MadWorld

Videogame fans have been complaining for some time now that the Wii has a severe lack of adult titles. Its catalogue is largely focused on family and kids games, frustrating the older players who are getting tired of endless games featuring cute animals and family-friendly mini-games.

MadWorld was first shown a few years ago and promised to fulfil the blood-lust of Wii owners over the age of 18. It’s been eagerly awaited, and after long delays it is finally making an appearance on the console even your granny will play.

MadWorld follows in the fine tradition of movies like The Running Man and games like SmashTV. You play a large, muscled individual named Jack who must dispatch the many enemies on each level to entertain a watching crowd. You can just run up and punch them, but you’ll only advance in MadWorld by racking up huge combo bonuses.

Points mean prizes in MadWorld, and points are gained by killing the enemy in as many creative ways as you can. The levels are littered with objects that can be used to slice, stab, impale and crush the bad guys, and you’ve got to entertain the blood-thirsty crowds by stringing together moves.

Clearly, this is an extremely violent – if juvenile – game, definitely not one for the kiddies. It does violence in style, though, and its heavily stylised black-n-white with a splash of colour visuals are some of the most beautiful on the Wii.

It uses the Wii remote to great effect, making the complex control system a doddle to pick up, and even manages to make quick-time events enjoyable as you take on a variety of bosses with some inventive mini-games.

The problem with MadWorld, though, is that while it is hugely enjoyable initially the latter stages can be extremely unforgiving and frustrating, with a few mistakes setting you back and forcing the player to endlessly repeat the same sections.

Verdict: 75%

Extraordinarily violent, but very unique and mostly enjoyable. Its points-based gameplay and tough difficulty may frustrate many, however.