Gamebridge Ltd., has announced the first details of their second WiiWare title, Happy Hammerin', to be released under the company's 'HAPPY' series label. Created by Japanese development studio Agenda, the team behind the hugely popular Nintendo DS game 42 All-Time Classics (aka Clubhouse Games in the US), Happy Hammerin' is a party game with a variety of modes to suit everyone.
"I was quite pleased when GAMEBRIDGE decided to bring this game overseas from the Japanese catalogue. Sure, Whack-a-Mole has been around for ages, but the unique approach to reviving this arcade classic is what first drew me to it, even in spite of the silly name choice. And after having spent time with it, I can say that it's a fun game for a very reasonable price." -- Wiiloveit.com
From the review:
"Ever get a sudden urge to grab a mallet and start playing Whack-A-Mole in the middle of your living room? Well, if you do, you might have a couple of issues, but lucky for you, someone understands your plight. Known primarily for billiard and card games, Agenda has ventured out somewhat with the latest addition to their gaming repertoire, Happy Hammerin'. Agenda has taken the Wii's entertaining motion controls and people's general love for smashing small creatures and combined the two into a fast-paced whack-athon that can be enjoyed by the whole the family."
Sweet! I love megaman. but it didn't get a great score, so I'll see if one of my buddies will pick it up then just play their copy hehe
The nostalgia works and the idea's converted well enough, but the game's just a bit too thin all around to recommend. It all just boils down to the same repetitive pounding motion with the Wii Remote, again and again, in every mode. The moles are presented in a variety of settings, and there's even support for up to four players -- but no matter how it's dressed up, the gameplay's still just a constant flailing of your wrist.
Add in the fact that the game will sometimes lose track of your on-screen cursor's position for extended periods of time and you've got a total package that accomplishes little more than bringing back memories of the good times you had eating pizza and earning prize tickets as a kid.
