Game Reviews: $20 Wii Titles

Jim Van Slyke - Virginian-Pilot

Dec 31, 2007

The Arcade

Classic British Motor Racing

$20 for Nintendo Wii from Destineer

Rated Everyone

"Classic British Motor Racing," released in Europe in 2006 for PCs and the PS2, now lets Wii owners slide behind the wheel of 13 British roadsters, including the Austin Mini Cooper, MGB, Triumph TR6, Austin Healey 3000 and Triumph Spitfire.

If the names of those cars don't mean anything to you, then this is not the game for you. The only real joy to be had here is the novelty of racing these antiques around the British Isles.

There are only six courses, with the best being the Westminster Run on the streets of London. Unlike most racing games that have modes such as a time trial ready from the start, the gamer has to race well to unlock these basics. The only real motivation to play is to try to set track records or beat a group of friends.

The graphics aren't enticing, and the audio is mostly just engine drone. If you are looking for a cheap game and love all things British, then by all means pick this up. Most of us will be better off saving those gift cards for something else.

Myth Makers: Orbs of Doom

$20 for Nintendo Wii from Destineer

Rated Everyone

The slogan for this game is "This quest will test your skill, tax your mind and your nerve." At least they got the nerve part right. In another budget title, gamers are tasked with solving the challenges created by the evil Rebus, who has trapped the Myth Makers in the dreaded Orbs of Doom.

The premise is weak and the graphics wouldn't impress most preschoolers, but this game does have some redeeming value. For one thing, many of the puzzles must be solved by using the Wii Remote. So the gamer has to bend and twist the controller to be a hero.

There are eight Myth Makers to command and 40 levels, so the game is deeper than it first appears. The game is much more fun when a few friends join in. Up to four gamers can try to bump each other off tracks as they race against the clock.

The game probably won't be remembered in February, but let's remember it's only $20.

Monster Trux Offroad

$20 for Nintendo Wii from Destineer

Rated Everyone

The last of our budget, Wii-only games, as you probably guessed from the title, involves driving a monster truck on something other than the highway. Like the other $20 games, this isn't an especially deep title, but it's still fun. The only true novelty is that driving makes good use of the Wii controllers. It is actually more fun to "turn" the controller instead of just nudging a button or stick left or right as in most other racing video games.

Strategy plays a role because gamers can't just drive pell-mell; damage to the trucks must be paid for before the next race. Winning races earns prize money that can be spent on those repairs as well as hidden extras like bigger trucks, upgrades and additional courses.

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