The Wii is getting a lot of use around my house, and never more since we discovered Link’s Crossbow Training. The game, which comes bundled with the Wii Zapper attachment, is short but sweet, and it’s full of old-school, arcade shooter action.
The Zapper was a Christmas present in our house, but it took almost two months for it to get opened and put to its proper use. First by my wife and 13-year-old son, then by my 3-year-old and finally, I’m sad to say, by me.
Crossbow Training uses environments and characters from the Wii launch game The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Most of the targets are just that — digital representations of painted wooden archery targets. That makes much of the game family-friendly. However, it’s worth noting the game is rated T for Teen, probably because later levels include more violence and targets such as skeletons that rise from the ground en masse, fiendish birds that spit molten rock and goblins that wield wicked clubs or fire flaming arrows at you. There is no blood, but your fallen enemies burst into flame and disappear.
The game can be played by up to four people taking turns with one Zapper, which helps give it replay value considering there are only nine levels. It’s a great party game. Unfortunately, your scores from multiplayer mode aren’t stored for posterity – only single-player standings count if you’re really obsessed with achievement!
About the Zapper itself: It’s not a controller per se, but rather a plastic, gun-shaped frame that holds the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. It stands up to the rigors of life with a toddler who loves “playing Targets.” Crossbow Training could potentially be played without it, but it wouldn’t be as much fun without the tactile element.
The next step for Zapper addicts? Probably Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. There aren’t a lot of games out right now that support the attachment, but I’d love to see some old arcade classics like Area 51 revisited.
The Wii Zapper with Link’s Crossbow Training has a suggested price of $24.99, but you can easily find it at major retailers for $19.99.
