If your looking for a fun stocking stuffer for the family, check out Squeeballs Party, available on various platforms and priced at $19.99. I was sent a copy of the game from a PR company free of charge for my kids to review. They’ve been playing the Wii version over the last few weeks and they seem entertained. They scream and laugh hysterically at the TV when they’re playing so I know they are having a fun time. What’s really nice for me to see as a mom is the four of them playing and enjoying a game together without yelling and fighting with each other.
Like some other games, Squeeballs Party offers 150+ mini games in one. Their are 11 main games to try out, some of which bring a new sinister twist to older games such as golf, cooking and bowling. Play begins with a few challenges and then more are unlocked as you work your way up through the different levels. Up to four players can play at once which, beware, can make your family room very loud at times!
What makes Squeeballs Party a bit different from some of the other mini games on the market are their 12 characters or Squeeballs. The kids actually had to read the manual to find out what the Squeeballs were all about. As the player, you are a toy tester on a remote island somewhere in the Pacific and you need to test all the Squeeballs before they are sent out to kids around the world. As such, you REALLY put these Squeeballs to the test, squishing, pulling, cutting, hitting them with racquets, shooting them out of a cannon, and even stuffing them into sausage to feed to fellow Squeeball El Toro to see if they pass they test. While it may seem a somewhat violent concept, the Squeeballs manage to come back time after time, kind of like Kenny in South Park. I think some younger children may have issue with this concept. My kids are 9 and 11, within the game’s target, and they find it a pretty funny. They also like the fact that they’re playing with the Squeeballs rather than their Mii characters they develop in other games.
The Squeeballs voices and their whining get a bit annoying, as well as, the theme song. Be sure to keep the volume down, or it will drive mom nuts. The Squeeballs are also available as stuffed animals. Initially, I thought they had something to do with the game play but they are merely collectibles. Just more plush characters to find around the house.
I definately see this game being pulled out when a group of kids are around or when the family gathers to play. With up to four kids playing at once in the party mode, it’s gets chaotic yet competitive at the same time. It’s not a very hard game so it’s one that everyone can play.
