Step right up, folks, to a fun but creepy big-top game.

See gameplay video for Go Play Circus Star.

There have been so many bad or clone collections of minigames for the Wii. But Go Play Circus Star bucks the trend by serving up a generally compelling bunch of minigames that let you feel some of the tantalising excitement of being a performer under the big top.

Here, you'll do everything from avoiding pie-throwing monkeys to flying through the air like a human cannonball to walking a circus tightrope. You'll use the Wii remote or the balance board to, say, balance on a tightrope, even when the wind tries to blow you off.

This circus game isn't perfect since the graphics are sometimes muddy and jaggy, and the syncing of characters' lips with audio is almost always off. However, it does an admirable job of giving you a true circus experience, perhaps due to some savvy use of the Wii balance board. But even if you don't have the balance board, you be submersed in a world of crazy games where you yearn for audience approval as you climb up the ranks to worldwide fame.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this circus-themed compilation of minigames is equally fun when using the Wii remote or the Wii balance board. The characters can be a little quirky and even creepy, but nothing that'll scare the targeted audiance of anyone who's 10 years old or older.

Families can talk about questions like these: Do you like using the balance board or the Wii remote better? Why? Which of the games do you find most challenging and why? Is playing on the Wii more fun alone or with others? Did you find moving up the ranks from tent to stadium enjoyable or did you like playing to the crowds in the tent better? Why?

Genre: Video Games - Mini Games Release date: 6/23/2009 Platform: Nintendo Wii Online enabled: No ESRB rating: E10+ Explanation: Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes Price: $29.99

Reviewed by Harold Goldberg.

See more about Go Play Circus Star at Common Sense Media.