With Mama teaching gamers how to cook some mouth-watering delicacies in the
Cooking Mama games, it’s up to Papa to teach us about the wonders for scientific
experimentation in Science Papa for the Nintendo Wii. Papa has a big lab filled
with all sorts of real-life science equipment and he’s ready to allow you to
show off your ability to create a number of useful inventions in the name of
science and all with the wave of your Wii remote.
You are a nameless, faceless lab assistant to Science Papa … an Albert
Einstein-inspired scientist who has taken a number of science prodigies under
his wing. As his assistant, you are given your own desk and a computer you can
access everything from a store to purchase better equipment as well as check
e-mails for new experiments to take on during the single-player game. You will,
of course, be doing most of the work yourself as you do favors for Papa’s
colleagues but your real goal is to win the Helix Prize for Science in the name
of Papa’s lab.
In the beginning of the game, you will be creating seemingly simple creations to
clean up you lab space by making your own soap. Papa isn’t about to let you buy
your own soap. No way, you have to make your own with all the basic components
that make up a simple bar of soap. This means you will have to mix in the basic
chemicals, prepare the oven to harden the contents and scrape out the excess
layers of film on the newly made bar of soap.
The entire process, of course, is watched by Papa himself and he grades each
step by awarding you stars for the timely fashion as well as the execution of
each step. For example, if you’re sloppy in mixing the chemicals in a bowl using
your spoon or if you take too long crushing ingredients using a pestle and
mortar he will deduct points so that the compound you make might not come out as
good in the end if you continue to mess up the other steps the experiment
requires.
Luckily, each step in the experiment process has a tutorial so you will know
exactly what to do and how. Using only the Wii Remote, you will target the spoon
and make circular motions within the bowl to mix chemicals or tilt the
controller to tilt the beaker to pour the contents into a container. It’s simple
enough, really, and it’s good to see that the controls are actually very
responsive so everything from grinding powdered ingredients to mixing compounds
is easy. This is good news seeing as you are not only working against a timer
but also required to make sure you stop each step when the meter below is full.
Go overboard and you’ll either burn an ingredient too much or mixed in too much
chemicals.
With each successful completion of an experiment, more experiments open up to
you so you won’t just be creating cleaning solvents or bars of soap but also
create useful items such as colored hair dyes and even smoke bombs for magicians
to use. There are more than 40 experiments and projects to take on that also
have you cleaning ancient fossils as well as studying corrals straight from the
depths of the sea. You will earn reputation points you can use in shops to buy
new items and tools for your lab to make your experiments flow a little easier.
While experimenting in Papa’s lab makes up most of the game, the real fun comes
in taking part of the Helix Prize competition that will have you going up
against a fellow nominee. Your first rival, for instance, is Dr. Kapowee who was
once a Papa’s assistant before he decided to run off and try to make millions
with his famous patents. Competitions go down split-screen style as you rush to
finish an experiment before you rival does. Each competitor has the right to use
smoke bombs to block your opponent’s view for a few seconds.
The competitions are actually the best part of the game and, thankfully, the
competitive mode is available as a two-player game. Not only is it exciting to
attempt to beat the clock but it’s also a blast attempting to thwart your
competitor and try to beat them by finishing the experiment first. You’ll go up
against a few challengers in the game so it’s best to practice to prepare
yourself for the competition in the single-player game.
The problem with Science Papa is that various experiments and science projects
start feeling the same. While a few of the many steps to completing the
experiments are actually fun, there’s just so many times you can shake the Wii remote to mix chemicals. Really, the best aspect of the game is the competition
itself. Had the game included more rivals this would have really put the game
over the top.
As far as the graphics are concerned, Science Papa doesn’t feature any visuals
that would make you think you’re playing a Nintendo Wii game. In fact, the game
looks like a decent-looking GameCube game with so-so visual effects. At least
the character models are delightful to look at and the game is quite colorful.
The sound doesn’t fare any better since the same music is played throughout the
game and the same sound effects can be heard throughout.
In the end, Science Papa for the Nintendo Wii can be fun at times but it’s easy
to get bored with a game that is far too repetitive when it comes to the
experiments. At least the controls are done right as well. Competing against
other scientists makes for a challenging experience but this alone can’t save
this game from being just a weekend rental fit for gamers of all ages.
Gameplay: 6.0
As Science Papa’s lab assistant, you will be doing most of the work creating
your own soap to making smoke bombs using various ingredients and the lab’s
equipment. Despite the fact that there are over 40 experiments, the creation
process doesn’t change. At least the science competitions spice things up.
Graphics: 5.0
Visually, the game looks more like would feel right at home as a GameCube game.
Aside from the adorable character designs there’s very little here that really
stands out.
Sound: 5.5
The music is recycled throughout the game and this would have been annoying had
it not been actually quite charming. There’s some voice acting in the game and
it’s just as cute as the characters in the game.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Aside from the fact that there’s a timer, many of these experiments are
challenging for even older gamers especially a bit later in the game. You can
purchase better tools and faster burning Bunsen burners but the game is still a
challenge.
Concept: 5.5
There are numerous experiments to create and a few of them are actually very
tricky to pull off but the creation method starts becoming too familiar to be
much fun for very long. The Helix Prize competition adds tension to the
experiments. The two-player game is the best way to enjoy this game.
Multiplayer: 6.5
Basically like the prize competitions, a friend can take up the role of the
rival scientist to see who can produce any of the numerous experiments before
the other completes it. You can use a set number of bombs against your opponent
just like in the single-player game.
Overall: 6.0
Science Papa doesn’t quite feel right at home on the Nintendo Wii but if you’re
willing to give it a chance it will entertain long enough before you realize the
experiments start feeling too similar. If you can put up with the repetition,
there’s some fact-filled fun to be had here. This is definitely a game worth
renting.
