My pointless quick impressions of Wii/Excite Truck at GS

Wolfpup

Wolfpup

CAGiversary!
Here’s my first impressions of it from Excite Truck in a Gamestop.

-Graphics-awful. Worse than some PS2 games. But it was on a Samsung monitor that may have a bad scaler, and it may have been connected through composite, so it’s not really fair.

-Wiimote-feels okay, not great, not terrible. The button placement is retarded. I had a hard time finding anything without looking, the buttons are awkward and tiny, etc. The d-pad is tiny and similar to the DS Lite (but possibly worse?)

-Control in the menus felt fidgety, jumpy and poorly done/overly complex. What would be a simple press of the d-pad on any other system requires carefully lining up the cursor and pressing to do it on Wii. My initial impressions are it’s the worst menu system ever, possibly tied with the DS.

-The game took a long time to be recognized after turning on the system. Infinite compared to a Gamecube.

-Control in Excite Truck seemed fine. I didn’t have any particular problems steering, but the controller feels awkward turned sideways. Having to steer with it while holding down button…2 I think…felt weird, and it’s kind of lumpy held sideways. I’d imagine the PS3 controller will handle this type of control scheme just as well…except better because the Sixaxis is way more ergonomic.

While the control was okay, with limited play time I can’t say it was any better or worse than using an analog stick or d-pad. It wouldn’t surprise me if long-term I’d prefer to use a d-pad.

Soooooo…I’m actually still excited to see what Nintendo does with it, as it does function, but I’m disappointed with the graphics I’ve seen so far, and I’m still 50/50 on whether the Wiimote rocks, or is just a DS-touch screen style failure.

So far this gen I’m amazed by the crappy mistakes with these controllers. The 360 pad is solid, but has the worst d-pad I can recall using. And the Wiimote is…well it’s…I don’t know, we’ll see. The Sixaxis probably wins by default what with no stupid mistakes, plus half the Wii’s functionality.
 
[quote name='xeverex18']I remember seeing this new gen game at the 29.99$ range. try out the 50$ games instead.[/QUOTE]

Err...what?
 
[quote name='Puppy']The Sixaxis probably wins by default what with no stupid mistakes, plus half the Wii’s functionality.[/quote] Have you actually used a SIXAXIS? The triggers on it are horrific and the whole controller feels like I could snap it in half.

The wiimote is better when it's in the confines of your living room rather than a demo kiosk (which could probably be said of SIXAXIS as well). I've not had a single problem with it at all. :)
 
Predictably, standing around in an EB is not the ideal demo environment for the Wii (much like system guts housed in a poorly ventilated case don't provide the best results for a PS3). I found the pointer specifically much easier to control sitting or standing in the comfort of my living room, whether that was due to crappy sensitivity settings, lighting, or something else.

I actually love the size of the controller in all ways right now, except for baseball. It's not long enough to put two hands on, but it's not cool to try to emulate a baseball swing with one hand. I thought holding it NES style for Excite Truck was perfectly comfortable, buttons and D-pad were right where they needed to be, though the B trigger isn't entirely out of the way in that form. Certainly hand size will factor in there.

While I enjoyed the ET demo, and may end up keeping the game on my shelf, I wish they would have made a demo-version of Wii Sports (minus the boxing since it requires the nunchuk) for the kiosks instead.
 
I wish they would too.. but people flailing around in a tight space like an EB store for Tennis or Baseball could have disasterous results

I know you don't *have* to get into it and flail around, but that is part of the fun!
 
[quote name='botticus']
I actually love the size of the controller in all ways right now, except for baseball. It's not long enough to put two hands on, but it's not cool to try to emulate a baseball swing with one hand. [/QUOTE]

It's funny that you mention that. I've still been putting two hands up when I swing just because it feels so wrong to swing a bat with one hand. It's so funny how into the baseball game I get though. I'm falling right back into my old swing every time I play. I'm putting all of my weight on my back foot, pointing my toe on my front foot, rocking the bat and they turning on the pitch like I'm actually trying to pull the ball.

I have to say that I love Wii sports.
 
[quote name='psunami']It's funny that you mention that. I've still been putting two hands up when I swing just because it feels so wrong to swing a bat with one hand. It's so funny how into the baseball game I get though. I'm falling right back into my old swing every time I play. I'm putting all of my weight on my back foot, pointing my toe on my front foot, rocking the bat and they turning on the pitch like I'm actually trying to pull the ball.

I have to say that I love Wii sports.[/quote]Oh man, even though I suck at Wii Baseball, it was awesome when I first watched my Mii ready at the plate and was like "Wow, he waves the bat around just like me and Gary Sheffield!" at which point I realized that the bat was waving around because I was waving the remote around. So cool.
 
[quote name='botticus']Oh man, even though I suck at Wii Baseball, it was awesome when I first watched my Mii ready at the plate and was like "Wow, he waves the bat around just like me and Gary Sheffield!" at which point I realized that the bat was waving around because I was waving the remote around. So cool.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that was a great moment for me as well. It's sad how something as silly as wagging a virtual bat can make you feel all giddy.

So anyway, I've read at least 20 impressions from people who played Excite Truck at a Wii kiosk. Most were pretty negative. But what I would *REALLY* like to read is a review from someone who actually took the game home and played it in a more game-friendly environment for more than 10 minutes, preferably using component cables.

Anyone?
 
[quote name='Puppy']Yeah it is. Outside of mini-games I've yet to see it be as useful as an analog stick or d-pad.[/quote]

You should probably play Trauma Center then.
 
Good point. The game itself seemed like it might be a lot of fun. Seemed like it might be forgiving and more arcady than so-called "realistic".

Despite my issues with it, I'm still very interested in playing a Wii at home-I think that's the only real test.
 
[quote name='Puppy']Good point. The game itself seemed like it might be a lot of fun. Seemed like it might be forgiving and more arcady than so-called "realistic".

Despite my issues with it, I'm still very interested in playing a Wii at home-I think that's the only real test.[/QUOTE]

Well, it's pretty much accepted that Wii Sports is the shizit, but I know for a fact that I would not enjoy it half as much in public as I do at home because I would be painfully aware of strangers watching me, not being familiar with the space, and other factors.
 
[quote name='Tybee']Yeah, that was a great moment for me as well. It's sad how something as silly as wagging a virtual bat can make you feel all giddy.

So anyway, I've read at least 20 impressions from people who played Excite Truck at a Wii kiosk. Most were pretty negative. But what I would *REALLY* like to read is a review from someone who actually took the game home and played it in a more game-friendly environment for more than 10 minutes, preferably using component cables.

Anyone?[/QUOTE]
Yeah love it. Great game. I like these types of games though.

Great sense of speed. Great draw distance. OUt of control racing. And there's the whole other dimension of getting stars for perfect landings, running between trees, big air, smashing other trucks, going thru rings, etc. The sensation of being in the air overlooking the entire course is awesome. And alot of tracks have multiple paths so there's a lot of replayability there. I really it. IT's my favorite title of after the Zelda:TP and WiiSports pack ins. I lke the graphics too. They aren't uber or anything, but they are good.

Cons are that the game begs for a more robust multiplayer mode. And in terms of features some will find it on the short side.

IT's the type of game that you won't play alot at one sitting, but you'll find yourself coming back to alot for short play sessions beause it's easy to pick and play. Fun stuff.
 
[quote name='trip1eX']Yeah love it. Great game. I like these types of games though.

Great sense of speed. Great draw distance. OUt of control racing. And there's the whole other dimension of getting stars for perfect landings, running between trees, big air, smashing other trucks, going thru rings, etc. The sensation of being in the air overlooking the entire course is awesome. And alot of tracks have multiple paths so there's a lot of replayability there. I really it. IT's my favorite title of after the Zelda:TP and WiiSports pack ins. I lke the graphics too. They aren't uber or anything, but they are good.

Cons are that the game begs for a more robust multiplayer mode. And in terms of features some will find it on the short side.

IT's the type of game that you won't play alot at one sitting, but you'll find yourself coming back to alot for short play sessions beause it's easy to pick and play. Fun stuff.[/QUOTE]

THANK YOU. Though I'm not a big racing fan (other than Mario Kart), this appealed to me because of the fact that you're essentially flying through half the track and can see forever. Also liked the idea of the on-the-fly deforming landscapes.

Now I can add it to my Christmas list. :)
 
[quote name='Tybee']THANK YOU. Though I'm not a big racing fan (other than Mario Kart), this appealed to me because of the fact that you're essentially flying through half the track and can see forever. Also liked the idea of the on-the-fly deforming landscapes.

Now I can add it to my Christmas list. :)[/QUOTE]

I would to be honest. I only picked it up due to my brother thinking it would be good. I am so glad I did. Once you have a bit of time with it you will rarely crash and almost always have free boost (due to landings, linking jumps etc). At that point its like a Burnout but through the air and tighter in terms of competitiveness (I was always blowing the other cars away in burnout but not here due to changing land, multiple paths etc)
 
I played excite truck in GS and it convinced me to buy the game. Everyone said how shitty it was and I was scared, but it's fun as hell to fly around the track. Me and my gf will play the fuck out of that one.

Of course you could do the same thing with an analog stick, but that would take some of the fun out of it.

I'd say the Wii has the potential to pull off a DS touch screen kind of success :p.

I think the main advantage to the control is its ability to represent things in the games and make it more intuitive/immersive. It might not always be pulled off very well, but that seems like the biggest advantage to the controller. Along with that, with the pointer function FPSs can become a whole hell of a lot better than with two analog sticks. Again, it might take time to make a really good game with it, but fuck really it's a new way to do things and everyone expects it to be easy and implemented perfectly the first time. Does anybody here remember the first time they played an FPS with two analog sticks? What a pain in the ass, especially after playing them with a mouse and keyboard, but hell most people have gotten used to it now.

Similar to the DS, everyone bitches when it isn't used and bitch more when it's used and they don't like it. Well guess what, a touch screen isn't going to be a really good analog stick because it isn't a fucking analog stick. The games using the screen as analog haven't been accepted that well, but if you try the controls and get used to them it isn't that bad. The reason why many games haven't been made to use the touch screen more is because games have been made to fit the normal controller tech for 20 years and people have to come up with new ideas. I swear to god, fucking people.

Well there's my pointless rant to go with your pointless review.
 
BTW: For those that may not know. Any menu Ive encountered on the Wii, or any Wii game, can also be navigated using the D-pad on top of the Wiimote. Its actually alot quicker that trying to point the Wiimote at the choice you want. I know some may find Wiimote menu navigation a little frustrating at first.
 
[quote name='Puffa469']BTW: For those that may not know. Any menu Ive encountered on the Wii, or any Wii game, can also be navigated using the D-pad on top of the Wiimote. Its actually alot quicker that trying to point the Wiimote at the choice you want. I know some may find Wiimote menu navigation a little frustrating at first.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the heads up on that (though it kind of illistrates my point too).

Dang nabbit, if you could only actually buy a Wii somewhere. I'm getting my preorder today from Wal Mart, but I'm going to return it because I'm not supporting Wal Mart (got carried away when I ordered it, and it was too late to cancel.)
 
[quote name='Puppy']Thanks for the heads up on that (though it kind of illistrates my point too).

Dang nabbit, if you could only actually buy a Wii somewhere. I'm getting my preorder today from Wal Mart, but I'm going to return it because I'm not supporting Wal Mart (got carried away when I ordered it, and it was too late to cancel.)[/quote]

Where are you? Tons of Wiis in NYC.
 
[quote name='Puffa469']Where are you? Tons of Wiis in NYC.[/QUOTE]

Central IL. I went to seven stores yesterday and nothing. Even cleaned out of accessories.
 
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