

It's not often that I get surprised by a game — and even less frequently when its a game on the Wii. But this week, after popping in Disaster: Day of Crisis, I was quite literally (Ed. note: see the comments) blown away.

Here is a game that should, by rights, be something of a mess. The on-rails shooting, the third-person running around and the gesture-controlled action sequences put plenty of ideas into the pot. Add to this pretty much every cataclysmic plot idea you can imagine and you have a recipe for disaster (excuse the pun).

However, playing the game soon shows how well directed the whole experience is. Because it understands what sort of game it is, it can deliver. What results is a well-balanced shooting game with a perfectly brash arcade style. It's an experience that easily won me over and had me playing for many hours in my first sitting.



Shooting games can go two ways: free-roaming first person or on-rails pre-scripted action. *Disaster: Day of Crisis *takes the on-rails formula and wraps it up in a free-roaming environment that is equally convincing.

What sort of game is this?

Shooting games present a world in which the character must shoot their way out of dangerous situations. They provide the player with an array of weapons tailored to specific tasks. This unavoidably involves a combination of fisticuffs and gun-based fighting that dictates the violent nature of these experiences. Beneath this harsh exterior though is often an intricate tactile game — and this is usually what drives the player.

What does this game add to the genre?

Sitting between a third-person free-roaming game and an on-rails shooter (with a little adventuring thrown in for good measure) makes Disaster: Day of Crisis something of a jack-of-all-trades. That said, it is most convincing and polished as an arcade (read: coin-operated machine) shooter.

The game's polish and first-party development (read: Nintendo pumped in some cash) values create the feel of classic arcade shooters like Virtua Cop and Time Crisis. In the shooting sections you can press a button to hide behind cover and shake the nunchuck to reload. Once you are ready to fire you can also press C to zoom in for a head shot.

Other aspects of the game include exploration of environments in third-person view, locating and rescuing civilians. Here you also get a chance to recharge your health, stamina and stocks of munitions with various hidden items. Although this has all been seen before, Disaster: Day of Crisis' polished delivery makes the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable.

The shooter sections are extended by the ability to advance your characters' abilities and weapon selection as you progress. Add this to the detailed end of level scores (again in keeping with the arcade style) and you have plenty of reason to replay levels.

What do people play this game to experience?

It's the quality of the experience that draws players to Disaster: Day of Crisis. The on-rails shooter-style game is something of a rarity these days — so the chance to play one that pushes the Wii to its limits is pretty attractive. It is also refreshing to find a game that can engage with an older audience.

Jumping into a new level and watching the well-captured and voiced cut-screen introduce today's disaster gives a real sense of playing within a summer blockbuster movie. Raising the Wiimote to your ear to hear the crackly radio broadcast from its speaker is an ingenious touch. Plunging your way through the (appropriately) roller coaster-like levels keeps you locked in all the way. Popping out the other side, stumbling into the disaster averted clean air simply makes you want to do it all again (much like the aforementioned roller coaster rides).

How much free time is required to play it?

Disaster: Day of Crisis takes a little time to work out. Fans of its constituent parts (shooter, third person and adventure) need to adjust its amorphous approach. working through the first mountain side rescue setting does a good job of introducing the basics.

Most levels can be played through in 45 minutes or so. Although you can save progress at the end of each level, if you do run out of time before you are through you need to start from the beginning in you next session. However, such is the re-playability of the game that this isn't as big a draw back as you may think.

What factors impact on suitability for novice/expert young/old players?

Let's say straight away, Disaster: Day of Crisis is a great game for a more grown-up audience. The plot (although appropriately cheesy) feels just like a blockbuster disaster movie. The fact that this is then followed up by some compelling gameplay make it a good fit for the intermediate grown-up audience.

Expert players may find the slightly older on-rails approach to be a little dated, although this is no reason to discount the experience. In fact it is a game that will provide more than enough challenge (particularly in its re-playable levels) for the most adroit of gamers.

Shooters are by their nature violent, something that needs to be considered for younger gamers. The inevitable deaths are quite realistic although there is no excessive blood or gore. The edge of the seat nature of Disaster: Day of Crisis adds a high degree of suspense and peril to proceedings that younger players may find distressing.

Whereas, the running around sections should be pretty straight forward for most ages and abilities, the Wiimote pointing and shooting can be fiddly to get the hang of for very young or inexperienced players. For those comfortable with the action this is a good game to be played by parents and offspring in turn taking fashion.

WIRED Exuberant hero-fest.

TIRED No two-player fist stomping.

Price/maker: $40, Nintendo

Rating: 8/10