GameTap writes: "Could this be a sign of the Apocalypse? While it's not about cheetahs lying down with African hunting dogs, here's a video game that kids might actually be able to use to do their homework.
Wild Earth: African Safari is a little rugged, but it does a noteworthy job of presenting a ton of facts and figures about 30 African animals without sounding too dry or too corny. It's best suited for kids, but adults are guaranteed to learn a thing or two as well. Safari also enables you to trek around with the beasts in a respectable representation of their habitat, the Serengeti National Park.
The game casts you as a photojournalist on assignment in Africa. You're providing the illustrations for a series of animal slideshows, which requires you to take 11 photo safaris into the park. Two guides work with you, and they provide running educational dialogue and commentary about the flora and fauna you see. Photo assignments require anywhere from 30 to 50 photos, so there's plenty of things to do and a broad range of subject matter to research. Sometimes you're shooting pix from a jeep or a helicopter, too."
Alas, all is not well with Wild Earth. While the controls have naturally transferred over well, the graphics have suffered a fatal blow. The engine just can't seem to cope – ever. There's a shocking amount of pop-up, sometimes trees and rocks don't appear until you've actually walked into them and started to wonder why you're not moving anymore. The frame rate is a nightmare, too. It really hurts the overall experience, as this game is all about trying to lose yourself in its virtual world. Unless the real Africa actually does stutter and suffer from screen-tearing. That'd... that'd be pretty amazing.
GI.net: "Wild Earth: African Safari for the Wii casts you as a wildlife photographer. You're working for a magazine and are sent into the wild to get pictures for various articles. Yes, there are minigames you can unlock as you finish each assignment, and there's a cooperative play mode, but the real meat of the game is in the photography assignments.
You begin the game in game. There's a nice tutorial to help you learn how to move around, look around and, most importantly, take great pictures of what's around you. This is all handled with the combination of the Wii nunchuk and Wii-mote. It's quick and easy to look around you and equally easy to zoom in and zoom out for your shots.
Each assignment has a specific overall theme - which makes sense because you're taking picture to accompany an article, but you'll be taking more pictures than just that. In the upper left corner of the screen, you'll see a list of pictures for you to try and get. Some are mission critical and will stay there longer, while others are bonus shots for flavor (and additional points) and will only be options for a short period of time. Flavor shots might be "three frogs" or "termite mound."
While the game isn't the same as riding in a jeep with a guide, marveling at the wonders of the Serengeti, it does create an interactive nature simulation that is very compelling. Instead of watching an elephant charge you and wondering if you will survive, you can experience that adrenaline rush from the safety of your sofa.
The game puts you in charge of your exploration around the Serengeti. Using the Wii Remote and the Wii Nunchuk controller, it's easy to point and then use the control stick to move. You can travel at a pretty good clip, as if you were sitting in a jeep. One assignment even puts you inside a helicopter flying over the Ngorongoro Crater to film animals in migration.
