The evolution
of the Wii has yet to be realized. There are any number of titles that sport a
lot of mini games, bank on the Wii-mote characteristics but drop the ball in
advancing the whole idea behind using the motion-sensitive characteristics of
the Wii-mote. What we are left with are a bunch of games that offer little that
is new or different and don’t relieve that with a deeper gaming experience.
THQ is entering
the mini-games market with Big Beach Sports, a title that features six games
based off what one presumes would be beach-oriented fun. The games include
volleyball, disc golf, cricket, bocce ball, soccer and football. Yep, sounds
good so far, but it is not until you dive into the games that you realize the
mechanics are not totally intuitive nor are the physics all that realistic.
You begin by
creating a character that will represent you in the game. There are decent
customization options, but don’t get too excited or plan to spend a long time in
this section. There are tournaments you can participate in and you can win
trophies for your level of completion (the obligatory bronze, silver and gold
trophies). As you compete, the difficulty ramps up and while the competition
does get tougher, the satisfaction level upon beating it just does not carry
that much enthusiasm.
The game also
has Wii-mote actions attached to some of the game mechanics. In football, for
example, you merely swing the remote to throw the ball. If it is a running play,
you hold the B button and swing the Wii-mote to juke. Defensively, you shake the
controller to tackle the ball carrier. Disc golf changes it up a bit with the
type of throw you make complemented by the motion you use. Swing straight down
and you achieve a hammer throw. Bocce ball uses an underarm motion to toss the
ball, but you can also release the ball with a bit of spin, or so it says. Since
you are rolling the ball on sand, spin seems to do very little. With soccer, the
controls are a bit messier.
Up to four
people can participate in the multiplayer elements of the game and that is where
the fun of this title truly lays. You can get a surprisingly rousing game of
cricket up and going with a pair of Wii-motes.
The sound and
graphics are not that stellar. And the game physics can seem a little awkward at
times. Just don’t expect too much and you will not be disappointed here.
In its defense,
Big Beach Sports is a budget title and in that regard, what is presented here is
on track for a low-end cost outlay. But when one considers what might have been,
it can be a little disappointing.
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Gameplay: 3.5
Convoluted controls
muddle what might otherwise have been an entertaining experience.
Graphics: 3
It can be done much
better than this. It looks so flat and uninspiring.
Sound: 2.5
The sound is not
very well realized.
Difficulty: Easy/Med
Concept: 4.0
Give the dev team
props for trying to create a game that has a variety of mini-games, but the game
falls down when it comes to the individual competitions as a solo player.
Multiplayer: 4.5
The solo elements
may not be a lot of fun, but the game does pick up marginally when it comes to
multiplayer action.
Overall: 4.0
This is a game that
had potential, but that potential was not fully realized. The game is not
terrible, especially in a multiplayer setting, but it just fails to connect in a
truly long-lasting entertaining way.
