Dracula: Undead Awakening for the Nintendo Wii Review
In a word, no. In Undead Awakening you play as a nameless warrior whose only job seems to be to slaughter unrelenting torrents of undead baddies. The only problem is, there's nothing beyond simple destruction. Of the available game modes only one(Wave Attack) offers anything other than nonstop shooting. In wave attack, the enemies come in stages and occasionally drop money. You can use the money at the end of the stage to purchase better weaponry before continuing to the next stage.
This might seem interesting at first, but it quickly becomes repetitive. The other game modes, Survival, Super Survival, and Rush all involve unending swarms of enemies that get faster and stronger the longer you last. In Survival and Super Survival, you occasionally earn "perks", or bonuses that make the game moderately interesting.
These perks can be anything from better weaponry, armor, increased speed, increased bonus drops from enemies, and more. Your selection of the best perks comprises what little strategy the game offers. Regardless of what perks you choose, the enemies will eventually become so fast and so numerous that you will get killed. There is an online list of high scorers, and if that is important to you, you can try and rise through the ranks.
The other game mode, Rush, involves the same sort of nonstop action but allows you to choose a weapon with unlimited ammo that you will use for the remainder of the mode. As for Dracula, he appears from time to time at the end of the non-defined "levels", but he moves very slowly and has only one attack(a lightning bolt). When Dracula is dispatched, he will drop an "omen", which is a symbol that ups the level of the combatant.
My main problem with this game is that it is too expensive. According to IGN.com, this identical game was sold for the iPhone(under the name "iDracula") for $0.99(see link). For the DSi, the download is $5. Why on earth does it cost 1,000 Wii points($10) for the Wii? It just does not make any sense.
Also, do not even consider purchasing the game unless you have a classic controller. The right and left stick offer excellent control, with one handling player movement and the other multidirectional shooting. If you have ever played Robotron 2084 or Smash TV, you have a pretty good idea of how the combat works.
In conclusion, Dracula: Undead Awakening is a frenetic shooter that looks fine on the Wii, but simply costs way too much. If you have an iPhone or a DSi and enjoyed the game style of Robotron 2084 or Smash TV, you will be wise to purchase it on either of those devices.
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Published by R. J. Gardiner
I am a college graduate with a degree in philosophy who enjoys sports, video games, reading, and writing. View profile
