GameSpot editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 01/06/2009
- Released on: 12/02/2008
- Originally published on GameSpot: Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars (Wii) Review
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars looks great and sounds even better. The unique visual style and catchy music work together to create a quirky world ripe with exciting gaming opportunities. Unfortunately, most of these opportunities are missed, and the disappointingly generic gameplay and poor camera control keep this platformer from fully capitalizing on its distinctive premise.
As the subtitle implies, the world of Mushroom Men is one of war. After being brought to life by the dust of a magical meteorite, the peaceful, edible mushrooms were soon attacked by their aggressive, poisonous cousins. You play as Pax, the last remaining member of a peaceful mushroom sect. Though Pax is just a drifter, he seems to have a special connection with the meteorite chunks spread across the land, and that doesn't sit well with the evil mushrooms. Before he knows it, Pax finds himself pitching in with the remaining peaceful 'shrooms in their fight against the more aggressive fungi. The story is simple and very short, but the dark, distinctive world of the mutant mushrooms is charming and worth exploring while it lasts.
Underneath the eccentric style and attractive atmosphere lies a by-the-numbers action platform game. Those who have been around the block with Rayman, Mario, or Crash Bandicoot won't find much new here in terms of gameplay, though there are a few twists to the standard collection-and-exploration formula. Collectible items come in three varieties: meteorite chunks, "scav" (random junk used to cobble together weapons), and concept art. Although meteorites will make you more durable, the scav is what you'll need to find to survive. There are dozens of weapons to construct among four weapon types, each with their own pros and cons. The system isn't as deep as it initially appears, considering that your newest weapon is almost always the strongest, but the weapon variety and inventiveness (some tweezers and a diamond ring equal a shiny stabbing tool) will keep you searching for more.
The level designs do a lot to make you feel like a tiny mushroom in a giant world. You'll explore a dingy garage infested with rodents, mushroom villages held together with bottle caps and gum, and other offbeat locales oozing with gloomy charisma. Most of the levels are spacious and require you to scale tall structures or investigate hidden tunnels to achieve your goals. Unfortunately, navigating the imaginative landscape can be tough when you have to fight the sluggish camera, which has a tendency to get stuck when in tight corridors and lag behind during jumping sequences. There are a few puzzles to sort out during the adventure that, while not particularly challenging, require a bit of ingenuity and are satisfying to solve.
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