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Carnival Games

EMAIL PRINT wii

6.1 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 36 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Global Star Software

Developer: Cat Daddy Games

Genre(s): Action

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: August 27, 2007

Summary

Carnival Games feature 25 popular games from classic carnivals, including Clown Splash, Milk Can Toss, Nerves of Steel, Lucky Cups, Hoops, Day at the Races and Dunk Tank. Players can win over 250 upgradeable prizes ranging from a goldfish to giant stuffed animals. Character-customizing items like a pirate's wardrobe and a Viking helmet are also there to be won. The game features a fortune teller who reveals a player's fate for a price. The moment you step into Carnival Games you can almost smell the funnel cakes as you are greeted by the barker and the sights and sounds of a classic carnival. The game was built from the ground up to take full advantage of the capabilities of the Wii Remote, so the flick of your wrist in Alley Ball makes the difference between scoring an impressive 100 points and a lowly 10 points. The ability to pound the Wii Remote like a sledgehammer with the right mix of power and finesse in Test of Strength determines whether you are a Contender or a Grandma.

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameFAQs

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

DailyGame

The simple pick-up-and-play mechanics embody everything the Nintendo Wii is about -- and they make for a fun experience, too.

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Game Chronicles

Some of the best fun you can have on your Wii alone or with friends, and I’m sure it was games like this that Nintendo had in mind when they created their new gaming system.

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Digital Entertainment News

It would have been easy to slam this as yet another mini-game collection. It isn’t the developers fault, and they made a fun game. Mini-games are a crowded field on the Wii right now, and while the market may be as saturated as a sponge at the bottom of the ocean, each game still has to stand on its own. Carnival Games stands up very well.

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GameTrailers

It does a good job of recreating timeless fairground classics, and because they are so recognizable, this really is a game that you can play with friends and family members of any age and they’ll instantly get it.

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Nintendo Power

If you're a fan of Wii's pick-up-and-play titles, then picking up Carnival Games is a no-brainer. [Oct 2007, p.88]

Games Radar (in-house)

Audio and visuals are a bit below the Wii's already unimpressive average, but judging a party game by such standards is like watching R-rated skin flicks on late-night Cinemax for the acting. If you're a fan of Nintendo's familiar mini-game fare, or just want something simple for the whole family to enjoy, Carnival Games should keep your Wii-mote moving more than an out-of-control Tilt-A-Whirl.

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AtomicGamer

While the game manages to reach its goal of recreating a carnival atmosphere on the Wii, it just doesn't have much staying power. Maybe that's why carnivals only really come around once a year.

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GameSpy

Addictive fun in solo mode and true social comedy with a few people in the room. Spend the forty bones and enjoy.

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NGamer UK

"Wii Play" fans will like this inconsistent bunch of around 25 minigames, with competition mode keeping it lodged in your Wii for longer. [Christmas 2007, p.58]

GameZone

Anybody looking for a cute game that they can play with their little ones need look no further.

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Game Almighty

This game is definitely good for those of you who long for the carnival experience and can provide a really fun multiplayer experience as well. In the already very crowded Wii mini-game collection this one may not be the best, but it’s worth checking out.

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Cheat Code Central

Carnival Games was a good idea, but it turned out far from satisfying or entertaining. It's merely a gimmick to play with your friends once when they come over, if anything.

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Worth Playing

The Wii control implementation in the title is passable at its best, downright awkward at its nadir.

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Game Informer

Just like a real carnival, you’ll feel cheated more that once playing these virtual simulations, but the real carny scam might be trying to sell this “discount” title for $40.

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GameShark

The game does have a handful of genuinely entertaining minigames to offer, but you’re likely to get all the entertainment value out of it that you’re ever likely to after just a few hours.

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GameDaily

We dislike some of the controls, and the games that suck in real life are just as annoying in the video game. Four person multiplayer enhances Carnival Games' appeal, but it's not very addictive.

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Eurogamer

This is the kind of game you'll only get out when you've got people round who want to play the Wii cos they've seen it on the telly, and you'd rather eat soap than play one more round of Wii Sports baseball.

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AceGamez

Carnival Games is one of those games that you want to love for its unique appeal and for trying something different, but it just feels rushed and only half-completed.

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PTGamers

Carnival Funfair Games ruins an idea that makes perfect sense with a flawed technical implementation that removes every enjoyment one could have, becoming a monotonous experience.

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netjak

There are fun moments to be had - I’ll give the game that much - but you’ll have to wade through a sea of mediocrity if you want to find them. And in the end, it just isn’t worth the effort.

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GameSpot

Unless fumbling your way through half-baked minigames to win some virtual stuffed animals sounds like fun to you, you're better off leaving this overpriced collection on the shelf.

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PALGN

Players would be better off waiting until the show comes around again to spend that sort of money on sideshow games.

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Gaming Age

While the game can be played solo or with four friends with tons of unlockables to find and acquire, the game just feels old after even a short time with it.

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G4 TV

Carnival Games is ok in short bursts, but much like the real-world games they are based on, they really aren’t that much fun to play more than once or twice. Wii Sports has more depth.

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VideoGamer

Most of the games are dull.

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GamePro

Carnival Games may look cute, but it doesn't translate into gameplay you'll come back to, and in the end, is just a novelty Wii game that wears out it's welcome way too fast to be worth any price.

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Game Revolution

Game play is a plodding, methodical chore, whose only rewards are unlocking another mediocre game or dressing your character more outlandishly. You never really get that feeling of accomplishment or frantic happiness that marks some of the better mini-game offerings for the Wii.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.1 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Guilherme M. gave it a6:
Not good, not bad. Little bit fun, but only for the first hours you play it.

Sam P. gave it a2:
Very disappointed with this one. Games are very short, and rather boring. The lack of a quick reset feature or a practice mode really drives the rating--dull, dull, dull.

Filazafer gave it a5:
You get exactly what the title says, "Carnival Games." Nothing more, nothing less. The controls actually feel good and the games are about as fun as they are in real life. The problem is that a picture of a prize is not as rewarding as actually walking away with a huge stuffed animal. I had the most fun playing the game where you drop quarters on to the sliding platforms to push other quarters off. If that sounds exciting to you then I say go for it. I just rented it and I probably won't keep it long enough to play with friends, but I am sure it could be fun for a night.

Lyndsey C. gave it a9:
A very fun series of mini games that give off the illusion of attending a carnival. Some games seem difficult at first but become easier with practice. Great game for families and people who want to do a lot with their Wii controllers.

Phil L. gave it a6:
The Good - Simple to play, great for kids (watching the sheer delight on my 3 year old daughters face when she wins is unbeatable) The Bad - Can get a bit repetitive like a lot of mini-game collections The Ugly - Has a great tendancy to crash leaving no choice but unplug the while system.

Miles J. gave it a7:
I was looking for some new games in the style of Wii Sports and Wii Play and this is pretty good. The games load quickly (unlike Rayman Raving Rabbids) and many are amusing to play. It also really keeps to the carvinal games -- it was fun so go, "Oh yeah - that one!" It IS simple and graphics are sub-par, but it is worth buying used on eBay or renting if you are looking for something like the titles above.

Kevin O. gave it a2:
My 8 year thinks its fun, I think its about the worst game we have. Really boring and unstable...actually crashes our console...we have to pull the plug to reboot. I'd avoid it.

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