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E3 '07: Jenga Hands-On

Related Platforms:
  • Wii
By Ryan Davis, GameSpot, Posted Jul 13, 2007 3:28 pm GMT

Atari is bringing Hasbro's nerve-wracking building-block puzzler to the Wii, and we take our first hands-on look.

As was revealed in the week leading up to E3 2007, Atari is working on a video game for the Wii based on the classic tabletop tower-building party game Jenga, and we got to see an early version of it for ourselves today. From what we've seen so far, the game seems to mimic the Jenga fundamentals pretty well. You're presented with a tower of rectangular blocks, and players then have to take turns pulling blocks out from the middle and stacking them on top. The challenge is to keep pulling blocks without causing the tower to topple. Since collapse is basically inevitable, the strategy eventually turns into pulling blocks in such a way that it forces the other players to pull blocks that are more important to the tower's structural integrity.

Anyone who's actually played a real-life game of Jenga knows that the tedium of having to rebuild the tower after it topples almost negates the enjoyable challenge of playing the game; this will obviously not be a problem with the video game version of Jenga. Pulling and placing blocks will be done intuitively with the Wii Remote, though the control sensitivity still needs to be tweaked, a point that Atari is aware of. While controlling an onscreen cursor with the Wii Remote, you'll hit the A button to select the block you want, then it's just a matter of actually pulling the Wii Remote backwards, or to the sides, in order to pull the block out. Placing the block atop the tower works much the same way.

Click to enlarge!

Click to enlarge!

In addition to a vanilla game of Jenga, Atari will be including a lot of variables that could only happen in a video game. There are different types of blocks you can play with, and the materials they're made of can affect how they handle. You'll be able to choose from different backgrounds, including space, water, jungle, volcano, and castle, and aside from changing the scenery, these backgrounds will also effect the gameplay. For example, the space background will decrease the gravity on the blocks, while water will cause the general movement to be more sluggish. They get more bizarre from there, with the jungle level being infested with hungry, block-eating dinosaurs, and the castle level being subjected to high winds.

In addition to the effects these backgrounds will have on a regular game of Jenga, each will also serve as the backdrop for a unique minigame that will make use of Jenga pieces. In the one example we saw, the volcano environment served as the background for a minigame where you used a Jenga block to juggle hot, molten rocks that were being spit out of the volcanoes. Players will also be able to select unique avatars to play as, and though this feature hasn't yet been implemented, Atari is hoping to imbue them with specific gameplay modifiers as well.

With all of these different ways to tweak how Jenga handles, along with the inclusion of four-player support, there's definitely the potential to keep the game feeling fresh for a while. The inherently tactile nature of Jenga also seems to make for a natural fit on the Wii. You can expect more on this game as its release approaches.

30 Comments

  • Gaza-for-wii

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 9:34 am GMT

    should start a free games service on the wiiware and iclude this game!!!!!!!!

  • OReilly89

    Posted Aug 20, 2007 12:03 pm GMT

    OR... I could play real jenga for free. And if I want wind blowing around while im playing it I'll turn on a fan. These "casual" games are really getting on my nerves.

  • ButtonBasherBW

    Posted Aug 20, 2007 1:54 am GMT

    This sort of game is one of those that would work as Wiiware, something you can download for a few dollars. Would give it a start if nothing else comes along.

    But if it's a game on disk, then its sales will most likely be low. There won't be many picking it up.

  • Peaches1347

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 6:44 pm GMT

    I hope they are not expecting people to pay 50 for this hell i wouldn't even pay 30 this game could only succeed as a wiiware game

  • chazy035

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 1:14 pm GMT

    What happend to human interactions??, A virtual jenga?? It wouldn't feel the same... this is going to be a pathetic generation... how about a wii-gi board, wii-kneading, wii-Kite?? LOL!!! How about a virtual game that i'm writing this review???
    I don't care if this game is cheap... buy the real thing and get a friend.

  • StryfeBringer

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:24 am GMT

    FTA: "...the tedium of having to rebuild the tower after it topples almost negates the enjoyable challenge of playing the game"

    WHAT?!?! Is this guy serious?!?! You mean stacking the Jenga blocks in a tower takes too much skill and time?!?! If that's the case, you better put down the Wiimote and lock the drawers with the knives and forks... because you clearly shouldn't be around those things either.

  • blkkidwitagun

    Posted Jul 26, 2007 10:55 am GMT

    Jenga as a video game its an interesting idea. It would be a better idea with online play and as long as it isn't more than 30 dollars it sounds like it could be a fun party game. I would definitely get it if it had online and was 15-20 dollars.

  • mergirox

    Posted Jul 21, 2007 3:48 pm GMT

    lol...Jenga

    They should have like a Hasbro/Milton Bradley Boardgames Wii Edition so you could choose from like 8 different boardgames. Unless it is less than 30 bux, it aint gonna sell

  • Sonovius

    Posted Jul 19, 2007 8:05 am GMT

    I wouldn't pay more than $5 for the garbage section of the software aisle game like this. These are the titles that are placed next to old copies of Macon Beavis' Typing 7 right next to the Solitare games at Wal-Mart.

    The Wii really has GOT to show more to make me feel better about my purchase. This stuff is absolute junk and had no business being on the E3 floor.

  • icarus212001

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 10:04 am GMT

    i remember having loads of fun playing jenga with my family when a was a child but since then i lost the game (block after missing block lol). if this is a cheap WiiWare or retail game (no more than $15-20) i'll get it, but preferably in wiiware form

  • palooka123

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 9:27 am GMT

    if its anymore then 30$ im not getting it

  • ookami-gamer

    Posted Jul 17, 2007 4:46 pm GMT

    wow.....original at least.... jenga is a fun game, but i dont think it will survive for long on the wii. i see another game going to the discount bin soon..... -.-

  • slimdog363

    Posted Jul 16, 2007 1:19 am GMT

    would be a nice game if its cheap

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 7:50 pm GMT

    I hope the additions don't inadvertently take away from the experience. Quite a few simple games lose their charm when complexity enters the mix.

  • astro64th

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 8:28 am GMT

    I'm actually a fan of Jenga, so I think this is a cool idea. I like the fact that they are adding more to it as well, different modes and special blocks you can play with and such. Four player is also cool. My only gripe is 1. It should be online. 2. Why not make it a available at the Wii Shop Channel instead of a retail game? 3. Can you build things with the Jenga blocks when the game is over like everyone I know does? Heh heh.

  • msudude211

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 8:00 am GMT

    I don't know how this will work with the Wii's touchy controls.

  • magicmo

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 7:15 am GMT

    Play the real thing. It's more fun...the cat could jump on the table and knock the thing over.

  • icytower

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 6:57 am GMT

    Some board & card games make a decent video game, but Jenga just will not.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 11:40 pm GMT

    ..........or you could just buy the actual Jenga game. Buying a video game of a board game is totally pointless.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 11:36 pm GMT

    Never thought a game of Jenga would happen but guess i'm wrong

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Game Info

  • Wii Release Info

    • Release Date: Dec 7, 2007
    • ESRB: E
      Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older.

  • DS Release Info

    • Release Date: Nov 13, 2007
    • ESRB: E
      Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older.

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