All of the items in this game are used by mimicking the desired motion that you would perform in a similar, real life situation. As you progress, you will have several familiar items that you will suddenly discover an alternate use for that you will need to be successful. For example, an umbrella can be opened to slow your descent, used as a poking device, and flipped around so that you can use the hook on the end to grab switches. Thankfully, there are many opportunities throughout the game to experiment with some of the various items and puzzles that you find. In the end, your initial curiosity is often greatly rewarded.

Fortunately, even if you do happen to get stuck, this game also offers you the ability to purchase oracle dolls (basically a hint) and platinum tickets (essentially a redo) with the money that you collect during levels. As you purchase more of these items though, the price of each will continue to rise to help keep players from relying too heavily on their aid. Another slight drawback of using oracle dolls and platinum tickets is that each one will subtract substantial points from your overall score, making it harder to attain your goal of becoming a famous pirate.

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In your quest to become the greatest pirate to ever live you must earn a plethora of Hirame Q points. You start every level with a Hirame Q of zero. As you complete pieces of, or even whole, puzzles, you are given a number of Hirame Q points based on how efficiently you figured it out. If you complete a puzzle perfectly, you will be given the full amount of possible points for it, but if you make a mistake or try to use an incorrect item, you will be given fewer points. At the end of every level, your Hirame Q points are added to your total and your status as a world-renowned pirate will grow accordingly. While this scoring doesn't really affect the gameplay, it is a nice challenge to see just how many points you can earn from each level.

I can't state this enough; so far, this is one of the best Wii games of the year. With its complex gameplay, beautiful graphics, interesting controls, great sense of humor, and user-friendly approach, this is truly a game that will appeal to virtually any gamer. For fans of the point-and-click adventure games and newcomers alike, this is a great title to pick up and have a fun challenge with. Since there are many levels and increasingly difficult puzzles involved in each, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure will keep you satisfied and scratching your head for many hours to come. The amazing boss battles, which definitely need to be experienced to be fully appreciated, are worth the price of admission alone.

By Adam Brown
CCC Freelance Writer