Information
Reviewed On: Wii
Available On: Wii
Players: 1-4
Rating: G
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: EA Los Angeles
Distributor: EA
Release: 8th May 2008
In Short...
"Want fun? Want puzzles? If not, you need to smile more – so buy this game!"
Boom Blox
Boom Blox, at first glance, looks to be yet another game made solely for the casual Wii audience, in particular people in the 5-10 year old age bracket. But don’t let its sweet and child-like exterior fool you, as once you get started with this puzzler, there’s no stopping. Boom Blox is brilliant.
Turn up the volume!
Turn up the volume!
Now, it’s not often that I agree with the hyperbole that is slandered across the back of game boxes, but in the case of Boom Blox, when I read: “Throw, grab, and blast your way to victory!” I couldn’t agree more. Boom Blox, developed by EA and Steven Spielberg, (yes, the movie guy) mixes farmyard familiarities with building blocks and an all manner of things in between. Not only does this combination work extremely well, but it thrives on its simplicity, and this is where the game really succeeds.
The game starts out, as any puzzle game should, with a tutorial. Here you learn all the basic Wii-mote actions needed to progress through the game, and also discover just what some certain special blocks are capable of. As Boom Blox is a physics-based puzzle game at its core, it uses dozens of different deviations on box-stacking, target-smacking, and tower-dismantling, executed via several hundred uniquely inspired levels. It all adds up to an impressive collection of puzzling brilliance, in terms of the goals, the actions required to complete them, the properties of the blocks themselves, and the sheer volume of levels (over 300 in total).
The in-game Wii-mote controls consist of a basic ball throw to knock down blocks, and a grab function allowing you to move blocks. There is also a blast function, which turns Boom Blox into a shooting gallery of sorts, and adds to gameplay variation. There are also multiple block types, which are integral to completing objectives, and in turn require varying levels of skill to utilise them to their potential. For example chemical blocks react only when they touch another of their kind, creating an explosion which obviously affects the surrounding level either positively or negatively, and vanish blocks, which when hit disappear, letting any unsupported blocks fall.
As with any game of this calibre, multiplayer is a huge selling point when it comes to gameplay. As the game’s nature is very relaxed and easy to just pick up and play, anyone can enjoy having a go at the levels, making it a perfect addition to any gamers’ collection. If you are into more serious competition, there is the Competitive multiplayer option, which is perfect for head-to-head duels with up to four participants, the levels varying from a multitude of Wii-mote actions and unique blocks, and also adapted levels from classic puzzles such as Jenga. For a more friendly approach there is the Cooperative multiplayer mode, as sometimes two brains are better than one when it comes to solving the puzzles. And for times when the grandparents want a turn, the Quick Sample multiplayer mode is perfect, as it contains just the right amount of challenge, all the while showcasing to the player what the game has to offer.
Overall, Boom Blox is an incredible game. Even with its innocent exterior, Boom Blox’s sheer number of levels, all of which work to the point of perfection, leave the game with no areas unpolished. If you are looking for a game that will challenge the most seasoned of gaming puzzle experts, and also makes room for the parents to join in the fun, look no further – Boom Blox has it all.
By Matthew Williams
The Verdict
Graphics: A- Though simple, the graphics are still very polished.Sound: B+ Some nice little sounds in there, but nothing like orchestral scores. Nice menu tune.
Gameplay: A+ Possibly the tightest physics engine in a game on the Wii to date.
Want fun? Want puzzles? If not, you need to smile more – so buy this game!