E-Re-View

I actually have to review Endless Ocean for the Wii in two different ways, because it will earn two different ratings.

If you compare it to the overall games availble to the Wii, it gets a mere 3-star rating.  If you are specifically looking for a non-competitive, easy-to-use, kid-friendly game, then Endless Ocean gets 4 1/2-stars.

Compared to all available Wii games:

 

Specifically for kid-friendly, non-competitive games:

Overview:  In Endless Ocean, you are a diver, helping to discover and catalog fish.  Along the way you help others by taking them diving and showing them specific fish, finding artifacts, or taking underwater photos.  As you add fish to your encyclopedia, you eventually unlock access to a large aquarium in which you can create your own environment, filling it with fish you have discovered.

The controls are simple.  It takes a bit to get used to at first, and sometimes the cursor moves a bit more quickly than I'd like.  But after a short while, the controls are second-nature.

The good:  Very relaxing.  No, seriously.  The music, the environment, the soothing colors, even the pace at which the character breathes helps you relax.  When my six-year-old son gets a little cranky because he keeps losing at Mario Kart, I have him put in Endless Ocean.  He is constantly finding new fish, and each one he discovers is exciting to him.  It is also a 'move-at-your-own-pace' kind of game.  If you want to complete the 'missions' (like taking someone diving), you can, whenever you want.  Or you can skip it and just go exploring.  It's up to you.  You're really on Island Time, mon!

The bad:  As mentioned, the controls in Endless Ocean are a little trick to learn at first.  Specifically, the cursor tends to move more quickly over the things you are trying to interact with.  It's almost like the creatures are 'slippery', and your cursor slips off of them easily.  In addition, this game can be very repetitive.  You dive, you explore, you interact with different fish to learn about them.  It doesn't seem to get boring for my son, but for an adult, it could get old.

Conclusion: If you like first-person shooters, games with crazy toons and lots of explosions, you will probably NOT like Endless Ocean.  If you want something different, fun, and relaxing, Endless Ocean is the Wii game for you!

Cute video review:

Available, discounted copies of Endless Ocean (Wii):

E-Reviewer from www.e-re-view.com

E_Reviewer Electronics, Video Game, Wii Aquarium, Artifacts, Creatures, Cursor, Discover, Encyclopedia, Endless Ocean, Fish, Fish Encyclopedia, Island Time, Kid Game, Kind Of Game, Mario Kart, Missions, Music, Own Pace, Second Nature, Slips, Soothing Colors, Star Rating, Two Different Ways, Underwater Photos, Wii, Wii Games