WALL-E
Score: 65% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: THQ Developer: Heavy Iron Studios Media: CD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Platformer (3D)/ Shooter/ Themed
Graphics & Sound: Graphics are the one area where everything is unequivocally done well in the new WALL-E game on Wii. The blindingly perfect animation from the movie makes a good transition to this platform, both for the in-game, playable sequences and the cut-scene animation. The different settings from the movie are recreated here with additional depth that is especially apparent in the levels where you play as EVE. WALL-E tends to play like a more traditional, 3D Platformer - not quite on rails, but with serious limitations as to how far you can move. Even the more open flying levels with EVE have hard stops in certain spots that automatically steer you back toward the playable areas. Additional eye-candy goodies you unlock as you go through the game include concept art, video, and special costumes for WALL-E and EVE. The most impressive aspect of the graphics is how many details are packed into the screen at every turn. The music is equally impressive at first, from the moment the intro to the game plays with the signature tune from the opening of the movie. There is a rich, symphonic quality to the music in the game that earns points, but there are some questionable matches between sound and action. There's also a tendency to have music playing constantly, which had us reaching for the volume knob after a bit. Too much of a good thing is still too much of a good thing. The sounds of WALL-E are recreated faithfully, right down to the clunking sound WALL-E makes as he moves and the sound EVE makes as she scans objects. The window dressing is absolutely on target when it comes to helping WALL-E off the screen and onto the Wii.
Gameplay: The same, unfortunately, can't be said of the nuts and bolts of the game. WALL-E is a 3D Platformer and inherits all the blessings and curses of the genre. It's a shame that a more creative approach wasn't used to bring the magic of WALL-E across on the Wii. Considering that the big draw of the movie was its unique vision, why not take the game in a similar direction and avoid the platforming doldrums? The "why nots" attached to WALL-E for Wii could unfortunately fill a room, so we'll only focus on the most problematic. Apart from mechanics and control issues, the biggest letdown is the lack of interesting activities in each stage. Finding items hidden throughout the level will open up secret levels or allow you to access extras mentioned before from the main menu. There are clues through each stage as to what you'll need to do to reach the goal. The "BnL" signs scattered through the level are meant for interaction, and will trigger a platform or change in the environment. Other items called Wallops are scattered through each stage and help keep WALL-E on track, in addition to opening up new content. There is a connection to the movie in that WALL-E can gather trash and form cubes that are then generally thrown at the BnL signs to move forward. There are different cubes used in different ways, which could have formed the basis for some fun puzzles. Instead, the layout of each stage is so simple that once you find a cube receptacle or machine that produces cubes, it's just a matter of tracking down the other half. The whole WALL-E experience feels like a giant treasure hunt, but the tedious kind rather than something you're excited about. The single-player EVE levels are much more fun to play, with a chance to fly around exploring, racing, and blasting objects. The controls are more manageable than for WALL-E, and the more open feel allows for less frustration. There are frustrating aspects to the EVE levels, when it feels on occasion like you are just an observer, due to bad pacing and poor controls. In some areas while playing as EVE, it almost feels like the game is playing itself, which is a weird and unpleasant sensation. The multiplayer options are nice if you buy into the overall game, or they may be the redeeming feature for gamers that are otherwise disappointed in the main modes. Co-op multiplayer is nice, and players get the chance to assume the role of either WALL-E or EVE, and make use of different costumes unlocked in the single-player game. There is even a FPS game embedded here where you use EVE's blaster to take out enemies on-screen and can play for points against up to four players. Support for the Wii Blaster is included, if you are reaaallly serious about maximizing an otherwise small part of the overall game.
Difficulty: Typical 3D Platformer issues plague WALL-E and make each stage a quagmire for experienced and novice gamers. The camera is well tuned but it can't prevent some of the issues where you'll think you have a path ahead of you and discover you actually need a timed jump. The timing issues aren't a problem as much because of slowdown or poor graphics, as they are more difficult due to twitchy controls. WALL-E actually moves on-screen in the game much like his movie character, with quick little jerky movements. The downside to this from the player's perspective is that quick little jerky movements result in lots of dying and repetition. Just moving across a platform is an adventure, and not the exhilarating kind. There isn't any problem understanding objectives in the game, but the execution of searching, gathering, and throwing objects may be beyond many young gamers when you factor in the poorly tuned controls. The more seasoned, older gamers still in the WALL-E demographic will quickly become bored or frustrated by many of the same issues.
Game Mechanics: The game includes support for every Wii accessory other than the Wii Fit. You can use the Wii Blaster in the FPS portion, or control using the Wii-mote and Nunchuk. The latter option is what you'll use for most of the game, with control for WALL-E on the Nunchuk and various other controls for jumping, blasting with EVE, and a flick of the Wii-mote for gathering trash. Aiming and launching objects is easy, but there are many places where you can see the goal and even throw an object but fail to trigger the connected platform because of your location. Little inconsistencies like this are a pain. The jumping controls launch WALL-E into the air in his compact, box-form. He takes less damage this way, and he can hurtle against some objects to move them around. Yes, it's classic "crate" action... because no self-respecting Platformer would be caught without a crate or two to move around. Controlling EVE is simple in comparison, because you simply point in the direction you want to travel and press a button to fly or brake. The challenge with both EVE and WALL-E is when they get struck in a hole or trapped underneath some debris. This will cause WALL-E to power-down and you'll restart the stage. EVE will periodically get stuck under something and also power-down, causing you to restart the stage. Many frustrations overwhelm what would seem otherwise to be the perfect license for a game. Making WALL-E an Action/Platform game would not have been bad on its own if there was more polish applied. More of a controlled, 2D or 2.5D experience would have made this accessible by more gamers, especially those in the lower end of the age range that saw the movie. Clearly the developers attempted something with serious breadth, and the visuals speak to some concern for faithfully bringing WALL-E to the Wii. If only the developers had been inspired by the creativity of the movie to make a similarly innovative game instead of retreading tired formulas we've seen in too many other licensed boondoggles.
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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