
	Platform Wii Genre Puzzle Publisher Dreamcatcher / Adventure Company Developer Kheops Studio ESRB E (Everyone) Released October 15, 2008

‑ Use of Wiimote and Nunchuk controls fit perfectly into gameplay ‑ Anybody looking for a career in safecracking will be an expert after learning how to break into these safes

‑ Perplexing puzzles abound; nice to be challenged in a game, but not to the point of losing interest in even wanting to play because of the confusing complexity of the puzzles ‑ Ridiculous continual waiting for load times each and every instance gamers move in any direction

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Safecracker

Score: 3.0 / 10

It’s supposed to invoke the classic mystery and intrigue of a great Agatha Christie novel. Instead, Safecracker for the Wii is an insomniac’s cure, with beyond boring gameplay, continual exasperating load times just to move in any direction, and incomprehensible puzzles that become more of a chore to solve than any fun whatsoever.

Playing the role of an expert safecracker, gamers must find the last will and testament of a recently deceased billionaire. More than a little eccentric, the billionaire has hidden his will somewhere in his lavish mansion, among the 35 safes

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located through the 30 rooms in the residence. It’s not much of a story, but at least it’s something to give gamers and initial interest to get cracking on safes.

However, once the gameplay actually begins, gamers should expect a heavy dosage of vexation, because even the first handful of puzzles are perplexing

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and at times seem almost unsolvable due to the stingy and practically absent clue-giving of Safecracker. It’s nice to be challenged in a game, but not to the point of losing interest in even wanting to play because of the confusing complexity of the puzzles.

On top of that, just moving around is a frustrating affair, as the load times required to move in any direction each and every time puts a continual time-waiting damper on the gameplay. At least there’s the lovely-to-look-at graphical beauty of the mansion to alleviate some of the always-building level of frustration.

Excellent safecracking controls using the Wiimote and Nunchuk save the gameplay from being a complete waste of time for those gamers that don’t give up due to the overwhelming difficulty of Safecracker. The only gamers who might fit that niche are those with aspirations of being a safecracker themselves, willing to deal with gameplay that’s more a chore than fun in order to pick up some safecracking tips along the way.

Insanely frustrating and difficult puzzles along with annoying load times each time you want to move around the mansion will have gamers cracking not safes but their Wiis over their heads just to wake up from the sleep-inducing gameplay of Safecracker.

‑ Lee Cieniawa

lcieniawa@armchairempire.com

(August 25, 2009)