Zack and Wiki: First Impressions

The IGN Wii crew have been talking up Zack and Wiki for a while in their podcasts, on the site, and in the final review. Their enthusiasm swayed me, and I picked up a copy yesterday after trading in a boatload of old games. (I also pre-ordered Super Mario Galaxy.) I've only played the first few levels, but I already agree with their view.

The game is basically a modern take on the old-school puzzle adventure games of the industry's youth. In each level, you have to make your way to the treasure at the end. But an increasing number of obstacles stand in your way, and you have to use the tools given to you in the environment to clear those obstacles. You just have to do it in the right order, or you'll meet an untimely end. It's like the famous Honda commercial in which a chain reaction of falling parts leads you through the ad. To interact with the objects in the environment, you have to use the Wiimote in a way that corresponds to the way you'd hold the object in the real world. Pull a lever by holding the Wiimote upright and pulling it toward you. Turn a crank by moving the Wiimote in a circle perpendicular to your body. Many critics have argued that it's one of the few games so far that requires the Wii's motion-sensing ability.

There's little reflex work so far, though in one level I played I had to scurry up a vine quickly. There are boss battles, though I haven't hit one yet. The storyline is cute but not groundbreaking, and the characters are drawn with an anime-esque cartoon quality and given a wide range of animations. And it's only $40, a rarity for new Wii titles.