de Blob Review for the Nintendo Wii

System: Wii, DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Blue Tongue	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: THQ	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sep. 22, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Control in this title works very well using the Wii-mote and Nunchuk combination. You'll move around using the thumbstick on the Nunchuk and will be able to jump around by flicking the Wii-mote. The only real problem with the control is that the jumping mechanism is not very precise. When you are navigating a small rooftop fraught with traps this can become a serious problem. Luckily, there is a targeting mechanism in place that can allow you to direct your jumps manually. While this will solve a good percentage of your jumping issues, situations will arise when there is nothing to target, which forces you to rely on the aforementioned imprecise jumping system to accomplish your goals. Other than that, however, the controls are very simple to learn and easy to use.

de Blob screenshot

Visually, de Blob has to be one of the best titles yet for the Wii. The pre-rendered cinema scenes look very smooth and polished and really showcase some of the Wii's hidden graphical potential. The in-game graphics are also very good and feature some pretty huge environments with plenty of detail and things to explore. The only graphical issue I ran into was some shuttering in some of the outer edges of a few of the levels. This was infrequent at best, but when the shuttering did occur it was severe enough to impact the gameplay. But despite the few issues, de Blob on the whole has a very nice style to it and the vibrant colors accentuate the energetic gameplay.

Sound in de Blob is also very good. At the beginning of each level, you are able to pick de Blob's mood, which will set the music style for the entire level. You will have some eclectic choices for these moods, including revolutionary, energetic, and smooth. As you paint the different areas, the musical tempo will increase. This is a great mechanism that helps connect you to the world of the game, and it doesn't hurt that most of the music is pretty groovy as well. Another boon for de Blob in the sound department is the language that the different creatures in this world speak. Not since the invasion of Simlish has a language sounded so cute, and Blob-Speak (yes, I made that up) is a total blast to listen to because it sounds like someone speaking Pig Latin underwater. You can sometimes make out key words, but then it just descends into a incoherent collection of vowel noises that somehow manages to still sound cute.

de Blob is a game that has actually had a long journey in coming to the Wii. The whole concept was showcased more than two years ago at an independent game festival. The folks at THQ realized the concept's potential, and the resulting game is a fun and free-wheeling experience that is simple enough to appeal to the casual sect but has enough depth to capture the hearts of the hardcore crowd. This title may not have the most varied or difficult gameplay, but it is incredibly fun to play, and the different modes and goals give it some decent replay value. de Blob is an awesome title, and while it may not be the most action-packed or drama-filled title on the market, it provides countless hours of colorful fun. So, are you ready to join the color revolution?

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.3

Graphics
Cinema scenes are among the smoothest and most polished on the Wii., and in-game graphics are colorful and vibrant. However, infrequent shuttering during some of the bigger levels hinders this title from being truly great visually.

4.0

Control
Rolling around and splashing paint over everything works very well, but jump mechanics are too imprecise.

4.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The different music "moods" throughout the game are delightful to listen to. Blob-speak is also quite fun to listen to.

4.2

Play Value
The levels are huge, and there is plenty to explore. Although the different challenges are somewhat repetitive, the gameplay does evolve as you progress to more difficult levels, and additional level medals add some moderate replay value.

4.3

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Big World Exploration in an Urban Environment: Vast cityscapes and urban sprawl offers players the freedom to explore and make their own game-experience.

Character Driven: Complete levels as a fun, animated superhero who transforms a hostile city into a vibrant, colorful, happy place.

Unrestricted Activities: Creative activities and puzzles give immediate and continuous rewards throughout the entire city.

Addictive Puzzle Play: Multiple challenges must be found and accepted, which can guide the player through to the next level - the destination and objective for one challenge can be the starting point of the next. Successful completion of challenges earns rewards such as points, time, environmental improvements, additional challenges, and liberating zones.

Melee Combat: Visceral battles against the evil I.N.K.T. Corporation delivers exhilarating action.

Multiplayer Action: An intricate single-player campaign, as well as a multiplayer experience that supports two to four competitors via split-screen.

Sprint challenges: Short bursts of gameplay where the player attempts to accomplish a single skill-based objective. Replay sprint levels to earn higher achievement ratings, which enable the gamer to unlock additional content from the Art Gallery.

Screen Resolution: Up to 480p (Progressive Scan, Widescreen).