Falling in the Right Places- Domino Rally Review

As the holiday season approaches, a cascade of familiar diversions will soon compete for dominance in the marketplace. Players purchasing the latest iteration of Guitar Hero, Halo, or Call of Duty can expect an enjoyable, well-crafted title that won’t deviate wildly from previous entries in each series. However, players yearning for a truly innovative recreation might have to look beyond the extended procession of sequels.

Domino Rally, the latest release from publisher UFO Interactive, offers players a healthy dose of quirky, Japanese eccentricity. The game recalls the unwavering optimism of Loco Roco, along with the pixilated cubism of Katamari Damacy. Players assume the role of Minon, a canary-suited guardian who assists people in medial tasks- from collecting lost balloon for little girls, to answering the phone for busy fathers. To execute these favors, Minion strides atop buildings, people, and trains. When none of these elements are available, our resourceful protagonist creates his own array of cascading dominoes, using his internal mojo- called Minonaide.

While this premise might sound perplexing, think of Minon as a train moving along sections of prebuilt tracks. As soon as our hero meets the end of a pathway, the player can use the Wiimote to create one of three connectors- a straight piece, along with left and right curves. Complexities in the environment prohibit Minion from constructing a path directly to the exit; players are shown permissible routes before laying down a section of dominoes. Additionally, gamers can press the ‘A’ button to temporarily slow Minon, however, he will continue to advance determinedly.

While some levels offer a general direction for the gallant domino-walker, others present no assistance, forcing the player to explore the game’s diverse settings. Players may pull up a map with the ‘1’ or ‘2’ buttons of the Wiimote, but the amount of detail presented is strategically ambiguous, forcing Minon to survey most environments. The game maintains a sense of novelty by presenting a stream of subtle tweaks to the game’s formula- some level’s rely on course-plotting, while others focus on walking atop of unhappy concert attendees. Each setting hosts a handful of scattered collectables to offer a petite incentive for multiple playthroughs.

Although the control system is typically solid, players may experience a tinge of frustration while attempting to increase their Minonaide reserves. Refreshing your energy requires players to shake the Wiimote in cadence with the hero’s quickening strides. Although short sequences are easy to pull off, longer, life-revitalizing combos are difficult, as Minon’s tempo increases with each successful step. The game’s other waggle mechanic, a balancing micro-game initiated when Minon pauses or comes to the end of a track, works suitably.

While the game’s control issues are negligible, the brevity of the game must be addressed. Domino Rally encourages players to collect entries for the game’s encyclopedia, and pieces of game art, although the title’s scant eight levels mean that a skillful player will complete Minon’s errands in about six hours. The game’s other diversion, a two-player splitscreen mode doesn’t offer enough depth or tension to maintain players interest for more than a few additional hours.

Gamers seeking a reprieve from the rigid genres displayed by most games, should be satisfied with Domino Rally. The title’s delightful sense of color, charm and unbridled enthusiasm is a blissful alternative to the cold gunmetal grays and solemnity found in many contemporary adventures. While the game’s budget price offsets most of the game’s terseness, like all good confections- the conclusion comes far too soon.