We had a lot of requests for this. Here is the video introduction and review for Tigris and Euphrates. What did I think of one of the highest rated games of all time on Boardgamegeek.com? You'll have to watch to find out.
My son, Rusty, loves to play with blocks. More specifically, he likes to knock over all the little piles of blocks that I stack up for him. If that reminds you of fun times from your past, have I got a video game for you. Not only can you knock blocks down, you can blow them up, and throw them at funny looking block-shaped animals.
Anyway, as an anniversary present, my wife picked up a copy of Boom Blox for the Wii (isn't she the best?!). I had read lots of good reviews for the game and a friend of hers said it was fun, but I wasn't really all that sure what I was getting into. It turns out to be a pretty fun game.
I'd categorize it as mostly a puzzle game, since a lot of the levels I've played so far require you to figure out where to aim your throws to cause the correct chain reactions to happen. The controls to accomplish this are simple enough: You use the Wiimote to point at the screen, hold down the A button to lock down your target, and then fling the remote toward the screen and let go of the A button to throw the ball (or whatever you are throwing). The ball goes flying and crazy things happen. And that's about it.
Doesn't sound like much, you say? Well, certain blocks explode when struck, so the blocks can go flying all over the screen when that happens. The physics in the game work differently on the blocks, depending on what type they are, so that leads to some fun interactions. Blocks fly through the air, slide down slopes, and balance precariously on top of other blocks, forcing you to think about how to finish the level. Some of the levels require you to make Jenga like pulls on the blocks to remove them from stacks without knocking down other blocks or you'll lose points. And if you get frustrated with that, you can always throw a ball at one of the little block animals in the background and send it flying off screen with a plaintive "MOOOoooooo". Good times.
From what I can tell, there are tons of different levels to check out. Explore mode introduces you to each of the game's mechanics with increasingly difficult scenarios. Adventure mode (which I haven't tried yet) allows you to play out some funny story scenarios involving the little block animals struggles against each other. There are also co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, as well as a design mode to make your own block puzzles. So, the game isn't short of content at all.
In conclusion, I think Boom Blox is a fun game (and safe for families) and I highly recommend it. So go out there and knock some blocks down. The stacking was already done for you!
Here is episode 25 of Obsessed Board Gamers in which we do a video introduction and review for Aquaretto. Aquaretto is the third game in the Coloretto and Zooleretto series but is it the best one?
