Man, I sure hope that isn’t the final boxart. I don’t think it does the beauty of the game justice. It makes me think of some cheesy Wizard of Oz rip-off.
Man, I sure hope that isn’t the final boxart. I don’t think it does the beauty of the game justice. It makes me think of some cheesy Wizard of Oz rip-off.
I was incredibly skeptical of Lost in Shadow when I first picked up the controller. Sure, it may look like Ico, but it definitely doesn't play like it. While there's a lot to like about the Wii game -- especially its shadow manipulation gimmick, unique p...
I was incredibly skeptical of Lost in Shadow when I first picked up the controller. Sure, it may look like Ico, but it definitely doesn't play like it. While there's a lot to like about the Wii game -- especially its shadow manipulation gimmick, unique premise, and gorgeous art -- I walked away with some concern that the full experience may become stale.
The story of Lost in Shadow is rather grim: a boy finds himself severed from his body, relegated to explore the realm of shadows. As he traverses a massive trap-filled tower, he earns more memories, becoming more whole. It takes 21 grams to make a spirit whole -- and that's your goal in this inventive platformer. To reclaim your soul, you'll have to collect its pieces. Of course, this is easier said than done. You'll find these scattered throughout the world, oftentimes in seemingly impossible places to reach. Being trapped in shadow form means you can only interact with shadows, projected by objects in the foreground.
Thankfully you have a few tricks up your sleeve. You have the ability to move light, altering the shadows. By manipulating an on-screen slider vertically (or horizontally), you'll be able to change the shadows, and open new paths. The solutions appear a bit too obvious: simply demanding experimentation with the sliders. According to a Hudson rep, these sliders only appear when shadow manipulation is necessary, making it very clear when you must use your powers.
#preview
Even though its color palette and design practically scream, "Ico," Hudson Soft's Lost in Shadow for the Wii is inspired just as much by clever platform-jumping games like Paper Mario, Braid and C...
#preview
Even though its color palette and design practically scream, "Ico," Hudson Soft's Lost in Shadow for the Wii is inspired just as much by clever platform-jumping games like Paper Mario, Braid and Cloning Clyde. More »
Hudson's possibly no-longer-Wii-exclusive action-platformer Lost in Shadow has always struck us as a lovely game -- its use of light and shadow evoking the great ICO -- but until last night there was the chance it could very well hold as little substance ...
Hudson's possibly no-longer-Wii-exclusive action-platformer Lost in Shadow has always struck us as a lovely game -- its use of light and shadow evoking the great ICO -- but until last night there was the chance it could very well hold as little substance as its silhouette hero. Good news: What started out reminding me of the original, side-scrolling Prince of Persia quickly had me grinning, as its lighting went from "a nice effect" to a creating some clever gameplay mechanics.
The premise of the game is simple: You play as the shadow of a boy that's been severed from his body. Beginning at the ground floor of a massive tower, you guide his shadow form back to the top, where the two will (hopefully) be reunited. The core gameplay is simple. The shadow boy has a sword and can run, jump, climb obstacles and duel with enemies -- again, shades of classic Prince of Persia. The twist often literally came in the form of moving physical foreground elements in the level I played in order to reach new areas, and even defeat otherwise invulnerable enemies.
