The Japanese-developed and Disney-published Spectrobes: Origins is Disney’s latest effort to crack the “catch-em-all” market dominated by Pokemon. This Wii title, following a pair of DS titles, continues the adventures of Rallen and Jeena, two excitable youngsters uncovering a mystery and saving the galaxy. Ok, it’s not the most original game, but what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in solid mechanics, fast-paced battles and a story that’s very accessible to a youth audience.

Now, while I generally dislike the phrase “it looks good for a Wii game”, and how its usually used in a dismissive way, but I can’t think of a better way to describe the game than to say it looks really good for a Wii game. Especially for a non-Nintendo-made game. The game uses bright colours and clean textures to create a world that’s not only anime-inspired, but looks cartoonish. In the way that looking cartoonish is good, and it feels completely appropriate for this game. Character models, again with anime-inspired appearances are also bright and colourful, and do a good job of creating a visually appealling cast of characters in the game.

Gameplay in Spectrobes: Origins is generally divided into two categories: exploration and combat. There’s a fairly large world to explore and fight through as either Rallen or Jeena, meeting characters and taking on variety of tried-and-true mission types. As you travel, you will see little glittering sparkles throughout the landscape (the exploration part). Send out your little Spectrobes, and they will unearth minerals, items or even new Spectrobe fossils. While in these environments, be prepared for random and planned enemy encounters (the combat part). When these encounters happen, expect fast-paced button mashing. Lots of fast-paced button mashing. It never reaches the point where you want to throw down the controller, but it does get temptingly close at times. However, you don’t get bogged down in time-consuming battles, so there is a positive trade-off.

As you work your way through the game’s story, you will amass up to 100 Spectrobes, each with different powers and abilities, which can be evolved through combat and exploration. Spectrobes under level 5 can explore each region and uncover buried minerals and other fossils. Beyond level 5, and they be used in combat, and continue to grow more powerful with each level gained. Eventually, they will evolve to their most advanced and destructive form.

In combat, you can have one Spectrobe fighting alongside you, controlled with the Wiimote. With each Spectrobe having different strengths and weaknesses, its important to choose the right sidekick for each encounter, and to balance the development of your team so that you don’t end up needing a powerful Spectrobe with certain powers, and not having one available. To control them in combat, wave the Wiimote up and down, and the Spectrobe will attack your targeted opponent. Side to side, and they will return to your side. Simple as that. Fortunately, or unfortunately.

The best part of Spectrobes: Origins, and what really stands out as unique and fun, is the fossil excavation minigame. When you unearth a Spectrobe fossil, before you use it, you have to excavate the fossil from the surrounding rock. Using a combination of tools, including bombs, drills, lasers and vacuums, you have to clear away the rock without damaging the fossil. To much damage, and you lose the fossil. While you can take your time and do a thorough job, the faster you accomplish the task, the higher the starting level of your new Spectrobe will be. So it is a fast, but careful, rush to clear the fossil and add it to your creature inventory.

Since this game seems to aspire to rival Pokemon, its fair to compare Spectrobes: Origins to the dominant entry in the genre. It definitely brings a stronger science fiction vibe to the table, and while Pokemon is beloved by gamers of all ages, Spectrobes: Origins seems to push for a slighter older, more mature, youth audience. The hack and slash battles are certainly going more engaging than than menu based action. And for anyone who finds Pokemon too cutesy, this game is built for them. However, where as Pokemon has always striven to give each of the collectable characters an identity, I never felt that same way about the Spectrobes. If the Pokemon are sidekicks to be nurtured and raised, the Spectrobes are tools, to be used and discarded. Over time, with some gameplay tweaks and better versions, there’s a chance that this can rival Pokemon, but its not at that level yet.

There were also a couple of minor quibbles I had with this game. Neither are enough to make you stop playing the game entirely, but it is an example of where a little extra effort on presentation can make a world of difference.

One, while Spectrobes had a good amount of well-done voice acting, there are also a number of instances where dialogue is presented in text, and you never quite know which you’ll be getting. Given the ample amount of dialogue already spoken in the game, it would have been nice to see the extra effort taken to make all the dialogue in the game voiced. Going from listening to dialogue to reading it takes me out of the game, and that’s never a good thing.

Second, there are numerous (one might say too many) black load screens in the game. With the vast number of Spectrobes in the game, it seems like it would have been a simple step to utilize those load screens to sell the player on the quantity and uniqueness of those Spectrobes. Whether with concept art, custom images, in-game screencaps, or pencil sketches on napkins, giving players a teasing look at the Spectrobes that are in the game, and giving them something to look forward to as their collection of Spectrobes grows would be beneficial. And as a newcomer to the world of Spectrobes, it would have also provided me with a great opportunity to learn about what I can expect to uncover in the hours ahead. As a I said, an unfortunate missed opportunity.

Spectrobes: Origins is a colourful action-RPG geared towards a preteen audience, and everything from the visuals to the characters to the dialogue are geared to that end. It’s not a title that will likely appeal to a typical gaming audience, though the general shortage of quality RPGs on the Wii could make it something to check out when you feel the urge. It doesn’t do enough to make it a must-play experience, but if you give it a chance, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

A review copy was provided to GamerPops.