Ever looked at a stack of Jenga blocks and decided yanking them out in turns was boring? Some of us will probably remember using the blocks for a different "game" such as stacking them up in castle-based shapes, and taking turns seeing who could topple the structure using the least number of thrown objects. Childish? Yes. Fun? Definitely.

From the looks of it, Spielberg's also hit on the same idea with his latest offering for the Wii console. Boom Blox  is a puzzle-action title that promises simple and easy-to-learn gameplay for the kids, while offering physics and customizability that'll keep even the adults busy for hours on end. Read on, and get a teaser of what sort of features await you when the game makes its official debut.

 

Throwing 101
Being all about grabbing, throwing, and toppling blocks (or blox, as they're called in-game), Boom Blox will make the most of the Wiimote's motion controls. To throw an object, players only need to remember a couple of basic steps:

1. Point the Wiimote at where you want the object to land
2. Hold the "A" button
3. Make a throwing motion with your arm
4. Release the A button as you finish the throw (Don't let got of the Wiimote), as you would a ball

Easy to follow, right? Here's where it gets interesting: Instead of launching your objects at a set speed, Boom Blox's physics engine will actually calculate how hard you threw it, and adjust its velocity accordingly. On a simpler note, you can also pick up the blox directly. It's an interesting piece of work for a deceptively simple game, though we'll be covering more on the physics later.

Looking around is done by pressing on the Wiimote's D-Pad. Those who've got the Nunchuk equipped can do the same thing by using the attachment's analog stick. This is an especially important feature to remember when you're scouting for good places to topple the level's structures for maximum effect.

Another feature that would have been included in Boom Blox was headtracking, previously seen in EA's presentation of the game at this year's GDC. An Easter Egg more than anything, it would allow the images onscreen to adjust according to the position of the player's head.

Putting it another way, the TV would behave more like a window than a "flat" screen. For the guys wondering just how this may have affected Boom Blox's gameplay, we've posted a video of Johnny Lee putting his technology through its paces:

Sadly, EA's recently confirmed that headtracking won't be making it to the game's final build. Moving on, we'll be taking at looks at Boom Blox's gameplay.

They all fall down: The gameplay
The premise of Boom Blox is simple: Players are required to solve puzzles whose goals differ depending on the scenario. On some stages, you may be required to knock down blox structures, or whatever objects/characters may be on them.

There are also stages where you'll be interacting quite a bit with Boom Blox's cute critters. For example, there's one where you have to lead a mother gorilla to her kids by moving obstacles out of her way. Generally speaking, the less number of moves you make to complete your objective, the more points you accumulate.

As you guys may have noticed by this point, just about everything in the game revolves throwing and knocking stuff down - a feature that probably would've looked very run-of-the-mill, had the devs decided not to use the Havok Engine.

    

Everything save the kitchen sink
To this end, Boom Blox displays some astoundingly realistic physical effects depending on what you do. Remember that ball-tossing we discussed earlier? The objects you throw not only have specific speeds depending on how hard they're thrown, they also behave differently depending on what they're made off, and what they hit.

For example, a baseball lobbed at a stack of blox is just going to nudge them ever so slightly. Put more elbow grease into your throw, however, and the same stack will be sent flying into the air like milk cans at the carnival games. Other objects you can throw or shoot include a bowling ball, lasers, or even a bomb ball.

The blox you hit will have their own characteristics as well. For example, there's the red-painted blox, which explode on impact. Green blox, on the other hand, will disintegrate when they come into contact with other like-colored blox.

The key to mastering the game is knowing how exactly the blox will interact with other blox, and causing a chain reaction that will get your desired effect. Causing one blox tower to topple into the tower beside it is just one example that comes to mind.

    

Adding even more flavor to Boom Blox's environments are its 30-plus characters, each with their own unique actions and reactions. The chickens will lay bomb blocks for example, while the skeleton will attack other critters on sight. On the other hand, dogs will defend against the skeletons by throwing balls at them.

More characters, worlds, blox, and props are introducerd as you play through the game's story mode. Just be prepared for the long haul - the story mode will carry you through four very distinct environments: Tiki, Medieval, Frontier, and Haunted. Each theme will carry its own self-contained story, and a matching set of unique challenges. Boom Blox will promise a total of 300 puzzles for your enjoyment.

The game will also support both co-op and competitive multiplayer mode. Co-op mode will pit you and your buddy against one of its daunting puzzles. Competitive multiplayer will allow up to four players, and will have the group running the gauntlet against 11 different modes.

  

Build your own
For the creative little minds that think they're got a winning scenario idea, you're going to enjoy one of Boom Blox's options: Create Mode. As its name implies, this will allow players to build and customize their own level, complete with its own set of rules and characters. Here's a rundown of the parameters at your command:

• Select Toys:
• Allows you to choose what tools will be available in the level. The baseball not hefty enough for the job? Try swapping it with an eight-ball or even a bowling ball!
• Rules:
• Edit the level's time limit, the number of throws you can make, or the requirements to get a gold medal. Just remember there's a fine line between challenging, and well-nigh impossible.
• Characters:
• Choose which characters to load into the level. Just take note that each will behave according to their description.
• Choose Paint:
• Pick the characteristics your blox will carry for the level. Red bloxes, as we said earlier, explode impact or from nearby explosions.
• Choose Set:
• Guess what - you don't have to make the entire fort piece-by-piece. You'll be given the option to choose from several pre-fabricated blox structures.
• Choose scene:
• Pick a background theme appropriate to your set. Somehow, a medieval castle just doesn't look right stuck in the wild west, does it?
  

Aside from Create Mode, Boom Blox will also allow its users to remix levels. Here, players can choose to alter certain parameters in some of their game's pre-set scenarios, either making it easier or harder to complete.

Now that you've got your very own devious scenario up and ready for play, what's next? Aside from playing it on your console, you can also choose to have it sent to your friend's unit via Boom Blox's WiiConnect24 support. Just make sure to have your console properly set up so you can share the fruits of your labor.

Wrapup
That's the basic rundown of what the players can expect when Boom Blox hits retail in just a few more hours. With all these details in mind, you're pretty much ready to start booming away those blox. Remember, there are still lots more stuff to discover and enjoy when the game arrives. Here's to hoping It's gonna be a blast.