wow an adventure puzzle game thats actully really good

User Rating: 8.5 | Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure WII
By seaward12 | Review Date:
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure is a dumb name, plain and simple, but don't let that deter you from picking it up because this is one of Wii's very best offerings. Not only is it beautiful, taking visual cues from Wind Waker, but it's really clever and equally rewarding. When you solve one of the game's booby-trapped levels, you will absolutely feel like you've accomplished a genuine feat. The puzzles will work your brain over in some cases. Bearing that in mind, Z-Dub would appear to be exactly the opposite of what its name and art style suggest – this is a game for adults and not so much kids, in my opinion.

Z-Dub is not flawless. The title's occasional die-and-retry gameplay challenges will be called cheap or even be cited as poor design by some critics. I can see the point, too, and yet I'm reluctant to make the same critique, for even when I died – and I definitely did die, trust me – I felt compelled to try again (over and over, if the situation called for it). Meanwhile, although I'm very happy with the bulk of Wii remote mechanics, a few gestures seem finicky. Finally, the title would have surely benefited from a smoother fluidity throughout – not to say the framerate is ever unbearable, because it's not, but with so much IR-based pointer functionality in levels, I'd have preferred that everything ran at 60 frames.

All things considered, though, Z&W lives up to the hype that we helped generate. 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. And don't' forget, Z-Dub retails for $39.99, $10 cheaper than most Wii games.

I've stated it before and I'll happily state it again: buy Zack & Wiki. If you do, maybe we'll get a sequel with twice as many levels and WiiConnect24 support for downloadable levels.

Presentation
Beautiful graphics and cut-scenes, but lacks voice work. Story is funny at times. Interface is perfectly suited to the pirate theme. Lots of extras 8.5/10

Graphics
Very pretty cel-shaded visuals that remind me of Wind Waker. Extremely varied level designs. Added graphic extras like advanced particles and heat distortion. Framerate suffers sometimes 8/10

Sound
Lacks voice work for the most part, but the one-liner character calls are humorous. The music matches the stages well. 7.5/10

Gameplay
Point-and-click style adventure done right. Spectacular puzzles and great control. Lots of Wii remote gestures, a couple of them finicky 8/10

Lasting Appeal: About 15 hours the first time. Better replay value than we anticipated because you can go back and replay levels to up your score. Also, some stages can be completed in multiple different ways.

Overall: 8.5/10

My Verdict: Buy It if u like Puzzle Games

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