-on Velcro pieces would ensure that it stays where it should since the sensor is so light.

Disney/Pixar's Cars was the first game in the lineup. It is the same game available on the GameCube, but with better visuals and, of course, unique controls. I used only the main 'Wiimote' controller, turned horizontally, to steer the game the same way Nintendo has it set up for ExciteTruck. Steering vehicles is accomplished by pushing down on one side of the Wiimote, and keeping it level makes them go straight. I have played the original version of Cars, and using the Wiimote made the game more challenging. Similar to the way Rainbow Studios incorporates the down then up motion on the analog stick to launch big air in their offroad titles, I had to move both arms down, then snap them up to boost my vehicle's airtime. It's a natural reaction to ‘get into' the act of playing each game, which has the dual-edge sword of being more fun while also making the player look silly, hehe. I didn't get to play any mini-games, but was told that the controllers will be used in "unusual ways".

Screenshot of Spongebob Squarepants: Creature from Krusty Krab. Courtesy THQ. Click image to enlarge.

Spongebob Squarepants: Creature from Krusty Krab is a collection of different gameplay elements such as: driving, flying, platforming, etc. I used the nunchaku controller setup (both controllers connected with a wire) with the platforming level and moved ‘Super Patrick' with the analog stick on the left, smaller controller while performing moves with the right one. For flying levels, the Wiimote is used by itself and held upright like a flight stick (a very cool idea). Moving the 'flight stick' forward or backwards makes the plane climb or dive, just like a real life flight stick. However, one thing that struck me as weird is that the controls are not inverted like they are in every airplane and airplane game that exists in the real world, so pushing forward makes the plane go up instead of down. Since I am used to regular flight controls, it was a constant struggle just to fly where I wanted to, not to mention shooting down enemies. As of the day I played the game, there aren't any plans to offer an option for both regular and inverted controls in the final version. I find this disheartening because the majority of older gamers are used to inverted controls for flying, and there are plenty of…ahem…mature gamers who love Spongebob.

 

Screenshot of Barnyard. Courtesy THQ. Click image to enlarge.

Based on the animated movie, Barnyard is an open-ended game that lets players explore their inner bovine. They can meander around as a cow and perform missions or play several types of mini-games. During my demo, only the mini-games were available. While playing darts, I held the Wiimote in my throwing hand just like a real dart, aimed my onscreen reticule at the moving dartboard (marked with score areas instead of the numbers 1-20), held the 'A' button to lock my aim, and then thrust the Wiimote forward a little more gently than actually throwing a dart. Just remember not to release the Wiimote like you would a real dart, as the Wiimote is more likely to break the TV screen rather than bounce off of it. I dominated this game even though I suck at RL darts. Then I got to drive a car in a race, which controlled just like driving in Cars. The last mini-game that I played was literally set in a pigsty. Four boxes are set up over the mud, and three other characters as well as my prize bovine, stood on top of them. Then a steel pipe starts swinging in a circle parallel to the ground, and I had to either hop over it or kick it back in the other direction. The object is to knock off the other three opponents, and it is much harder than it sounds. Not because the actual act was difficult, but the Wiimote did not seem to react appropriately to my moves. One thing that people don't realize is that it must be difficult to get the programming just right for Nintendo's new controllers. However, I am confident that the controls for this mini-game will be fixed by the time that it is launched.

Screenshot of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Courtesy THQ. Click image to enlarge.

Last on the list is the 3D adventure, Avatar: The Last Airbender. At first glance, it looks like a typical cel-shaded game, but upon closer inspection it becomes obvious that the characters and enemies are cel-shaded while the backgrounds are realistic-looking. This allows developers to keep the authentic animated look of the TV show while also creating much more detailed backgrounds. During gameplay, there are four players onscreen at once, and pushing on the D-pad lets the player switch between them at any time in the game. Each character has a small mana bar, so switching characters in battle is necessary to defeat groups of enemies. All fighters have four slots into which they can assign various magic and melee abilities. Performing these abilities requires basic sideways and vertical motions with either the right or left controller, and can be a little daunting at first. But after a few minutes of gameplay, it is easy to get used to. What can get hectic, however, is performing these moves while also managing your characters' mana and switching between them effectively. Various puzzle elements round out the action in this title, and it is one of my first glimpses into an action game that uses the unusual Wii controller.

All in all, manipulating the Wii controllers was fun and interesting, and promises to change the way people are used to gaming. Granted, some functions aren't much different than using a regular controller, but overall, I think that there will be some extremely unique gaming experiences coming for Nintendo's next console offering.