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How Metascores Are Calculated
60
Adventure Island: The Beginning
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Created exclusively for the Wii home video game system, this vibrant new game lets players shake to the beats of a samba-infused soundtrack comprised of popular new songs as well as fan-favourites from the original game. Playing as the grinning, sombrero-topped monkey, Amigo, players shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk like maracas, in time with the visual beats of the music on-screen. Samba De Amigo is packed with lively stages and a host of colourful characters. [Sega]
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... 90
Nintendo Power
Of course, the big question on the minds of Samba devotees is how the controls stack up to the Dreamcast version and its beloved maracas peripheral. The answer: extremely well. [Nov 2008, p.95]
85
Worth Playing
Samba de Amigo is unlike any game out there — not just in the music genre, but in the whole grand scheme of video game design. While Samba is easy to pick up and get lost in, it will challenge you if you ask it to.
 83
GamingXP
Samba de Amigo will bring many intense red, green- and yellow shades into your life: a protest towards the more or less grey wintertime!
80
Cynamite
If you play this one alone, it won’t last longer in your Wii than an hour. But if you invite some gringos for samba in your living room, the party can get started!
80
Game Chronicles
My family is still completely consumed with Samba De Amigo – and even spurred my wife into picking up a Dance Dance Revolution kit. We are having a ton of fun as a family, and feeling healthier for it – what more could you want as the winter months draw near?
80
n-Revolution Magazine UK
Slightly wayward controls annoy, but this is still a package with great song variety and, well, extreme happiness!
80
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Here is one of the most amusing games for Wii. It’s more colorful than the original version and has an amazing playlist, although the Wiimote is not so accurate has the maracas. In addition, we also have to complaint about the lack of an online mode. [Oct 2008]
80
Zentendo
Samba De Amigo is a welcome return to a Dreamcast classic, with tons of modes and content, as well as new songs for download. This game is well worth the price of admission. Only the bipolar difficulty and tricky IR sensitivity keep this from being the perfect Samba De Amigo experience.
80
N-Europe
Samba De Amigo is still a quality rhythm-action title even today and while it's best played in relatively short bursts in single player, it's the multiplayer that will keep you coming back for just one more go.
80
GamePro
Overall, you can't beat the combination of monkeys, maracas, and the undeniable infectious tunes that come along with it, so Samba De Amigo gets a solid four out of five stars.
79
IGN UK
Frustrations emerging on higher difficulty levels mean that while as a basic multiplayer experience Samba excels, for the solo player it sadly isn’t a lasting prospect.
75
IGN
A really good game for casual gamers. I showed it to some non-gamer friends this weekend and they had a blast just playing on easy. I had to practically rip the remotes out of their hands to get them to stop. But here in the IGN office, fans of the original Samba pick up the remotes, crank up the difficulty, and find the controls to be almost unworkable.
75
Gameplayer
On a format where there’s plenty of rhythm-action competition, Samba still has enough to make you jump around like a toddler on Refreshers.
74
GameFocus
While some may pass this off as a quick and dirty cash-in on the part of Sega, the Wii is natural fit for Samba. Fans of the original game will dig the new content, while newcomers will enjoy the far more casual approach to rhythm gaming. If you can muscle your way past some of the control issues on the higher levels, you’ll find a great family title that’s enjoyable for both the kids and adults, which is rare.
71
3DJuegos
Samba de Amigo returns again thanks to Wii in a game that inherits all the best of the original, while adding new options to adapt it to present needs. The control with the features works well but they are not absolutely precise. Furthermore the game is repetitive and so it is not at the same level of other musical games of this generation. Even so, thanks to the great number of ways of gaming and songs available, it will turn to reference all the nostalgia of the first version and also for the lovers of the latin rhythm.
71
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
Excellent in so many ways, but falls down hard due to control shortcomings. [Nov 2008, p.82]
70
VideoGamer
If you're after a simple, lively party game, give Samba De Amigo a shot, but if you're after a precise, addictive high score rhythm game like Guitar Hero, look elsewhere.
70
GameSpy
If you were hoping for the Wii version of Samba to replace your old Dreamcast game, it won't. The controls are just too imprecise for it to be the definitive version.
70
Gamervision
The minigames, although plentiful, are archaic and reminiscent of early games on the Wii, and the lack of online multiplayer drops the replay value a bit.
70
GameDaily
The Wii remote and Nunchuk don't work as well as we hoped, which makes beating the game on a harder difficulty a chore. Once you get past this hiccup, however, Samba will keep you shaking.
70
GameZone
Samba de Amigo could’ve been one of the best Wii games of 2008, but unresponsive controls really mar the experience. The fiesta is still there, but it’s a bit of a letdown.
70
AceGamez
If you're a hardcore gamer or have played the Dreamcast original to death then this has to be seen as a bitter disappointment; the imprecise controls on Hard will drive anyone looking to play the game at its most challenging level up the wall - the controls simply aren't accurate enough. For those looking for a casual bit of rhythm-based fun with friends though, Samba De Amigo is right up your street.
70
Play.tm
Overall this is not a game to take too seriously - but in a good way. Go with the carnival atmosphere, get some friends over, add some snacks and drinks and you are well on your way to a great evening in.
69
Jolt Online Gaming UK
While control frustrations take the edge off the competitive element of the game, it’s still possible to have plenty of fun. Samba de Amigo is part rhythm game, part dancing game and part social game – you tend to feel more silly playing on your own than with others.
68
Game Informer
The big question is how the Wii remote controls work in replacement of the old maracas. Sadly, many enthusiasts will be frustrated. While the functionality is okay, the faster movements required on the higher difficulties frequently don’t register as you switch between notes – resulting in failures you don’t deserve. It cripples what is otherwise a fun return to maraca-shaking goodness.
68
HellBored
If my Spanish isn’t off, Samba de Amigo means dance your ass off. And you will—to songs at first infectious, and then plague-like. But do yourself a favour: buy the additional music packs.
66
Gamers' Temple
If only the Wii controls were as precise an instrument as maracas...
65
WonderwallWeb
This is a real mixed bag, on the plus side you have a great track list and colourful graphics which are fun and energetic, but on the down side the control problem is a real let down.
65
PTGamers
It has some serious flaws, sure, but maybe those who are looking for some moments of fun without thinking too much about it can overlook them.
62
Cheat Code Central
Unfortunately, even though this game sounds great, the controls reduce it to a mediocre status.
60
Eurogamer
Apart from the obvious fact that party games have moved on an awful lot since Samba De Amigo first appeared, there's no denying that the control system just doesn't quite translate as well as it might have - and that can only hurt its appeal in the long run.
60
NGamer UK
That old Samba magic is still there, but the challenge is in beating the controls, not the game. This should have been way better, given the console's strengths. [Nov 2008, p.56]
60
GameSpot
Some fun songs and unique gameplay help get Samba going, but imprecise controls and unreasonable difficulty bungle the beat.
60
Gamer.nl
With a game like Samba de Amigo you expect some maracas, but instead you’re playing with your Wii-mote. Add somewhat disappointing graphics and you'll get a game that you only want to play if you have some friends over. Drunken friends that is.
60
Games Master UK
One of 2008's biggest disappointments. [Nov 2008, p.67]
60
Destructoid
All around, Samba de Amigo is probably the best "arm dancing" game I've played yet (don't laugh, the Wii has tons of 'em), but unfortunately isn't billed as such.
60
GameCritics
The song selection is a great change of pace from the standard rock fare found in Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but in the end the controls just don’t cut the mustard.
50
D+PAD Magazine
As polished and as faithful to the source material as Samba de Amigo is aesthetically, the lasting impression is of a missed opportunity. A tighter game would have made a massive difference, though the essence of the license is so strong that an impulsive purchase won’t be a complete mistake - especially if a games party is on the agenda.
50
DarkZero
If you are the kind of gamer who likes to learn song layouts, practices all the way to Carnegie Hall, and then uploads a video of a brilliant high score to YouTube, then this one is probably not for you as it will only madden you in the long run.
50
Thunderbolt
Although the title is easily accessible, well-decorated and simply constructed, there is very little here to justify a full price tag.
50
1UP
While the colorful visuals are even sharper on Wii, the included minigames are some of the laziest I've seen.
40
Level7.nu
Samba de Amigo was originally released for the Dreamcast and has now made it's way to the Wii. With a maracas in each hand your challenge is to shake to the beat as best you can. The motion sensing abilities of the Wiimote does unfortunately present itself as an obstacle to the experience. On higher difficulty levels it makes the game almost unplayable. As is, this a decent party game at best.
30
games(TM)
Far too often your hands will be in the right physical space, but the Wii thinks they’re elsewhere – inexcusable in this kind of videogame. [Dec 2008, p.126]
Steven W gave it a10: Voltaire T. gave it a9: Nick K. gave it a5: Jimmus Maximus gave it a4: KC L. gave it a9: John W. gave it a10: Kelly P. gave it a10: |
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