Wii Demo Roundup - 02/15/11

This week's new releases, the "Chronos Twins DX" and "Chick Chick Boom" demos prove that you don't have to stray far from simplicity while keeping things fun, and that trying (too) new ideas can be risky.

Chronos Twins DX
Rated E10+; 1 player; Wii Remote/Nunchunk, Classic Controller, or Gamecube Controller required

Courtesy Nintendo

In 5 words: confusing, demanding, frustrating, novel, underwhelming

"Chronos Twins DX" is an interesting game, but it is also annoying. Maybe I'm too old, but I could not get into this demo. It consists of a split-screen setup where you play in the present and the past at the same time. You face different obstacles and enemies in the different timelines and you must be constantly switching your focus from the top view to the bottom view in order to progress. The controls are not easy to master, but would get better with practice. The graphics and platformer/shooter style of play feel like a throwback to the Gamecube.

The demo plays for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and features 4 levels, but it left me without a clear idea of what the game's potential actually is. There is mention of "the power of split", but this is not featured in the demo. The gameplay concept of "Chronos Twins DX" is certainly novel, but the demo left me asking if it is little more than a gimmick. The only way I could ever see it working is in a 2-player cooperative mode, but "Chronos Twins DX" is single player. With the full game clocking in at $10.00, I have a hard time recommending this game, but if you like side scrolling platformers, give the demo a try. I guarantee you have not played anything quite like it.

Chick Chick BOOM
Rated E10+ (why, I don't know), 1-2 players (demo), 1-4 players (full game), Wii Remote required

Courtesy tons of bits

In 5 words: fun, simple, funny, clever, bargain

The "Chick Chick BOOM" demo shows how you can take a bunch of simple concepts and stitch them together to form a raucously fun and diverse gaming experience. Everything here works: the art, the music, the characters, the attacks, the defense, the humor...this is a fun game! It's like "Angry Birds" meets "Bomberman" meets "Worms: Armageddon". With attacks ranging from carnivorous plants to UFOs, a bonus piñata that gets bigger as the damage increases, and CornCobMan, this demo is a must play.

The "Chick Chick BOOM" demo lasts between 20-30 minutes and is worth every second. The full game is priced at a paltry $8.00 and looks to add plenty to the fun and excitement that the demo provides. The addition of up to 3 more players can only make things more entertaining. "Chick Chick BOOM" is now at the top of my Wii "to-buy" list.

There's no telling how long these demos will be on the Nintendo Shop channel, so do yourself a favor and at least go get "Chick Chick BOOM" sometime this week. You won't regret it! Feel free to share your experiences with these demos by sounding off in the comments.

--Demo Gamer