Anyone getting Boom Blox for the Wii?

UpgradeFailure

Golden Member
Feb 29, 2004
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It's gotten really great reviews so far. I wish it was $40 or less. $50 for a puzzle game seems pretty high. It looks like fun though, and I'm kinda tempted, because a game you can pick up and play for a few mins here and there is always nice to have on hand

Anyone gonna pick it up?
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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i was going to.. because of the headtracking easter egg. but then they pulled it. i wanted to boycott it. but it does indeed look like a fun game.

i'll hold off.. i still haven't finished RE4. and have the SSE from SSBB to finish... and mario kart.. and zelda on the DS, haha.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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I'm pretty interested in this game, but I doubt I'll pick it up anytime soon. Maybe when it comes down in price.
 

bl4ckfl4g

Diamond Member
Feb 13, 2007
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Originally posted by: randomlinh
i was going to.. because of the headtracking easter egg. but then they pulled it. i wanted to boycott it. but it does indeed look like a fun game.

i'll hold off.. i still haven't finished RE4. and have the SSE from SSBB to finish... and mario kart.. and zelda on the DS, haha.

Boycott it why? It isn't EA(publisher) or the developers fault that it got pulled. Looks like a fun game but Wii is for my kids if they want it, I'll get it for them and try it.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
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I've had the game since last week, but GTAIV has killed every other game in my house so I just havent spent time with it beyond the initial 15 minutes. :p
 

Auryg

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2003
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Originally posted by: bl4ckfl4g
Originally posted by: randomlinh
i was going to.. because of the headtracking easter egg. but then they pulled it. i wanted to boycott it. but it does indeed look like a fun game.

i'll hold off.. i still haven't finished RE4. and have the SSE from SSBB to finish... and mario kart.. and zelda on the DS, haha.

Boycott it why? It isn't EA(publisher) or the developers fault that it got pulled. Looks like a fun game but Wii is for my kids if they want it, I'll get it for them and try it.

Why was it pulled?
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
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Originally posted by: UpgradeFailure
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Link?

Reviews

Warcrow, if you put any more time into it, let me know how it is. I kind of need a "game" to play when I'm burnt on gta.

Chris talked about it in our last Podcast and I should have my impressions pretty darn soon too.
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: bl4ckfl4g
Originally posted by: randomlinh
i was going to.. because of the headtracking easter egg. but then they pulled it. i wanted to boycott it. but it does indeed look like a fun game.

i'll hold off.. i still haven't finished RE4. and have the SSE from SSBB to finish... and mario kart.. and zelda on the DS, haha.

Boycott it why? It isn't EA(publisher) or the developers fault that it got pulled. Looks like a fun game but Wii is for my kids if they want it, I'll get it for them and try it.

because it was a great opportunity to have something really creative control wise. Plus, I wanted to see some recognition for the guy who made it happen. it wasn't like a serious boycott.. heh, just a personal disappointment.

and i have no idea why it got canned.
 

bl4ckfl4g

Diamond Member
Feb 13, 2007
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I actually don't know but !up said it isn't EA or the developers fault. I think that Nintendo made them drop it.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
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Boycotting a game for an easter egg that was removed is really stupid. If its a good game, who cares? I'd be more angry that Boom Blox doesn't support WFC.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
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I've having such a blast with this game. It might not look like it at first glance, but this is one magnificent puzzle game. But its not just a puzzle game, its also sort of an action game at times. They really mix it up a lot, theres different balls to throw, different blocks to burst, castles to defend, objectives etc. I thought it was super simple at first, but there is definitely a ton of depth and variety in it. It really makes great use of the wiimote, and its just a whole lot of fun, plain and simple.

Part of me thinks it would have been better as a Wiiware game, but now that I'm fully into it, I feel like I'm getting my moneys worth. Ill have to try multiplayer later tonight, but if the single player is any indication, itll likely be a whole lot of fun.

The graphics are very bland, even for a wii game, but you wont really care once you really get into it. This is exactly the kind of game the Wii was meant for - the motion and IR work so well together and it just feels so visceral to chuck those balls around.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
The more I play this game, the more I like it. Theres so much ingenuity and variety in it that I've been playing for hours now and havent gotten bored. It might seem like tetris where theres one simple mechanic thats hard to master, but in this game, youll be throwing, pushing, pulling, shooting, bombing etc - but its all cleverly put together in levels such that you have a limited repertoire of abilities and have to make use of them the best you can.

Theres the simple knock certain blocks out puzzles.
Theres a bunch where you have to knock blocks off a bridge without destroying it or killing the character that needs to cross it.
Theres one where you're given two bombs to knock holes in a solid structure, then a few bouncy balls to throw them inside and try and get them to hit as many walls as possible.
Theres shooting galleries where you have to protect characters missle command style.
One mode had you placing bombs where you want, and then blasting them, causing a chain reaction to try to knock down as many blocks puzzles.
Theres puzzles where you have to pull blocks away to build or remove obstacles of a character crossing.
In one mode you're given a hose and basically have to use it to play golf knocking blocks into each other with the stream of water.
Theres the jenga type puzzles where you have to pull out certain blocks to keep the tower standing.

I could continue on for quite some time. Brilliant and really, really fun.
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Modeps
Boycotting a game for an easter egg that was removed is really stupid. If its a good game, who cares? I'd be more angry that Boom Blox doesn't support WFC.
It may be stupid, but it was touted as a feature over and over. I took it as to be part of the game really. It's has sooo much potential. As for WFC, I've pretty much given up on that, heh.

BD2003, good to hear. I'll still wager it'll hit the $30 bin sooner than since it isn't well advertised. I'll probably wait until then.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: Modeps
Boycotting a game for an easter egg that was removed is really stupid. If its a good game, who cares? I'd be more angry that Boom Blox doesn't support WFC.
It may be stupid, but it was touted as a feature over and over. I took it as to be part of the game really. It's has sooo much potential. As for WFC, I've pretty much given up on that, heh.

BD2003, good to hear. I'll still wager it'll hit the $30 bin sooner than since it isn't well advertised. I'll probably wait until then.

yeah, Id wait and spend $30 on it. I'm apparently 70% through the game already in about 5 hours, but the last few puzzles are absolutely mind bending.

Theres a few action stages that unfortunately are just a whole lot more annoying than fun. One in particular had you protecting a bunch of kittens within a fortress, with nothing but baseballs to defend with. In order to throw a baseball, you aim with the pointer and chuck with the remote, but obviously when you do that, the pointer goes flying. Its extremely tiring to have to keep finding the remote and flicking your wrist, and you do have to flick it decently in order for you to recognize it. That might have been fun if this wasnt a 360 assault, requiring you to use constantly swing around with the camera as well as do everything else, and your camera is locked in such a way that you could onyl have seen half of whats going on.

But really, thats the only stage I truly hated. The rest of the game is a whole lot of fun, although I prefer the slower paced puzzles to the fast paced action sequences, because they can get a little difficult to control.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
Finally got a real chance to check this game out (multiplayer only!) for a few hours over the weekend and I've got to tell you--we had a really great time with this game!

For Mothers Day we had about 8 family members over and the kids never got a chance to play (6 and 3 yers old) because no one wanted to give up the Wiimotes. :p I know I know--child abuse, right?

But it took over the family get-together as everyone wanted to give it a shot. People seemed to gravitate to different modes as no one really agreed on a favorite game type.

One preffered the jenga pull-the-block-out-of-the-tower mode and another loved lobbing baseballs at towers.

One Wii owner (not me) proclaimed that this was the best game he'd even seen for the Wii. Another family member who isnt a Wii owner said that this might make them finally buy one.

I wish I could write more but I dont have time--just get it.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
Originally posted by: warcrow
Finally got a real chance to check this game out (multiplayer only!) for a few hours over the weekend and I've got to tell you--we had a really great time with this game!

For Mothers Day we had about 8 family members over and the kids never got a chance to play (6 and 3 yers old) because no one wanted to give up the Wiimotes. :p I know I know--child abuse, right?

But it took over the family get-together as everyone wanted to give it a shot. People seemed to gravitate to different modes as no one really agreed on a favorite game type.

One preffered the jenga pull-the-block-out-of-the-tower mode and another loved lobbing baseballs at towers.

One Wii owner (not me) proclaimed that this was the best game he'd even seen for the Wii. Another family member who isnt a Wii owner said that this might make them finally buy one.

I wish I could write more but I dont have time--just get it.

Seriously. LOVE THIS GAME. I'm not sure if I'd say its the best game on the Wii, but its an incredble use of the controls, and they really did come up with some creative puzzles and modes.

Its so simple, but SO addicting, so unique. I'm still not entirely sold on the action based sequences, but I absolutely love the puzzles and even the block pulling out stuff is growing on me. Its all such a clever and perfect use of the Wiimote...it wouldnt be nearly as fun if they tried to port it to another system.

My only real gripe is the inconsistency of the difficulty. Some parts are pretty easy, and then some seem near impossible. The only that involve a lot of throwing quickly give me a lot of trouble, I dont think I'm ever going to try for gold on those.

Cant wait to try it multi.
 

bl4ckfl4g

Diamond Member
Feb 13, 2007
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This is the first game ever my wife saw me playing and asked to play. She hates video games. She couldn't put it down and said we are buying a Wii. I don't really want one but I had alot of fun playing this with her.
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
On the hearty recommendation of everyone here, I dropped by GameStop today after work and bought Boom Blox. I've just been playing it by myself since I got home. It's super fun. I think this is the game that will convince me to keep my Wii. I have been thinking of getting another console (even though I sort of prefer PC gaming), but now I'll be keeping my Wii even if I get something else.

EDIT: Played it for a few hours tonight... it's pretty fun, and it was definitely addictive (kept me glued to my TV for hours). But there are a few criticisms:

- The "grab" levels (Jenga-style "remove blocks from structure without knocking over said structure") are really frustrating. The Wii pointing system isn't precise enough to do this right, and it's too sensitive to up and down motions (which actually lift the block up or down, knocking things over). Especially the last couple are insane and took me forever to complete.
- Throwing balls at blocks is really fun, and watching how everything reacts is mesmerizing. But the motion sensor isn't sensitive enough, IMO. I'm used to Wii games that allow you to just flick your wrist in a small but rapid movement, and that's enough. Not in Boom Blox. You really have to fling your arm around, which tires you out (my wrist is still sore).
- The pointing system is a bit messed up. Well, it's fine, but it gets confused easily. I am constantly having to point at the screen, then away from it for a second, then back at it, just to get it to act properly. This generally happens when the remote isn't pointing at the screen for a little while; that is to say, it happens constantly since you're constantly making the throwing motion for the ball and thus not aiming at the screen. It's like the pointing system is re-calibrating itself a little differently every single time you point away from the screen and back at it. The only way to prevent this from happening is to immediately point the remote at the screen after the motion, which often works, but not always. Pretty often, my pointer gets confused and jumps around or moves at a strange angle. I've never had this problem in any other game, and it's very frustrating. I imagine it would be ten times worse if I had other people over. It's hard enough trying to tell three other people to press the thumb button and the trigger at the same time for Wii Bowling, even with directions right on the screen. How do you get some clueless luddite/non-gamer to learn how to calibrate their remote, on the fly, with no on-screen directions, every ten seconds? Answer: You don't.
- I guess this remains to be seen pending my next multiplayer gathering, but the game doesn't seem to be worth $50. Maybe $30. It's basically a collection of physics-based minigames. Very cool, but minigames nonetheless, and I'd feel ripped off if I spent more than $30 on minigames. Luckily, these ones are so cool and well-done that I don't feel ripped off... not that much at least.

Long story short - very good game. I haven't tried the multiplayer yet but it should be fun. I'd still advocate a rental first, though, or just get your kicks from other games until this one drops in price. Being an EA game, it could do that within 8 months to a year. You can get about as much single player fun as you could want within a single rental period, so unless you have people over all the time and want a different, simpler multiplayer Wii game that doesn't require nunchucks, just rent it for now.

Or, hell, buy it. It's a good sight better than most Wii games out there, and I certainly don't regret buying it.
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
My right shoulder and back has been sore since Monday morning and I assumed that it was because I slept wrong on it or something. Oh no, my wife and I played some more last night and as soon as I went to throw a baseball my shoulder screamed at me, haha.

I'm so out of shape--it's really sad. :p
 

bl4ckfl4g

Diamond Member
Feb 13, 2007
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Originally posted by: warcrow
My right shoulder and back has been sore since Monday morning and I assumed that it was because I slept wrong on it or something. Oh no, my wife and I played some more last night and as soon as I went to throw a baseball my shoulder screamed at me, haha.

I'm so out of shape--it's really sad. :p

Haha same thing happened to my wife and I. Feels like i've been lifting weights in my left arm and shoulder only.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
The trick to using small flicks is to follow through. It only seems to measure the acceleration/force when you let go of the button, so if you jerk your wrist and let go after the jerk, nothing will happen. You have to let go of the button mid-flick. But yeah, in order to get the super throw, you've really gotta chuck it. I normally dont play with the wrist strap, but I was swinging so hard directly at my TV that I just had to put it back on to feel safe. :p

The grabbing levels are definitely more difficult, but it just takes a bit of practice and repositioning of the camera in order to angle it in such a way that you wont pull the blocks upwards too much. Once I got used to it, it was so much fun trying to get a gold in some of the challenges - I actually managed to get well above gold on one of the final grab levels, you should have seen how shaky that tower was, it was basically held up on vertical sticks. :p

The master explore challenges are no joke, and I'm having a difficult but still very fun time on the very first level. It might seem you can blast through the majority of the game super fast, but the real fun is in getting the gold on every level, some puzzles that were easy to get a bronze on are really, really difficult to get a gold on. But since that usually requires just one throw, you can keep trying over and over again, so its not frustrating because it doesnt make you needlessly repeat stuff you're already good at over and over. Just keep experimenting until you nail it - that "EA" wall was a real bitch to knock down with one ball, but it was incredibly satisfying to see the symbol of the evil empire just topple right over with one well placed, extremely forceful throw. :D

The production values are so atrociously low that at first I really wasnt feeling like I got my moneys worth, but its the kind of game that grows on you so much that I'm definitely not feeling like I wasted my money. I suppose they had to save all of the processing power for the physics, and being that I'm a frame rate whore and it runs at 60fps 99% of the time, its a tradeoff I'd be willing to make in the end.

IMO it still would have been better as a Wiiware title, but make no mistake - this is a fantastic game whatever the price. If youre broke wait for the price to fall, but definitely pick it up at some point.