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Great for Kids, Fun Level Editor, All Around Fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 61 / 62
Date: December 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Elebits is a "collecting" game where your aim is to gather up little electrical life forms while completely demolishing the room you're in. It is quite satisfying, and fun for all ages!

It's sort of hard to describe the appeal of this game. In some ways it's like describing the appeal of the Sims series. What's so fun about walking around a virtual home, interacting with it? For some reason, we humans just like to do that. In elebits, you walk into a "bedroom" for example. It's got all the normal items a bedroom has - shelves, books on the shelves, lamps, electronic items, etc. Every single distinct item in the room can be interacted with. You can take individual books off the shelves, move the shelf, move the bed, turn on items, and much more.

But you're not just walking around picking up books and examining them. Instead, you have a raygun that lets you whirl these items around in your frenzied search for Elebits. It's really best if you ignore the plot here, but this is the gist of it. You're a spoiled little girl who has two scientist parents. You are insanely jealous of the object of your parents' research - electrically charged elebits. However, when the power goes out in your town and your parents leave you behind to go look into the problem, you promptly pick up your dad's "ray gun" to start zapping Elebits on your own. The more you gather up, the more of your electronic devices and lights that begin working again.

So the game is non-violent, but wildly "fun destructive". You go around zapping at the little Elebits creatures to gather them up. You have a time deadline, so you're wildly flinging things in the room around - vacuum cleaners, computers, books, lamps - to find where they're hiding. The more Elebits you gather up, the more power you have to lift heavier items. When you charge up enough power, you can start turning on TVs and other devices - which then releases more Elebits. It gives the game a bit of strategy, knowing that you have to track down enough elebits to get through Door 1, to then turn on Item 2, and so on.

The controls are pretty straightforward - you point at an elebit, and push the button to suck it up. Sometimes it's challenging to figure out WHERE on an item to "push the switch" to turn it on. For example you might know that the lamp can be activated, but you have to spin around it to figure out exactly where that darn ON switch is.

Even if you think the story mode is completely silly, wait until you get your hands on the level editor. You can then create your own levels, with your own rules, or even create complex Domino-chain styles of situations using all of the in game objects. Then you can load your level online for others to see and enjoy! This could easily keep you occupied for weeks.

Well recommended, if you're into this style of non-violent but wackily destructive fun!

Loads and loads of fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 39 / 39
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Elebits is for me the surprise hit of the year. Voted best of 2006 in 3 categories by IGN, including Best Action Game, it's worth every penny. Not only does it utilize the innovative features of the Wii remote to the fullest, but it entertains with hours of play.

I can be pretty slow at catching on to games, but this one won't disappoint those, uh, less-coordinated folks like me. Don't get me wrong, it takes a little getting used to opening and closing doors, drawers, and operating appliances and other electronics, but you don't have to remember tons of "rules" and controller tricks to get into the game. When you want to open a door, grab the doorknob, and literally twist it open with the Wii-mote. Intuitive and clever. Just ignore the awkward English and the terrible voice-overs. They at first made me think this game was lame, but once I started actual play, I discovered that it was lots of fun.

One of best things about it is that it is suitable for all ages. There isn't any bloody violence or adult themes. It also has a multi-player mode so the whole family can play. For concerned parents, you're not killing Elebits, you're CAPTURING them with the capture gun.

There is also an edit mode where you can get creative and create your own levels. These unlock as you go along in the story mode. Added value if you get bored of the existing stuff.

The only warning is that some people have complained of the game getting them motion sick. I got a little dizzy when I first started playing, but once I got the hang of changing direction, all was well. I never got into Doom or past the first Quake (yeah, I'm old) because it would make me so nauseous. So, although I'm susceptible to motion sickness caused by games, I'm still able to play this one. Super sensitive people, try renting it first to make sure you don't waste your money on something that will make you ill.

Overall, a great game for everyone (except maybe those prone to motion sickness). It's easy to learn how to play, and is also satisfying at all levels. Beginners will have fun learning to master the controls and of course capturing Elebits, and advanced users can have fun trying to capture ALL the Elebits, improve their scores to unlock new things, and a lot more.

Lots of fun, physics, and flying objects

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 31 / 31
Date: December 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Push boxes, pull open drawers, twist open doorknobs and pull the doors open, throw everything around, and zap plenty of Elebits. This game is just fantastic, well designed and executed in almost every respect. As with any game that's well tied in with the Wii, the movements are mostly intuitive and well designed. Shift target on screen with controller to rotate left, right, up, or down. Zap Elebits with the "A" button, which is also used to grab items. Push, pull or throw objects by moving the main controller. No item is off limits -- if you accumulated enough Watts you can move it or even throw it around. Move forward, back, left or right with the Analog stick on the Nunchuk. Crouch (move lower) or move up with the two buttons on the front of the Nunchuk. The game takes almost full advantage of the Wii controller's abilities.
The game itself has a reasonable amount of depth but not it is not too complicated. There are a few different kinds of "Elebits" that you can capture. The primary ones either give you more Wattage, which allow you to clear the level, and "power Elebits". The Power Elebits are obtained by turning on appliances (which you can do when you have the qualifying Wattage accumulated for each applicance), zapping the Power Elebits that subsequently escape; these Power Elebits give you the ability to move heavier items. By the time you've cleared the level, the room, or wherever you were, it is pretty much trashed as you've thrown everything around trying to find Elebits. The Physics of all the objects flying around and moving is well done, things bang into each other and knock each other over, drawers are blocked from opening, things get underneath and behind each other, etc.
Another nice touch is that it is easy to clear the history of the players, so basically you can reset the game to be as it was when it was new.
There is also a multiplayer mode, which is not perfect because only one player can control the movements of the shooter, but's it's not too bad. Probably best to just alternate single players than to play the multiplayer version.
The game is not integrated with the "Mii" personalities that you create from the Wii main menu, but this is not a serious deficiency. A maximum of three players histories can be stored in this game.
Great fun, highly recommended.

Destructive Fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 16
Date: December 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is another one of those games where the gameplay definitely takes a front seat as the storyline is forced to sit in the baby carrier.

The premise is simple enough: A lightening strike has caused the elebits, tiny creatures responsible for providing the worlds' electricity, to go into hiding.
Your character takes his fathers capture gun to search them out and, well, capture them.

Using the Wiimote and Nunchuk attachment, you search your environment by latching onto furniture, books, and pretty much anything that isn't bolted to the ground, and moving it to search out those pesky elebits.
Now, by "move" I mean more like flinging, launching, and destroying. As you capture more and more elebits you upgrade your gun so you can lift heavier and heavier objects. You'll walk into a neatly organized living room and leave with the entire place in tatters a la "a tornado hitting it."

The controls definitely take some getting used to. Some elebits only appear when you perform a series of actions, such as putting a DVD into a DVD player. This utilizes the 3D control capabilities of the Wiimote, but can become frustrating. Luckily, the game does allow for dominant hand play (i.e. you can switch it around to play left-handed.)

There is a made up physics engine at work, with items floating to the ground as opposed to crashing as they would in real life. While I appreciate this, especially in the levels where you have to stay as quiet as possible and have to catch something before it hits the ground, say like your widescreen TV some rogue elebits so carelessly knocked over, there are other times where I really wanted some real time physics. Still, that'd be more of an added feature which doesn't detract from the game at all.

The special weapons are great, with my personal favorite being the homing beam which will allow you to lock onto any elebits you point to and capture them all at once.

As you complete the story mode, you begin to unlock more and more in Edit Mode, which allows you to custom create levels and share them on WiiConnect24. The level editor is incredibly intuitive as item placement is extremely precise, again using the 3D capabilities of the Wiimote to place things exactly where you want them.

The graphics aren't anything to write home about, but I feel as though they were toned down a bit to make room for all the mayhem you can create without worrying about framerate problems.

Each level, with the exception of boss battles, do have time limits, so the mayhem you can create is limited to a certain extent. Fortunately, you can complete a level and still mess around in it if you finish your objective before the time limit expires, at which point it's time to have a couch throwing contest with yourself. Also, you can just create your own level and let it rip.

All in all, a solid purchase. The controls take some getting used to, and if you're all about graphics then you should go back to your 360 ya big babby. ;) Highly recommended.

Great Wii title!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 13
Date: December 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is perhaps the finest example of use of the Wii controller scheme that is available. You play as a kid trying to find "Elebits" to power on appliances so that you can...find more Elebits. Sound monotonous and boring? Well that's where you're wrong! It's a great hide and seek game that entails throwing aside objects, shaking them, twisting them, opening doors, etc. All with relatively realistic feeling motions. Grab and rotate to turn a doorknob. Grab and swing to throw and object. You are bound to find yourself flailing around like an idiot and loving every second.

The game also has lasting appeal, particularly for the collector types out there. Each level has aseries of auxillary challenges for you to explore. Find the secrets, get perfect ratings. The game is a great way to waste 10 minutes or an engaging way to spend an evening.

I also greatly appreciate the fact that the game is relatively pick-up-and-play. Although there is an interactive tutorial as well.

I don't know when I have had this much fun playing a game, and I recommend you get a copy so you can join the fun!

Kids love it but it is repetitive

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: April 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I saw this game and knew my daughter and son would love it. Turns out they did. They have been playing it pretty much nonstop for the last 3 days. I am pretty sure they have already beat the game, which is the biggest drawback. It is way too short. The multiplayer is fun. There are a few other modes which extend the replay value somewhat. For a seven year old, this game is simple, colorful, and fun to play. For a 35 year old, not so much. You just pick up your wiimote and after a 5 minute tutorial, you are ready to play. The voice acting in the cutscenes has to be a joke. It's that bad, but in the old kung fu movie kind of way so it's funny to listen to. Anyone with kids 10 and under will get alot of mileage out of this game. Anyone else will grow tired of it after a week or so. Overall, a solid game that just needs to be longer.

Elebits

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: December 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

How about this for a cut and dried review: Within the first few minutes of gameplay you're absolutely addicted. The only downside is the awful voiceovers but aside from that - total brilliance! Great, GREAT game!

Fun...even for a non-gamer like myself

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: February 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

After reading the reviews on here and other sites, I decided that Elebits would me a great first game for my kids Wii. I'm glad I chose this.

The kids (6 and 11) enjoy it and I've found myself addicted to it as well...and I'm old enough to remember getting Atari for Christmas back in the day!

I think the story is great, the game is challenging, and there is so much to do (find all the hidden Elebits, solving the puzzles on each level, finding hidden objects, and capturing the elusive Pink Elebits) that I think there will be enough replay value to play time and time again.

Creative play at its best.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: December 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Everyone who owns a Wii should play this game. Elebits is arguably the first to truly explore the unique possibilities the Wii remote can bring to a "full" game [rather than a collection of minigames] and the result is incredibly fun. Read the other review below for a decent overview of the features. I just wanted to point out that the open-ended design of the game promotes creative play. Just as a child might have more fun with a box than the toy that came in it, so too will you find unexpected pleasure exploring the mechanics of Elebits. For instance, in two player mode, you might take turns stacking objects on top of one another to build a tower until someone makes a mistake and it collapses. You might each pick a cabinet in the kitchen level and compete to shelve the most items in a given time frame. The possibilities are endless...

If that wasn't enough, the level editor will ensure that this game achieves classic, or at least cult status. You are limited to the base environments of the main game, but you can place elements however you want within them. I have already seen some ingenious Rube Goldberg machines* and domino effects on YouTube.

This game will be a sleeper hit, and I have a feeling it will also become a rare find like some of the great DS games such as "Trauma Center" and "Phoenix Wright," so pick it up as soon as you can.

*A Rube Goldberg machine or device is any exceedingly complex apparatus that performs a very simple task in a very indirect and convoluted way.

Fun the Casual & the Hardcore Gamer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: December 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is a blast! Easy enough for the casual gamer to get the hang of in about 15 minutes and deep enough for a hardcore gamer to sink his or her teeth into.

Casual gamers are going to enjoy the cute characters, the ease of use, and the general fun of the gameplay.

Hardcore types will enjoy unlocking new modes, honing one's elebit capturing skills, and improving completion times for each level.

Plenty here for everyone. A must buy!

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