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Preview: Lost in Shadow

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.
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The UI isn't well-designed for the kind of actions you must perform. Aiming the Wii Remote to drag a virtual slider on the edges of the screen isn't the most intuitive (or quick) way of changing the environment. There must be alternate ways of doing this, like using the D-Pad on the Wii Remote, right? As it stands now, Lost in Shadow doesn't feel like it uses the Wii Remote in the best way possible.

Considering I've only played a few select levels from the first third of the game, my initial impressions may be incorrect. I definitely have a desire to like the game (who doesn't want a game that meshes Ico, echochrome and Crush?). But for now, I remain skeptical, with hope that there's a tower of depth hidden away from view.