Elebits: Charged Up and Ready to Amuse

Elebits, from Konami, is designed exclusively for Nintendo's Wii and its motion-sensor controllers. It's one in a growing library of Wii games that look cute and simple but offer a lot of depth and challenges.

It's set in a world powered by tiny electrical critters called Elebits; that is, until a child's wish sends them into hiding. As that child, it's up to you to find them, turning the world's power supply back on. Sounds simple enough, but these small beings are clever at hiding. The Wii's remote controller is used like a light gun/grappling hook throughout an expanding world, which begins in the child's home and ventures into the back yard and then to city streets. The nunchuck controller is used to strafe an area, as well as to duck and stand back up. Using realistic physics, the gun can do everything from opening kitchen cabinets to tossing diesel trucks against walls (after a series of powerful upgrades).

The game's depth comes from the collection of Elebits as they power up items in the world and unlock more hiding places in such places as microwave ovens, dishwashers and cool remote-control cars. Throughout the 30 single-player levels, additional challenges such as keeping the noise down to avoid waking your parents are tossed in for good measure.

Elebits is one of the first games to support Nintendo's WiiConnect24, which allows gamers to create custom levels using a simple map and share them online. Elebits also offers options for as many as four players on a single screen.

It's not one of the best-looking Wii games, but it is one of the most fun.

-- John Gaudiosi

Elebits Everyone; Nintendo Wii ($50) Konami