Carnival Games Reviews

• Tremendously Fun

  
  By A167KPMW1NBZJW on 2007-08-31
  Carnival Games is the type of game that everyone should have for their Wii. It's great for solo play, or multi-player fun, and never becomes boring, with more than 25 games to choose from. It's extremely easy to "pick up and play" for all ages, and it's good clean fun. The game really represents a carnival in every way possible, starting with the perfectly accurate games (and gameplay), the bright colors, the chatty emcee's, the wandering carnival-goers who walk past you or play games beside you, and even the carnival music playing softly in the background. You can almost smell the cotton candy!
  What really makes this game shine is how well designed all the carnival games are. They work very well with the wii-mote, and rarely miss a beat.
  
  Here are some of the highlights of the 25+ games included on this disc:
  
  ALLEY BALL: This game is identical to a favorite game of many called "Skee-Ball". It is definitely one of the best games on here. It feels extremely realistic, the way you use the wii-mote to kind of throw the ball (not swing back & roll like bowling, but rather kind of flinging it up on the 'alley' like you really do in skee-ball). It's sharp and accurate, and hard to stop playing!
  
  SPILLED MILK: This one has you throwing a ball at a stack of 3 milk bottles. It somewhat lacks the realism of Alley Ball, but it still is quite fun. It has you hold your wii-mote as if it's a ball, and you do an overhand throw to try to knock down the bottles. Fortunately it has a little marking on the screen to show where you will hit before you throw.
  
  BALLOON DARTS: One of my favorites. This game has a corkboard covered with balloons that you must throw darts at to pop. You hold your wii-mote as if it's a dart (really!) and do a short, abrupt forward lunge with it as if you are throwing a dart. The accuracy on this game is amazing. I hit the small balloons every time! In fact, once you win this game a number of times, you will open a "super" version of this game that you can also play where it has a whole wall of balloons to pop in about 30 seconds.
  
  SHOOTING GALLERY: This is another favorite. A perfect representation of the duck shooting game we all love at carnivals. The little yellow ducks are scrolling by, and you have to use your wii-mote like a toy gun to shoot them (aiming for the target on their belly will net you even more points). The accuracy of this game is perfect.
  
  HOOPS: This game has a basketball hoop in front of you, and you need to use your wii-mote as if it's a basketball, using an overhand throw to get the ball in the basket. What really amazes me on this game is how once you throw the ball, it shows you where it will land, and you have a chance to twist the wii-mote to make it more likely to go in the basket! You have to be quick though! But this increases the fun factor enormously since you have such great control over the ball.
  
  SHOOT FOR THE STARS: This game was never a favorite of mine in carnivals, and isnt here either but I wanted to at least mention it for those who like this popular game. You stand in front of a star target and have to rapid-fire 300 shots to shoot away the star. It's perfectly accurate (can you hold steady enough for 300 shots?), and I usually end up with about 85% without trying too hard.
  
  HOLE IN ONE: I have not played this game yet, but the manual claims it is a miniature golf game that gives you 3 chances to putt the ball, but each time you do, the hole moves. Sounds fun though, as I love golf.
  
  RING TOSS: This is yet another favorite of mine. It has a large area of bottles arranged in a square, and you have to toss rings in hopes of landing one directly on a bottle. You hold your wii-mote kind of frisbee-style and fling your ring out towards the bottles. It is quite accurate and very fun. It looks and plays identical to the one you see at carnivals.
  
  DAY AT THE RACES: This is an odd take on horse racing. In order to get your horses to run, you have to roll balls into holes at the end of an alley (somewhat like skee-ball) as quickly as possible. The difference here is that there are just several holes on a flat surface, but they have different point values for different holes. The higher your points, the faster the horse goes. It's quite fun though! And accurate too.
  
  COLLECTION PLATE: I wouldnt say this is a favorite of mine as I am no good at it but I believe with practice it will be a lot more fun for me. This game has a platform of several plates at different heights, and you have to toss coins to land on them. You hold your wii-mote as if it's a coin, and kind of toss it outward. My problem is I use to much strength and the coin goes flying to who-knows-where. Those with more finesse would surely do better than me at this game! It's cute and pretty accurate in my opinion.
  
  Those are the highlights of Carnival Games. The other titles included in it are: The Great Swami, Frog Leap, Bowler Coaster, Meter-O-Love, Pigskin Pass, Buckets Of Fun, Going Nuts, Clown Splash, Ka-Pow, Prize Claw, Nerves Of Steel, Lucky Cups, Dunk Tank, and Push-A-Prize. Plus you can open a few alternate takes of some games once you reach certain goals.
  
  And lastly, for those of you who love character customization, you get a little person that represents you in the game, and you can change his/her hair, clothes, face, accessories, etc to your liking. You will also acquire more items for your person by either winning them in games or buying them with tickets. And you can also win "virtual prizes" in games (stuffed animals, toy cars, etc) but these are only a picture on your screen. Nothing special there.
  
  In summary, Carnival Games is a something-for-everyone game that has lasting appeal and tons of variety. Best of all, it gets you off the couch and playing like you're really at the carnival! Dont forget the corn dogs!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• One of my Favorite Games For the Wii! Like Cotton Candy, It's Quite Addictive!!

  
  By AC2EGRJTJYVBA on 2007-09-05
  I started reading the game descriptions on this product months before it was released. I am a big fan of mini-games and this looked like it might be worthwhile. I suspected it might be a GOOD game, but I didn't expect it to be GREAT! Then I saw all the 5-star reviews and went ahead and bought a copy. Absolutely not disappointed! This is one of the best games for the Wii I've played to date!
  
  This is an exceptionally well-polished game. The graphics aren't fancy, but they are clean, crisp and well rendered. A real Carnival feel to the product with bright colors, lot's of kitsch, and some mildly sinister but funny carnival hucksters. The mini-games are addictive and lots of fun. Some of the games are simple, while others are more challenging. It's easy to earn "tickets" whether you are an expert player or novice. You can then trade your tickets to play other carnival games or unlock a variety of masks and other accessories for your player to use in the game.
  
  I won't go into descriptions of individual games, since other reviewers have done an excellent job. However, just like a real carnival, my favorite game is darts. I've also become fond of capturing the dinosaur with "The Claw". This game is simple enough for small kids to master, but challenging enough for teens and adults. An excellent game for the Wii platform, the controls are responsive and there are few if any bugs. It will make you crave fried twinkies and cotton candy. Highly recommended!!
  
  
  
  
  

• Fun set of games, but best viewed on 4:3 TVs

  
  By A2OD43W7EGDH97 on 2007-10-12
  Although this is yet another set of mini-games for the Wii, the developers put in a lot of detail, especially in the physics engines for the various games. Games that involve tossing balls or hoops, knocking down bottles, and so forth are remarkably realistic in how the various items behave. I was very impressed by the realism of the physics.
  
  The games are most definitely those that you'd find in a typical carnival, as they're known here in the U.S., and they're a lot of fun. I particularly like the random selection of games for the Competition mode because it means that no contestant necessarily has an upper hand.
  
  The addition of hidden games that can only be unlocked by succeeding at the regular games gives you something to strive for in the game, although you feel somewhat diminished when you finally unlock all of them and realize that there's nothing else to unlock.
  
  Although the Wii most certainly DOES NOT NEED yet ANOTHER mini-game collection, my biggest gripe with this game is that it does NOT utilize a widescreen display properly. I play my Wii on my 16:9 TV. I was shocked to see more at the top and bottom when I connected it to a friend's 4:3 TV with the appropriate 4:3 display setting in the Wii. Instead of adding more to the sides of the screen when the Wii is set for 16:9, the developers decided to "pull a Bioshock" and crop the top and bottom of the screen to make a fake-widescreen, 16:9 display.
  
  Several of the games, and most of the "just for fun games" like the coin/token machine, suffer greatly by this. For example, on the coin/token machine you just barely see the coin depositing slot that is continually moving back and forth at the top of the screen. The result is that you get a very cramped feeling when playing many of the games in 16:9 mode compared to playing them in a 4:3 mode. Unfortunately, because the aspect ratio is a Wii system setting, to get the full display of the game you'd need to reset the Wii to a 4:3 mode and then switch back to 16:9 for other games. Unfortunately, unlike the XBox 360 and the PC, this is not an issue that can be resolved with a patch. With 16:9 being the future of TVs (good luck finding a big screen, 4:3 TV anymore), this was a very short-sighted and cheap shot by the developers to try to appeal to those with 16:9 displays.
  
  It's still a fun collection of mini-games, and it does accurately give a carnival atmosphere with a lot of replayability, if only to beat your last high score. Just be aware that if you play this on a 16:9 TV, you're going to be seeing less, not more. Shenanigans on you, Global Star!
  
  

• Great in theory, awful in practice

  
  By AVB1BHAHK1YH0 on 2007-10-26
  What a great idea: take the fun of the carnival home! Fun for all ages, right? Throw a beanbag at the milk pails, toss a softball into the bushel, the dunk tank, etc. The problem is that the controls are so inappropriate that the minigames feel like random chance. For example, in the dunk tank game, instead of simply aiming for the target, you have to wait while a dot spins around, then time your throw to coincide with the dot appearing on the bullseye. Then the smarmy commentators make some wisecrack that you don't know what you're doing. This game gives me much greater appreciation for Wii Sports and Warioware. Returned this game to the store after about an hour. Not recommended.
  
  

• So surprised so many people like this game---We DO NOT!

  
  By A3DFH4CKPIT0N9 on 2007-09-02
  I am quite surprised this game has so many good reviews. I bought it recently thinking it would be a big hit with my kids. Well, I practically have to beg them to even play it at all, just to make me feel like I didn't waste $40 totally.
  
  Where to start? The games are not intuitive to play like many Wii games. It's frustrating to try to toss a ball or dart in a carnival game and not be able to do it without hitting the right buttons. The games are very limited in scope---most have nothing beyond the one simple action to do---shoot a duck, throw a basketball, pop a balloon. Once you master that, you're pretty bored. There is little incentive to get better. The "prizes" are basically small pictures of a prize. The biggest prices make some sort of noise and can be turned around---major thrill! I think of things like the trophies in Smash Brothers which really seem almost like toys you can touch. The games are not tied together with the feel of a real carnival---they are just reached by signposts of their category, and the categories don't make a lot of scene. I thought you would be able to wander around a virtual carnival, but no such luck. Many of the game's features are confusing. For example, when we tried to play a two player game, it took us forever to figure out how to use two controllers and not just pass one back and forth---you have to turn around a sign to do that, and it's not well explained. Two player mode is pretty much just playing the same game with alternating turns, and you get no prizes or tickets in two player.
  
  The main game my kids wanted most to try was the Skeeball type one. It was hard to control and not very fun---in keeping with the rest of the game.
  
  I give the game 2 stars as it's an interesting concept, and a few games were mildly fun for a while---balloon pop and duck shooting to name them! Overall, I felt cheated and bored by the game, as did my kids. I really wonder why all the reviews are so good.
  
  
• Sleeper Hit!!!
  By A1G2F24O4U3N3E on 2007-08-29
  Talk about a surprise! This game offers exactly what you'd expect... mindless single player fun. Try it during a break from "Metroid Prime Corruption." With multiple players, though, this may be THE ultimate drunken Wii party game! It's certainly much better than Wii Play or Mario Party 8. It's a shame this has slipped under so many gaming site's rader and likely won't get the attention it deserves. This game fits the Wii perfectly... fun for everyone of all ages.
  
  
• Weak, shallow and buggy
  By A1KT0QF2QEFNS9 on 2007-11-15
  Based largely on the previous positive reviews on Amazon, I picked this title up. I was in for a negative surprise. The controls are difficult to pick up and very arbitrary, the game crashes at random points (definite game problem, my wii has a lot of mileage and has only crashed on this game) and even when you've "mastered" the controls, the game really isn't even that fun. It forces you to create your own character with their weak character design application (why not just import the miis? or let people quick start as guest? too easy?). There are plenty of other good minigame games out there for the Wii (Rayman Raving Rabbids & WarioWare, to name the better ones) and plenty of other great games either out or coming out on the Wii (Mario Galaxy, Metroid, Zelda, RE4, Zack & Wiki, Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, Super Paper Mario, etc) and this isn't one you should waste your time or money on.
  
  
• Awful Game!!
  By A3S3PK217X3E5C on 2007-10-23
  This game goes like this...
  
  - Select a game,
  
  - Wait 30 seconds for game to load,
  
  - Play for 30 seconds,
  
  - Wait 30 seconds for "prizes",
  
  - Wait 30 seconds for game to load ...
  
  There is a lot of waiting and not much playing. And when you do finally get to play, either you can't figure it out because it's not intuitive or the playability is awful.
  
  Save your money. No wait, wait, wait, keep waiting, wait a little more, almost just keep waiting, dang you're still waiting!...ok now save your money.
  
  
• Does not keep my interest
  By A10DT752EYA9EW on 2007-09-27
  This is the type of game that would be good to rent bad to buy. It is fun once or twice but past that it does not maintain any interest. I have pulled it out a couple of times for parties but after one game everyone is asking for something else. If you are looking for intense action that fully uses the UI of the Wii this is not the game for you.
  
  
• Great Game. Must Buy!!!!
  By A26YM0YJE0G1JK on 2007-08-28
  this is a great game for people who want to play with their friends and do not want to spend all day reading the manual, trying to figure out how to play.
  
  It has a very quick learning curve and is a great way to socialize with the family.
  
  
• I played Wii Carnival over 9 hours straight after I got it.
  By AY1AH6JFEURNZ on 2007-09-02
  I ordered Wii Carnival for myself (29 yr old female) off of Amazon because of the free shipping and no tax. I could not wait for this game to arrive and to my sweet surprise, it came earlier than expected!! I tore open the packaging and started off with Alley Ball aka Skee Ball as some of us know it. Cute graphics, succinct coordination between the eye, the hand and the TV screen. I invited my friend over and we played for over 9 hours straight! My only concern is that if I have more than 7 people's profiles created, the game will not allow me to add any additional players. That may mean people will have to use others' characters or some will have to be erased...we'll see. I advise anyone with a Wii to get this ASAP, it's a great addition to your Wii system!!
  
  I also bought Brunswick Pro Bowl but was highly dissatisfied. Save your money and spend it on Carnival...you won't be dissapointed!
  
  Pros:
  -Games work very well, seamlessly with the Wii remote.
  -A huge variety of games from ring toss to dunk tank to darts
  -Games are not too easy yet not impossible to beat
  -The desire to unlock the 'super games' keep players wanting more
  -At first I thought it would be cheesy, but there's great use of prizes system and ticket system, i.e. you can buy items with the tickets you earn
  -Multi-player mode is fun competition!
  
  Cons:
  -Can't use your already created mii--must choose from set number of characteristics (hair, face, top, pants)
  -Cannot earn tickets in multi-player mode or in the super unlockable games.
  -I wish there were even more games but that may just be me being selfish!
  
  
• More mini games for the wii!
  By A1MN7SLVTF32ES on 2007-12-06
  This reminds me of the time I went to the carnival all those years ago for my eighth birthday. The ferris wheel was broken, the roller coaster went at a snail's pace, and the hot dog I ate made me vomit all over my mom (true story). This is a collection of mini-games for the Wii, set in a carnival. That sounds like fun, doesn't it? With over 25 mini-games, you'd think this game would be a decent purchase. You'd be wrong. Of the games I played (and I played all but two), half of them played completely broken (football throw), another fourth had decent gameplay but completely mindless (ring toss), and one-fourth of the games had some fun elements to them (balloon darts). The "customizable options" at the beginning of the game will make you yearn for your Miis, and the graphics are nothing to write home about. I wouldn't reccomend this to anyone except someone who has absolutely no other party game to buy.
  
  
• Something wicked this way comes
  By A1H3SBUUQX9LF8 on 2007-12-13
  I have been meaning to do a video review for this. But time is short and it is sliding by.
  
  Looking at the Wii ad you would think this game is going to be great fun at parties.
  
  Erhhh nope. This game either has controls that are too sensitive making the game impossible or too vague making you wonder what the point is.
  
  Usually I can pull something positive out, but really this game just ticked me off as yet another lame attempt to harness the wii controller.
  
  Save your money and pass on this one.
  
  
• Carnival fun for all ages
  By AZCOSO24LRMIE on 2007-08-30
  Lots of fun mini-games that are great family fun. Different play modes. Single player is the only mode you can "win prizes". Multiplayer has two modes. Head to head you can pick your own games to compete; whereas, competition the game will randomly choose 5 games to compete. Tickets you win can be used to play alley arcade games or buy clothing and such. Just like at a real carnival you can trade in prizes you win for bigger prizes.
  
  
  The games are grouped into 6 alleys:
  1) Fortune Way - Alley Ball (aka skeeball), Test your strength, Hoops, Collection plate. The great swami--alley arcade game, which you need tickets to play
  2) Love Lane - Spilled milk, balloon darts, frog leap, bowler coastet. Alley arcade game-Meter-0-love
  3) Rodent Row - Shooting gallery, pigskin pass, shoot for the stars, buckets of fun. Alley arcade game-Going nuts
  4) Claw alley - Clown splash, hole in one, ring toss, ka-pow. Alley arcade game-prize claw.
  5) Lucky Pass - Nerves of steel, lucky cups, day at the races, dunk tank. Alley Arcade game- push a prize.
  6) Prize Boulevard - Every game has 4 prize levels. 4 smalls you can trade in for a medium, 3 mediums for a large, 2 large "grand prize". We haven't gotten to the grand prize as we've playing in mulitplayer mode, but I believe it unlocks new games.
  
  Nothing new with using the Wii remote..same ol' as other mini games.
  
  We had to exchage the game due to problems with the "Rodent Row" screen. Everything was all bunched up so you couldn't read anything or even make out the graphics. It didn't do it all the time, but I figured it was best to exchange if for a new one. So far we haven't had any problems with the new game.
  
  
  
  
• Lame Game !
  By A1QOM92QX7O3GJ on 2008-02-10
  I bought this for the family after reading the reviews here. I found it extremely boring watching the kids, and the kids played it once and went back to their other games. It nows sits on the shelf, used once and the kids aren't interested in it at all.
  IMO, this is a total waste of time, Wii Sports or any of the other Wii games we have belt this lame attempt at entertainment. Don't waste your money, buy something else, if I could rate it lower than 1 star I would.
  
  
• This game is a keeper!
  By A1DN1KO8BRAJ7L on 2007-09-03
  This is one game, I won't be "trading up" for!
  
  No problems with the game here! No "crashing" issues, or problems with a "bug". I have played all the games at least once or twice, and I'm VERY pleased with this game! On to the review..
  
  Graphics are typical of Wii games, like Wii Play and Sports. Basic Mii inspired characters you can build to play with. You can choose single or multi player mode, up to four players. Your storyline is true to a day at the Carnival, with the exception of spending your life savings to win a teddy bear. This is one of the more affordable Wii titles, at a low $39.99!
  
  There are over 25 popular carnival games from dunk tank, pigskin pass, to baloon darts, collecting tickets and small, medium, and large prizes, based on how well you do, that you can trade up for larger prizes. Use your tickets to play games such as a love meter, fortune teller, or skill crane machine. And all the games are true to the actual games you would play at the fair. Sometimes the skill crane drops your toy, just like in reality. Games are organized into five different alleys. Fortune Way, Love Lane, Rodent Row, Claw Alley, and Lucky Pass. You also play to unlock over 5 more games.
  
  The games certainly aren't easy. They are VERY true to carnival games, which as you know aren't easy. Who would want a game that you can master in less than an hour? That would be boring, and certainly a waste of money. A true carnival game fan will appreciate the likeness, and difficulty of the games. Large prizes are difficult to get.
  
  Play time depends on how much time you WANT to spend. From 5 minutes to a couple hours. So many games to play that there are enough games to play through for an entire hour, and not play the same game twice, although, I guarantee you will! Much like a real carnival, you get sucked into playing.. JUST ONE MORE TIME. You believe you have gotten the hang of it, or you get sooo close, you know you can get it! Sounds are typical of a carnival, chatter, game sounds, and direction from the carnies. Even heckling coming from the dunk tank and the carnies.
  
  You get to use the Wii mote in a variety of ways, not just aiming and clicking. From shaking, shooting, overhead tossing, darting, and more! Definately a game that takes some skill! Fun for all ages, for a single player, or a couple.
  
  I am VERY pleased with Carnival. I have been looking forward to this game for a couple months. And I think that Global Star, and Nintendo delivered a great game!! Anyone who loves to spend time at the Boardwalk, or a day at the fair, would LOVE this game!
  
  
• Amusing, But Lacking
  By A15L7TYNLXC2Y7 on 2007-09-28
  I saw the five-star reviews here, and so I decided to give Carnival Games a try.
  
  Boy was I disappointed. There are quite a few mini-games, but only a select few are fun to play - the rest are frustrating. Most of them are very finicky, and the animation is quite sub-par. Unlike Wii Play Games, Carnival Games lack replayability.
  
  Do yourself a favor - rent it first.
  
  
• Great fun for the family!
  By A3HVHM81GEU5G1 on 2007-08-30
  We just bought this yesterday and played it pretty much all night taking turns. Some of the games are a little harder than others but probably right on par with the actual games at carnivals. It is a lot of fun unlocking all of the prizes. We haven't tried the multiplayer yet, but that should be even more fun!
  
  
• Better than going to the carnival
  By A1EWZ5JTR5690G on 2007-09-03
  I think this is a great game. I haven't had any trouble at all controlling the games as posted in another review. Just a matter of learning the tricks. I bought this not only because I love the carnival games featured but also because I can't play most video games because the motion of the newer games makes me extremely dizzy. Games like Wii Sports and now Carnival games are something I can play and enjoy.
  
  My daughters and I enjoy playing the competition mode together. While it may not be an action packed game, I think it is a lot of fun.
  
  
• BAAAAAD!
  By A12BJ5WKNXF4NQ on 2008-02-17
  I don't write many reviews and when I do it's usually a 5 as I don't want to waste time on a product I don't like. Well folks, I'm doing this one for YOUR benefit.
  
  The good:
  Amazon charged me less that the Retail Stores and got it to me quickly.
  It's similar to a real carnival in that most of their games are rip-offs too...the only difference is a real carnival can be fun!
  
  The BAD:
  Poorly designed interface.
  Some games you can't play in certain modes.
  During my first attempt to play this game there were 3 people wanting to play. I have 2 controllers (maybe I'm the only one in the country who only has two but it was never an issue on any of the Wii Sports or other games as there is no "simultaneous" action.) When I stated I had 3 players and 2 controllers or 1 controller I got the message "you cannot play this game". Ridiculous!
  I've only had this game a few days and I bought it on a "friends" recommendation. My recommendation, SAVE YOUR MONEY!
  
  
• A Wonderful Family Game
  By A2RBURWZ2R79CB on 2007-08-31
  I just purchased this game. The game has every carnival game you can think off (alley ball, milk jug toss, bowling game, basket toss, horse race, balloon darts, ring toss, shooting gallery, and many more). I spent about an hour trying to unlock the hidden games. There are over 10 to unlock. Some off the secret games are modified versions of others, but they are just as fun. My favorite game is the balloon darts and push-a-coin) it is fun to have the excitement as a kid hoping a ton of coins will fall. The one downside of the game, it does not seem to use your mii's. The game gives you limited hair styles to choose from and clothing for your character. You can buy items with the tickets you won or unlock items playing the games. You can unlock a hat and diver tanks at the dunk tank by knoking them over with your ball. Okay no more hints, have fun discovering the hidden secrets of the game yourself.
  
  
• great game
  By ASKAOLWY77BHQ on 2007-09-06
  This game is very cool and passes the time away. All the games you can think of are in in this game. It is pretty realistic using the wii remote to throw and shoot. It is fun to play by yourself or with a friend playing head to head. The only thing is when you unlock games they are the same games but something in it just to make it a little harder.Over all it is a great game to buy.It makes you use the wii remote in alot of different ways.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By A35A3F7ASGYOSK on 2007-09-30
  I thought this game would continue the fun and enjoyment of Wii Sports or Wii Play with various Carnival mini-games.
  
  It turned out be very confusing and hard to use. For example, we could not use the second Wii remote for player 2 and had to keep swapping the first remote between players. The backgound music is annoying and drives you crazy after a while. I also do not understand why they make you create your own player characters instead of using your existing Mii's.
  
  The kids asked me turn it off after 20 minutes so they could play something else. Very disappointing and not worth $50.
  
  
• A fun game, but it's not Wii Sports 2
  By A2ZGDHLJ85T6AD on 2007-10-24
  Don't expect the next coming of Wii Sports, as the current ratings would lead you to believe.
  
  Just as an example, I'll compare Carnival Games' "Skee Ball" to Wii Sports' "Bowling". In Wii Sports, the curve of your swing is taken into account to create spin. In Carnival Games, only velocity is measured. In Wii Sports, you can aim diaganolly in addition to left and right. In Carnival Games, you can only move your character left and right.
  
  The experience is pretty shallow, you'll have a blast at first, but not long after. Some of the games are so frustratingly bad you'll only play them once, like the ring toss.
  
  However, like the positive reviews correctly point out, there are loads of games, there are fun things to do with the Wiimote, and you will have fun playing this game with others. Just don't expect the depth of Wii Sports - which wasn't a deep game to begin with!
  
  Overall this is a decent game, worthy of a pickup from the bargain bin, where I'm sure you'll find many copies in a month or two.
  
  
  
• Surprised to see so many good reviews...
  By AR0F17PWT1CFM on 2008-02-19
  Seems like a lot of people really like this game, but I don't care for it.
  
  Takes a long time to master controls, but no real pay off once you do, becuase the games are not that interesting.
  
  Weak character design
  
  Slow to start and change games
  
  I DO like other short, mini-game style games on the Wii, including Rayman Rabbids (1 and 2), Wario Ware, and even Wii Play.
  
  Since there seems to be a real split in reviews, I suggest people to rent/borrow/buy used to avoid a let down.
  
  
• Hours of Fun
  By A2YRHPT6FQZDZ2 on 2007-09-10
  When I picked this game up I walked through it myself before the kids so I could tell them how to play it. I was bored really quickly and thought the game would be a dud with the kids. Once they tried it out they did not put it down for hours, I mean hours. The game grew on me because the kids just loved it so much and it's something we can all play.
  ONE COMPLAINT: My kids have a couple of friends who are Jamaican and there was no way for them to create a person with darker skin. The game itself has a few black characters in it, so why would they offer 9-10 different faces with no variation on the skin tone? A major oversight in my opinion.
  
  
• Much better than expected! A LOT OF FUN!
  By A2ME89MSWVG9NF on 2007-10-10
  I was hesitant to buy this game, even after all of the positive reviews, but I did and I am glad. This game is so much fun. The games remind me of going to the boardwalk every summer and playing skee ball, and the frog jump, and the water balloon race. I haven't tried all the games yet, but the ones I have are great. Skee ball is just like the real thing!
  
  Is this a game like Halo? No, but it doesn't have to be. It is a great game for having fun and relaxing by yourself or with some friends.
  
  
  
  
• Very disappointed.
  By A2NPFT5WTAPB6K on 2008-03-31
  I purchased this game for my family based on the reviews on this site and I must say that I am very disappointed with this game. My family and I enjoyed games like Wii play and Wii sports and believed this game to be the same based on the reviews on this site. However, this game was a major let down. With this game your characters are limited. In fact, you cannot create ethnic characters only caucasian ones. Apart from that, the only games that my family and I enjoyed were skee-ball, hoops and the power hit game.... I plan on taking this lame game back to the GameStop first thing tomorrow and exchanging it for the "PlayGround" game ... For all those who are considering purchasing this game know this, if you enjoyed Wii play or Wii sports --- This game does not compare.... If "PlayGround" is as lame as the "Carnival" game is, I will be sure to leave my remarks concerning that game as well ...
  
  
• Good concept, poor execution
  By A2DGXTIELGLXU5 on 2007-09-07
  This game was a great concept. However, the execution of these games was poor. The controls all feel very "uncontrolable", as if this was another poorly done port.
  Also, some games like 'Nerves of Steel' will have you shouting in frustration as the ring glitches and forces you to drop it. Usually when this happens the ring will glitch around and sometimes become completely stuck.
  Other games also have this aiming system which is almost completely useless. Usually the distance of the thing you are throwing, whether it be a ball or a ring, is judged completely by how fast you flick the remote. The problem is the game has trouble registering softer flicks and it usually ends up overshooting if you flick too fast. With all of this combined, it rarely goes anywhere near where you aimed.
  There are also a few games in single player that cost a ton of tickets and either give you less tickets then you spent to play the game or worse, no tickets at all.
  This would be a great game if things were just executed a lot better. It gets a two overall for the concept but by the end you feel like you just spent a day at a carnival with an abundance of schemes to make sure you lose.
  
  
• Highly Recommended
  By A1Q1TN6DZX2ITI on 2007-09-22
  My family enjoys the diverse number of games and the concept of winning virtual prizes like at a real fair. This game has something for everyone, from skeetball, darts, ring toss, horse racing, shooting water in clown's face - all the games you can think of playing at a fair. The competition games are a big hit in my family. The games are not too long and fun for any age! We've had a lot of laughs playing this game.
  
  

• Game Party
• Wii Nunchuk Controller
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
• Wii Play with Wii Remote
• Wii Charge Station