Mom Reviews: PokePark 2 for Nintendo Wii

It's been a while since I posted a product review, so I'm going to lead off with one that I had already prepared for PokePark 2 for the Nintendo Wii. This review was originally featured here at Epinions as well, click for the full version! The version below is edited for the sake of brevity, if you really need more details please stop and read the full 500+ word version above!

Parents of little ones who are into Pokemon have probably heard such requests as, “I wish I could really have a pet Pikachu” or “Hey, Mom, can we go to the Pokemon theme park in Japan?” As a mom of such a child, I can say that the new PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond game for the Nintendo Wii makes a valiant attempt at filling the void between traditional Pokemon video games and a child’s desire to interact more with the adorable little creatures. For the basis of this review, I have to assume that you have some familiarity with Pokemon in general, lest you wouldn’t likely be reading this. I’m also going to assume based on personal experience, that you have a child at home clamoring for this game.

The premise is fairly simple: you get to play as either Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawatt, or Tepig - a pleasant change from the original PokePark which allowed you to only play as Pikachu. As a Pokemon, you will need to befriend other Pokemon in the world, approximately 100 of them, by winning short battles, race events, or completing simple quests for them. There are also “Attractions”, playing off of the amusement park theme, which include simple games such as Pokemon trivia, Whack-A-Mole style carnival fun, and hide-and-seek. As you complete these games, you also unlock them in multiplayer mode, which will allow friends, or mom and dad, to jump in for a few minutes in games designed for two to four players. Overall, the game is a collection of minigames, wrapped in a pretty Pokemon-world called Wish Park.

Your character is given a “Pokepark Pad”, or diary of sorts, to keep track of who you’re helping and where you need to go next. The more of these missions you complete, the more Pokemon you will unlock upon your journey.

Thankfully, the controls are simple, as the game only requires the basic Wii remote, and most functions are completed with only the “A” button, which allows even the youngest of players or those not so gaming-inclined, to join in the fun. A relatively basic reading ability is required to play, as you will need to follow some directions that guide you on your journey. However, if your child is already reading well enough to play other games from the Pokemon franchise, it should pose no challenges.

The graphics are well done, with bright, colorful, engaging worlds and accurate rendering of the Pokemon that your kids know and love. And, thankfully, the music and sound effects are mild and pleasant - unlike many other children’s games where I just want to hit the mute button after about ten minutes.

Now for the down side: This game is only going to appeal to the very youngest of Pokemon fans. The game rides the line constantly of being almost too easy and is overall very short, as you can complete the bulk of the game in under 8 hours. As a parent of a 7 year old, it’s at just the right speed, with certain minigames requiring a little practice to win, but never getting so frustratingly difficult to turn him off from the game entirely. However, if you’re an adult Poke-addict or the parent of an older Pokemon fan, you’ll likely be disappointed. From a parent point of view, this game is probably best left to the 10-and-under crowd. A bit more entertainment can be drawn from the game with the feature of taking pictures along your adventure - something my son greatly enjoyed, as it allowed him to catch quick snapshots that he could show me and his friends later.

Simplicity aside, I still maintain that this is a winning purchase for the younger set. It is one of the only games that allows you to take on the role of an actual Pokemon, which based on my experience is what many kids enjoy the most. And for the older kids and parents, the game allows you to jump in for a few minutes of playing together through the use of the multiplayer minigames, so that you can still get some “gaming together” time.

Overall, this may be considered a pricy buy at $50, but the amount of enjoyment my son gets out of it, and the fact that he continues to return to it although he’s already finished the core game, makes it worthwhile. I would definitely recommend a rental first, or borrow it from a friend, if you have children on the older side as mentioned above. But in the end, this is definitely a worthy journey at a different perspective through the world of Pokemon.