Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is a nostalgia-driven affair for adults and a fun sports compilation featuring iconic cartoon characters for children. Similar to past games like Tiny Toon Adventures: ACME All-Stars for the Sega Genesis, Wacky World of Sports features your favorite Looney Tunes characters gearing up for some goofy sports action. While the controls can sometimes be just a tad bit too stiff, the game winds up being a lot of fun in local multiplayer and appeals to all ages.
The first of the four sports included is basketball, which is comprised of two-on-two play. There are some pretty fantastic dunk animations, and the game really looks surprisingly sharp in general, but this is probably the most one-dimensional of the four. The action isn’t fast enough to play like NBA Jam, and it becomes a bit too easy to just get the ball under the net and dunk repeatedly. Shooting feels pretty good, though, so if you can enter into a gentleman’s agreement with who you’re playing, then you can have some more fun out of the mode, although it is the weakest of the bunch.
Soccer has more depth to it and features the most players of any of the sports as they are three-on-three games. I had the most success when doing rapid kicks right after a pass, although aiming the shots can be a bit tricky at first. I also wound up having about equal success passing into the opponent’s goal as I did taking actual shots, which is a bit odd. There are some really great special shot animations, though, and these take some actual skill to pull off, as you have to have space from foes and nail a quick-time event.
My favorite of the four included sports is golf, which is a pretty full-fledged arcade golfing game. Featuring a timed shot mechanic similar to Hot Shots Golf, there’s a good bit of depth and strategy here, especially since there are some cool shortcuts on some of the holes. Putting is a bit simple compared to other golfing games, which is good for kids, but this was the sport that seemed like it could be a game all by itself. I had a really good time going up against other players and the A.I.
Finally, tennis — which can be played in singles and doubles — is also available. I was a bit let down by the special meter in this mode as it just slows down time, allowing you to get in position rather than doing some over-the-top special shots like in Mario Tennis. However, the fundamentals are rather solid, and the in-game power-ups give matches a good flair.
Beyond the main Ultimate Cup mode, which has you competing in all of the sports, there are a few other modes. Sports can be played individually, and there are multiple levels to unlock for each, but the main meat is a series of sports-specific challenges. These tasks aren’t usually overly difficult but they can get a bit tricky and require you to play in certain ways. It’s a fun diversion that adds a lot of extra replayability.
Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports Review: Final Verdict
A rather charming sports compilation that visually captures the charm of the cartoons, Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is a lot of fun for the whole family. While not all of the sports are as good as its golfing mode, they’re all pretty fun and have value. Kids will find a lot to like here, and parents get to feel like a kid for a bit, so it’s a family game done right.
SCORE: 7.5/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7.5 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital PS5 copy for our Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports review. Reviewed on version 1.001.000.
