Elebits Review

What happens when you put unlimited interactivity with objects ranging from 1000s of different items, cute small creatures everywhere scattered within them, unreal physics, and a gravity-defying  gun that let’s you throw it all over the world.  Possibly one of the most innovative games ever created.

 

Before launch some speculated that the Wii just wouldn’t live up to it’s hype that the wiimote was more or less just a gimmick.  Come launch some games had it and some didn’t with the controls and ideas.  Some controls simply felt tacked on.  Yet Elebits shows how amazing the wiimote can be in games.  Konami’s first attempt at their all new original game for the Wii is easily one of the best launch window titles available.

 

The game starts out with all the power going out in the town.  You play as a young child named Kai.  His parents work with Elebits.  Elebits are little creatures that basically are electricity.  They make everything run.  The young kid has a hatred for these cute creatures cause his parents are always having to deal with them and not pay attention to him.  So when the power goes out and he can’t watch his favorite TV show he goes on a rampage collecting elebits to restore power.  Quite a different setup into the game than I would have expected but once again Konami went an entirely different way even on setting up the game by putting a selfish brat in charge of seeking a sort of vengeance.

 

 

Using a gravity defying gun that captures the Elebits you go through many stages trying to get the set Watt limit to pass the level.  You vary from stages from your room, to hallways, closets, bathrooms, streets, garages, outside, and even an amuzement park.  The time limit and watt limit changes according to level.  Yet these Elebits just aren’t lying around in the levels.  You got to use your gun to find them hiding everywhere, even under, inside, and on top of the many objects.  Not only that once you get certain voltage levels you can access accessories that’ll spew out hundreds of Elebits.   Yet this would all make it too easy so there are also minor objectives.  Such as sometimes you can only break a certain amount of objects.  Or sometimes you can only make so much sound.  Or sometimes you can only take so much damage to the gun.   The game even consists of boss battles which you’ll be surprised how well they fit in.

 

That just makes it all the trickier where you have to be a little more careful in your search.   Also available throughout the levels are many powerups such as shields, homing lasers, noise cancelers, super strength, radar, ect.  All in good fun.  Yet the best thing that about the levels is when you play them in Zero gravity.  Oh the objects flying around like you are in space make for a great time.  Everything about the setup is just great fun.  You’ll instantly start to love picking up many objects and recking the room.  You don’t believe me but you won’t believe how many things are interactive and how when you get the toughest strength what you can do.

 

Once done with story or want to play something a little less structured you can go replay those levels to try to get the highest scores or play challenge games.  The single player has amazing replay value as you try to trash the place to get the most points.

 

Moving onto multiplayer this is definetly a game to share with your family and your Wii online friends.  With your family you can play up to 4 people.  See who can get the most watts the fastest.  All in good fun.  Yet definetly the coolest part is map editor.  The map editor is just so amazing.  You can put so much in.  You can decide which elebits and where, hundreds of objects to put in, many differnet levels, you can even decide what gravity you want.  Map editor is definetly great and gives great retail value.

 

But where the online comes in is that in the game you can take screenshots and send it to your Wii friends.  This is where I think online friends is developer choice cause Elebits does not require you to use new friend codes.  Instead you use the Wii hardware friend codes to send screenshots.  But not only that.  You can also send your created maps to friends for them to play and try out.  So it’s a battle to create the coolest and most challenging maps for your friends to enjoy.  Definetly the 1st true online game for America and Europe.

 

 

The controls in the game are very sharp.  It’ll take you no time at all to use the very minimal buttons.  To shoot you simply point at the screen and press A or B.  To turn like in other FPS you use a combo of the analog and the pointer to turn and move.  The analog controlls sidestepping while the point controls the turning.  To see higher press the C buttong and to see lower press the Z button.  That’s really all there is to it to the game.  Very simple and easy to use controls that anyone can pickup.  Controls for the pointer are spot on.  This game just couldn’t work with dual analog.  Just wouldn’t be the same or as accurate.

 

The graphics in the game are definetly solid.  All the items are in there and look good.  Definetly not one of the better looking Wii games as far as textures but still everything is smooth and finished.  The physics in the game is probably something someone would complain about.  Oh there not real or what not is something they’d say.  But here is where I’m going to go out of line and say who the fuck cares.  This game is better because you can throw a house 20 ft in the air and have it glide up there.  The overexaggerated physics in this game brings out the best in you as it goes for destorying and wrecking everything.

 

The sound in the game is also quite good in itself.  Each level has a new soundtrack that varies many different types.  The sounds that everything makes is very good and you’ll never get tired of hearing those cut elebit sounds.  The only flaw in the sound is voice acting is ear shattering.  Just tune out the really over done acting.

 

Conclusion

 

Storyline- The game brings a unique setup to the game while interesting a totally original idea to the gaming world.  Konami did a great job on their first attempt on the Wii showing how great games can be when devs really try to make a great original game not a realistic one.- 9.0

 

Gameplay- The controls show how great the Wiimote can be when taken time to code it correctly.  The pointer is flawless and extremely accurate.  The simple controls and minimal use of buttons make it easy for anyone to pick up and play and enjoy.- 8.5

 

Game Design- Elebits is definetly not a graphically realistic game but it’s style does the game justice.  The overly done physics contribute to that while the number of items on teh screen that can be interacted with is definetly amazing.- 7.0 

 

Sound- Each level varies in unique sound.  And the option to change for each level let’s you keep your favorites all the time or mix it up.  The sounds all the objects and creatures make are good.  The voice acting is god awful though and really made storyline build in cutscenes a pain but luckily their aren’t many.  7.0

 

Replay Value- going back and replaying all your missions to get the highest score is very addictive.  Also playing with your closest friends can make exciting times.  But the highlight is map editor which you can make maps of your own and then play them yourselves or send them to your Wii buddies across the world.  This is one of the best multiplayer titles on the Wii thus far.- 9.0

 

Overall Score- 8.8

 

Elebits is definetly a game all Wii gamers should pick up.  Whether young old, casual, hardcore, ect this game is a fun, addictive, and innovative game that everyone will enjoy.

 

Zucas