bit-tech Shopping: Ignition Mercury Meltdown Revolution (Wii)

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Nifty puzzler action for a great price

Weaknesses: N/A

Summary: Now this is the way to release a "casual" game for the Nintendo Wii system. Though this is a port of a PSP title it has been enhanced with Wii controller functionality and of course the full graphics capabilities of the home console. Also, and most importantly, it was released at a budget price of $20. In Mercury Meltdown you control a blob of mercury either by tilting the remote or, thankfully, by using the Nunchuk's analog control stick, and try to guide it past various obstacles and hazards to a goal while picking up optional collectibles along the way. As you progress through the various levels of a "lab" (with each level presented as a test tube that fills with the amount of mercury you have left when you complete the level - a nice touch in terms of showing you how you've done) you will unlock more labs that can be attempted. There are 3 categories that you can try for perfect on (thus providing much replayability for each level). The first is to keep 100% of your mercury intact (thus filling that test tube at the end). As you guide your droplet around, it can be split on edges and by various hazards. Thus, you can easily lose part of the blob (by having it fall off the stage) while completing the level with whatever is left over. The second category are the collectibles - glowing dealies that you can pick up along the way. The final category is to get the high score, which is usually only possible if you do the level very quickly. In addition to navigating typical tilting game hazards like ramps, moving platforms, narrow paths with no sides, etc, you also have a puzzle aspect with the ability to change colors and temperature of the mercury blob. You will need to change colors to get through various gates and sometimes need to split your blob and combine two different available colors to make a third (for example red + blue = purple). Also, sometimes you need to heat or freeze your blob to make it more liquid or more like a solid ball to get past hazards. This is a great puzzle-action game for the Wii at a nice budget price. It has tons of levels that will surely keep you busy for a long while and even once you unlock the last lab, there are always perfect scores to go for on all the levels you unlocked before.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Interesting physics simulation

Weaknesses: Too childlike for my 17 year old godson

Summary: I bought this game for my godson who got a Wii for Christmas. This game was very highly rated on many sites, so I figured it was a low risk. The game is reminiscent of the old labyrinth game that I used to play as a child, but instead of navigating a silver ball around a wooded maze, one needs to move a virtual blob of mercury on a 3D maze. The game play is quite creative... the mercury blob can break into multiple pieces, the pieces can get painted, and recombined to form a larger blob with combined colors. The physics is rather convincing and the game makes innovative use of the Wiimote to control the tilt of the surface on which the blob(s) move.I'm sure that this would be a great game for kids from 8 to maybe 12 or 13, but it's a bit too "young" for my 17 year old godson.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 25

Strengths: added wii component makes the game fun

Weaknesses: graphics are poor and sometimes the controls don't respond

Summary: The great thing about this game is that if you get dizzy with 3d games, you can zoom far out and still experience the fun. this is an affordable and enjoyable game but not for multi players.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Great use of Wii remote. Good learning curve. Fun puzzle game. Lots of levels. Low price.

Weaknesses: Can get frustrating, later levels are very difficult.

Summary: Mercury Meltdown Revolution is a fun puzzle game that will keep you busy for many hours. The Wii remote is put to great use in this game. Simply tilt the remote in the direction you want the mercury to move. The puzzles are simple at first but get very difficult in the later stages. In fact, they may get too difficult and frustrating in the final stages. Other than the difficulty ramping up towards the end this is a fun game. There are many $50 games for the Wii that should be budget titles. It is nice to see actual budget title for Wii that is worth more than it costs. For $20 you would be hard pressed to find a better Wii game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 6 Days

Strengths: Fun use of the Wii controller.

Weaknesses: One Player Game

Summary: Good game for young and old. I enjoy playing the game as well as my six year old. This game is fun to play using the Wii-mote controller. Excellent game for the price.