Carnival Games

"All the fun of the carnival at home, but without creepy carnies or rigged games!"

Ah, yes, the carnival. Unsafe rides, carnies trying to rip you off, and of course the infamous Ring Toss. If you enjoy the carnival, or are just looking for a good multiplayer game, step right up to Carnival Games. While the game isn't perfect and definitely has flaws, it accurately recreates 25 different attractions from the carnival, ranging from the infamous Ring Toss to a shooting gallery.

Gameplay- 8/10

In Carnival Games, you go around and play various classic carnival games. Almost all of these games are a blast to play, especially with friends. If you've ever been to a carnival, you'll instantly recognize at least a few of these games. Some favorites include Alley Ball (Skee-Ball), Ring Toss, and Balloon Darts, all of which play very much like they do in real life. In the somewhat lacking single-player mode, you can also win prizes & accessories for your custom characters. Some of the prizes are almost like what you'd win in a real carnival, but others lack detail and you really couldn't care less about winning them. There are also unlockable "super" versions of games, but they aren't too fun, although one super game you may want to unlock because it is not an upgrade of an old game.

The place were the game shines most is in multiplayer. All of the players (up to four) can either share a remote or use one of their own, which is nice. However, you will need multiple remotes to play a few of the games in multiplayer. Once you start up the multiplayer mode, you can go head to head, which let's you pick a carnival game and play against your friends. You can also play in competition mode, which selects five random carnival games for you and your friends to play in. After each game in competition mode, you get a certain amount of points depending on how you do. At the end of the five games, the person with the most points wins. There is only one issue with multiplayer mode that really takes away from the experience. While playing in multiplayer mode, the game is vulnerable to freezing up, forcing you to unplug the Wii.

Graphics- 7/10

Carnival Games is not what you would call good-looking. The frame-rate often rears its ugly head, and everything just seems a bit... dull. The odd thing about this for a game based on the carnival, not looking good IS good. All of the booths with the paint chipping off almost make you feel like you're actually at a carnival. I wish I could say the same about the prizes. They just don't look too good.

Sound/Music- 5/10

The weak point of Carnival Games is the sound. Although nothing sounds too bad or wrong, there is also nothing memorable. The various songs that play during the game seem fit for a carnival, but get annoying after a while. The voices of the Carnies are okay, but the grunts and various noises your character makes will more likely than not get on your nerves. For some odd reason, some prizes you win also make noises. Although you may think it is cute to see a red flying bear, listening to it is another story.

Replay Value- 8/10

Carnival Games alone will not keep you hooked for long, as the idea of winning poorly-designed, annoying, hard to see prizes doesn't really appeal to me. However, playing with friends is another story. If the game doesn't freeze in the process, multiplayer is a blast.

Controls- 7/10

The controls in Carnival Games are VERY hit-or-miss. Some game, like Skee-Ball and Balloon Darts control very well. On the other hand, games like Nerves-O-Steel and Frog Leap have some serious control issues. Other games, like Dunk Tank and Spilled Milk use an odd control scheme. A green cursor moves around the screen. You make an overhand throwing motion to throw, with the ball being thrown at the point the green cursor was on. While this is accurate, this doesn't make some games feel like their real-life counterparts. Another type of control scheme that I am not fond of is used by Clown Splash and Test Your Strength. You have to rapidly swing around the remote to build up water pressure/energy. The problem here is that I think the controls for these games aren't sensitive enough, as you have to shake the remote like crazy to build up a good amount of energy.

Overall- 7/10

Pros:

Great multiplayer.
Some games are very close to their real-life counterparts.
Lots of prizes to collect.
Graphics generally fit the game well.

Cons:

Multiplayer occasionally freezes up.
Most prizes are lame.
Sound and music are often annoying.
Frame-rate issues.
Sometimes the controls are problematic.
A little expensive at $40.
"Super" games are lame.

Conclusion

Carnival Games makes for a good time with friends or at a party. However, there are a few issues with the game, but they are usually easy enough to overlook. It is probably not worth the purchase if you're going to play it alone, though.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/27/07, Updated 06/20/08

Game Release: Carnival Games (US, 08/28/07)