$ In Stock 0 0 0

Publisher: Global Star Software Developer: Cat Daddy Games Platform: Wii, DS Genre: Party Players: Single, Multiplayer Input: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Touchscreen, Gamepad Comic Mischief Related Links Wii News Wii Games Wii Accessories Discuss This Game

Oh geez, this is only my first review and already I am outing myself as a closet “casual gamer”.  I admit it, I enjoy casual games!  There, with that entirely embarrassing revelation out of the way (and a drop in street cred. of Kevin Federline proportions) let’s take a look at one of the Wii’s latest forays into the world of casual gaming: Carnival Games.

Being on the Wii, chances are high that a game will not be catering to the hardest of the “hardcore”.  Well, maybe if you count paying 6 hour marathon sessions of Mah Jong as “hardcore”.  Um, nope (that falls under the “weird” category).  And based on the name, it doesn’t take a Michio Kaku (look him up) to guess that it would be a carnival simulator of sorts, a collection of mini-games themed like those found at the traveling carnival, deceptively difficult and designed to empty the pockets of overzealous ego-inflated rubes determined to put that giant newspaper-filled elephant into the arms of their tragically stuffed-animal-less girlfriends. Bingo!  Lastly, based on the fact that developer Cat Daddy Games does not carry the cachet of a Capcom, or even a Suda 51, you’d be forgiven for expecting less than a very polished product.  Luckily, this is one area where your (so far) insightful musings prove only partially correct.

Carnival Games is a surprisingly accurate recreation of a Saturday afternoon trip to the fair, only with more winning and less creepy stares from toothless, over-sexed and under-sanitized carnies.  The game manages to draw you into the experience from the very beginning as the title screen recreates standing outside the gates of a carnival, waiting to enter, while the barker, a classic staple of every carnival worth it’s overly salted food, clues you in on the various options before you.  You can choose to brave it alone or bring along up to three of your friends.  The single player game manages to be mildly entertaining due to the variety of games and the continual unlocking of new games and prizes (though none are very exciting).  That said, I recommend you don’t go it alone as playing with yourself is bad (or so my sixth grade catholic school health teacher would have you believe). Besides, a little healthy competition is good for you.  But be forewarned, you can’t unlock hidden content by playing the multiplayer mode.

Before playing any games you are given the chance to customize your character.  The options here are very limited.  You can choose between a male or female character, either adult or child.  You can choose from ten faces, hair-colors, shirts, and pairs of pants.  There are accessory items that can be equipped but only after being won in the carnival games.  While adequate in the most basic sense, the customization menu is missing some very elementary options, the most glaring of which is the ability to choose your race, Caucasian being the default.  This should be a standard feature in any game that allows character creation.  In general the characters designs are not bad, but feel uninspired, brightly colored and somewhat gaudy.  My only specific complaint is that the characters’ lack of arms connecting their hands to their bodies, in shades of Rayman, makes them look like arm amputees with a pair of gloves on their belt.  The graphics overall are well polished but bland; a shiny penny is still just a penny.  The occasional framerate hiccups are unusual given the fact that the game does not look like it should be taxing the Wii’s hardware.   Where the game does manage to shine, however, is the sound, which is surprisingly well done.  The obnoxiously noisy carnival atmosphere is in full effect, from the persistent background din of the laughing of children and the cat calls of carnies, to the cacophony of repetitive cheesy organ music.  One area that particularly stands out is the voice work.  Most of the “talent” lives up to their title, the dunk tank redneck, who mocks you for each missed throw, being an enjoyable example.

The various games at your disposal are your typical carnival fare: ring tossing, ball throwing, shooting galleries and a dunk tank, to name a few.  Most of the games are straight forward and make good use of the Wii’s motion control.  Some are fun, some are not, and there is an over abundance of “tossing” games.  In most of the games you simply mimic the gestures as if you were playing them in real life.  Like with all Wii mini-game collections so far (and probably to come), the accuracy of said gestures is hit or miss.  One specific problem I noticed was that the speed with which you must swing your arm in some games seemed to be too binary, making it hard to execute a throw anywhere between the two extremes of soft or hard.  Though the game uses the Havock engine, the physics never come across as exceptionally realistic.

Though hardly exceptional in any way, Carnival Games manages to be a somewhat enjoyable experience in small doses.  Some of the games are quite fun and the competitive multiplayer mode could add that missing spark to your next party.   Experienced gamers will likely deride it for its imperfect controls and immature presentation.  Families will enjoy it for its authentic carnival atmosphere and pick up and play accessibility. If you are a fan of mini-game collections and burnt out on Mario Party 50, it should at least be worth a rental.  Like you have anything better to do with your Saturday nights, nerd.

Graphics:
They went for the teddy bear but came home with the goldfish in a bag.

Story:
Once upon a time, the end.

Gameplay:
It’s like popping pimples, fun in small bursts.

Music and Sound FX:
You can clearly hear the sound of carnies guzzling whiskey bottles.

Game Over:
Casual gamers and families with children will probably enjoy this competent diversion.  Seasoned veterans need not apply.  The only things missing are the funnel cakes and Amber Alerts.

6 out of 10

Reviewed by Katrina Laffy