To make life easier on you, the readers, I’ve gone ahead and separated out my WiiWare impressions from the Nintendo Media Summit as well. This article focuses on the more artistic games such as Art Style: Rotozoa.
Art Style: Rotozoa (WiiWare)
Release Date: Q2
Publisher: Nintendo
Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Since I didn’t get to play this for an extensive amount of time, I don’t have much to say about this title. I heard many people echoing my sentiment that it felt like fl0w, but with a purpose.
In Rotozoa, your goal is to chain together organisms as you spin and twirl through the primordial ooze. Each chain has its own color that you’ll need to find more of to grow the chain. If you miss, you lose many organisms on your chain and a bit of health. Once you’ve been hit a certain amount of times, it’s game over.
I found that the controls worked perfectly, I was able to move and spin nicely. It was frustrating through once the chains got longer and certain colors would touch the wrong ones, resulting in all my hard work going down the drain.
In this end, if you enjoyed fl0w, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to find a bright point in Rotozoa. This is simply that game, but with more features attached.
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Art Style: light trax (WiiWare)
Release Date: Q2
Publisher: Nintendo
Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
I did not try this game out due to no one being there to show me what was going on. I watched from a distance and wasn’t understanding the goal, so I decided it would be best to simply refrain from commenting on anything else due to this. There are assets to check out however, if you’d like to see it in action.
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And Yet It Moves (WiiWare)
Release Date: Q2
Developer: Broken Rules
Publisher: Broken Rules
Rating: E for Everyone
Usually when you think of a puzzle platformer type of game, simply jumping around and avoiding traps comes to mind. And Yet It Moves turns that notion on its head literally by having players turn the world upside down along with other angles. It’s a refreshing mechanic that I saw once before in a retail Wii title Flip’s Twisted World. That was a 3-D game however. This WiiWare game is completely 2-D with an artsy paper motif behind it that’s quite charming.
You’re in control of a world created by ripped paper. The main character is made of paper and can run and jump. Twisting the world is where this starts to bend your mind. By hitting a button and twisting the Wii Remote one way or another, the world has been turned to whatever degree you’ve placed it at. Many obstacles require the turning and don’t show signs of immediate danger, but as gravity takes effect, objects can come crashing down on your face. Luckily you can stop this by twisting the world and making them fall another way, with keeping in mind your character will do the same if in an open area.
I was able to try out a level that was much later in the game and did horribly. It may take awhile to master moves and twists to get you exactly where you need to go. While not necessarily a negative, it’s good to be aware that finesse will take time.
If you do end up becoming scrapped paper, you’ll end up at the beginning or the latest save point. There are no counters for your lives, so you’ve got as many attempts as you’d like. In the more advanced levels such as the one I tried, this becomes extremely handy.
Although the later levels do ramp up in difficulty, it’s something that might prove satisfying. The charm aside, the gameplay here is fun and gets you thinking.
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Max & the Magic Marker (WiiWare)
Release Date: March 8th
Developer: Press Play
Publisher: Press Play
Rating: E for Everyone
When I first glanced at this, I fell in love instantly with the art style. A quaint, but colorful world, Max & the Magic Marker made me feel in some way like a kid again.
In the Magic Marker, you control Max, a kid that looks to be the younger image of Conan O’Brian. You’ll be jumping from the ground to platforms which seems pretty standard, except you’ll be using a marker to help you reach a few. The simple mechanic of being able to draw a platform and go there works wonderfully. To charge this ability you’ll be collecting ink throughout the entire level. During save points however, it’ll all be sucked away and you’ll need to collect more if you want to use your marker.
Although simplistic, later in the game is where you’ll be tested. The demonstrator decided to show me a level where complex levers were needed in order for Max to safely advance through the particular area. He made it look easy while my brain was still trying to work out how the feat was achieved.
I’ve seen this mechanic before in a Crayola game, however the way this gameplay was implemented was a humongous step up from that. This is one of those titles that knows no age, especially if those in question love platforming. Kids will enjoy the colors and the jumping around while adults may find fun in collecting all the secrets. There’s something for everyone here and one to try out if you get the chance.
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