English
Gamereactor
reviews
Wreckateer

Wreckateer

Angry Birds: Medieval? There's a definite whiff of inspiration here in the latest Kinect offering.

Subscribe to our newsletter here!

* Required field
HQ

The XBLA title sees you charged with demolishing goblin-infested castles through the careful aiming of a giant slingshot. There's multiple shot types, and points are awarded for effective use of the ballista's firepower.

In a fantasy world that's a few branches removed from the Fable family, fortifications take skilfully-placed hits to make the towers collapse, but success is built round correct use of the special ammunition.

Specials are always activated with the same arm motion after launch (get ready to get some muscles). The Split Shot, for example, divides into four, connected with elasticated bands, distance between each and angle dependent on the position of arms and hands. Power ups and bonuses are strewn between you and the castles, giving you the option of trickier shots for better rewards.

HQ
This is an ad:

The orgy of destruction is a lot of fun, but the whole thing stands or falls in the truest sense of the word with the implementation of motion control. But the team at Iron Galaxy Studios have done their homework. It is sad that so long after the launch of Kinect even well-made menus are few and far between, but Wreckateer shines in this respect. No motionless waiting for the activation of the buttons - a sweeping motion with one arm and your choice is selected.

The easy of use continues with the actual firing of the ballista. Two lit half-rings below your Avatar's feet indicate the zones for stepping in to grab your shot (step forward, bring arms and hands together), and the pull and angle of the shot (step back and to either side with arms still closed, then throw them out to your sides). It's simple stuff and there's no accidental misfires as a result.

The developer keeps you targeted with an on-screen glow to whatever target you're currently aiming at so you've got an early approximation even with the tricky shots. Control of the special shots, while needing to be very exaggerated, works fine, and shows how precise Kinect can be.

Wreckateer
This is an ad:

The game throws a few challenges into the fold. We take issue with the implementation of the Avatar Fame Stars - effectively Achievement-lite awards tied to your Xbox Live Avatar and unlocked through various game-related goals - because of the extra loopholes you have to endure. Having to clothe your Avatar in particular garb to earn the award? Fine - but it means having to exit the game to Dashboard, go into Avatar customisation, then boot the game back up. Ridiculous.

Wreckateer's a fun little title. We could have wished for a more spectacular dismantlement to the towers as they fall; they could have lent potential to last-second score multipliers if they toppled into nearby buildings. As it is they tend to break inwards. And while there's a strategy to downing each stage's fortifications, its fairly shallow - a more tactical edge would have given the game a greater depth.

07 Gamereactor UK
7 / 10
+
+ Amazingly precise control with Kinect + Fast menu navigation
-
- Something lame physics - Sometimes very small text - Annoying challenges associated with Avatar Fame Star
overall score
is our network score. What's yours? The network score is the average of every country's score

Related texts

0
WreckateerScore

Wreckateer

REVIEW. Written by Gillen McAllister

"Angry Birds: Medieval? There's a definite whiff of inspiration here in the latest Kinect offering."



Loading next content