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Target Terror Review for the Nintendo Wii

Target Terror Review for the Nintendo Wii

Target Terror started life as a light gun arcade game in 2004. The game was fun and met with limited success, but many fans wanted to have a console version to play in the comfort of their own homes. Four years later, it has finally been released for the new hotspot for light gun shooters, the Wii. Although it has been several years since its original arcade release, this version is basically just a straight port of the arcade game.

Target Terror screenshot

Target Terror has an extremely odd feel about it. Firstly, the game is like an awkward mix of Virtua Cop and Lethal Enforcers. The backgrounds and objects in the game are fully 3D but all the characters are 2D live-action cutouts. While this initially seemed downright bizarre, characters’ movements and animations help to make the game seem more realistic. Depending on where you shoot an enemy, they will react accordingly, making the gameplay experience more enjoyable.

This game also has an odd sense of humor. The storyline seems to be incredibly serious, having you trying to stop terrorist attacks in its ten levels. However, the game often tries to make light of these life-threatening situations. Whether you are shooting down turkeys strapped with dynamite or using a freeze ray to incapacitate your enemies, it is hard to take this game’s story seriously. Thankfully, this isn’t really a complaint about the game because this quirkiness makes it immensely more fun to play.

Target Terror screenshot

Target Terror plays very similarly to most other light gun games out there. You must dispatch with your enemies by shooting them while trying to avoid killing any innocents, who just so happen to constantly get in the way. You start off each level with a basic pistol but can find several weapon power-ups, such as a shotgun or machinegun, which will help even out the odds. All of the game’s weapons are fairly useful, but you will need to make the most of each of these power-ups because their uses are limited, either by ammo or when you are damaged.

One of the major things that sets this game apart from the multitude of other games in the same ilk are its mini-games. Instead of being forced upon you, like most Wii titles, the mini-games are entirely hidden and optional. Before every level, you are given hints about how to participate in a mini-game. These can range anywhere from destroying a certain number of windows in the level to shooting newspapers off of a newsstand. Once you’ve achieved the prerequisite, the game will automatically pause and begin your mini-game. Doing poorly in these will not harm your progress in the game. Instead, it is just a good way to further boost your final score. The mini-games are all fairly ridiculous, ranging from shooting terrorists quickly to keep them from dumping innocents into a vat of acid to playing a light gun version of Missile Command. These are all rather enjoyable and serve as good distractions from the campaign.

Target Terror screenshot

Unfortunately, not everything about this game is positive. You are initially given thirty continues, which seems like a lot until you realize it isn’t nearly enough. Enemies are often extremely cheap, firing almost instantaneously when they appear. The only way you won’t take damage from these enemies is if you are lucky and already firing when and where they appear. There are also usually far too many enemies on-screen at the same time. While you may be a good shot and quick on the draw, you can only take out so many terrorists at a time. This is clearly a problem that has been left from its arcade counterpart. Arcade games are purposefully made more difficult so you will have to put in more money to play, but this is clearly something that should have been changed for its release on a home console.

Target Terror screenshot

These problems are only exacerbated by the game’s controls. Although your Wii-mote may look like a light gun when it is inserted in the Wii Zapper attachment, it isn’t nearly as accurate. This becomes a pain in almost every aspect of the game. Often I would try to reload my gun by firing off-screen, but the game thought I was still pointing the Wii-mote at the screen. I frequently had issues where I would have my aiming reticule clearly positioned over an enemy’s head and would fire several times with absolutely no effect. This mix of inaccurate controls with poor hit detection is inexcusable for a game that relies heavily on speed and accuracy.

Fortunately, the game does offer a two-player mode, so you and a buddy can take on terrorism together. This mode helps to alleviate some of this game’s major issues. While playing with a friend, it is likely that at least one of you will be able to shoot your enemies and have the game recognize that this has occurred. Having two players also helps you take out multiple foes much quicker than you could alone, saving more life for the both of you. Two players firing at the screen also ups your chances of randomly hitting those cheap enemies who appear and fire at the same time as well. This game is fun as a single-player experience, but it is much better if played with a second player.

Although the game has many issues, Target Terror is a fun and worthwhile experience. With only ten levels and no multiple pathways, the game is fairly short on content. You will most likely only play this game for three to five hours, making the forty-dollar price tag seem way too steep to consider it for a purchase. Still, the game can be a lot of fun. If you are hungry for another light gun shooter for the Wii, I definitely recommend renting this title. It will at least provide you with one fairly quirky and enjoyable afternoon of shooting terrorists.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 2.6 Graphics
The odd mix of 3D backgrounds and 2D live action characters seems lame at first but quickly becomes humorous and endearing. 1.9 Control
I can’t say this enough, the Wii-mote doesn’t work well as a light gun, period. 2.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The sound in the game isn’t incredibly impressive, but all of the over-the-top sound effects from the arcade give you a very nostalgic audio experience. 2.2

Play Value
With only 10 levels and no reason to play through multiple times, this game is fun but incredibly short.

2.4 Overall Rating – Poor
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Full support for the Wii Zapper peripheral, which provides a superior control scheme to the regular remote and gives the player the full arcade experience.
  • Enjoy the fun of the arcade in your living room with a full, direct port of the arcade smash hit.
  • Unlockable mini-games add a humorous addition to the game as they creatively interpret many classic games.

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