E3 2008: Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked Hands-On

The first three games in the Lost in Blue series for the Nintendo DS stranded players on a deserted island then challenged them to survive and prosper against the odds. Konami's Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked is bringing the series to the Wii with an all-new adventure. We got to play a near-final build at Konami's E3 2008 booth and have plenty to report about survival tactics, abundant minigames, and helpful pets.

The game begins with a sinking cruise ship, and a young boy named Aidan washes up on the shores of a lush, seemingly empty island. Along with his pet monkey, Hobo, Aidan begins to explore, and we are introduced to the game's control scheme. Walking around using the analog stick, we came across coconuts and empty water bottles that we promptly add to our inventory. Aidan has a bag that will come in handy for storing a wide variety of items throughout his adventure. Eager to secure more nourishing coconuts, we approached a tree and followed on-screen prompts to engage the tree by pressing the A button then shook it by shaking the remote. We then found that by looking at a tree and sending Hobo over to climb it, we could acquire coconuts in a less labor-intensive way. Fetching hard to reach items, we're told, is just one of the ways our nimble monkey friend would be helping us out.

After a bit more exploration, Aidan meets Lucy, a young woman who is also stranded on the island and who is accompanied by a helpful pet. Lucy and her dog become playable characters, and you can choose which one you want to be as your adventure progresses. Lucy's dog offers a different set of helpful skills, so you'll have to use different characters to take on different tasks. Later in the game, Aidan and Lucy set up a semipermanent shelter where the characters can rest to prepare for the tasks at hand.

As in previous Lost in Blue games, rest is just one way to keep your characters healthy and strong. You must also eat to keep from getting too hungry and drink to stay hydrated. If you let any of these elements lapse, your overall health will deteriorate, and you'll have to take more drastic measures to set yourself right. Fortunately, Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked aims to remove much of the micromanagement that plagued previous entries in the series, so no longer will your characters sit with food in their hands, starving and waiting for you to tell them to eat.

Acquiring food can be as easy as picking up berries or as difficult as hunting wild animals. As we approached a rocky freshwater pool, a contextual action icon appeared to let us know we could spearfish. The subsequent minigame had us moving a target reticle back and forth over the pool with the analog stick. When we got a fish in our sights, we speared it with a quick thrust of the Wii Remote. The more we jabbed, the shakier our reticle got, so that when time ran out, we had only speared two fish. Taking them back to our shelter, we cooked them up after starting a fire with another quick minigame--one that had us shaking the Nunchuk and remote vigorously to spark some flames. Cooking itself can get quite involved, with many recipes and ingredients (and minigames) factoring into the process.

Just surviving isn't enough for Aidan and Lucy. The two soon manage to construct a raft out of sticks and vines on which they sail to one of the many other islands. We're told these islands reveal new challenges and new characters, some of whom are less than honest with you. In particular, there is a pair of thieves that may help you by stealing useful items for you, but their motives are unclear and their methods decidedly shady. Eventually, you'll have to choose whether to escape the islands or to settle down and make a life in the remote tropical paradise.

There are almost 40 minigames to play, and a second player can jump in on many of them. They can also be played on their own, and pets become playable characters so you can totally jump a rope swung by a dog or a monkey named Hobo. With its lighthearted vibe and unique survival challenges, Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked looks to breathe new life into the series. Those looking to play some marooned minigames can look for the game later this year.