NERF N-strike - Nintendo Wii review

5 March 2009 12:00 GMT / By Stuart Miles

So you're a fan of NERF, well probably not you personally, but your kids are, and you've got a Nintendo Wii. Great, say EA who are hoping that you'll want NERF N-strike. But do you really? We get shooting to fine out.

For those of you who've just read the above and think that NERF is some alien being akin to Alf then you'll be wrong, about the only thing in common is that both are orange. NERF, standing for nothing much, is a range of toy guns that fire darts made from a foam like substance. Basically you get to shoot stuff, the victim doesn't get hurt kind of thing.

But the thought of kids playing outside and not sat in front of the TV playing video games is surely a daunting one for video game publishers, so EA has convinced Hasbro to use the licence to create a video game that takes the principles of shooting stuff and made it into a video game: NERF N-Strike.

The concept is simple: you get shoot stuff and that's about it. Okay there is a little more to it than that like Freeplay, Multiplayer and of course a Campaign mode to battle, but for the most stuff all you have to worry about is shooting your blaster off and the tasks set out before you and the console does the rest.

The game, which is clearly designed for 7 years and above, won't let you shoot real people, but rather floating robots - shooting gallery style. The premise is that you've been recruited by a robot who just happened to watch you play a video game of virtually the same thing and then wants to see what you can do with a bunch of new "Top Secret" guns at your disposal.

Levels, missions or challenges are made up of either shooting an onslaught of robots heading your way or knocking balls or boxes in a certain direction. There are plenty of guns (all suitable for different tasks) that you can choose before you enter the task. Completing said task lets you move on to the next level. Freeplay is as it sounds, while the multiplayer element lets you and three other players do battle.

As a game it's pretty dull. Levels are fairly repetitive with little storyline to keep you interested, and all you are charged with doing is pressing the trigger. Where things are interesting is in the accompanying accessory in the box.

Instead of just relying on you to point the Wii Remote at the screen you'll get to point your very own NERF gun instead. The accessory is a NERF gun by day and a Wii Zapper by night allowing you to shoot down your mates in a combat situation before field stripping it to fit your Wii controller so you can do a bit of blasting on the TV.

You get three NERF darts in the box with the option to then swap out the main compartment when it comes to play the game and the whole experience is so much better than the Wii Zapper. You don't get the shoulder but, but you do get a more impressive blaster.

Verdict

As a concept we love it, however as a computer game NERF N-Strike is a bit of a one trick pony that you are likely to get bored with.

Still at least the box gives you a toy you can then go outside with and shoot your mates.

Score

Review Recap

Made by: EA
Price as reviewed: £39.99
The good: The blaster is ace
The bad: Game a bit lacking
Quick verdict: As a concept we love it, however as a computer game NERF N-Strike is a bit of a one trick pony that you are likely to get bored with
Score