The Wii has become a system where a bunch of 3rd party game companies are trying their new game ideas. Unfortunately, most of them are terrible. That being said, Wild Earth: African Safari isn't half-bad for being from a company I've never heard of before (Does anyone know who Majesco is?). It's certainly flawed, though.
Overview
Here's what you need to know: You're a photagrapher on a safari in Africa trying to get photos for articles about the animals. There's 2 people with you. A professor, who gives you fun facts about the animals as you take pictures, and the person who's writing the articles.
Gameplay
If anything, African Safari is the spiritual successor to Pokemon Snap. You have 2 different types of objectives during you're assignments: 1 primary and 1-6 secondary objectives that you must take pictures of without disturbing the animals(Example: if it said Wildebeest Herd then you would find a herd of Wildebeest and take a picture). You point the Wii Remote to take pictures and you need a certain amount of objective pictures to complete the assignment. After you complete the assignment you can read the article and learn something. There's 11 levels (among them one where you're in a helicopter and 2 where you drive a 4X4), and 11 arcade games (you get 1 after every level). It's nice to just be able to roam a giant environment exploring (you can wander. Believe me, you can wander). After completing 9/11 assignments and 2/11 arcade games I've got to say this is pretty nice in the Gameplay department. Too bad it's on the short and easy side. Definitely not for hardcore gamers, seeing as how it has no ending whatsoever!
Graphics
The environments look fairly Dreamcastish to me. Details are low, and some stuff just doesn't look like it should (Termite Mounds look like deformed wood). The Animals themselves look good though. Definitely just okay Graphics, though. At least you can tell that's a Crowned Crane.
Sound
Nothing really going to blow you away, here. Some nice Safari music to go with your assignment. Lions roaring, Hyenas laughing, it's just okay, like the Graphics.
Overall
Wild Earth: African Safari was a nice effort on Wii. And in many ways, it was good. It needs better graphics and more missions, though. Basically if you have 6-7 hours to kill, try this. Hardcore gamers probably won't like it that much, though.
A sequel?
Sure. Just fix the problems with this game and a sequel would be great! How about Wild Earth: Austraillian Safari? :)
Alas, all is not well with Wild Earth. While the controls have naturally transferred over well, the graphics have suffered a fatal blow. The engine just can't seem to cope – ever. There's a shocking amount of pop-up, sometimes trees and rocks don't appear until you've actually walked into them and started to wonder why you're not moving anymore. The frame rate is a nightmare, too. It really hurts the overall experience, as this game is all about trying to lose yourself in its virtual world. Unless the real Africa actually does stutter and suffer from screen-tearing. That'd... that'd be pretty amazing.
GI.net: "Wild Earth: African Safari for the Wii casts you as a wildlife photographer. You're working for a magazine and are sent into the wild to get pictures for various articles. Yes, there are minigames you can unlock as you finish each assignment, and there's a cooperative play mode, but the real meat of the game is in the photography assignments.
You begin the game in game. There's a nice tutorial to help you learn how to move around, look around and, most importantly, take great pictures of what's around you. This is all handled with the combination of the Wii nunchuk and Wii-mote. It's quick and easy to look around you and equally easy to zoom in and zoom out for your shots.
Each assignment has a specific overall theme - which makes sense because you're taking picture to accompany an article, but you'll be taking more pictures than just that. In the upper left corner of the screen, you'll see a list of pictures for you to try and get. Some are mission critical and will stay there longer, while others are bonus shots for flavor (and additional points) and will only be options for a short period of time. Flavor shots might be "three frogs" or "termite mound."
While the game isn't the same as riding in a jeep with a guide, marveling at the wonders of the Serengeti, it does create an interactive nature simulation that is very compelling. Instead of watching an elephant charge you and wondering if you will survive, you can experience that adrenaline rush from the safety of your sofa.
The game puts you in charge of your exploration around the Serengeti. Using the Wii Remote and the Wii Nunchuk controller, it's easy to point and then use the control stick to move. You can travel at a pretty good clip, as if you were sitting in a jeep. One assignment even puts you inside a helicopter flying over the Ngorongoro Crater to film animals in migration.
