nstrikeexcerptMost of the supposedly ‘kid-friendly’ Wii games that are reviewed for this website are panned for being cheap shovelware with bad controls, hardly any content, and gameplay so dull that not even kids would enjoy it. That is why I was more than a little nervous when I received a copy of NERF N-Strike. This game appeared to be no more than a cheap ad for NERF (the toy company that specialises in guns that fire foam projectiles) aimed at kids, and made by the one-time champions of cheap cash-ins, EA. Further analysis suggested it was a mini-game compilation. All signs pointed to another massive failure.

The moral of this story is that first impressions can be deceiving, because NERF N-Strike is actually a good game.

Let’s start from the beginning. In a move clearly aimed at kids, this game centers on a top secret organisation known as N-Strike. N-Strike’s agents are all kids, and their weapons are NERF blasters. Their enemy is… well, I’m not sure, because the game follows a new recruit, Shane, as he battles other recruits in training missions to prove himself the most worthy of joining N-Strike. What this basically boils down to is picking a NERF blaster and shooting stuff for high scores and other goals.

Who needs cranes when you can just blast the blocks around?

The strange thing is, despite being an obvious attempt to cash in on a kid’s toy, the game demonstrates a lot more effort than a cash-in usually does. There is a huge selection of blasters, more than 25 to be accurate. The aiming controls are very accurate and allow for precise shooting, and most of all, the mini-games are actually fun! Well, mostly. Some, like Onslaught, are very boring, merely requiring you to pick the blaster with unlimited ammo and ridiculous damage and holding down the trigger for a while as you wipe out robots. However, that does not mean that the whole game is a walk in the park. Soon, you will encounter games where the aforementioned blaster will not cut it (if you’re even allowed to select it) because smarts and precision are required to win instead of wanton blasting. Games such as LookAlive and Recognition, where you have to blast robots of a certain colour, or Pummel, where you have to blast blocks off a stage while leaving the goal blocks on the stage, or even Magnospheres, where you have to shoot metal balls into goals for points. Not only are most of these games fun, but they get progressively harder and provide a decent test of skill on later levels.

The amazing thing about this game is the amount of detail and polish that has gone into the gameplay, and this is what seperates Nerf N-Strike from most mini-game compilations on the Wii. Each blaster operates in a completely unique way and feels different, so your choice of blaster will make a significant difference to the gameplay. Not only that, but the game contains lots of little touches that almost appear to be teaching kids how to play first person shooters. Head shots kill robots quicker. Continuously firing a pistol will result in recoil. Blasters with huge, rocket-like darts can kill multiple enemies in one shot. This is not a cheap, dumbed down point and click game, this is a real shooter. Aimed at kids, of course.

... and then the red robots complained that the game was racist.

The graphics in this game are both good and bad. The bad news first, the game looks like it could be run on a PS2, or even a Nintendo 64. On the flipside, the art direction is really good (particularly the blasters) and the game contains 2D still frames as cut scenes which look great. Unlike the hit and miss graphics, the sound is extremely well done across the board. The game contains full voice acting, and while most of the characters have really lame voices, the voice actor who played B.O.B. (the robot who trains you) did a superb job, which is a good thing because he does the most talking. The game also contains really good sound effects, with the blasters sounding exactly how you would expect them to sound. One particular blaster, which requires air pressure to fire its darts, even makes an air-pumping sound when it reloads! This attention to detail really helps to make the game more immersive and fun.

The big bonus with this game is that it comes packaged with a Nerf Switch Shot EX-3 Blaster. This special Nerf blaster not only fires darts, but the dart launching segment can be removed and replaced with a Wiimote. While I did not get a chance to use the NERF Blaster, I did borrow a NYKO Perfect Shot off a neighbour and the game did become much easier to play with it. It is definitely possible to just aim the Wiimote and press the B button to shoot, but that method makes it harder to aim precisely. With a light gun adaptor, aiming is much easier and the game is much more fun as a result.

The NERF Switch Shot EX-3, which comes packaged with the game, and the NYKO Perfect Shot, a satisfactory substitute.

As good as the game is, there’s no escaping the fact that it is aimed at kids. What this means is that older gamers will find it too easy, and even repetitive. Of course, if you want to get all the Gold medals and unlock all the guns, the game will provide plenty of challenge and replayability, but if you don’t want to 100% the game and just want to pass all the stages, you may find it too easy to justify a purchase. Make no mistake, this is a first person shooter designed for kids, and kids will get more out of this game than anyone else.

Overall, I was really impressed with NERF N-Strike. While many other games use ‘aimed at kids’ as marketing slang for ‘low budget garbage’, here we have a game that is aimed at kids but is actually very well made. While the graphics are nowhere near the best that you’ll see on Wii, the sound is excellent and the gameplay is really well done. The mini-games are fun, the range of blasters is impressive in size and variety, and the aiming controls are extremely precise. While the game is simple and sometimes repetitive, it is definitely a game that can be enjoyed by adults as well as its target audience. If you’re a parent who wants to buy a Wii game for their kids (and you have no moral objection about buying a game that will lead to your kids playing violent first person shooter games in their teens), don’t buy a boring game with poor controls and zero variety. Buy NERF N-Strike instead. They’ll love you for it.

By Mr_M

Graphics: B-

Average for a Wii game, but the great art style and excellent cut scenes raise the score.

Sound: A-

The game is far more fun with the sound on, thanks to great voice acting (mainly from B.O.B.) and excellent blaster effects.

Gameplay: B-

Huge variety of guns, fun mini-games and spot-on motion controls. The difficulty is geared towards kids, but the game is fun for all ages and gets more challenging as you go along.

Overall: B-

It may look like another awful cash-in, but don’t be fooled- NERF N-Strike is a polished game that demonstrates more care and effort than most mini-game compilations on the Wii.