Does the famous Nerf franchise carry over well into videogames?
[starreview]
Publisher: Hasbro
Release Date: October 27th, 2009
ESRB Rating: E10+
Ever since they’ve had their debut in the 70’s, the Non-Expanding Recreational Foam toys have been on the toyshelves and into homes for more than 20 years, and don’t seem to be slowing down at any time sooner. However, apparently good sales on toys was thought to translate into a good videogame, or at least for an oblivious person working at NERF. What doesn’t strike the gamer as pointless or not worth their time isn’t anything worth the purchase of the bundle, bar the actual NERF guns that have a double use as a peripheral.
First off, the game doesn’t have that much to back it up. The length is extremely short, only having 10 levels, but there are some ways to go back through and get more canisters, and other goodies that do virtually nothing for you. However, is it actually worth the time to? No, and I honestly couldn’t see anyone playing this for more than an hour at a time, because it really gets to you, and makes you feel like there is something out there that would be a better use of your time.
The storyline has many confusions throughout it, and involves 4 kids trying to take down B.O.B (who, once again isn’t clearly introduced), and they have to go through and destroy robots to get to their goal. Now how do foam bullets make aliens and robots explode? I don’t know, and I don’t think that will be explained, as it wasn’t in the game. Despite the gaping holes in the storyline, the characters are also generic. You have the smart person in the group, then you have the brave one, the average one, and then the jock-type that isn’t smart enough to fit his ego.
Accompanying these flat characters are overexaggerated recordings and cheesy insults that increasingly got on my nerves throughout the course of the brief storyline. Sometimes when they talk their mouths don’t even move, and the same goes for the AI. What makes the game even more of a challenge to get yourself through is the fact that the controls are hard to control. The game is a typical arcade-style shooter, which renders you incapable of moving your character, and you just have to focus on the shooting. This aspect of the game was a nice touch, just for the thought.
As for the multiplayer, it doesn’t provide anything new besides the single player. For example, if there are 4 characters, why is their only an option for 2-player co-op? Doesn’t make too much sense, and hinders this game dramatically (but seriously, what hasn’t hindered it yet?)
The peripherals work in the sense that you stick a Wiimote inside the gun, and were good to go. However, the controls were too sensitive, and because of this made the game extremely hard to navigate. Even when I moved the remote slightly to the right, the pointer flew to the right, which made it seem just too sensitive for my tastes. When asked to aim specifically at a certain target, just the slightest shake can send it off the target and send the sirens wailing. The controls do have some redeeming factors, such as the Red Reveal, which is required to shoot some targets. One must use this special lense to see on-screen objects turn white, and then shoot those ones. It provides some enjoyable times in the game, but is tedious to use while in the spotlight. Breaking away from the singleplayer aspect of the game is the shooting range, Nothing is really special about this mode, and its more of the same thing.
Over the course of the gameplay, Nerf: N-Strike Elite does not impress at all, in fact it goes even lower than common expectations would think. I went into the game thinking I would at least enjoy it, and left more than disappointed. If it wasn’t for the sensitive controls, the god-awful storyline, and the overall waste of time that is this game, it might have been decent. No, I’m not the target audience for this game, which is why I’m sure that any kids would have picked this up and had a good time. However, from my point of view, this is utter trash and I’d prefer having kids play games that are better, and actually have some trace of effort rather than a gimmick to sell 2 Nerf guns to somebody. That’s probably the only good thing about it, because it did come with 2 Nerf guns. Despite that, there is no possible way that I could ever play this game again, unless I did it mockingly with friends.
Review copy furnished by EA.
"flat characters are overexaggerated recordings and cheesy insults"
But isn't that the province of all games? Gears of War anyone? I agree the game is a little flat, and a little stupid, but most games are.
Multiple play throughs are encouraged with schloads of unlockables to upgrade your hardware and multiple levels of difficulty. The purpose of shooting all the items it to gain points for upgrading.
Did you play alone, or with a partner? I'm not claiming this game is good, but it does a decent job for its target audience as a multiplayer game. Single player? Stinker. Got kids who love Nerf and are too young for Zombies? Its good fun.
I believe he played it alone.
I played most of it singleplayer, and then some of it was played with other people. If it weren't for my little brother enjoying the portion that he played, I would have given it a 1, because frankly there is a target audience out there, and it does come with NERF guns.