Guilty Gear XX Accent Core (Wii)

Guilty fun if you have the right controller in your hands.
2/18/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 2

If you decide you want to get into the motion-sensitive side of controlling the action, you'll hate the default set-up even more. As far as basic movements go, swinging the Nunchuk lightly will result in a punch. A harder swing will result in a kick. With your other hand, you swing the remote lightly for a slash and harder for a heavy slash. Success early on can be done by just flailing the things around -- basically, the motion-based version of button-mashing. You will look like the world's most spastic conductor trying to get his orchestra to play "Flight of the Bumblebee" in double-time, but you will win. Doing anything more than just the basics with just the Nunchuk and Wii remote, though, is just about impossible.

Thankfully, the game can be played using a classic controller or GameCube controller -- and the difference once you start to tackle the game with a more traditional controller is like night and day. You'll be doing things with your pool cue and yo-yo that were only pipe dreams when you were holding a Nunchuk. It's how the game was truly meant to be played. Unfortunately, in the grand gaming scheme of things, this means that, essentially, for the extra cost of a classic controller (around $20) -- or two if you want to go up against a bud -- you'll be able to experience exactly what PlayStation 2 gamers have been playing for the past month. And, oh yeah, the PS2 game retails for 10 bucks less than the Wii version. If you have a PS2 and want to crank on some seriously fun 2-D fighting, you should probably grab that version. If you live in a Nintendo-only universe, be warned that you'll need either a classic controller or GameCube controller to get the most out of things.

The highway of reviews for Wii-controlled fighting games is littered with words and phrases like "clunky," "obstinate," "headache-inducing" and "sucktacular." Sadly, all of these things -- and more -- can be said about Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core. While it would be a huge kick to be able to fight your way through this Wii-ified take on a stellar gaming series with a Nunchuk and Wii remote, it's just not going to happen. On the plus side, if you have a classic controller, you'll be able to hang with the best 2-D fighter available.

This review was based on a retail version of Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core that was purchased by the reviewer. However, since the reviewer can write off the purchase as a legitimate business expense -- and you can't -- it still wasn't as expensive for him to buy as it would be for you to buy. (How's that for a truthful disclaimer?)