Scooby Doo First Frights: Nintendo Wii game review

Most people have heard of Scooby Doo, but if you are a big fan of the hound and you own a Nintendo Wii you have the chance to try out the Scooby Doo First Frights Wii game as well.

The game has lots of superb features and all the familiar characters from the Mystery, Inc. team are there – Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne, and of course Scooby Doo himself. They may look a little different to how they appear in the films and the cartoons, but they are still instantly recognisable. They actually appear to have been characterised to look younger, perhaps to appeal to the younger audience the game is probably aimed at.

Personally speaking, even though I remember the original cartoons I wasn't bothered with the different look the characters had in the Wii game. I actually liked it but then I'm not as fussy as some gamers are (no offence!). For me, this was a nice enjoyable game that was easier than some of the others are. It took a couple of hours to get through one episode, and that still left three to play, so it was good value for money considering the cover price.

Scooby Doo First Frights was released some time ago but if you haven’t yet added it to your collection, now is the best time to do so. You can typically buy it at around a third off the recommended price, as you’ll see if you check out the Amazon link below.

But before we do that, let’s ask the big question - is the game worth playing?

Some Wii games can be too complex for younger kids to get the hang of. But this one is really a delight for them to play. There is enough interaction with the world around you to keep you interested, without it being too complex or difficult to get the hang of.

But with that said, adults will also find it good to play. It may not be anywhere near as difficult as other games that are intended for an adult audience, so it probably won’t appeal to dedicated Nintendo Wii gamers. But it does have several great features going for it:

• Four new self contained mysteries are there for you to solve

• Swap between characters depending on where you are in the game

• There is still more to do once you have solved one of the mysteries – you can always go back and explore it in more detail

• Learn how to control your characters in a variety of ways – and different characters have different skills

• Each mystery has different levels, including boss levels that are harder to complete

• Different costumes and weapons can be found or used by each character

The game has been extremely well designed and every level is colorful and well put together. I found that it pays to take a few minutes figuring out what all the buttons on the Wii remote are designed to do. Sometimes you might be required to use certain combinations of buttons in order to defeat an enemy or jump to another platform for example. If you have a practice first you’ll find it easier to keep going without losing too many lives.

You get to collect plenty of Scooby Snacks on the way round as well. Watch out for other things you might be able to pick up, such as clues to certain mysteries in the game. You’ll know when you have to look for clues because a cut scene will usually reveal what you need to look for.

Another good point to note is that it has dual game play, so you can play with someone else if you want to. Perfect for parents who want to get in on the action! But if you are playing on your own you can still switch between different characters as you progress through the mysteries.

Adults will probably feel this is a little far removed from the original cartoons they loved as kids. But if you are going to buy Scooby Doo First Frights for your children, you will appreciate the way that the game play has been designed primarily for the younger generation.

Scooby Doo First Frights is ideal for kids who want a mystery game that has plenty of exciting things to do in it. It’s also got enough packed into it to give most parents an entertaining time too.

This is not one of the most expensive games to buy for the Nintendo Wii either, so if you are looking for a good entry level game you won’t get frustrated with, Scooby Doo First Frights could be just the thing for you. I enjoyed it and I particularly liked the fact you have four separate missions to go on. It means you can go back and play your favourites over and over again.

Time to solve the mystery, Scooby!