PixlBit

A mini-game collection clearly geared at kids, but who said that was a bad thing.

With the PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure booth set up right next to Donkey Kong Country Returns, I decided to make a quick stop and try out a few of the mini-games that comprise the title. During my demo I was able to try four different mini-games, each different in design.

In the first, I was tasked with swinging from a vine and jumping as far as I could. Before the start of the task, I was able to choose my Pokemon that I wanted to use, and the game suggested Mankey, so I picked him. From here, the game started and the controls were smooth and simple. I needed to swing the Wii Remote at the right moment to maximize Mankey's swing. Once I felt he was at the optimal height, a push of the B Button launched him towards the marking points. The game was simple, but fun, and would seemingly be a competitive exercise, given others also playing the game with you.

The next one I played was a bit more shallow, requiring me to rapidly shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to run as a Pokemon and reach the finishline first. This wasn't a great example of what PokePark had to offer, so I decided to move on to a more interesting event.

Mini-game three was an Arkanoid or Pong-like game where you controlled Sudowoodo to bounce a giant ball at the other side of the stage where another Pokemon defended a number of panels. Players can charge hit the ball to knock over the other Pokemon and hit the panels behind it. Each panel started as 1 point, and as you hit each one it would be replaced with an incrementally more valuable panel. As players continue through the game, the ball picks up speed, and Digdugs come out everywhere and prematurely deflect the ball back. The game was competitive, arcade-style fun.

My final game experience was a downhill slalom race. Rather than forcing me to pass through sets of flags, the flags acted as boosts to move me down the mountain faster. Control was handled with tilting motion ala Excite Truck, and the only button you could press was the A Button which applied a small brake to assist you in sharp turns. Again, this mini-game was quite fun, though a bit on the easy side.

Overall PokePark looks like it's shaping up well, though clearly it's a game meant for children. According to the rep demoing the game for me, the mode I was playing was just the arcade mode where games you unlock in the main quest are made available for quick access. Normally, players will man Pikachu and befriend as many Pokemon as possible by performing quests and playing along with the mini-games available. If you have small kids, PokePark looks to be a winner for some family fun.