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Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure Preview for the Nintendo Wii

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure Preview for the Nintendo Wii

Avast ye Scurvy Dogs! It’s Another Pirate-themed Game!

August 24, 2007 – It’s undeniable that pirates have become a pop culture phenomenon over the past few years. From One Piece to Pirates of the Caribbean to Sid Meyer’s Pirates!, there’s been a mass overload of all things pirate in recent memory. And because the market has been so flooded with all of these different buccaneer variations, it’s difficult to separate what has pirate potential and what is just leftover plunder. And though you may have been privy to your share of pirate media, the new Wii title, Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure, looks like it might represent the pirate sub-genre well.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure screenshot

At its heart, Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure is a simple game that encourages you to take on the role of young Zack (who is assisted by flying monkey-friend Wiki) as he strives to discover the secret of Barbaros’ treasure and the riches it is said to provide. And how exactly do you take on this task? By solving environmental puzzles, of course! Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure looks to follow the same gameplay pattern set forth by some of the more recent Kirby games with an engaging yet accessible adventure-puzzle experience. However, it also promises to include more complex and engaging play as the play goes on with more dynamic battle scenarios and brain teasing puzzles.

One of the first things you’ll notice about Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure is its visual style. While it could be said that it draws some inspiration from anime-stylized characters, I think Zack and Wiki has a style all its own. From the trademark Japanese-inspired eyes to the oversized limbs, the characters that comprise this game really speak to its uniqueness. Environments also have a certain trademark style all their own. The game is comprised of seven different themed worlds, and each one has its own set of creatures and scenery. Each area also features a distinct color palate, which admittedly is nothing new, but is nonetheless an extra detail that adds visual credibility to the game. And since the game featured graphics that show in up to 480p resolution (the highest yet for a Wii game), you can bet that the visuals will really stand out among other Wii titles.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure screenshot

So now that you are totally impressed by Zack and Wiki’s overall look, what about the gameplay? Since the theme of the game is all about exploration, the control scheme tries to mirror that. You’ll use your Wii-mote to move your character around, and utilize an onscreen cursor to interact with items on-screen. And while this is a somewhat simplistic “point-and-click” type of control scheme, it best facilitates the overall aim of the game. You’ll have to be very observant and pay attention to detail to achieve success in this game. And though the control scheme is not the most revolutionary thing you’ve ever seen, it’s the idea behind the controls that is the real driving force behind this game.

But fear not, action junkies! Even though a good amount of this game will be utilizing your keen powers of observation and problem solving, there will be a good amount of action involved. Each stage will feature different enemies to defeat, as well as final bosses that test your brawn in addition to your brain! And you’ll have special Wii-tailored moves at your disposal to help you get rid of those who would stand in your way.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure screenshot

Overall, Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure looks like the first true pirate hit for the Wii. It seems to have all the right moves for anyone who appreciates a good adventure or a thoughtful puzzle-type game. And when you also consider the fact the game looks absolutely brilliant, it looks like you can’t lose! So get ready for a new pirate adventure to set sail this fall on your Wii!

Features:

  • Make full use of the unique Wii Remote controller to explore and interact with the environment.
  • Seven themed stages each including multiple sub-areas.
  • Jungle ruins, ice temple, airship, ancient castle and more.
  • More than 20 sub-areas to explore.
  • Variety of distinct bosses.
  • More than 35 enemies to encounter and outwit.
  • More than 80 objects to manipulate.
  • More than 500 items to search for and collect.
  • More than 40 hours of gameplay.

  • Can You Dig It?

    May 16, 2007 – Pop quiz, hotshot: you’re attacked by a giant centipede – what do you do? Simple. You grab your hovering monkey-thing and shake him until he turns into a bell and the centipede turns into a saw. That’s lesson number one in Capcom’s Wii-exclusive “Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure.”

    Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure screenshot

    Capcom recently unveiled this latest exploration into the possibilities of the Wii-mote, prompting comparisons to Gobliiins and other puzzle-solving adventures into cuteness.

    The player takes the part of Zack, a would-be pirate whose treasure-hunting skills need some serious work. His quest for greater piratical skill leads him to a remote island where, legend has it, the golden hoard of Captain Barbaros lies. His only companion on his search for lucre is named Wiki. Wiki requires a bit of explanation…

    He’s a yellow monkey with giant ears and some sort of propellers on his back which allow him to hover like a helicopter. That’s not even the weird part. When Zack picks him up and shakes him, Wiki turns into a large bell. This bell has the power to change objects and animals in the environment into useful items. The aforementioned centipede which morphed into a saw can be used to cut down a tree. This tree becomes a bridge which allows Zack and Wiki to advance to the next, hopefully treasure-laden area. I’m sure this makes perfect sense to the average 12-year-old in Japan.

    Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure screenshot

    The visual aesthetic lies firmly in the tradition of the Pacific Rim, with characters and environments that resemble Katamari Damacy as much as Ratchet and Clank. The world of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure is so shiny and bulky it looks as if it was made entirely out of gummy. It’s no coincidence that much of the treasure Zack and Wiki uncover is edible sweets. Even the bad guys are pretty adorable. Certain skull-faced baddies look more like little Sanrio Glenn Danzigs than actual threats to life and limb. As light as the game is on plot, preview audiences have praised the script’s sense of humor. It’s all awfully cute, but cuteness hasn’t stood in the Wii’s way yet. In fact, one might say the general appeal of the console is its accessibility and, well, how darn cute it is. The playful visual style sets the tone for the game itself.

    The primary purpose of the gameplay is to allow the player a slew of new ways to use the Wii-mote. Each puzzle requires a different manipulation of the wand, sometimes literally turning the traditional use of the Wii-mote upside-down. What worked in one scenario may not work in the next, and Capcom claims there will be about 500 interactive items over approximately 20 levels. Industry professionals had a chance to see Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure at a recent preview in San Francisco. The game received high marks for innovative use of the Wii-mote in solving puzzles, the visual style, and the interface in general. A few reviewers have complained that incorporating the Nunchuk would help gameplay considerably, as manipulation of objects in Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure with just the Wii-mote can be a bit unwieldy. It’s a matter of time before the player figures out just what moves to make with the Wii-mote, and patience and persistence are the hallmarks of puzzle game fans anyway. While discovering new moves for the Wii-mote may sound a bit like occupational therapy to some, the trial-and-error process is as important a part of the game as the puzzles themselves. Chances are if you bought the Wii, you have at least some interest in exploring new ways to use it.

    Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure screenshot

    This is, after all, the primary draw of the Wii. It’s arguably the biggest single shift in computer interface since the introduction of the mouse and the GUI. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure represents a gentle push forward in the possibilities of the Wii, if only strictly in terms of how the Wii-mote is manipulated. Capcom has publicly dedicated itself in recent weeks to not only changing their focus from Japan-only and other exclusive releases, but also investing in unique ideas rather than chasing trends. Their hope for Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure is that its heightened interactivity and novel use of the Wii-mote will advance the genre as a whole. This is certainly a refreshing change of pace from the big-budget, follow-the-leader aesthetic of the contemporary video game industry. After all, a game that is primarily devoted to the search for treasure and candy isn’t going to fit the traditional mode.

    As cute as Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure is, it has generated lots of enthusiasm from gamers of all ages. Some are already calling it the sleeper hit of 2007. Between its innovative use of the Wii-mote, its slightly twisted take on the puzzle genre, and its fun, crisp visuals, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure might be the next big thing for the Wii.

    Features:

  • Make full use of the unique Wii Remote controller to explore and interact with the environment.
  • Seven themed stages each including multiple sub-areas.
  • Variety of distinct bosses.
  • More than 35 enemies to encounter and outwit.
  • More than 80 objects to manipulate.
  • More than 500 items to search for and collect.

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