Nintendo Okie

There have been a lot of platformers showing up on the WiiWare service, but not very many of them have been solid 3D platformers. Shin’en Multimedia is looking too change that with their latest WiiWare release, Jett Rocket. The game borrows very heavily from other platformers like Super Mario Galaxy and Rachet & Clank, but does it live up to those games’ standards?

Platforming is Fun

While the game isn’t overly difficult the platforming sections of the game stand out as solid additions to one of the better games that WiiWare has seen to date. There are many of the elements you would expect to see in a game like this; lots of gaps to jump, enemies to fight and a lot of different environments. In order to break up the constant jumping there are things like parachutes that work similarly to the Deku Leaf in Windwaker, jet skis, mechanical whales and many more things. In addition to those elements there are puzzles that need to be solved in order to progress. Some are simple like pressing a single switch to open a door, to more complex mazes and even having to press every switch on a floor in a set amount of time.

Achievements and Collectibles

One of the things that people want is a lot of things to do while playing through a game. In game achievements are the best you can get on Wii and Jett Rocket has those. There are 20 achievements for people looking for a challenge while playing the game. These will range from collecting all of the solar panels in a level to finishing levels without being hurt. One of the more insane achievements has you finishing a level in 20 seconds or less. There are also solar panels scattered throughout the world to collect. Each level has a different amount and some of them will challenge your platforming skills.

Land of Beauty

Jett Rocket is a beautiful game. It’s not going to rival games like Super Mario Galaxy or Wario Land Shake It! in terms of looks, but it is one of the best looking WiiWare games out there and as good or better than many retail releases on the system. Environments have lots of things happening; waves crashing on the sand, footprints lingering in the snow. Sunlight reflects off of everything and sunbursts cover the camera appropriately. Jett himself looks a little out of place in this beautiful environment. Compared to the world around him, Jett feels a little flat. There aren’t many games on WiiWare that look this good.

The Camera Doesn’t Always Work

One of the things that needs to be absolutely solid in a platform game is the camera. Games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 have cameras that you rarely, if ever, need to adjust. They just seems to always show the proper angle at all times. Jett Rocket gives you complete control over the camera with the d-pad. Pushing up will center the camera directly behind Jett. The problem comes when moving around the environment. At times the camera will move at the worst possible time making you walk off a platform and into a frozen lake. It’s one issue that doesn’t happen often, but it does happen and it’s occasionally noticeable.

Time is Short

Jett Rocket won’t take you very long to finish. For most people the total play time will last between three and four hours. There are three worlds for Jett to explore each with four levels and a boss fight. I would say the game is a bit short for the asking price, and I would have liked another world or two, but I think the visuals more than make up for the length.

Conclusion

Jett Rocket is one of the better platforming games on the system. The elements of games like Rachet & Clank’s vast environment, puzzles from Super Mario Galaxy and enemies similar to Sonic the Hedgehog combine for one very solid game. I would love for Shin’en to come back to Jett’s world, either through a direct sequel to the game or a full retail release. There are some flaws like the length and the camera, and that’s to be expected. No game is perfect. In Jett Rocket, though, the good far outweighs the bad.

Final Score: 4/5 Above Average

Purchased the game on the Nintendo Wii Shop Channel.
Played through the campaign in its entirety.
Total Play Time: 4.5 hours