This year has provided a lot of great budget games, and while The Orange Box is the be-all end-all of gaming deals, Mercury Meltdown Revolution is a considerable game with a lot of meat on its bone for $20.

Players will find themselves controlling a cute little blob of mercury around many different puzzles, ranging from simple “roll em’ to the goal” levels to excruciatingly difficult mind benders. There are relatively simple mechanics at work in each puzzle, like sticky and slicky floors or moving platforms, etc…; but the game cleverly uses a color-mixing system that really makes completing a level difficult. The player can roll his/her blob into the color changer, which might then be the key to unlock a gate. The next color required might be yellow, which would require the blob to be split in two and then each changed into red and green, and then when combined back, would form yellow. The mixing of colors is a very interesting mechanic and fits well with the candy-color scheme and family-oriented aesthetic tailored for the Wii version.

“Watch out for the spikes!! They likes the mercury”

The Wii motion control works very well and surpasses any need to hook in the classic controller (which one can do). While the blob rolls very slowly, and may feel loose at first, the controls will soon feel just right. Just like in Monkey Ball, the Wii-mote turns the whole level, navigating the blob indirectly. There is also a gauge that measures how much mercury is left. If enough mercury breaks off the main blob and falls off, there won’t be enough weight to activate some of the switches, automatically stopping the game.

The art design is really the only criticism I can lay against such a great budget title. All of the designs and colors are a little too cutesy, even for a Wii game. This game is wayyy too hard for anyone young enough to be attracted to these bubble gum colors and Lego-like levels.

Gameplay: 9.0
Very challenging puzzles that get more unique as you advance.

Graphics: 6.0
Only acceptable graphics and horrible choice of aesthetic; the colors pop like a coloring book. Essentially, kids should not be taught to play with mercury.

Sound: 7.0
The music is adequate for this type of game. I suggest making your own playlist when you play Mercury Meltdown.

Difficulty: Medium
The levels start out easy and simple, but soon escalate to nerve-shattering difficulty. Don’t let the colorful graphics fool you; this game will kick your hindquarters.

Concept: 7.0
This genre has been around a while, but is really reborn with the Wii’s motion control.

Multiplayer: 7.0
The party games can be fun especially if you have a friend. You do have a friend, right?

Overall: 8.0
For $20, this game is really pretty impressive. This is not Bioshock or Mario Galaxy, but it is what it is – and with the Wii-mote it is a lot of fun. If you own a Wii and need something within your allowance budget to tide you over until a certain plumber launches into space, this game is perfect. With more than 150 levels in single player, and on top of that 5 different party games, this game is well worth the price of admission.