Wing Island (JPN Wii)

[Johnny]

Right, thought I'd add some Japanese Wii games to first play.

First up, Wing Island. This was one of the very first games shown way back when the Wii was first unveiled and has featured in promo videos and the like as an example of how the Wii remote can be used to control games.

First off, it's very simple. You take control of a group of 5 planes. Holding the remote "straight" (i.e. pointing it at the TV) controls your plane. Tilting left, right, up and down makes it go in those directions. Pushing it towards the telly gives you a speed boost and pulling it back slows you down. Flicking right or left quickly will perform a barrel roll and is essentially a way of doing a quick 180 turn.

Gameplay wise, there are a number of training modes such as flying through balloons to burst a certain number of them and so on.
Story mode is the main meat of the game and you'll be performing tasks to help people out. So far, I've been rounding up cows, dropping barrels in certain marks, putting out fires and destroying structures in the sea. The B button is used to perform most of these tasks and the control scheme works quite well, although holding your arm/hand in one position for any length of time is obviously quite painful!

Overall, it's a fun, quirky title which we will most likely look back at in a year or two and see it for what it is - basically an extended tech demo. I can't really recommend shelling out full price (plus there are other more essential Japanese Wii games) but if you find it cheap or preowned and want a relaxing, non-taxing way to show what the Wii can do then give it a go.

[c00ke5ter]

Does it feel like it has any lineage to Pilotwings?

[Party boy]

Doesn't anyone else have any opinions on this? I'm very tempted to get it, but I've seen no reviews...

[MikeRox]

it's out in PAL land now so there should hopefully be some more comprehensive impressions, but the review I read from I think it was Official Nintendo magazine was barely above 50%

[Party boy]

That's a shame, I was worried it might not be that great... still tempted though!

[Party boy]

I mean a 2 player mode!

[Dezm0nd]

Give it 4 weeks and it'll be sub 20 quid. Looks a bit pap from the videos/picture/reviews

[sadat]

Spent this afternoon with the PAL release of this. The controls are a little too twitchy on the Wiimote, and I _know_ the whole idea of the console is to bring new gaming experiences to us but I can't help thinking this'd play a whole lot better on a Gamecube controller. The finely gradated control, optional nunchuk camera control [which makes the missions far easier] and need for quick switching between formations would suit the GC's analogue stick and buttons.

It's not all bad - the mini-game is perhaps better than the main story mode. You've got your five planes in formation and have to pop as many balloons as possible; oddly therapeutic, like airborne bubble wrap, and perhaps enough to recommend checking the game out for.

Underwhelmed.

[J0e Musashi]

I can't help but feel cheap PS Store games Fl0w and Super Rub a Dub are better than certain full price Wii titles. Is it just me?

[Jebus]

I can't help but feel cheap PS Store games Fl0w and Super Rub a Dub are better than certain full price Wii titles. Is it just me?

No mate, it most certainly isn't just you. After getting my PS3 this week I'm totally with you in that camp. When you consider how short some Wii games are (Wario I'm looking at you) and compare the prices...

[sadat]

I think you've got to look on these games as experiments, or little tasters of things to come as the makers become one with their tools. Remember the early DS games, Yoshi Touch & Go was one idea strung out over a whole cartridge for instance.

Having said that, there is a hint of unfinishedness in this game. The between-level cut scenes alternate between animated in-engine sequences and storyboards, suggesting there wasn't time to finish everything. To be expected of launch software I suppose.

[Party boy]

I really enjoyed it, it's just too short, I didn't find the controls twitchy at all, though pulling off some of the maneuvres can be slightly hit and miss in terms of pulling off the one you want. I'd say it's definitely worth checking out when the price comes down, I wasn't sure about the control scheme when I heard about it, but when you try it for yourself it's great, it's like being free as a bird, I hope Mario uses the same controls for flying!

Who knows, maybe one day pilots will use something similsr to control real planes!

[Leon Retro]

I'm speaking as someone who hasn't got a Wii, but would definitely buy one if the right amount of good games existed for it.

It's sad to hear that this game isn't great. I was hoping it would be something special.

The problem is simply that the Nintendo of the 90s has gone; people change. It seems like Nintendo either have no truely great game makers left, or only a few.

I've always been a major fan of Nintendo and it's machines. I'm not happy about the Wii situation. I hope things get better.

[Ryo Saeba]

Things are already getting better.. the game drought is over, seeing as Mercury Meltdown Revolution, Mario Strikers and Eledees are all coming out in May and there's Trauma Center and Resident Evil 4 in June.

Too bad that Wing Island isn't a winner and I'm also a little dissapointed about the price situation (Wii games have to be cheaper than PS3 or XBox 360 software, the prices should reflect the lower production cost), but I'm sure I'll pick this one up after the price dropped in a few months (same as with Kororinpa).

[Adam Stone]

I saw this today in my local Gamestation for £25 new...

Its a quirky little title that certainly offers nothing spectacular, but a nice calm and easy ride.