Guinness World Records: The Video Game

$4030, Wii, Nintendo DS

Teaches: problem solving; logic

CTR Rating: 86%

CTR Review

How fast can you sheer a sheep? How's your tight rope walking skills? This collection of 36 minigames for one to four players is great for teaming kids against their parents, as they try to see if they can earn a spot in a fictional version of The Guinness Book Of World Records.In the Wii version, you use the Wii controller in creative ways. When walking on the tight rope, for example, you balance the controller to simulate a pole. Other games have you crushing watermelons with your head by driving the Wii Remote sharply toward the ground, or trying to eat 10 giant cockroaches as fast as possible by grabbing one (with a click) and flicking it into your mouth (with a flip of the controller). To chew, you need to wave both the remote and the Nunchuk quickly. You get the idea -- this is not a quiet, passive game. Many of the games are turn-based, so the other players have to wait for someone to finish before they can play. The one with the highest score gets to save their record locally, or upload to see it compared on a national level. Hundreds of facts from the real Guinness World Records book are sprinkled throughout the game. Weaknesses include a control mechanism that is tricky to figure out at first. For example, to sign in, you need to find and press the tiny + button, and to escape from a game, you need to press the "B" button. We'd prefer a constant onscreen escape icon.If you're looking for a great party game, this is a good choice, as long as you don't mind waiting your turn. Best scores can be saved locally, or online. Made by Traveler's Tales (TT Games) for Warner Brothers. Ratings apply to the Wii version only.