Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Thanks for that. My wife has been telling me that I don't really need to get this, despite my best efforts to persuade her otherwise. All of a sudden, I can see her side of the argument more clearly!

I honestly don't think it matters the "game" actually is. It's not intended as a stand-alone title, it's intended as packaged-in software to compliment the hardware. Think of it like Wii Sports being packaged in with Wii. With that in mind, 9 levels with 3 stages each level is really a beefy serving on what is essentially software to literally train you on using the Zapper peripheral.

But the funny thing is... it's actually better without the Zapper...

so u didt like the Zapper then 0_< i feel alot of hate in this lol

but it get the job done i cant think of any other way of makeing the wii mote feel like a crossbow

Sorry about that. I was thinking about getting this, but I guess I will just stick with Wii Play for my target shooting needs.

I am not so sure about the zapper being THAT bad, maybe it's just one of those things you have to get used to, like the wiimote. At first it felt awkward to most, if not everybody. Nowadays it feels natural, so I would say to give the zapper some more play time to see if first impressions really were just that, first impressions.

Whilst that review holds some truth to it, i would have rather have had Tempo review it simply because he reviewed Twilight Princess.

Now you say the models and the sounds used are the same of those in Twilight Princess. Infact i think they look a lil better and in the Twilight Princess review the Graphics and Sound both got higher scores than in your review.

Furthermore you are quick to put people off the Zapper. If you do use the wriststrap on the Wii-mote then take it off before connecting it to the Zapper. I dont use mine because i dont have a problem of throwing the controller out of my hand.

Also are you sure that you are connecting the Nunchuck correctly because it is very secure on mine, doesnt shift at all.

Maybe people with abnormally small hands will strugle with the Zapper.

No offence against your review though, you are meant to be critical. But looking at the posts made by other members, you have put them off majorly and i think this game is really one that you have to try for yourself.

For all of those in doubt i would buy this game for the pick up and play value!

One last thing...7,8,7,7 = 5?

Now i dont quite get that....surely it would equal 7?

Meh

The Zapper just isn't comfortable to me at all mainly because of the back handle on it. I find it awkwardly placed and it presses into the hand holding the trigger handle on the wrist/forearm. Believe me, I've given the Zapper a chance and tried it in the second configuration also (nunchuk in one hand, Zapper in the other), but it just doesn't feel right to me. I'm keeping it around in the hope that it'll work better with a proper lightgun game such as Ghost Squad without the need for as much movement - Umbrella Chronicles works better with it, but the game is unfortunately not designed for it despite Nintendo mentioning it when they showed off the Zapper so it doesn't work too well with that either as you need to be shaking the remote and pressing A.



If there are improvements they're minimal. If we regarded the game to the same standards as a year ago we wouldn't be doing the game justice - we've had better looking and sounding games since then, and those scores are how I feel it stands up.



So to use an accessory that's supposed to be quick and fun I'm supposed to remove a component I otherwise use, as many other users will do? That's just silly design, it wouldn't have hurt to have put an extra little hook on it somewhere to keep it out of the way.



It doesn't go falling out, but it is more wobbly than the remote. Have you seen the build quality of the nunchuk 'lock'? It doesn't exactly have the toughest hinge on it.



The scores aren't added up for an average. Overall I felt that the package was what the final score dictates - middle of the ground, alright, not bad but nothing worth writing home about. However, because two products are being scored at once the Zapper has taken that score down. Crossbow Training on its own would be a 6. It's undeniably good value for the price, though, and Crossbow Training has good if shallow gameplay, hence the 7s.

Because I can't edit review comments...

Minimal wobble on the nunchuk, that is. I have it secured properly, of course, but you can't deny that the way it's locked in isn't as secure as the way the remote is.

I was meant to be reviewing it, but Nintendo refused to send us a copy due to limited stock. Shame, as it would've made sense. I still think the final score Mike gives it is fair, especially based on what other people have been rating it.

Hmm fair enough, i thought the scores were done on average. I guess i was wrong. If thats the case than thats aight.

I can't say the Zapper is the coolest item for Nintendo to release, i still think it works perfectly for me.

I guess if you find Links Crossbow Training easier without the Zapper then it would be added challenge to do it with the Zapper.

Im also trying to get platinum medals on every level...that is prooving difficult.

Maybe i got a lil to pumped up a lil too quickly, but it doesnt take long to remove the wriststrap and then connect the Wii-mote to the zapper and then to reconnect it when uve finished.

The Zapper isn't meant to provide a challenge, if it's a challenge that means Nintendo fail at making peripherals. It's meant to improve experience, but it doesn't.

The thing I hate about the Zapper is Nintendo's hypocrisy. They stated the Wiimote could simulate guns, swords, and steering wheels. Why the fuck do they think we need an empty piece of plastic? It's a waste of plastic, a huge waste. Because of the Zapper and the Whiil, I can understand why GreenPeace said Nintendo sucked so much.

Yeah, the Nintendo not having stock was annoying. It was a last minute decision on our part to get a review out as soon as possible, and I was the first one willing to go out and buy it immediately.

The knot of the wriststrap annoys me, so that's why I'm not really willing to take it on and off for the sake of the Zapper.

I've just been playing again, alternating between Zapper and remote/nunchuk alone and I definitely think it's better without the Zapper - I find it less of a chore to play. I'm thinking where the Zapper will come into its own is a game like Ghost Squad where you're not having to shift around quickly as in the Defender levels.

Getting platinum medals is a great challenge, it's going to take me a bit to get all platinum. Despite the score I'd say it's worth

The Wiimote isn't a lightgun, so using a zapper isn't going to be anywhere near as good as something like a GunCon.

Actually the new GunCon (or whatever the TimeCrisis 4 gun is called) uses the same sort of technology as the wii remote.

Oh and about the game yeah i'm gonna probably give it a miss, I have zero interest in it and I don't want the zapper as is dosn't seem to add anything to anygame.

It's 20 GBP for you as well? Phew, as much as it is in money, I'm a bit relieved, that not only Germany pays 30 EUR, but UK as well. it's expensive methinks, that's almost 35 USD. At least it felts like this.

I already have my 2 Wiimotes under use: one in my Fender Stratocaster (Guitar Hero 3) and one to play wrapped in it's condom. Another to snap forever into Zapper is out of the question. And from the start I thought Zapper looked a bit odd with Nunchuck snapped into it on the rear.

Your Review may sound a bit harsh on Zapper, but with confirming after, that you gave a chance and was willing to let it be a fair bit of equipment (which it failed to be), I believe you, Mason. That's very okay to restate your opinion with very good arguments against very good concerns from us here. That's why I like Cubed

I think the game is worthy of a just hitting a 7 myself, I like it.

It may be brief but then this for me is a game where bettering your scores is the primary objective. I don't think the Zapper is all that bad but agree you can play this game a lot better without. I think the Zapper is all about feel and hopefully it will feel better in games to come.

Sounds alright, I was gonna get American Sk8tland, but never got round to getting it. Not sure about this though.

Good review Adam :

Thanks Marzy - do you like C3's new, snappier 'Quick Review' format, by the way? Saves us writing two full pages for 'smaller' games.

If you're a fan of TH games, but haven't tried a DS one yet, then definitely choose this. It's certainly not for those who played Sk8land or Downhill Jam, though, as it's far too similar.