Wii | £39.99 | Nintendo | Out now

Pikachu’s first ever solo Wii game is in the shops now and brings with it a paradise of fabulous mini-games to enjoy! For once, the first time we can recall, the game was launched in Europe before being distributed in the USA. So get ready to join Pikachu for an adventure of a lifetime!

The PokéPark is in trouble and so Mew calls on Pikachu to step into the limelight and help find the missing Sky Prism pieces. Whilst in the park, Pikachu must take on a range of activities like collecting wood for Bibarel or battling against some of the meaner inhabitants of the park. Along the way he’ll get to make new friends and compete in a range of mini-games, races, quizzes and, of course, battles.

With the ever expanding Pokédex of Pokémon characters available to Nintendo’s developers, it may be a little disappointing to find out that only 190 of the 493 Pokémon have made it into the park. However, by befriending the wild inhabitants of the PokéPark, Pikachu can call on their special talents to help him complete certain tasks or take part in mini-games for him. Many fan favourites are included in the game and all of them look spectacular in glorious 3D!

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Without a doubt, PokéPark Wii is one of the most stunning Pokémon games ever to be released on any console. The graphics are so beautifully cute and appealing, making the game a real pleasure to play. It would be fair to say that PokéPark is not the most challenging of games available on the Wii and has clearly been aimed at the younger generation of Pokémon fans. However, the story is very entertaining and looks so good that gamers of all ages will be quite happy to spend hours playing with Pikachu and his Pokémon friends.

Trial of Strength…

Once inside the park, you must take part in several different Trials of Strength in order to make new friends to help you on the way. There are five different trials in which to compete in total, each one requiring you to master new skills – so let’s take a closer look…

Battles
In this trial you have just 99 seconds to defeat your Pokémon opponent. You can do this by using distance attacks like Thunderbolt to weaken or stun your opponent, before charging in to finish the job with your Quick Attack or Iron Tail.

Tag Races
The Tag Races are immense fun as you must chase down opponents and then hit them in order to win. This is made really tricky when Ghost-type Pokémon disappear or leave traps like poisonous gas clouds for you to avoid as you chase them down.

Hide and Seek
In this trial you must simply locate your Pokémon friend’s hiding spot to win. This trial
is fairly easy providing you have your volume turned up, since many of the Pokémon make little noises as you get closer to them. They just can’t help themselves!

Quizzes
There are a few Pokémon in the park that will refuse to join you unless you prove you are a Pokémon master. Each question is Pokémon related and once you have successfully answered three in a row you will gain an additional team member.

Jump Challenges
These trials are also fairly easy as all you have to do is complete the obstacle course within the set time limit. This includes jumping from platform to platform and avoiding items being thrown at you as you make your way to the finish line.

In the Zone…

The PokéPark is a vast area and is split into several different zones for you to explore. Each area has different Pokémon inhabitants and challenges for you to complete. Let’s go on a quick tour around the park…

Meadow Zone
Lush grass areas and small forests are the setting for this very scenic zone. It will be the first zone you uncover and houses no fewer than 31 Pokémon friends.

Gathering Place
The Gathering Place is based around a tree and holds gates to access all the other zones in the park. These gates are locked until you achieve certain goals, but there are also a few stalls that you can use to improve Pikachu’s skills.

Beach Zone
This is packed with Water Pokémon and is accessible after you have answered Corsola’s quiz questions correctly. There are another 30 of your Pokémon friends in this area, and the entrance to the Iceberg Zone via Lapras.

Iceberg Zone
This zone is based on an icy mountain slope and contains many Ice-type Pokémon for you to interact with. In fact, there are 26 Pokémon pals in this area of the park.

Cavern Zone
This zone is set underground in an abandoned mine. Of course, there are many Ground and Rock Pokémon here, plus a very sleepy Snorlax that is blocking the tracks, preventing the mine cart working.

Magma Zone
This fiery zone is the home to 28 Fire-Type Pokémon and can only be accessed after fixing the mine cart in the Cavern Zone. There are several machines here that need fixing in order to get the volcano working again.

Haunted Zone
The Haunted Zone is set in a haunted house and contains 39 Ghost and Dark-type Pokémon. There are loads of things to do in this creepy place, including a number of fun mini-games.

Granite Zone
This stony place is an abandoned castle on the edge of cliffs and is inhabited by many Pokémon. To get through this area you must discover three passwords from the Pokémon here and then give them to Flygon.

Flower Zone
On top of the hillside is the gorgeous Flower Zone. There are 14 Pokémon in this area, including another appearance by Shaymin. He’ll transform into his Sky Forme and grant you access to the very last zone.

Sky Garden
The Sky Garden is the final area of the game and is only accessible after you have beaten all the other challenges. There are a few mini-games here that you’ll need to complete to finish the game!

Packed with Mini-Games…

PokéPark Wii is packed with many amazing mini-games, all of which you’ll need to master to befriend all your Pokémon pals. Let’s take a closer look at all the games that’ll keep you entertained for hours!

Bulbasaur’s Daring Dash
This is one of the first mini-games you’ll discover in the Meadow Zone. This simple game is a straight-up race to the finish with you and several other Pokémon competitors. Simply shake the Wii Remote to keep a steady pace and cross the line in first place to take the win. Your best times are recorded so you can see how they compare with those of your friends!

Venusaur’s Vine Swing
The second mini-game is Venusaur’s Vine Swing. This  is a simple swing and jump contest. You have 30 seconds to get the vine swinging at a decent speed, then you must choose when to let go of the vine and launch yourself into the nearby field. The distance covered is determined by the speed of the swing and by the angle at which your Pokémon releases the vine.

Pelipper’s Sky Flap Race
This fun mini-game can be found in the Beach Zone area of the park. Pelipper’s Sky Flap Race is a race for Flying Pokémon where you must direct your Pokémon to the finish line, collecting as many coloured rings as possible as you fly. Yellow hoops are worth ten points, red hoops are worth 100 points, while the multicoloured hoops will net you 1,000 points.

Gyarados’ Aqua Dash
Gyarados’ Aqua Dash can also be found in the Beach Zone area of the park. This watery race is for Water-type Pokémon
and basically you need to get to the finish line as fast as possible while avoiding all the obstacles on the course. Once again, your scores are recorded so you can see how your times compare with those set by your friends.

Empoleon’s Snow Slider
This slippery event can be found in the Iceberg Zone area of the PokéPark and is very similar to Gyarados’ Aqua Dash. Simply make your way to the finish line as quickly as possible while avoiding the obstacles in your way and using as many of the boost gates as possible to keep your speed up!

Bastiodon’s Panel Crash
Bastiodon’s Panel Crash can be played in the Cavern Zone area of the park and is immensely fun to play. Balls are launched at you and you must deflect them at the various panels on the field to score points. You have a total of three balls to use and once all three have been lost, your score is totalled up and recorded.

Rhyperior’s Bumper Burn
This crazy game is in the Magma Zone area of the park and is hugely enjoyable. You control a Pokémon in a ring and must knock the many Pokémon that fall into the area out of the circle. Points are awarded for each Pokémon you knock out of the area and bonus multipliers are awarded for each Pokémon you knock out without being punched out of the ring yourself.

Blaziken’s Punching Rock
This is another game you can find in the Magma Zone. Your Pokémon is thrown into a dangerous area of the volcano where rocks are being hurled at you from different directions. Your task is to shake the Wii Remote at the right time to destroy the incoming rocks. Once again, multiplier bonuses are awarded for destroying many rocks in succession without missing any.

Tangrowth’s Swing Race
The first game you’ll discover in the Haunted Zone is Tangrowth’s Swing Race. This is very similar to Venusaur’s Vine Swing, only this time you need to swing from rope to rope to get to the finish line as fast as possible. Once again, your best time is recorded so you can see how your swinging compares with your mates’.

Dusknoir’s Running Crash
Another game you’ll find in the Haunted Zone is Dusknoir’s Running Crash. This is another simple race against other Pokémon, similar to Bulbasaur’s Daring Dash, only this time you’ll need to bash through walls and avoid the Spinaraks that’ll try their hardest to slow you down.

Rotom’s Pulse Shoot System
This is the third attraction in the Haunted Zone and is the first event that utilises the Wii’s infrared features. You must fire at the Pokémon that fly at you and score points for each direct hit. Gastlies are worth 100 points, Haunters will gain you 300, while the Rotoms are worth a huge 1,000 points each. As soon as one Pokémon breaks through your defences, the game ends.

Absol’s Hurdle Succession
This fun Pokémon mini-game can be found in the Granite Zone area of the PokéPark. Absol’s Hurdle Succession is another dashing race where you must get to the finish as fast as possible by shaking the Wii Remote. However, this race has many obstacles – in the form of Dugtrio and a variety of panels – that you must avoid or jump over as you race.

Salamence’s Air Ace
This is another fun game that can be found in the sky flying sections of the PokéPark. In this game you control a Flying Pokémon through the mountains, aiming at targets around the course. Simply score as many points as you can before reaching the finish line. Small targets are worth 300 points while large targets are worth 100 points each.

Rayquaza’s Balloon Panic
The last mini-game  found in the Flower Zone. In this fun game you must run around a large balloon, collecting the targets and avoiding the Voltorbs and Electrodes that are trying to stop you. Yellow targets are worth 100, red 300 and multicoloured targets will gain you 1,000 points.

PokéPark Wii is Pikachu’s greatest adventure to date on any platform and will definitely have you smiling for hours. All the Pokémon are dreadfully cute and while it’s not the most challenging of games, there is so much fun to be had here. There are just loads of excellent mini-games to compete in, many different Pokémon to battle and befriend and, of course, many helpful tasks to complete to help get the attractions back to perfect working order. You are able to photograph the Pokémon in the wild and save your pictures to your memory card, plus you can post all your best times to challenge your friends to beat them. A wonderful Pokémon experience and one we’ll be playing for hours and hours!