Muscle March for Nintendo Wii: Review

Review for Muscle March on the Nintendo Wii

By: Samuel Contreras
Contreramanjaro

Contents:
1. Up front presentation - out of the box, what do I think.
2. Menus - Navigations, both in and out of game
3. Save system - Save points, section based, auto, free
4. Control - Options, ease, learning, success of default
5. Artistic presentation (graphics) - A game doesn't need the sharpest textures and most detailed environments to visually carry a message. This is for the graphics presentation not based on comparison.
6. Story -Was it interesting, can I hear it again?
7. Emotional effect - Goose bumps, tears, laughter (appropriate or not)
8. Summary and recommendations - wrap up

Up Front Presentation:

This is a downloadable game on the Nintendo Shop Channel for Nintendo Wii, the DSi has a shop channel, but that channel doesn’t have this game. This is one of those games that have an appeal based on seeming ridiculous. I first saw the game on Four Player Podcast it was the Japanese version. I knew that you needed only use the Wii remote and Nunchuck to run through walls and I knew that this game, in no way, takes itself seriously. Which is a nice change from the serious blockbusters like Halo, Call of Duty, Half-Life, and Gears of War. A fun simple game, this is what I’d been led to expect.

Menus:

The menus work well. There are virtually no options and the most choice you have is what character you want to be. This is ok though, the menus are almost more complicated than the game itself.

Save System:

There is a leaderboard for endless march scores. That's it.

Control

You use the Wii remote and Nunchuck attachment to control the game. There are four positions to move and you use the Wii remote to run. The only thing buttons are used for is the menu [A]. The controls are very easy to do and the motions are mimicked nearly always accurately. Good solid control system; this game feels like the Wii was built for it.

Artistic Presentation:

The graphics in this game are about the caliber of the PS2, but you don't want this game for high end realistic, borderline sexually attractive visuals, you got it for good old fun. That being said, the graphics are done stylishly... very stylishly. The backgrounds and scenes are extremely funny and makes you think of games like Katamari Damacy, which is the point you realize it's a Namco Bandai game. Considering that, the frame rate always keeps stable even when the rate of speed gets quite high.

Story:

I'm going to try to sum it up in one sentence.

You play a group of body builders who has there bottle stolen and then you chase characters to get it back.

I didn't even run on!

Emotional Effect:

Extremely hilarious, if you are watching this game on the sidelines, the ongoing events will crack you up. Also watching your friends doing ridiculous motions in your room is also pretty entertaining. If you are playing, it is another story entirely. You find yourself surprisingly out of breath and worn out from your march. You can get frustrated at particularly tough sections of the game, but the light mood always leaves you feeling happy. There is just no shame in being beat by someone like Mech Muscle. Who I think may be like Muscle Jesus, by the way, there is a Muscle God that makes you chase Mech Muscle.

Summary and Recommendations:

For five dollars, I can't recommend this game enough. This is majorly a game played with friends. The story and themes are ridiculously awesome and fun. Controls can be done by a two year old I'm sure as well as an eighty year old. I have to recommend this game to anyone who enjoys games that are just for fun and not necessarily epic. Don't expect Modern Warfare 2 graphics, but at one twelfth the cost, it's worth it.


My thoughts:
Price to buy: 5 bucks, 500 points
Rent or buy: Buy
Time to complete: Two hours
Hardcore or Casual: Both
Console: Built around motion controls
Male or Female: Both
Age: 5 years or older

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Out of 100:
Presentation: 90
Menus: 60
Save System: 90
Control: 95
Artistic Presentation: 70
Story: 75
Emotional Effect: 92

Total: 82/100