Boom Blox (Wii)

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The true complement to the superb gameplay, however, is the game's music and sound, which are respectively catchy and precise. The song selection is relaxing and particularly fitting for harder puzzles, which can require multiple tries to solve, and the audio effects are consistent with the physics of falling blocks, adding to the finale of solving a puzzle, not unlike the satisfaction of hearing fallen bowling pins in Wii Sports Bowling. You might even find yourself humming a tune or two from the game after playing.

Buy it for the puzzles, play it for life

One might assume that a game like Boom Blox would only offer a limited amount of replayability, especially once you solve a puzzle. But given the subtle differences between individual throws, their angles and impact locations, collapsing results vary greatly, making no two attempts identical. Replay value is further heightened due to a bronze, silver and gold medal system, which encourages players to get the best possible score -- sometimes asking you to collapse a seemingly impossible tower with a single throw. Unlocking all 400 puzzles is no breeze, either -- it will take some time.

To top off the extras, EA was kind enough to include a robust level editor. Players can modify any of the included pre-built puzzles, or start from scratch to make their own. Puzzles can then be shared with friends over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. Seeing the "Create Mode" for the first time can be a little like seeing Photoshop for the first time: There are a number tools and menu options to learn. But in a matter of minutes, navigating the editor will become second nature.

"BOOM BLOX was designed to be interactive, pure escapism, and fun for kids of all ages," said Steven Spielberg upon launching the game. "My hope is that it will be a great shared family experience," he concluded. The reality, however, is that Boom Blox shines more as a single-player game than a multiplayer one. Both competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes exist, but outside of turn-based Jenga puzzles and a split-screen mode, competitive play feels underdeveloped. Worse still is the co-op, which often amounts to nothing more than a mindless shooting gallery with poor hit detection. There is some multiplayer mileage to be found here, but it's unfortunate that the party experience isn't as compelling as the single-player campaign.

Despite its minor imperfections, Boom Blox is well-executed, impressive and one of the best Wii games period. Whether you're a hardcore gamer or one who prefers casual fare, you'd be remiss to overlook the title's well-designed puzzles.

This review was based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.