Mercury meltdown revolution! - 9/10
Think of this game as an advanced version of Marble Madness (one of my original arcade favourites). This time you have a blob of mercury, which can be frozen into a ball, sprayed different colours and changed/manipulated by the environment as is needed to get though a particular level. It is based on a PSP game, but has some new levels. I haven't played the PSP version, but i'm sure the wiimote brings a whole lot more to the game.
CONTROLS
The controls are simple and straightforward, hold the wiimote horizontally and tilt it to move the on-screen mercury blob around each maze/level. Wii motion controls can make or break a game and this one works perfectly, you really feel in control of what happens on screen. Other controls such as the d-pad and A-B buttons allow you to change the camera angle, zoom in and out and look over the whole level. This can be a little clunky at times, but overall the camera works well.
GAMEPLAY
There are lots of levels (150 I read), i've been playing it a lot and I still have a long way to go. Bonuses such as collectible stars , time limit extras and getting though with all your mercury intact all help your score and open up mini games, and hidden levels. This gives it good replay value, after finishing a level I usually start over and try to get the bonuses.
There are lots of obstacles and puzzles along the way, things zap you, repel/attract the blob, attack you etc. Sometimes you have to use the environment to split up your mercury and spray it different colours then mix it back together. A colour chart in the top corner lets you work out what combinations you need.
GRAPHICS
Graphics aren't all that important with games like this. But they are colourful and crisp in a cartoonish sort of way, and they suit the gameplay. The music is inoffensive and also suits the game. The mercury itself looks great, it really flows around obstacles in a very realistic manner.
PROBLEMS
One disappointment is that it's single player only. But it's one of those games you can take turns at with a friend. It's not really suited as a "party" game though, the overall difficulty level and puzzle solving means you have to be pretty dedicated to get though some of the levels. (Kororinpa: Marble Mania is better for parties/casual play, its much simpler and has a two player split screen option).
The handful of mini games are ok, they're nothing special but certainly playable. There's occasional game glitches, like a broken off part of your blob may get stuck in a wall rather then falling over the edge, this can cause the camera to constantly zoom out in an attempt to see all your mercury at once. Luckily this is rare, and you're not penalized for simply starting a level over.
OVERALL
If rolling/tilting/puzzle games are your thing, then this is probably the best game ever of its type. I got it at EB Games for $59, so it's also well priced.
Edit: Its half price at EB at the moment (3rd Oct 07). I'm not sure how long the sale lasts so I'd get in quick (or call them). At 29 dollars, there is no better bargain on the Wii.
Submitted by AbeFroman
03/10/2007
50
5
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Mercury Meltdown Revolution
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