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One of the great things about the Wii is that it’s a great system for light gun style games and there’s numerous peripherals available to help make you feel like badass even if you’re just pointing a piece of plastic at a TV. I like light-gun games and the Wii allows me to enjoy them without having to leave my house. That’s the best part. It may not replicate what you might experience with an actual arcade machine perfectly but I can shoot bad guys, monsters, zombies, and aliens in my very own home without losing any money in the process. The Wii does feature several light gun arcade game ports but also original titles like Reload. I’ve also seen it called Reload: Target Down. I can’t find a lot of information on the game but I know it was published by Mastiff and released for Wii in 2010 and on Steam in 2015. For this review, I played the Wii version on a Wii U. I do own the Steam version and have played it before but I played it with a mouse and where’s the fun in that? I have read that it is possible to get the Steam version working with a light gun and I do own a Sinden Light Gun but didn’t try setting it up because it’s just so much easier to pop in the Wii version.
Reload is a target shooting gallery and there is no narrative. The career mode consists of numerous levels with different weapons and requirements. The game does support up to four players and is a pretty non-violent shooter. If you’re looking to shoot bad guys or monsters and splatter their brains and blood all over the environments, then look elsewhere. Reload has you primarily shooting wooden targets for points. It also features skeet shooting. On the surface, it may not look like much but it’s actually not a terrible game. The replay value comes from trying for better scores and multiplayer and big draw here is the light gun style gameplay. Without that, it’s just not as fun. As mentioned before, I have played the Steam version with a mouse and while I still enjoyed my time with it, I had a much better time with the Wii version. So if you’re going to play the Steam version, I would recommend also getting a light gun that will work with it.
I’m just going to come right out and say it. I don’t consider Reload to be Wii shovelware. It doesn’t have super high production values but it’s competent at what it does. It’s easy to pick up and play and the shooting actually feels pretty good and I did play using the Wii Zapper. Guns sound loud and powerful and when targets are destroyed, it actually sounds like wood being shattered and broken and you’ll see wood pieces fly into the air. The goal of each level is to score as many points as possible. Destroying multiple targets in succession grants you a combo which means more points and will keep increasing until the combo is lost. That’s the key to high scores. You can also score bonus points by destroying multiple targets with one shot.
One of the great things about Reload is that it’s an accessible game. It’s not arcade hard or anything and should appeal to anyone that likes to shoot stuff. The career mode does get more challenging as you progress through it and much of the challenge comes down to how well you can aim and react. And I learned just how bad my aim is during the sniper levels. The game teaches you some actual shooting techniques like the double tap for example and you’ll have to shoot targets at varying distances and from different positions. While target shooting may not sound like a whole lot of fun for a video game, Reload does try to mix things up by putting you in different locations and scenarios. You’ll move through a village and industrial area and have to shoot the targets that pop-up. Several levels have civilian or hostage targets that you must avoid shooting, one level requires you to only shoot designated targets, and another has you shooting mortar shells and other explosives. There’s actually quite a few levels on offer. It’s not a super long game but it can provide several hours of fun.
Each level plays out in rounds with multiple waves per round. Some levels are longer than others and you never have to worry about your health or dying. But you do have to be mindful of your score, civilian targets, and targets that shoot paintballs. Reaching certain scores does reward you with medals and you need to earn certain medals to progress. Shooting civilian targets will result in a score penalty and destroying too many or getting hit with too many paintballs results in a game over and you’ll have to restart the level. While some of the levels are challenging, none of them ever felt frustrating or impossible. Acquiring platinum medals will require practice but just getting through the career isn’t all that difficult. You can also unlock badges which are like achievements and items like glasses and camouflage that grant bonuses.
In addition to the career levels are bonus levels. You can shoot fruit and junk and there’s even a Simon Says level. But the best bonus levels are assault and hostage rescue and you can select what weapon you want to use. The game features numerous weapons including different pistols, rifles, shotguns, and a grenade launcher, among others. You’ll shoot targets at shooting ranges, shoot houses, and various outdoor locations. The environments are nothing special but are distinct enough to feel different and most of the time, you’re stationary. In the levels where you do move, it’s always automatic so all you have to do is aim, shoot, and reload when necessary.
Visually, Reload isn’t the greatest looker. The environments are distinct but also kind of bland. But then again, I was more focused on the targets so the drab locales aren’t that big of a deal to me. The guns look pretty good, have great audiovisual feedback, some come with different attachments like scopes, and the reload animations are solid. As for the audio, guns sound loud and powerful and the shooting is backed by mostly generic rock tunes. Although, I do like the music heard at the main menu. On the technical side, the game ran pretty smooth for the most part. I only noticed the frame rate dip in a few levels and encountered no major issues.
I had a great time with Reload. It’s not the best light gun style game out there but it is a fun non-violent option that provides some great shooting action. It’s designed to be a target shooter and that’s exactly what it delivers. It’s easy to pick up and play, can be enjoyed with friends, and most importantly, it’s fun. There’s no swearing or gore or any kind of mature content. It’s just guns and plenty of targets to shoot. It’s an arcade-style shooting gallery. I think what I’m most surprised about is that it doesn’t feel like a cheap piece of shit. The Wii does have its share of shovelware titles but I don’t consider Reload to be one of them. However, I can see it as the kind of game you might find in one of those five dollar or under ten dollar bins in the store with other games nobody plays because they are most likely crap. Reload would be one of the few in that bin that’s actually worth playing. It’s not the greatest game ever made or anything but it doesn’t feel like it was slapped together just to earn a quick buck. It’s competent, fun, and has a good amount of replay value.
I do recommend Reload. I recommend it if you’re looking for a fun light gun style game and enjoy shooting gallery gameplay because that’s exactly what you get with this. If you want the Steam version, I highly recommend getting a light gun that can be configured to work with the game. It’s the best way to experience it. If that sounds like too much work, and you own a Wii or Wii U, then just nab the Wii version. As of this review, I found several cheap copies on eBay. If you like to shoot stuff and don’t mind a more non-violent offering, definitely check out Reload.