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Fun Fair Party Nintendo Wii

Format:
Nintendo Wii

Genre:
Minigames

Further reading:
Mini Games

Buy/Support:
Support Andy, click to buy via us...

Fun Fair Party is one of the similarly titled Party games from Ubisoft. It offers a two player set of minigames that deliver on quantity more than quality. The Fun Fair theme preserves the excitement for young players, although the heavy use of Wii-mote pointing makes some games more suited to older gamers.

It's one of those type of game genres...

Mini Games come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What unites the genre is the speed with which players can pickup the games and the relativley short time requried to complete a level or two.

But why is it any better than the others...

Fun Fair Party brings a simplistic take to the minigame genre, with a fairground theme. Each set of games is set in different fairground locations and offer a variety of uses of the Wii-mote. Although not highly tailored to the Wii and a lot of the games using the more tricky pointing mechanic, the amount and variety of games on offer mean that most young players will be entertained.

Each of these Party games (like Raving Rabbid TV Party Wii, Sports Party Wii or Babysitting Party Wii)) offer a variety of minigames around a particular theme. They all have in common a high quality of presentation and well labelled boxes that indicate how many players can take part and how many different games are provided.

This is unusual in the Ubisoft Party series as it only supports two players, whereas other titles such as Game Show Party Wii and Sports Party Wii allow up to four players to compete against each other.

Presentation, menus and graphics are also a little more pedestrian than other games in the series. Although they all do their job there is no real sense of occasion or excitement. The game relies on young player's enthusiasm to carry them through the overall experience.

So what experience should I play this game for...

Young players will want to play Fun Fair Party because of its bright lights and exciting theme. Once playing, the wide array of games should keep them wanting to have one more go for some time. Our kids were in hoots of delight and laughter as they in terns tried to guide the clown across the high wire using the Wii-mote sideways to balance. The fact that the controls were too sensitive for them to really get to grips with and the overall game too complex was of little matter as they happily passed a good hour repeating this same game.

And when can I take a break...

Being a minigame collection, players can play just a few games for a short session, or string more together to try and progress when more time is available. The simplistic nature of this selection may mean that players opt for shorter sessions. This is a game that trades more on its novelty than ongoing experience.

This is a great game for who...

Young players, although attracted to the overall theme and approach will find the high number of Wii-mote pointing games problematic. Other games aimed at young gamers (such as Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess Wii) avoid this type of control, opting instead for the simpler tilting mechanic.

Older gamers with more dexterity will find the game more appealing, although they may miss the ability to include more family members. The variety of games should keep them occupied for some time.

Intermediate and expert gamers will find the basic presentation and overall feel to the game off putting. This is an experience that seems to have been packaged, rather than designed, for a casual audience. Other games in the series such as Sports Party Wii are obviously designed from the outset with the Wii audience in mind.

Written by Andy Robertson

You can support Andy by buying Fun Fair Party



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Andy Robertson writes the Family Gamer column.

"Videogame reviews for the whole family, not just the kids. I dig out videogame experiences to intrigue and interest grownups and children. This is post-hardcore gaming where accessibility, emotion and storytelling are as important as realism, explosions and bravado."

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