Need For Speed (NFS) Carbon

Just when you thought the NFS series couldn't get any better, along comes the Wii to prove you wrong...

The last NFS game I played on was NFS Underground 2 on the PC and this game on the Wii is exactly the same, only better!!!  The graphics and in-game music and sound effects are of the high standard we have come to expect with the NFS series of games.  The premise is pretty much the same as before, you have to drive around winning races so you can upgrade you car to be able to win even more races!

When you are fed up with drifting, race wars, sprinting and racing through checkpoints you can simply drive around the places that you have unlocked and annoy the police and see how many cars you can destroy and how many road blocks you can evade!

How can you win a race but pass the finish line in 2nd place??? Crew racing, that's how!  No longer are you racing alone, as you progress through the game you find yourself recruiting different crew members which you can hire for particular races.

The crew members come in 3 different varieties:

1) Drafters - as the name suggests, these crew members speed off ahead of you and allow you to make use of their slipstream.

2) Pathfinders - the name says it all really, these crew members will find all the shortcuts that you can take so make sure you follow them!

3) Blockers - these guys will take out your opponents that you see coming up close in your rear view mirror.

What really makes this game on the Wii standout is the gameplay, more importantly the unique way this game has made use of your Controller & Nunchuck!  Just when you thought playing Excite Truck by tilting your Controller was innovative, NFS Carbon goes one step further and offers you 5 different ways of controlling your car!

This is the standard way of controlling a car on the Wii and is just like the way you would do so if you were playing Excite Truck of GT Pro etc.

When I first started playing this game, this was the only control method I was using as I hadn't realised I had another 4 more options to choose from!

The only thing I don't like about this control set is that to turn round sharp corners you have to hold down the A button which is for over steering.

The method shown here on the right is the one I am currently using and it is absolutely awesome!

You tilt the nunchuck left and right for the analogue steering and (quite literally) use the controller as the accelerator pedal!

Without a doubt the control methods in this game make it stand out from the rest!

If you were umming and arring over this game and GT Pro then forget GT Pro and get yourself Carbon - you won't regret it!

Wii Mans Game Rating

Fun Factor: 9/10 - If you like car racing games then buy this NOW!
Playability: 10/10 - With 5 different control methods you are bound to find one to suit.
Gameplay: 10/10 - Carbon makes full use of the Controller & Nunchuck!
Graphics: 8/10 - Fantastic graphics that we have come to expect on the NFS series of games.
Sound/Music: 8/10 - Nothing fancy but still quite good. I would have liked to see MP3s from your SD card being used in this game though...

Overall 45/50

*** A Wii Man Recommended Title For Car Racing Fans!***

WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Oh My God! What a bizarre, strange and funny game!

The game is nothing more than a complete compilation of what seems like hundreds and hundreds of mini-games that are over in the blink of an eyelid!

It makes full use of the Wii Controller with you having to perform such tasks as turning key to open a door to holding the controller on your head whilst you squat on the ground and then stand straight back up again!!!

The images below show just some of the mini-games that you have to complete in (quite literally) a matter of seconds! Just before the mini game begins you are shown how to hold the remote and in the few seconds that the game lasts, not only do you have to complete the task but you have to actually work out what the task is and how to move the controller!!! Mad I tell you , mad!!!

The image on the left shows someone holding the remote in the 'mohican' stance squatting etc. the image above shows you using a saw with the remaining image showing how you can weight-lift!!!

This game is a great party game as everyone can take part! I'm not sure which is more fun, taking part playing the game or watching someone playing the game!!!

Wii Man's Reviews

Fun Factor: 9/10 - On your own 0/10 with a load of mates 9/10
Playability: 10/10 - Full use of the Wii controller
Gameplay: 9/10 - That's all there is with this game, not much skill involved!
Graphics: 5/10 - Graphics are not what this game is about!!!
Sound/Music: 7/10 - Fun sounding music for a fun game.

Overall 40/50

Far Cry: Vengeance

When I got this game I didn't know quite what to expect. I certainly wasn't expecting the way that the controls work!

The nunchuk is required for this game and is used (along with the controller) in an ingenious way.

You have to point the controller at the screen and as you move the cross-hair around you move in that direction in conjunction with the nunchuk analogue stick which moves you forwards and backwards and sideways left and right.

Grenades and the like! To throw a stone, grenade or petrol bomb you hold down a button on the nunchuk, aim with the controller and then pretend the nunchuk is a grenade etc. and perform a throwing motion!

If you imagine the controller as being a knife all you have to do is perform a cutting/slicing/chopping motion and it will automatically change to the knife and start cutting things before changing back to your chosen weapon.

To jump you move the nunchuk quickly in an upward direction and to kick things you wiggle the controller in a kicking fashion.

The graphics are reasonable but can be a bit dodgy at times with some textures of the foliage being quite pixel Ted. On a few occasions I have noticed that the draw distance can be a bit poor sometimes too as on turning around it quickly tries to draw buildings that you are quite near to.

To start with I thought the sound/music was quite good as when you get to a tense part of the game some tense sounding music begins to play... it is when it gets to the end of the track and then starts again with no fade in or out that you realise it is badly joined together, which spoils it a little bit for me.

Overall this is quite a reasonable game, but the only thing that makes it stand a little bit out from the crowd is the way you use the controllers.

I think if you wanted to get this game then I would wait until it is re-released as a 'budget' title as I am sure it will be in the future...

Wii Mans Game Rating
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Fun Factor: 6/10 - Can Be Quite Repetitive & You May Get Bored Easily
Playability: 10/10 - The Controls Are Amazing, Unlike Anything Before!
Gameplay: 6/10 - The Game Is Playable, But Nothing Too Outstanding
Graphics: 7/10 - Some Poor Textures & Draw Distance Flaws
Sound/Music: 5/10 - Badly Joined Music When It Is Repeated

Overall: 34/50

GT Pro Series

The GT Pro Series that I have got came with the free steering wheel attachment which takes the whole gaming experience to a different level.

To steer the vehicles all you need to do is place the controller in to the steering wheel thingy and then simply rotate it left and right!

Then all you need to worry about is 2 buttons. Button 1 is the brake and button 2 is accelerate. It couldn't be any simpler than that!!

You start off in what I like to call 'easy mode' and work your way up getting gold, silver and bronze cups as

you go!

In some aspects it is like the Need For Speed series of games as you collect upgrades that you can add to any of your vehicles as you progress through the game.

If your arms are aching from playing games like Raymans Raving Rabbids then this game is ideal for having a rest from all that shaking and thrusting about!!!

Wii Mans Game Rating

Fun Factor: 7/10 - If You Like Car Racing Games Then This Is For You!
Playability: 9/10 - The Steering Wheel Attachment Makes It An Even More Enjoyable Experience.
Gameplay: 7/10 - Similar To That Of The Need For Speed Type Of Game
Graphics: 7/10 - Good Graphics - Nothing Outstanding Though
Sound/Music: 7/10 - Good Music & Sound But Nothing Unexpected

Overall: 37/50

Rayman: Raving Rabbids

Oh, My, God...

This has to be the most stupidest, daftest, silliest and most fun game I have ever played. :)

Rayman: Raving Rabbids is basically a game that is full of nothing but mini-games so you can either play for 5 minutes or 5 hours!!!  So far I have been running with a bomb trying to get to the finish line before the bomb goes off, only for the bomb to go off anyway!

I have also been watching some Rabbids with constipation, as the toilet doors fly open you have to close them using the remote and nunchuck else they get all embarrassed when they see you watching them and shoot you with a plunger!!  I've just got to the part where I have had to milk my first cow. Yes, that's right milking a cow! Who on earth comes up with these strange ideas?

Wii Mans Game Rating

Fun Factor: 10/10 - Amazing Fun
Playability: 9/10 - Very Tiring On The Arms
Gameplay: 9/10 - 5 Minutes Or 5 Hours, You Decide!
Graphics: 8/10 - Nothing Fancy As It's All About The Gameplay!
Sound/Music: 7/10 - Very Funny Sound Effects ;)

Overall: 43/50