When I heard that EA and Steven Spielberg were “teaming up” to create a video game, I have to admit that the announcement didn’t exactly get my panties wet. Though Spielberg is one of the great movie directors of our time, he has never been involved with the production of a video game. On top of that, Spielberg’s credited role as “Creative Director” is suspiciously nebulous.
Regardless of Stevie’s role in the game’s production, the fact remains that Boom Blox is actually a surprisingly fun game. Though it’s a puzzle game designed for the whole family/casual players, even hardcore gamers can extract some kind of enjoyment from it. EA LA have managed to develop some of the tightest motion controls seen on a Wii game. It’s safe to say Boom Blox would not have been possible on any other gaming platform at this time.
The basic premise of Boom Blox is centered on deconstructing block towers. You’ll do this by either throwing objects at the blocks, or by yanking blocks out one by one ala Jenga. If you’re having a hard time visualizing this, I suggest watching the gameplay video here.
To throw an object you pick a point on the screen and hold down the A button. This locks your aim onto that spot. Then you just make a throwing motion like you’re throwing a baseball and release the A button. It’ll take a few tries to get used to, but in minutes you’ll feel right at home with it. Yanking blocks out couldn’t be more easy – you just point at the screen, hit A and move the Wiimote as if you are physically removing the block.
If the controls aren’t the star of the game, the physics system is. Blocks and objects will fall realistically as you get your dirty mitts on them. There are some levels in the game in which you are asked to place bomb blox in certain areas. You’re then given one shot to set off a chain reaction of events that should culminate in your goal. The whole experience is like that of a Rube Goldberg machine, and it’s a very fulfilling achievement once you pull it off. I personally liked these levels the most, as they left me with a childlike sense of wonder. Kind of like when I see a product created by Fake Steve Jobs.
The game touts over 300 levels, most of which have challenges within them to get bronze, silver, and gold medals. Your long term enjoyment of the game is going to depend on the availability of friends to play the multiplayer along with how much you have to get gold medals on every challenge. If you’re interested in just getting through the solo missions, you’re probably looking at about 8-10 hours of gameplay by yourself. Multiplayer will probably be the deciding factor for you whether to rent or by the game.
The multiplayer is a blast to play. There’s both cooperative and competitive modes, each supporting up to four players. A lot of the competitive modes involve passing the Wiimote around and taking turns trying to knock down or remove blocks. With the realistic physics involved, I guarantee that someone is going to be screaming fuckwords at some point once entire masses of blocks come tumbling down for either massive points or penalties.
If there was something I hated about the game, it was the really silly block characters and “story” cutscenes in the adventure mode. I realize the game is designed for the whole family, but monkey and sheep shaped blocks called “baaahhs” are worthy of eye-rolls. The writing for the cutscenes are akin to bad nursery rhymes and are entirely forgettable. I hope this wasn’t Spielberg’s main contribution to the game as Creative Director, because if so, he needs to be fired.
There are also some “shooting gallery” levels that feel out of place in the game. These don’t involve throwing objects or blocks at all. You’re basically using the wiimote as a light gun like many a insipid Wii minigame. They’re not stab your eyes out bad, but they do feel a bit lacking when compared to the other gametypes.
Boom Blox is one of the best 3rd party Wii titles out there. EA LA has put forth a solid effort here in creating a game that’s both novel and fun. It’s a great game to play whether you are a casual or hardcore gamer, especially in a social setting. If you own a Wii you owe it to yourself to check this game in some form, whether it’s by renting, buying, or visiting a friend who has a copy.
