The same, unfortunately, can't be said of the nuts and bolts of the game.
WALL-E is a 3D Platformer and inherits all the blessings and curses of the genre. It's a shame that a more creative approach wasn't used to bring the magic of
WALL-E across on the Wii. Considering that the big draw of the movie was its unique vision, why not take the game in a similar direction and avoid the platforming doldrums? The "why nots" attached to
WALL-E for Wii could unfortunately fill a room, so we'll only focus on the most problematic.
Apart from mechanics and control issues, the biggest letdown is the lack of interesting activities in each stage. Finding items hidden throughout the level will open up secret levels or allow you to access extras mentioned before from the main menu. There are clues through each stage as to what you'll need to do to reach the goal. The "BnL" signs scattered through the level are meant for interaction, and will trigger a platform or change in the environment. Other items called Wallops are scattered through each stage and help keep WALL-E on track, in addition to opening up new content. There is a connection to the movie in that WALL-E can gather trash and form cubes that are then generally thrown at the BnL signs to move forward. There are different cubes used in different ways, which could have formed the basis for some fun puzzles. Instead, the layout of each stage is so simple that once you find a cube receptacle or machine that produces cubes, it's just a matter of tracking down the other half. The whole WALL-E experience feels like a giant treasure hunt, but the tedious kind rather than something you're excited about.
The single-player EVE levels are much more fun to play, with a chance to fly around exploring, racing, and blasting objects. The controls are more manageable than for WALL-E, and the more open feel allows for less frustration. There are frustrating aspects to the EVE levels, when it feels on occasion like you are just an observer, due to bad pacing and poor controls. In some areas while playing as EVE, it almost feels like the game is playing itself, which is a weird and unpleasant sensation. The multiplayer options are nice if you buy into the overall game, or they may be the redeeming feature for gamers that are otherwise disappointed in the main modes. Co-op multiplayer is nice, and players get the chance to assume the role of either WALL-E or EVE, and make use of different costumes unlocked in the single-player game. There is even a FPS game embedded here where you use EVE's blaster to take out enemies on-screen and can play for points against up to four players. Support for the Wii Blaster is included, if you are reaaallly serious about maximizing an otherwise small part of the overall game.