It is almost starting to get old, a Nintendo Wii game that is essentially a series of mini games in a venue attempting to illicit a certain feeling or experience. Sometimes it works well, like in Wii Fit or Wii Play and other times it falls flat on its face, kind of like today's train wreck of an excuse for a game, the Wonderworld Amusement Park.

Mini games can provide a much needed excuse for some fun. The mere fact that it is a game that encourages playing different games randomly helps one get their mind off of a more involved game. How many times would I take a break from hours of Zelda and unwind by playing Wii Sports? Well, the answer is, I don't know, but it was a lot. So when I saw that there was another mini-game collection based on an amusement park, well I said sign me up!

 
"Sesame Street's 'The Count', finally runs afoul of Van Helsing."

In the game, you create a character avatar and start off with a finite amount of tickets and a natural curiosity to try and beat some carnie games. Using the Wiimote, you can point to a different tent or booth or whatever and see what the name of the game is. Once you think you have found a game that sounds interesting you can hit the "A" button and a small window will open up telling you how many tickets it takes to play and who has the current high score. You can read the instructions on how to play (pretty much a must) or jump right in the action. If you don't have enough tickets the smarmy carnie (I'm a poet) will let you know and you move back to the overview of the carnival.

The big problem with the games is that they really aren't all that fun. And to go with that, they are unnecessarily difficult. Not because the games are tough, but because the controls and design aren't all that friendly to players, much less young players whom the game is clearly aimed at. One game in particular involving catching frogs with a fishing pole is so sensitive, that if you can't hold the Wiimote darn near dead still, you won't be all that successful. Also, throwing balls at a coconut by flicking the Wiimote is fine, but since you could flip it fast or slow and the ball still goes the same speed makes me question the game's design. Oh sure, you can throw a gazillion balls repeatedly, but that doesn't improve the game's realism, or fun for that matter.

 
"Quick, somebody fetch those kids some sandwiches!"

With a game like this, you expect lights and flashy colors reminiscent of a carnival, and while there are flashy things, the carnival seems sort of dark and dreary, and not in a "carn-evil" way, but more like no one bothered to wash things up in the past three months. The colors aren't nearly as vibrant or as sharp as in other Wii games of this style. Carnies are the same dude over and over, with several canned "semi-amusing" phrases, that you have to read. Yes, the game has no sort of voice work and since the game takes place in a carnival, you can only imagine what sort of sounds would benefit a game like this. Background talking, people coming and going. Buzzers going off,  bells, clapping, laughter, you know, all the things you would expect to hear at a carnival. I was very disappointed in how the game looked and sounded.

As you progress, you should understand that you are given tickets in which you need to play games (like I said above) and doing well at the games gains you more tickets and eventually a prize. Once all the prizes have been collected and the games are beat, you can ride the level's ride. Once completed, you move on to the next park which basically features the same style games only with a new "fresh" spin that isn't really all that fresh. How many times can you do the same action over and over in different games and not become bored with it?

• A) Real soon

• B) Really really soon

• C) I don't know, I already left the room.

The game allows for some multiplayer action provided you can find someone who will play with you. Riding the rides and playing the carnie games is not the best way to entertain guests. You would be better off playing any of the other game collections featured on the Wii. The multiplayer mode is often a redeeming value in games with poor A.I. or skill challenges as humans are better opponents, but in this case it simply has no redeeming quality.

Gameplay: 4.0
Simple, repetitive actions coupled with ineffective response and generally poor control equals a game that simply is no fun to control.

Graphics: 3.5
Yowch, a muddy, blurred mess. 

Sound: 3.5
Abysmal sound effects and complete lack of anything remotely carnival-ish. Where's the voice work, the background effects, the laughter?

Difficulty: Easy
Too simple and mundane even for small children.

Concept: 4.0
It should have been another decent entry in the many mini-game titles the Wii is becoming famous for ... it isn't.

Multiplayer: 3.0
Just because you invite your friend to play doesn't mean it's going to improve. Besides there is simply no mini-game that stands out that can be considered truly fun.

Overall: 3.7
Sometimes a game is just no fun, this is one of those times.