While the Wii is undoubtedly Nintendo’s latest and best console to date, a lot of gamers continue to bash it, claiming its game library does not cater to the hardcore gamers. The majority of the Wii’s catalog is decidedly family-friendly, fun for all ages affairs. Now Sega has decided to step up to the plate for those of us who like a bit of gristle in our breakfast cereal, releasing a game that is exclusively for the Wii AND for mature audiences, and one that takes full advantage of the unique Wii controllers, delivery a Wii-Time-Only experience. Destined to be one of the best Wii games in the hardcore, mash-‘em-up and spit ‘em out genre, Ladies and Gentlemen we give you MadWorld.
One of the most noticeable and captivating aspects of MadWorld is its stunningly unique visual style. All of the graphics are displayed in stark, contrasting, graphic-novel-style black and white with gushes of red for intense gore factor. In addition to the graphics, the frame rate is really smooth for players to pick up and go and the overall game presentation has an over-the-top comical ambience that will greatly appeal to anyone into comics, ridiculous violence and captivating storylines.
Game play
MadWorld came out exclusively for the Wii to make use of their unique control scheme. It is important to point out that the remote sensor isn’t used in the game but this isn’t actually a bad thing because the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment along with the motion controls does plenty in controlling Jack, the games main character. The remote is used to control Jack’s weapon while the Nunchuk controls the movement which gives plenty of freedom to move about throughout the levels.
When it comes to finishing moves the controls can at first seem a bit complicated, but this is just part of the adjustment faze of the game and soon enough you’ll be twisting and shaking the controllers as if it were your own hand driving a street sign through someone’s head. While small points off for some odd camera movements, these can really be excused once you immerse yourself in the visually stunning presentation and fully absorbing gameplay.
Experience
What will no doubt have MadWorld embraced by non-Wii gamers is the intense experience that it is, combined with the blackest of humors. For those who demand plenty of action there is a whole lot of blood and gore, innovative weapons and visceral kill moves to keep you satisfied. For those who don’t want their beat-em-up, survival horror-style games to take themselves too seriously there is plenty of comical, over-the-top moments, crazy exaggerated bosses and a laughably sinister commentary. On the surface this may look like quite a disturbing game, and it’s certainly not for everyone. But this is one blood-soaked actioner that has it’s tongue firmly planted it it’s cheek, with more and more ridiculous ways to overcome your enemies.
The boss battles are an area unto themselves, and while no boss is a walk in the park to take down, neither are they so difficult that you’ll be throwing your controllers across the room in frustration, either. In most cases it is a lot of fun to take down these increasingly hideous monster-men, and the reward of doing so takes you deeper into the story with even more comical scenes.
But it’s not all slash and bash, MadWorld comes complete with a set on minigames included as well. While these can sometimes be even more brutal than the main game, the humor is still peppered throughout so as to never take itself too seriously. While MadWorld is certainly not the longest game you’ll ever play on the Nintendo Wii, it holds enough difficulty to keep you coming back again and again in replays. Not one for the kids, MadWorld is however a must-try for any hardcore gamer worth his salt. The exaggerated violence, black as pitch humor elements, fantastically appealing visual design and rip-roaring music soundtrack, along with the laughably overacted commentators makes this an out and out essential game to play for anyone after one of the best Wii games of 2009.
When it comes to the best of the best you certainly can’t discuss the best Wii games without discussing Madden NFL. The game has been a mainstay of gaming systems since its introduction and this 2008 edition is no exception to the legacy. Let’s face it; if your favorite gamer is at all into sports, you can buy this one without fear of the dreaded “You got me what?” look when they open it. They, as well as you, can rest assured that if it says Madden NFL on it then it will play realistically and give thrill and spills that rival a real game.
What is great about this game on the Wii is that the Wii remote allows you more control and more realistic control of what you do. A stiff-arm block given to a player will work like the real thing.
If you have followed Madden NFL then you will not notice a huge cosmetic difference when you kick it off. The main variations are going to come into play when you start looking into the in depth options that are there for you. You can now get the game more like you want it in more areas than was ever possible before.
While the time and space limitations here do not afford the ability to go into great depth with the changes. Things like the addition of what is called Player Weapons where you can press and hold the C button while you are there and before the snap and the camera pans back to show you icons above each player so you know the strengths and such of each one so you can make an informed decision as to what strategy to deploy for this play.
There is also greatly improved mode for the Hall Of Fame where you can create rookies and the best from the 07 teams and just overall make it more fun and realistic and challenging from every aspect. From the Franchise mode to the Superstar Challenge mode to the Party mode to the EA Nation mode there are optimizations and customizations that allow you more control over the experience than ever has been available in the past.
As with most of the Wii offerings, the multi-player mode is one area that the unit and game shine on. The Local Party mode is great and will prove that this game is definitely one for a house full of multi-players.
Overall the 08 Version makes exceptional use of motion to give the realism needed for this type of game; it is much friendlier to those in the multi-player mode and offers playability that is great. You will find that passing and ground defense game will be secondary to the effect and intensity of your running game. It is completely worth the money and will be a great addition to any gamers Wii arsenal and one that you will return and play over and over again both alone and with friends.
Anyone familiar with Nintendo Game Cube’s Super Mario Strikers will instantly feel at home when they first strap in to this screwball sequel. Anyone who has not first had a taste of “Soccer, Mario-style” will probably not know what hit them. In both cases, however, you’re in for a wildly entertaining, deliriously crazy, action-packed fun fest. It’s the sort of enjoyment you almost feel guilty having, simply because you know not everyone out there is willing or able to partake in this sort of riotous romp…but you’ll notice I did say you’ll ‘almost feel guilty’. The fact is you’ll be so caught up in the non-stop insanity of Mario and his pals you won’t be thinking of much else except dodging tackles while attempting to perform Mega-strikes, and thrashing your opponents. It’s safe to say that Mario Strikers Charged is one of the best Wii games released in the (so far) short life of this exciting game console, and if you don’t get immense pleasure from playing this game then you really shouldn’t own a Nintendo Wii at all.
The best part of Mario’s version of soccer is that it barely passes as soccer at all! Sure, you play on a field and you kick a ball around, but that’s pretty much where the familiarity ends. You can start by throwing realism out the door - as turtles and toadstools chase you around the field looking to constantly knock you off the ball. Then you can throw the rule book out the window - there are no referees or red cards to be found here, just plenty of weapons, power-ups, tackles and other random acts of arcade-game absurdity. It comes as almost a surprise then, perhaps, to find an underlying depth to the game, as it uses more strategies and tactics than we’re used to in the Mario universe. You ‘kick things off’ by selecting your team captain, and there are 12 to choose from such as Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Wario, etc. Each character has his or her own strengths and weaknesses - so while one may be a fast runner, they may not be so good at passing the ball. It’s up to you to determine which captain is right for the game strategy you’re planning. Mario, of course, is the best all-rounder. Then you choose 3 team mates from a second line-up of characters including Toad, Boo, Monty Mole, Shy Guy, Birdo and more. These too have their own individual strengths and weaknesses, and you can get many varying results based on the combined team you choose. Each Captain also comes with their own Mega-Strike shot - a unique power shot that the goalie usually has a tough time dealing with. Your team mates also have their own individual skill shots - which can send anything from a swarm of hammers to a giant ball of electricity at an opposing goalie to throw them off.
Mega-Meaty-Mario Action!
When it comes to scoring goals, it’s the Mega-Strike that matters most. When pulled off, a Mega-Strike will send anything from 3 to 6 balls at the opposition’s Keeper, with the number of balls and speed of delivery determined by how well timed your button pressing is. If you happen to be on the receiving end of a Mega-Strike, the point of view will change to that of the Keeper, and you’ll use your Wii remote to point at the screen as the balls come flying at you, with good aim and well-timed button pressing the key to making saves. It’s a frantic little mini-game that comes as a clever addition to the hectic hi-jinx of the rest of the match. Be warned though, creating a Mega-Strike shot is not as easy as it sounds when you have multiple opponents, not to mention giant red shells and chain chomps bearing down on you from every angle looking to rearrange your intestines! On top of that you’ve got the pitch to deal with, with 17 different stadiums to choose from, many with their own unique hazard to add to the complexity and difficulty. Hazards such as raging winds, lightning bolts, Thwomps and giant balls that destroy everything in their path are just some of the obstacles that await you should you dare to play one of the booby-trapped playing fields. If it feels like man and God are against your team then you could well be right - all these factors make for a very challenging game of Mario soccer.
Multi-Player Is Where It’s At
Mario Strikers Charged really comes into its own, however, in multi-player mode. Single player is still definitely fun to play, with standard “versus” mode, challenge mode (players have 12 tricky challenges to overcome) and Road To Striker mode (round-robin tournaments to obtain various victory cups), but there’s nothing like playing against real people and having up to 4 players competing at once is a wild blast. Here you have the choice of offline or online modes, and for most people the online mode is the deal-clincher for Mario Strikers Charged. While you still have to deal with the controversial Friend Codes when it comes to playing against specific people, you can choose to skip that and just launch into ranked matches against random opponents from all over the world through the power of WiFi (Wireless networking). Here you get a roster keeping track of your friend’s online status and game progress, a leader-board with daily and amassed stats and easy to use notifications for match requests with other online players.
Not All That Glitters Is Goal!
While there isn’t much to fault at all with this fast-paced thrill ride, I would be neglect in my duties if I didn’t say it isn’t all gravy. The most notable is the Single player mode. While the single player modes are indeed fun to play, there are simply too few of them to create lasting appeal in this area. Also, the computer opponents tend to either be way too easy or way too difficult - a change that can come at the drop of a hat and can get a little frustrating after a while. Maybe the makers are trying to push everyone to use the multi-player/online features by offering sub-standard single player modes. To some degree I see the single player modes as being a tack-on, nothing more, as the majority of people who play this game won’t be interested in single player mode at all, other than to perhaps get accustomed with the game before trekking off to play online gamers from around the globe. The only thing that may sadden some people with the online gaming is there is no voice chat available. Depending on who you are this may be a good or bad thing, as I’m sure some of you wouldn’t have minded a little on-field sledging during play to help thwart your opponents attempts at scoring.
But that’s it really, nothing more I could see to pick at - and believe me I looked. The sound effects and music are great, the graphics are what you’d expect by now from anything Mario. No huge advances here, but then they certainly haven’t slacked off in this department either. All in all Mario Strikers Charged is a fast-paced, action-packed feast of entertainment, which will no doubt have you wondering where all the hours have gone (especially in online mode), and is well deserving of the title of one of the best Wii games on the market.
