Carnival Games

Most people, young or old, have fond memories of going to the carnival or fair, whether it’s the food, the rides, the games, or simply the atmosphere. Considering that, it’s a wonder that we haven’t seen more video games set in this unique locale. Global Star Software obviously thought it was a good idea, as they have now given us Carnival Games for Wii. Combining all the classic carnival game experiences with the Wii’s motion-sensing controls seems like a killer idea for a minigame compilation, right? Well, yes and no.

Players start by creating a character. Sadly, this is nowhere near as deep or customizable as creating a Mii; you can’t even change basic things, like hairstyle or individual facial features. (Ironically, the carnival-barker mascot character on the cover of the game is made using recognizable Mii facial features. In the actual game, he looks much less like a Mii.) Once you have your character, you venture out into the carnival, completing games in single-player mode to earn prizes and accessories, or in multi-player mode, competing against your friends and family. There are more than 25 different mini games to play, and all the classics are here: Dunk Tank, Alley Ball (also known as Skee-Ball), Ring Toss, Balloon Darts, and more. But once you’ve chosen a game, that’s when the problems begin.

Controls are definitely an issue here. In many cases, the games require quick, accurate movements to succeed, and there are times when the controls aren’t able to keep up. Other times, the controls are far too sensitive to your movements for you to be successful; Nerves of Steel comes to mind (it’s the one where you have to maneuver a metal circle down a curved metal track without touching the sides). Also, I realize this won’t be an issue for everyone, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that the game doesn’t allow you to set the controls for left-handed movements; as a southpaw, there were many times when the game wouldn’t recognize my actions, or would interpret them wildly inaccurately, because I was performing the left-handed version of the movement. All of these control problems are assuming you understand what you’re supposed to be doing in the first place, which isn’t always the case; instructions appear on screen before each game, but they’re not always clear. This is not to say that the game’s controls are universally bad; as often as not, the game interprets your movements correctly and accurately. It’s just a crap shoot as to whether or not any given game will be easily controllable or not.

Success in the carnival games grants you prizes and accessories. Prizes are doled out based on how well you performed in four tiers; perform better to get better prizes. Just like at most real carnivals, several lower-tier prizes can be exchanged for a single higher-tier prize. Much like the trophies in Super Smash Bros, prizes are 3D models that can be rotated and viewed at the player’s leisure; they also usually have a simple animation. Accessories, on the other hand, can be purchased from a certain booth with tickets (earned by playing games) or won. Accessories are hats, shoes, and gear that you can outfit your character with to further alter their appearance. While providing some simple fun, only young kids will get any real enjoyment from trying to collect all the prizes and accessories.

The game does manage to capture the atmosphere of the carnival. Actually, the game captures the archetypal carnival atmosphere; that is, the game’s carnival is probably more carnival-ly than any actual carnival ever could be. All the game’s characters evoke an earlier era, as most of the carnival workers are wearing either flat straw hats or bowlers, with suspenders, vests, and bowties. Considering the game is a quasi-budget release, the graphics are surprisingly good; every area is full of personality and charm. Unfortunately, most of the character models are ugly; neither choice of male-character graphics is remotely appealing. Music, too, seems to bring to mind a carnival from decades past; calliope music is the norm here, and while it might get old after a while, it certainly fits the mood.

Games like this are designed with multiplayer in mind, and Carnival Games is no different. Up to four players can compete, either in one chosen game, or in a series of five, randomly chosen games. In a nice move, multiplayer is possible even with just one Wii remote, as the game allows for players to pass the controller between them. While there is certainly fun to be had playing these games with your friends or family, most of the same problems that arose in single-player (lack of clarity of game instructions, controls that are too touchy or not touchy enough) remain to be problems here. Still, this is definitely the high point of Carnival Games, and the best reason to recommend the game.

At the end of the day, Carnival Games is a flawed entry in an already crowded genre. There’s absolutely fun to be had here, and the game’s atmosphere and charm go a long way toward distinguishing it from the hordes of other mini-game compilations available on the Wii. Families looking for a game for the kids or one that they can enjoy together will find a lot to like in Carnival Games’ simple, innocent gameplay and setting. Anyone else, like adults looking for something to bring out at parties, would probably be turned off by the relatively small game selection and control issues. The game is a lot like a real carnival; while there’s fun to be had, the people who will get the most out of it are young kids and their parents.

Gameplay: 6.3
Motion-controlled mini games are here in spades, but some control issues keep them from the top of the heap. When the controls work, the games are all kinds of fun. Sadly, they work just over half the time.

Graphics: 7.2
Not the best-looking game on Wii, but far from the worst. It’s certainly impressive for a low-budget, little-hyped release.

Sound: 6.8
Sound effects are just what you’d expect, and (along with a decent amount of quality, carnival barker-style voice-overs) go a long way towards providing that carnival atmosphere. Calliope music grates on the ears pretty quickly, but what else would you expect at the carnival?

Difficulty: Medium
Some mini games are pretty simple, but most give a hearty challenge, or are frustratingly challenging (some are based almost entirely on luck). Still, playing games repeatedly grants the same rewards as doing well, so you can’t fault them too much.

Concept: 7.9
Setting a game (especially this type of game) at the carnival is such a natural, I’m really surprised it hasn’t been done before. A natural fit.

Multiplayer: 7.2
What the game was made for. If you’re thinking about getting this game but you don’t really play multiplayer, I urge you to reconsider; the single player’s got about an hour’s worth of gameplay.

Overall: 6.8
This is a family title, through and through. Those looking for a mini-game compilation with more universal appeal would do better to try Mario Party 8. Anybody looking for a cute game that they can play with their little ones need look no further.