Before you consider anything else about EA's Nerf N-Strike Elite, you need to know this:  This game is all about guns.  They may be "nerf" guns, but they're still guns.  Machine guns.  Shotguns.  Rocket launchers.  There really are almost too many different kind of guns to count in this game, and they all can be upgraded with things like laser scopes and precision crosshairs.  If your family has any issues at all with guns or firing projectiles at other things (even if they are "robots"), then really you can stop reading here, because this game will not be for you.

But if your family thinks that guns, especially Nerf guns, are really no big deal, then this could be a great game to play with your older kids, especially tween and teen boys.

In Nerf N-Strike Elite, you instert the Wii-mote into an actual Nerf gun that comes packaged with the game, and aim it at the screen and use the b-trigger button to shoot your projectiles.  If you only have one-gun, more players can still play just by simpling pointing their Wii-mote at the screen and using the b-trigger button.

This game is an "on-rails" type shooter game, which means that you don't have to worry about moving your player forward, backward left or right - the game does that for you.  You just need to worry about aiming at the screen and taking down all the out-of-control robots that have overtaken the factory/training facility.

Another cool control element of Nerf N-Strike is the game's "Red Reveal" puzzles, which require the player to look through the red lens attached to the Nerf gun for help in either solving puzzles, or targeting specific numbers or colors that appear differently when viewed through the red lens.

What we really noticed about this game is how it was able to at least partially capture the feel of more mature shooter-style games.  The wide variety of guns and upgrades are all designed to be Nerf and inocuous, but this game is clearly catering toward those young boys and their dads who love the testerone-fueled feel of these shooter games.

You can play through the game's story mode by yourself, or cooperatively with another player.  You can even decide halfway through the campaign to add or drop a player, which is a nice addition.  The game also features a blasting range where you try to rack up as high a score as possible with each of the game's myriad number of guns.

This may seem obvious, but if your family doesn't like toy guns at all, then Nerf N-Strike Elite isn't for you.  But if you think Nerf guns are harmless, or maybe enjoy playing games like Halo or Call of Duty when your kids aren't around, then Nerf N-Strike Elite could serve as a fun bridge that provides a cooperative "shoot-anything-that-moves" gameplay experience without the mature themes and gory injuries.


INFORMATION FROM COMPANY FACT SHEET:

NERF “N-Strike” Elite delivers a blend of sneak-around covert operation missions along with some over-the-top blast-or-be-blasted scenarios.  Two players can play together co-operatively.

The game comes bundled with a Nerf blaster and attachable Red Reveal decoder lens.  With the Wii-remote snapped into the blaster and the lens engaged, players will be able to detect enemy weak spots, solve puzzles and decode secret messages as they blast their way to victory.

NERF “N-Strike” Elite celebrates the 40th anniversary year of Hasbro Inc.’s NERF brand. This is the second game in EA’s Nerf blaster arsenal for Wii following the holiday 2008 hit, NERF “N-Strike” in North America, which was EA’s second best-selling Wii game and a Top 20 Wii title in 2008 by revenue, according to NPD.