A true gem on the Wii
The Wii has looked for killer apps, and has found several of them... almost exclusively from Nintendo. Third-party support for the Wii has been good, but for many Wii owners, it could be a lot better.
But one third-party developer, Capcom, has risen to the challenge, and no game defines their commitment to doing things right on the Wii than Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure. It's one of the best Wii titles ever, and if Super Mario Galaxy hadn't came out last year, it'd have been the best Wii game of 2007, without question.
Capcom's killer app features over 100 different items scattered across multiple stages, with 30 different kinds of enemies and bosses awaiting you and 500-plys treasures waiting to be found. Though it is supposed to be 30 hours of game play, it feels shorter than that, perhaps because time seems to fly when you're playing this game. There's only one mode of game play, which is completing the story mode, but there's plenty to explore there. Other features like a hint system will help out players when they might get stuck, though there's a small monetary price to be paid for each hint.
Zack and Wiki requires only the Wii remote, and at its heart, is a combination of point-and-click game play like you might find in Sam and Max or Monkey Island and puzzle-based adventuring. Most levels have one main way to beat the level, though a good portion of the levels have alternate ways to reach the end. The key is figuring out which way is the best way to beat each level, often through trial and error. While this might frustrate gamers looking for instant gratification, it's a great experience that makes you think and plan out a strategy, something games don't seem to do much of anymore. Each level has a maximum points score, which is determined based on the path you take and the number of attempts you need to get it right. The game gets plenty difficult in the later stages, but it's just a bit shorter than I would've hoped.
Another key game play element is changing creatures and enemies in the area into items you can use. You do this by using Wiki and the Wii remote. When you run into a critter, you can shake your Wii remote back and forth to have Wiki transform into a bell. Within a few seconds, the critter near by will turn into a useful item, whether it be a bomb, a saw or a grabber. Sometimes, you'll also have to transform items them back into their animal forms to progress through a level, too. This transformation feature is an excellent and unique addition to the game that makes Zack and Wiki challenging.
As mentioned before, everything is controlled with the Wii remote. Zack's movements are done point-and-click style, using the remote as a pointer to direct where the wannabe pirate should go. However, it's not just in that manner that the Wii remote is used. Zack and Wiki also uses the Wii remote with different items and interaction points. At these points, you'll need to use the Wii remote like a saw, a crank, or other simple items in order to make your way through each level. These movements fit the items being used, and they're pretty easy to pull off, meaning that both casual and hardcore gamers can pick up and play this title.
As far as Wii games go, Zack and Wiki is among one of the better looking games, but the art style of this title is absolutely phenomenal. Character design is among the best I've seen on the Wii, and this title presents you with several memorable characters that you're not likely to forget anytime soon. Voice acting is at a minimum with plenty of text-based conversations, much like in the Mario and Zelda series, but it works well here. The soundtrack also fits the game's pirate and exploration themes well, which only adds to the overall experience.
Considering that there are multiple ways to go through levels, and that these sometimes will net you more points, there's plenty of replay value in Zack and Wiki. Add in the fact that some levels - like the now-infamous ice boss battle - have randomly-generated elements, as well as the game's increasing difficulty, and you'll probably be playing Zack and Wiki for quite some time.
If you own a Wii, you must buy this game. It is the only title I can think of that even came close to taking the Wii Game of the Year title away from Super Mario Galaxy in 2007, and it is still the best third-party effort on the Wii to date. Zack and Wiki might have a goofy sounding name, but it's well worth your time.
Pros: Fantastic art style, great story, immersive game play, great use of the Wii remote, a decent amount of potential replay value... what doesn't this game do right?
Cons: A bit shorter than I had hoped for on length, but really, that's the only thing I could find to complain about.
