When I first heard the news that Steven Spielberg was working on an exclusive Wii puzzle game, I was skeptical. What does he know about videogames, especially non-story ones like Boom Blox? On the subject of his pedigree: Sure he directed "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Jaws" and "Saving Private Ryan," but he also directed "A.I.," "Temple of Doom" and "War of the Worlds." I think you can appreciate where I'm coming from.

After playing the game, however, I'm happy to report that Boom Blox is not just a marketing ploy or a misguided idea by the venerable movie director. It's an inspired, console-appropriate and rewarding game -- particularly for single-player challenge-seekers -- even if it appears to be something that Spielberg wouldn't be involved with.

What are Boom Blox?

Blowing stuff up or knocking it down (aka "killing it") is inherent in gamer DNA, and that's precisely what Boom Blox gets right. Nearly 400 candy-colored levels are stacked high and wide with Jenga-like blocks that can be fired upon, pushed, pulled, or otherwise collapsed by the player. Several projectiles are on tap, each with their own unique properties that affect the strategically placed blocks differently. A baseball or bowling ball, for example, can be pitched fast or slow at a stack, according to how hard you swing the Wii remote. The Nunchuck peripheral is not used, nor is it needed.

The angle at which you throw a projectile, controlled by the camera, affects how a block (or pile of them) gets sent into orbit and/or collides with other blocks. Additionally, some blocks feature special properties when struck, like gem and point blocks that burst into animated graffiti when hitting the ground, bomb blocks that explode on impact with a projectile, and vanishing blocks that disappear when hit, often creating a chain-reaction of destruction.

Boom Blox gameplay is neither new nor evolved, but watching a freestanding tower topple to the floor or explode in several directions with convincing physics is very fun to watch, especially upon realizing that it was your creative genius that took it down. But the game isn't just about bringing things down or blowing them up. Often times you'll string together domino-like runs, lasso a single block into a stack of others using a special grab tool, combine chemical blocks to produce far-reaching explosions, balance non-playable characters on top of stacks, and even play a modified version of golf.

Needless to say, each puzzle varies greatly, and the payoff for solving them is visually rewarding ... usually. My only gripe is that some of the puzzles can be too easy, monotonous, or worse, boring. Overall, however, the single-player puzzles are irresistible and make excellent use of the satisfying motion-controls, which feel extremely natural.



Don't be fooled by the Fisher-Price graphics

With regards to the game's presentation, Boom Blox looks polished and graphically well-rounded, though it's hardly a technical accomplishment -- nor is it on par with some of Wii's better-looking games. Camera control, which is managed with the "B" trigger, changes the screen perspective on demand and does its job, but it won't always go where you want it to. Another presentation nuisance is that menu overlays often obstruct the view of other options, which can be annoying, but never hair-pullingly so.

As you'll quickly notice upon seeing the game case, Boom Blox features a set of clownish and blocky characters that carry no names and are scattered throughout the various levels and even take center stage in an Adventure Mode. I suspect their inclusion was meant to appease the eight- to 12-year-old gamer, but these characters are forgettable and feel forced in an age where every game is expected to have some kind of story. They do add personality, but at the expense of alienating a larger demographic that could be turned off by the baby-like personas. Boom Blox can and should be enjoyed by all ages, so a subtle background theme (like Russia was to Tetris) would have sufficed. After all, it is a puzzle game.

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.