Emergency Heroes (Wii)

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.

Available on: Nintendo Wii
Not available online
Genre: Racing
Released on: May 27, 2008
Price: 39.99
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Mild Violence