Impressions: Pop
Since I'm not a big fan of sim games or blackjack, and the controls of LostWinds make me nervous (Plus, they decided not to make Dr. Mario a launch title), I decided to go ahead and blow some of those Wii Points I got for Christmas on Pop. Based on our own Fruit Brute's impressions, it sounded right up my alley. And boy, was I right!
As with all puzzle games, Pop starts with a simple concept that takes skill and coordination to master. The basic idea is to just aim your Wiimote at the bubbles on screen and press a button to pop them and score points within a time limit as soothing new agey music plays. It's that simple. Naturally, smaller bubbles are worth more points, but larger bubbles add a little more time to the clock than the little guys to keep you playing longer. Add in some power-ups and the ability to chain together pops of the same color bubble to rack up point multipliers, and the deceptively simple bubble popping becomes a complex puzzle game where strategy is crucial to reaching that high score.
Multiplayer is done on the same screen, with each player aiming a separate cursor at the same group of bubbles. Additional power-ups are included in multiplayer mode (up to four can play at a time!) that let you counter your opponents by immobilizing them or blacking out the screen except where you aim. It's fun, yet frenetic.
In addition to Normal mode, there is an Advanced mode as well as a training mode that teaches you the basics. Then there's Chill mode, which releases you from the constraints of the time limit and points to just pop bubbles for fun. It's surprisingly soothing when you're not avoiding the deadly power-downs and frantically trying to search out another pink bubble to keep your chain going. WiiConnect24 is used to update worldwide leaderboards, and I have to say I was impressed with my score until I found I ranked 176th and the leader had over a billion points! Who has hand-eye coordination like that? He must be a robot!
At only 700 points, Pop is one of the cheaper initial Wii Ware offerings, and it's also one of the lesser memory hogs. But good things come in small packages, and I can't recommend this highly enough to puzzle fans.
Wootini
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 13 May 2008
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: nintendo, pop, puzzle game, wii, wii ware
I'm enjoying it too! It is just a simple diversion and something you don't really have to 'strain your brain' at playing. I'm really excited for WiiWare. OMG, I love the Nintendo Channel too!
I didn't even consider Pop as a download I'd like but after reading this...I am soooo getting it. I absolutely love these games since you don't sense the major production put into it and you also don't feel the stress in making it. Bravo!!!