Emergency Mayhem

You’re asking for trouble going on the beat somewhere like Crisis City. For my money, I’d rather be a police officer, ambulance attendant or firefighter somewhere like… Tequila City. If you’re going somewhere the atmosphere is going to be dictated for you by the name of the place, Crisis City isn’t going to be at the top of the list, right?

Exclusive to the Wii is Emergency Mayhem, where players will get the chance to stop crime, save lives and put out fires in Crisis City, where the inhabitants can’t seem to keep it together. Racing against the clock in your police cruiser, ambulance or fire engine, there’s going to be citizens-a-plenty requiring emergency assistance. The game’s being compared to Crazy Taxi, which is going back a few years, but international media don’t seem to be able to leapfrog the comparison – this could indicate that we’re in for another tired remake.

Naturally, the game is sectioned off into three areas with a number of missions in each. As you progress, the cityscape will open out, allowing you more areas to drive around. Avoid obstacles, collect power ups, and make sure you deliver your justice, medical treatment or payload of water on time. So far, there doesn’t sound like there’s much more to it than that.

Originally the game was being produced for the PS2, but the developers have nixed the idea and, as I said, are bringing it out for Wii alone. Reports indicate that limited functionality has been incorporated, which is a shame.

Still, it’s been a while since Crazy Taxi, and if you’re not busy stealing ambulances and police cars in GTA, then you might want to watch out for this one. The premise is almost identical but the formula was a winning one in its day and could be due for revival. Younger gamers, especially, might find there’s a bit of fun to be had here.