Metareview: Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii)

88 Comments by Ludwig Kietzmann Oct 24th 2007 9:09PM
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Adventure, Puzzle, Metareviews

Once you get past its generic and overly long title, So-and-So & Friend: Quest for the Something Or Other, you'll come to discover that Capcom's latest Wii endeavor sees them gracefully leaping across the pitfalls, mires and traps so many third-party developers have encountered on the road to Wii mega success. If the $40 point-and-click-ish adventures of a pint-sized pirate kid and his flying golden monkey (!!) fail to melt the block of ice in your chest, perhaps these glowing reviews will:

IGN (90/100): "The end product is one of those welcomed surprises – an unpredictably top-quality undertaking whose winning marriage of sometimes-genius environmental puzzles and beautiful graphics will suck you in. It also perfectly encapsulates what I always hope for but seldom see from third parties: an original Wii project that really makes the most of the console."
Gamespot (85/100): "Zack & Wiki is one of those sink-or-swim kind of games, the sort of thing that is conceptually so offbeat that if the execution isn't spot-on, the whole thing could drown. Good thing this one's got water wings. Essentially a puzzle game pretending to be a more traditional adventure, Zack & Wiki is the sort of weirdly engaging game that, dare we say it, probably could only really be done on the Wii hardware."
Game Informer (82.5/100): "In the Wii's expansive gutter of shoddy third-party ports and minigame garbage, Capcom is showing that it's possible to make something original and fun. I just hope that the presentation doesn't kill Zack & Wiki's chances."

Tags: Capcom, Zack-and-Wiki, ZackandWiki

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Koopaknight29 - (Nintendo Loyalist): Oct 24th 2007; 9:19PM

Looks great. Wish I could pick it up though. My priority is saving up for Super Mario Galaxy...

I am so poor... :(

Foetoid: Oct 24th 2007; 9:20PM

That sucks only having the option for 1 game. I'm getting Super Mario Galaxy, Crysis, Metroid Prime 3 and Call of Duty 4...all released in November.

Fox318: Oct 24th 2007; 9:25PM

@Foetoid

Unless your PC can run Crysis, get COD4.

Joshua: Oct 24th 2007; 9:35PM

I know what you mean.

I think I'll ask for this game for Christmas, though.

plyx: Oct 25th 2007; 12:47AM

I could have sworn Metroid Prime 3 was already out.

Mighty Shockwave: Oct 24th 2007; 9:21PM

You know, I previously thought that this game would be a wimpy cash-in title from Capcom. Now that I see it getting stellar scores, I think I'll make this game a buy for me. Reminds a little of Monkey Island, which is a compliment to the highest degree for those of us who have played such a masterpiece.

Steve: Oct 25th 2007; 12:15AM

I was expecting it to be like Monkey Island, but after playing it for a while, it feels a lot more like Leisure Suit Larry 2 (another of my favorite adventure games ever). Mainly because the humor is rather goofy but sometimes really clever, and because of all the dying.

I haven't seen an adventure game this punishing since 1990. It's so old-school and inventive, one of those games that makes me feel like it was made just to satisfy my obscure tastes.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Oct 25th 2007; 11:41AM

I picked this game up late last night (because I saw great reviews yesterday), but I didn't get a chance to play it.

Now I'm excited.

SoxFan13: Oct 24th 2007; 9:23PM

After all the attention and hype generated by Cassamassina, how does this only get a 9 from IGN? I don't really care what it gets, but I would have thought it would have gotten a 9.5 or 10 the way they talked and rallied behind the game.

CaptainAmericaX: Oct 24th 2007; 10:24PM

Thats Matt and IGN Wii for yah...

HYPE, HYPE, AND MORE HYPE...

And then they leave you haning with this random score...

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 24th 2007; 10:34PM

...are you serious? You're really going to complain?

My god, what the hell is wrong with you?

SoulBlade: Oct 24th 2007; 10:55PM

what Ska just said.

SoxFan13: Oct 25th 2007; 6:48AM

I'm not complaining. Like I said in my first post, I don't care what score it gets. I was just expecting perfection or something the way they built it up. If you listen to the IGN podcast with Matt and Bozon, they are usually fairly straightforward with their thoughts about games (in other words, I don't think he's a Wii apologist). So, I figured when they really went crazy hyping this, I thought it was the new mario franchise or something!

AstroZombie: Oct 25th 2007; 9:01AM

They were hyping it up because it's a brilliant little game, and they didn't want to see it wind up as another Psychonauts or BG&E. Those games aren't perfect either, but they're well worth playing, and yet so few have given them a chance. Regardless, a 9 is by no means a bad score, and, having picked up the game yesterday, I'm inclined to agree with the number, thus far.

t_m: Oct 25th 2007; 1:13PM

9 is a sucky score. My personal policy is that any game that gets under 9.6 isn't worth bothering with.

Matt B: Oct 24th 2007; 9:23PM

I hope that people looking forward to this will enjoy it.

There have been lots of coverage on reviews on the 'stiq lately.

Ultimately, it boils down to what interests you...reviewers be damned.

If I relied on reviews, I would have never bought LAIR. I find it frustrating at times, but my 7 year old girl doesn't. She doesn't know any better so she adapts. I think she is better than me at the game.

Bottom line is, if you find it fun, why do you care what others think?

bm: Oct 25th 2007; 2:15AM

That doesn't say much. Remember how we all used to love games when we were kids that turned out to be complete crap, looking back on it? =p

Fox318: Oct 24th 2007; 9:24PM

Wow, a good original third party Wii game.

Good to see the Wii finally getting some games.

playwhutyalike: Oct 24th 2007; 9:24PM

C'mon the Wii doesn't have any good games.....

Oh man, I totally almost kept a straight face.

Geist: Oct 24th 2007; 11:15PM

Yeah what the fuck is this Metroid Prime 3 game I keep playing? It's TERRIBLE. Awesome controls, story, and classic gameplay without a shitload of backtracking? Where's my mindless FPS-ing, that's where the quality is at!

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Oct 25th 2007; 11:43AM

You're name makes me want a port of Geist for Wii. It was a decent shooter, but it could be much better with Wii controls.

Razorlution: Oct 24th 2007; 9:27PM

This one looks interesting, but its good to see developers making great original titles like this. Maybe I'll give it a try, the price is right

J-Guy: Oct 24th 2007; 9:35PM

I hope this game is a turning point for Wii development. No more shoddy ports with no enhancments (I like Godfather: Blackhand Edition though, sue me), we want full-fledged, new IPs.

Rubang B (NDF - Heart): Oct 24th 2007; 10:12PM

I like Blackhand too. Nothing like grabbing one of those classy dames and smacking 'em around a bit, and then when they say "I'll do anything you want!" you can just snap their neck! The Wii is for kiddiez though?

DonWii: Oct 24th 2007; 10:53PM

Same. Blackhand had really good controls. Though, I really don't think it was worth $50(I got mine for $30 because of a giftcard)

SoulBlade: Oct 24th 2007; 11:29PM

I'll probably pick up Okami...

Ants: Oct 25th 2007; 12:39AM

i like the wii's godfather too!

haha! zack and wiki got a better score than Rachet and clank from Gamespot's review!

i_hate_mtv: Oct 24th 2007; 9:35PM

I want this game and Manhunt 2. I hope they do well at retail, because it could improve Wii's image with 3rd parties.

If this makes me sound like a fanboy, then there's nothing I can say except 'guilty as charged'.

Spastic_Hobo: Oct 24th 2007; 9:37PM

All of you fuckers who own a Wii better buy this game. Don't let it go the way of Beyond Good & Evil or Eternal Darkness and be lost to obscurity, only to be appreciated after its too late.

Psaakyrn: Oct 24th 2007; 9:42PM

Given everything, Okami is probably a better example... since it is by the same company.

DonWii: Oct 24th 2007; 9:47PM

Except CAPCOM can't port it to the Wii to try to make some money on it... LOL.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!): Oct 25th 2007; 1:23AM

Done and done. I did my part!

I just have to play it. Wednesdays are day when I nerd out, though, so I'll probably not even get to play it until tomorrow.

DonWii: Oct 24th 2007; 9:44PM

Sadly, all signs point to retail disappointment.

Almost no stores had the game in stock today. A lot of them don't even have shipments planned for it. Others have the game coming in next week or later.

It took me a while to find one Gamestop that actually had the game, and they only received 5 copies.

This may go the way of Katamari, where there was a big unexpected demand but no supply for about a month. OR, the delay in stock will cause it to be overwhelmed by titles like BWii/GH3/SMG in the next few weeks.

Damn you Retailers.

DonWii: Oct 24th 2007; 9:45PM

Oh Yeah, and the game is AWESOME.

Nick: Oct 24th 2007; 9:47PM

The game is back ordered on Capcom.com. That's a good sign...

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!): Oct 25th 2007; 2:11AM

Tell me about it! I went to 3 different stores today looking for it. I finally had to break down and buy it at wal-Mart, which I didn't want to do because games bought at Wal-Mart don't show up on the NPD, IIRC.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Oct 25th 2007; 11:46AM

I got mine at Wal Mart, for free (Gift Cards FTW!!!) I was thinking the same thing about NPD samfish, but then I remembered that NPD extrapolates for wal-mart sales.

IN any case, capcom will know how many sell, and thats whats most important.

Shagittarius: Oct 25th 2007; 11:57AM

OMG you guys are insane. Didnt want to buy a game from somplace beacuse it doesn't show up on the sales charts. Seriously thats the most incredible act of Fanboyism I have ever heard of. Good lord.

MD: Oct 24th 2007; 9:53PM

Capcom games shipped late; I had Phoenix Wright preordered and my GS didn't get it in until early evening. They received all new releases from other companies much earlier in the day. I heard later that, specifically, the Capcom games were delayed by some bad weather in NY. Dunno how true that is, but I jetted up to GS around 6pm for Phoenix, and they had just opened up half a dozen Zack & Wikis as well.

Yes, we did bring that home as well. It is gooood. Buy it. The wii-mote uses are spot on; my only caveat is to really fiddle with your TV's lighting. Some spots are quite dark and you need to really squint to find what you need to do.

Geist: Oct 24th 2007; 11:18PM

I completely recommend importing Phoenix Wright from Japan (though I suppose it's too late now). Comes with both English and Japanese languages, and it's not some shitty translation either! My friend got it like a month or something ago, I'm borrowing it now. Awesome.

Psaakyrn: Oct 25th 2007; 4:23AM

Not always, I know my younger brother got MMZ2 2 days early, and in Singapore of all places.

playwhutyalike: Oct 24th 2007; 9:57PM

So, um, I can't believe I'm asking this but....

Has anyone heard from Phattie or Shags? I just need somebody to tell me what a retard I am for owning a Wii.

Or maybe I'm craving another minigame joke?

Aw forget it.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 24th 2007; 10:35PM

shaggi is still around. But I am hoping to god that joystiq finally did the right thing and banned phattie's dumbass.

DonWii: Oct 24th 2007; 10:49PM

I second phatties' ban

SoulBlade: Oct 24th 2007; 10:54PM

who cares?

Geist: Oct 24th 2007; 11:19PM

Here, let me try:

Um, the Wii is so bad, it's only got minigames, and um, you are a retard...I mean WIItard, yeah, that's it. Because you play a Wii.

Also I question your sexuality.

gonk: Oct 24th 2007; 11:47PM

you are unbewiivers

:)

Steve: Oct 25th 2007; 12:20AM

Unfortunately, the only trolling to be found in this thread is the Game Informer snippet in the original post.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Oct 25th 2007; 12:04PM

Shagi won't touch this game with a 10 foot pole because he's afraid it will make him look uncool.

His own words.

Dr. Nooooooooo: Oct 24th 2007; 10:08PM

I would buy it, but unfortunately, the whole cutesy thing is making me shy away. My parents give me enough stupid comments about Wind Waker (which is awesome) and it's apparent kiddiness, so a game that really looks kiddy (despite being a good game) is really going to give them an excuse to annoy the living hell out of me. Maybe I'll buy in a few months when I finally move out.

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