Cranium Kabookii

 Wii
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Dec 4, 2007
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 5 out of 13
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  1. ErikJ.
    Mar 10, 2008
    1
    Had a party and tried to play this game. The controls on the Wii did NOT work. The game only uses 1 remote (not documented ANYWHERE in the manual,) but if there are ANY other remotes in the area, all of a sudden...one remote is used to run the game, another is used to work a PIECE of a puzzle... animations slow the pace of interaction down to a crawl, and half of the puzzles didn't Had a party and tried to play this game. The controls on the Wii did NOT work. The game only uses 1 remote (not documented ANYWHERE in the manual,) but if there are ANY other remotes in the area, all of a sudden...one remote is used to run the game, another is used to work a PIECE of a puzzle... animations slow the pace of interaction down to a crawl, and half of the puzzles didn't respond in a fashion that allowed it to be played. My guests gave up after 4 rounds of no one scoring anything because they couldn't get the Wiimote to work as described by the game during play. The RED magic glasses don't effectively display the clues on the TV, because the contrast isn't enough..you literally have to squint your eyes to make out the color elements, so any games that use that are basically useless (have a 51 inch HDMI Screen...we should have been able to see things.) Lastly...the instructions that came with this game are by far the WORST I've ever encountered. They don't describe how the Wimote is used, or what is required to actually PLAY the various games, they provide a single sentence that summarizes what the game play is about, but after a few unsuccessful tries with a wiimote that doesn't behave the way the onscreen instructions say it will, is enough to make you want to trash this and mourn the money spent. I can't see how UBISOFT could make a great game lik Rayman's Ravid Rabbids, whose execution is flawless and controls are excellent, and then produce this piece of garbage. DONT BUY IT.… Expand
  2. GrouchoM.
    Dec 26, 2007
    2
    I bought this game for my mother as a gift for Christmas, being that she is a huge fan of Cranium games and is also recently grown fond of the Wii. Christmas day we sat down to play and we were all dissapointed in it. The game itself *tries* so very hard to capture what makes its tabletop predecessor so fun, but fails miserably. The controls were frustrating, and at times completely I bought this game for my mother as a gift for Christmas, being that she is a huge fan of Cranium games and is also recently grown fond of the Wii. Christmas day we sat down to play and we were all dissapointed in it. The game itself *tries* so very hard to capture what makes its tabletop predecessor so fun, but fails miserably. The controls were frustrating, and at times completely broken. There is far too much animation and unnecessary dead time between rounds, which leaves people sitting back staring at the screen dumbfounded. This is a game that is much better left on the table, and off of the LCD.… Expand
  3. DougL
    May 23, 2008
    3
    UGH... I have never been so frustrated in my life. There was one game where the controls just did not work, and i don't mean it was inconsistent or glitchy i mean NADA NOTHING ZERO movement no matter what you did. This had potential to be and ok game 6-6.5 but I was ready to snap the game in half. OH and YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST 4 PLAYERS, which is fine but not clear from the UGH... I have never been so frustrated in my life. There was one game where the controls just did not work, and i don't mean it was inconsistent or glitchy i mean NADA NOTHING ZERO movement no matter what you did. This had potential to be and ok game 6-6.5 but I was ready to snap the game in half. OH and YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST 4 PLAYERS, which is fine but not clear from the indications that only 1 controller is used. SAVE your money aggravating and I bought it for $20 bucks. I have my Wii on component and the glasses worked fine and we had no probs with other controllers just the one game that did not work at all.… Expand
  4. K.P.
    Jan 2, 2009
    3
    Awkward, I'm glad I rented it. Naturally the decoder glasses were missing from the rental rendering the game virtually unplayable. Eventually we found a red plastic wineglass that did the trick. Handy if you like hte game and lose yours, but the controls are silly, it's slow to load and is much better in its original incarnation.
  5. BradyM.
    Dec 18, 2007
    1
    This game is awful. Controls are lacking. Gameplay is unlike the board game. I'm a fan of Cranium, but this is hardly an authentic game.

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best Wii Game of 2007
63
#63 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Cheat Code Central
    52
    As a video game, Cranium Kabookii offers an experience that can't even match that of its low-tech predecessor. The poor control and repetitive gameplay coupled with the underwhelming graphics and sound make for an experience that's better left off of the video game console and back on to your family's dining-room table.
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  2. IGN
    55
    Cranium Kabookii is a good idea taken down by some questionable execution and the eventual realization that not only is the board game a better value, but it's just more fun.
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  3. VideoGamer
    70
    It's totally devoid of game modes other than the core team-based play, so forget about it unless you plan to play with a group of friends fairly regularly. If you do, then this party game offers enough new ideas that aren't seen in every other family Wii title to make it worth adding to your collection.
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