The sky must be falling.  It has to be.  Ever since Nintendo released the Wii, third party partners have just shoveled a near endless number of mini-game collections onto the mega popular platform.  Luckily, this hasn’t dug good old Ninty’s new console an early grave, but it has left a number of hardcore players severely disappointed.  Enter Zack and Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure by Capcom; this is not your Momma’s mini-game collection. No, it’s a hardcore point and click adventure in the vein of Myst that uses the Wiimote in a variety of clever and intuitive ways.  Although point and click adventures seem to have gone the way of the dodo, Zack and Wiki is a quality investment for anyone who’s ever enjoyed solid puzzle design and a penchant for waggling controllers.

ARGGGGG Mateys!  We Seeks Buried Treasure!

A big part of what makes Zack and Wiki so much fun is its’ very Japanese story and presentation.  The Visual aesthetics are in the vein of Sega classics like Powerstone or Megaman Legends.  The world is cheery, colorful and it definitely lives up to the old Kix cereal slogan, “Kid tested, mother approved”.

The colorful world introduces you to Zack and Wiki, an adorable pair of pirate adventurers (HA, who said pirates can’t be adorable).  Zack dreams of being a legendary pirate, but his misfit band - the Sea Rabbits - are constantly on the losing end of the shtick.  After their last airship is destroyed mid-air by their rivals, Zack and Wiki land on a mysterious island and discover the hidden skull of Barbaro - a legendary pirate who found the world’s greatest treasure.  Barbaro makes a deal with Zack and Wiki; if they can find the rest of Barbaro’s body parts and reassemble him, he’ll give them his prized airship as a reward.  This event launches our heroes on a grand adventure that spans 24 levels set within 7 different themed worlds.

Point.... Click... Interact

The objective in every level of Zack and Wiki is simple: get to the treasure chest and claim your booty.  Fortunately, from a gameplay perspective this is easier said than done.  At the early stages levels appear smaller with more focused paths.  An example would flow something like this: In one of the earlier jungle stages, Zack needs a treasure chest that’s perched atop a totem pole.  Surrounding the pole are a bunch of natives, dancing and praying every so often to pay homage to their gods.  However you can’t just walk by since they turn their attention to the chest every few minutes.   So investigating the surroundings will ultimately present you with items that can be used to achieve your objective. 

Within each cutesy setting Zack interacts with a variety of items that can aid him in his quest.  Let’s backtrack to the jungle situation (small spoiler alert).  Since Zack can’t just walk up to the chest, he’ll need a diversion to clear the path.   Closer inspection of the level reveals a cook stirring a brothy stew and some nearby sleep inducing mushrooms.  After observing a few in-game events the objective becomes clear: Slip a mushroom in the soup to quell the natives. Not every puzzle in the game is solved so simply, but the interaction with the items is one of the innovative approaches that Zack and Wiki brings to the table.  Especially, the item specific motions using the Wiimote. 

For example, when Zack holds a flute, you’ll have to turn your Wiimote sideways to play musical notes.  It’s not overwhelming, but a fun way to integrate players into the experience. Using each item in the context of their respective levels is fun, but sometimes it’s challenging to understand what to do with what you’ve got, or better yet – what you need you need to get in the first place!

In some cases, leaving clue gathering up to the player isn’t bad.  In others, it seems downright cruel as objectives are not always so clear.  Penalties for your failure come in two flavors: option a) start over or, option b) revive yourself using an oracle doll and lower your overall HirameQ - Zack and Wiki’s IQ/ grading system.  The core pillar to Zack and Wiki’s gameplay ultimately comes down to how fast you can complete its’ level challenges to earn maximum HirameQ; and if that’s your bag baby, then this is the game for you.

Zak and Wiki does have a hint system integrated into the game, but using it drags down your HirameQ as well.  The consequences in either aforementioned scenario aren’t unbearable, but it’s definitely going to stifle the casual crowd, and in some cases drive them away completely.  It’s a shame really since this game deserves your attention, and your dollars since it’s brimming with quality puzzles and design. 

Shiver Me Timbers, It’s a Must Buy

If the idea of a point and click adventure doesn’t excite you, that’s okay since the genre fell off the gaming map a long time ago.   At the same time, it’s nice to see that the Wii, with a little help from Capcom (and Zack and Wiki of course,) can revive this stagnant field and give it added dimension and charm to make it fun again. Zack and Wiki: The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure might be a little tough for some, but it’s still a rewarding experience that totally breaks the third-party mini-game trend.  If none of this is reason enough, then at least rent (hehe... try before you buy) since this game definitely deserves your attention.  Either case, hats off to Capcom for putting out a great game that will keep hardcore puzzlers busy for days.