Boom Blox
Part of the wider appeal that Boom Blox lends itself to is the involvement of a certain Mr. Spielberg, who claimed that he wanted to make a game he could play with his children and is currently working with EA Games to create three original titles, the first of which is Boom Blox.
There are three main ways to play Boom Blox: via Play (single player), Party (multi-player) or Create (create your own) and each has various sub-categories within them. In single-player mode, you can either opt for adventure or challenge - the former is more ‘story driven’. In Party mode try your hand individually or with another competitor; Create mode enables you to construct your own visual conundrums.
Boom Blox is a game that is attractive to all age groups and appealing to all no matter how hardcore a gamer you may be. It’s immediately accessible, if exploding blocks and tumbling down towers is your thing, that is. Impressive game play, Wii remote skill and puzzle solving provide you with a unique blend. With the throwing section, think Jenga and you’re there. Players will be needed to use their loaf first prior to letting go of that ball. It’s not merely a case of toppling huge tower-like structures as that would be considered way too easy (even for a family game) - hence, life is made harder by hazards such as the vanishing, chemical or bomb blocks. There are challenges which will call on you to knock down a structure in as few throws of the ball as possible, and your efforts will be rewarded with a gold medal if the weakest point is detected and brought down with just one throw. There are two primary ways of interacting with the blocks, either by tossing a ball at the blocks or picking them out one by one thanks to the excellent interactivity of the Wii remote. This is something you will be well accustomed to after a few first practices. It doesn’t stop there with the toppling of towers – how would you like to participate in random acts such as mining for gold, balancing sheep or defending bases? What’s more, there’s plenty more randomness where that came from. Once you complete levels gift items will be unlocked, which will come in handy during the Create mode, where the player can build their own challenges: this is where things get to be even more interesting.
If you’re after an extremely solid multi-player experience, Boom Blox is the game for you. There’s a whole host of options on offer from two to four players working both in competition or together as a team. Thanks to the simple controls the game is very simple to attract new players to join in and the end result is a fantastic party atmosphere.
With its simple easy-on-the-eye visual style and excellent execution, Spielberg’s game is a hit. What really makes Boom Blox work is its superb gameplay. To sum up, this game should really be part of anyone’s Wii collection. If you’re after hours of cranium-challenged fun, then what are you waiting for?
