PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure (Wii Review) by Carl B.

PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Creatures Inc.
System: Wii
Release Date: November 1, 2010

November 14, 2010, by Carl B. - Pokemon is arguably the most popular RPG series in video gaming. The franchise started on the Gameboy, and since then, has seen at least three titles on each of Nintendo's handheld systems, with five main games on the DS alone. Spinoff games in the Pokemon series have been plentiful as well, and while most haven't been as high quality as the main series, there have been some great ones such as Pokemon Stadium on the N64. Nintendo released their next Pokemon spinoff title on November 1st, 2010, exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. Is PokePark a quality spinoff, or is it a cash-in on a popular brand?


PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure is a minigame compilation disguised as a third-person Pokemon "adventure." Players take control of Pikachu as it is teleported to the PokePark by Mew, who requests Pikachu to recover 14 Sky Prisms in order to restore the mystical Sky Pavilion.

There are several different areas in the PokePark, all called zones, which feature your typical settings: there's a Meadow Zone, an Iceberg Zone, and a Cavern Zone, just to name a few. Each zone has a "Zone Keeper," a fully evolved Pokemon that watches over the zone. In the story of PokePark Wii, the Zone Keepers have forbidden the Pokemon to travel from zone to zone or to take part in the zone attractions – the minigames of PokePark Wii. As Pikachu travels from zone to zone it will encounter the Zone Keeper's "henchmen" and eventually the tyrannical Zone Keeper itself.


Progression in each zone is practically the same; Pikachu will run into some henchmen, play and beat their attractions against the zone's rules, and then meet up with the Zone Keeper and take on its attraction, which amounts to a "boss level" of sorts. There are several different types of attractions that break down into main attractions and skill games. The latter of the set includes minigames that have players chase a Pokemon, battle a Pokemon, play hide and seek with a Pokemon, take a quiz, and partake in an obstacle hop. Each of the skill games are as simple as they sound – early on in the game players have to play obstacle hop with a Spearow, and all players are required to do is jump from one log to the next. Battle skill games are slightly more engaging, but aren't anywhere near the same intensity as the Pokemon Stadium series or the main RPG series. In battles, Pikachu is able to dash head-first into the enemy Pokemon, dash from side to side, jump, and send a small Thundershock. The game is played entirely with a lone Wiimote held horizontally, and as a result, Pikachu moves like a tank.


Main attractions really could have had some potential if they were more along the lines of Mario Party's minigames. Instead, what PokePark Wii presents are short-lived waggle-fests. Most minigames in the game require the player to shake the Wii Remote to perform an action that could have more easily been done by button mashing. To make matters worse, no multiplayer support is incorporated in PokePark Wii.

The Verdict

Sound
10/15 - PokePark Wii features a simple soundtrack that compliments the carefree nature of the game.

Graphics
12/20 - Despite being nowhere near a visual spectacle on Wii, PokePark does create a carefree and "fun-filled" atmosphere that most Pokemon games have.

Appeal
15/25 - No multiplayer support is a bummer. For those who can stand the overly-simplistic nature of the minigames an Arcade mode is available, where players can select from any of minigames unlocked and play them at any time.

Gameplay
24/40 - With minigames that present absolutely no challenge and are completed in a manner of seconds, PokePark Wii hardly has depth in gameplay despite the variety of minigames. Battles are a welcome addition, but limitations in the combat system and the fact that Pikachu is hard to control with a D-pad hold it back from being great.

Overall
61/100 - PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure is far from Nintendo's best spinoff Pokemon title, but with slim pickings as far as Pokemon games on Wii goes, PokePark is probably the best Pokemon installment on the system.