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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Emergency Heroes involves reckless driving and car crashes. Its focus is on action, not on strategy. It should be easy for younger players to understand and play. While it may be exciting enough to capture an older teenager's attention, it probably won't hold it for very long.

Families can talk about the role of law enforcement and public safety in our society. What makes a person a hero? Families can also take this opportunity to draw a distinction between game driving and real world driving. Why is it important to follow the rules of the road, and what happens when we don't?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Dwight Odelius

EMERGENCY HEROES puts players into the uniform of a young disgraced cadet charged with saving the city from a mysterious criminal mastermind. Players drive sixteen high-tech police, EMT, and firefighting vehicles through the futuristic metropolis of San Alto, attempting to rescue citizens and catch lawbreakers. The city is sprawling, crowded, and labyrinthine, making it the perfect environment for thrilling car chases.

The game's missions fall into one of three categories: chasing down criminals, saving helpless citizens, and putting out fires. In the first, the object is to catch up with another car and ram it repeatedly until it pulls over. The last two mission types are variations on the same objective: race as fast as possible through a series of checkpoints to rescue citizens or put out fires along the way.

Players control the vehicles with the Wii remote held horizontally, turning it left and right like a steering wheel. The controls are overly sensitive, and the slightest movement can send some vehicles careening into a wall. Alternately, the Wii steering wheel accessory can be used, but this only makes the remote easier to hold -- it doesn't make controlling the vehicle any less fiddly.

As Wii games go, Emergency Heroes is generally good-looking, with bright, attractive graphics. The game play is heavy on arcade-style driving action, and doesn't require much thinking. Those looking for some mindless thrills without much else to do, may find this an acceptable diversion for awhile. Those looking for a great racing game will not find it here.

Older teens who like Emergency Heroes will likely find the T-rated Emergency Mayhem entertaining as well. Players looking for an all-around better driving game for Wii should check out Mario Kart Wii. It's more kid-friendly, and supports up to 12 players in online tournament play.

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