Zack-and-Wiki-Quest-for-Barbaros-Treasure
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Zack and Wiki still need your help ... for only $10
You know what you've forgotten to do this week? Amidst all that hustle and bustle of E3, you haven't had time for anything else except a few rounds of Smash Bros, possibly to let off some steam after getting all distraught over Nintendo's press conference. You haven't had time to buy any games! It just so happens that Toys R Us has one of the absolute best Wii games ever at a corking price. We originally thought $19.99 was a bargain for Zack and Wiki, but that price is old news. It's now time to contribute to the Buy Zack and Wiki Campaign by picking this excellent adventure up for $10. You can't afford not to. %Gallery-3283% [Thanks, Mike!]
Zack and Wiki: Quest for a Sequel is fruitless
Oh, Zack & Wiki, what an overflowing treasure chest of delights you were; your demanding (yet fulfilling) puzzles and vibrant, cute visual style won us over in a heartbeat. Even though you consistently made us feel thick, we'd still do anything to spend just another hour in your puzzley company. Even that meanie Yahtzee liked you! Alas, a new adventure featuring the pirate and his monkey is looking increasingly unlikely. Capcom bossman Christian Svensson seemed to rule out a follow-up on the Capcom forums, noting that he "[wasn't] so sure there will be [a sequel] on any reasonable timeline." That doesn't mean we'll never get one, of course, but we wouldn't go expecting Zack & Wiki 2 in the next decade or anything rash like that. We can't say we blame Capcom, either -- remember how the company was forced to drop the game's price just three months after it launched in the States? That's probably not an experience it wants to revisit. %Gallery-3283% [Via Nintendo Everything]
Another price drop for Zack & Wiki?
Likely sensing our discontent over the lack of pearl necklaces included with US copies of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, GameStop is now offering the adventure game for only $19.99! Just three months ago, Capcom marked down Zack & Wiki to $29.99 from its original $39.99 pricing. Could this be another universal price drop, soon to kick into effect at other retailers? Though GameStop has discounted copies available online, you can save on shipping by picking one up at a brick and mortar location nearby. Make sure to ask the clerk if the shop will throw in a pearl necklace with the deal. %Gallery-3283% [Via CAG]
Capcom gives Koreans pearl necklaces (and mousepads)
When the Nintendo Wii launches in South Korea this April 26th, Zack & Wiki will be sitting pretty on store shelves, too, beckoning adventure gaming fans to pick up a copy to accompany their new consoles. Rather than rely on the critically-acclaimed game's looks to generate sales, Capcom is offering two gifts with each preorder -- a Zack & Wiki-decorated mousepad and a treasure box filled with what looks like candy. If that isn't enough to motivate Korean gamers, one hundred of those treasure boxes will contain a real pearl necklace! What a strange but awesome incentive! We wish someone would offer to give us a pearl necklace. All we ever received when we picked up Zack & Wiki was a look of derision from the GameStop clerk and a dim-witted quip about kiddie graphics. %Gallery-3283% [Thanks, Nick!]
Zero Punctuation spares Zack & Wiki
Zack & Wiki is the target of this week's Zero Punctuation review and thankfully the game comes out relatively unscathed. Sure, there are remarks about the Wii being for children, the annoying noises the characters make and the gimmicky use of the Wiimote -- but, really, how many Wii games don't conjure up those ideas?* The main thing Yahtzee points out is Zack & Wiki delivers on that smug feeling adventure gamers get when they figure out a puzzle without using GameFAQs, which is essentially what will keep players going ... even when they invariably die over and over again for poking something they shouldn't have. Discover this week's NSFW review of Zack & Wiki using your Wiimote in a counter-clockwise motion while upside down to click on the link below. *Fanboys: Feel free to leave your list in the comments ... we know you will.
Try Zack & Wiki and feel bad about yourself for free
Are you the type of person who enjoys games that make you feel like you're a worthless, sniveling simpleton? If so, you should really pick up Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure. Don't believe us? Then head over to the Nintendo of Europe site (hit the "Gameplay" tab), where there's now a flash demo for Capcom's piratey, puzzley romp. We spent three mugs of coffee and an unhealthy portion of our morning staring slack-jawed at this conundrum, our peanut-sized brains straining at the exertion of it all. Sadly, those who have played through the adventure game will find nothing new here -- we are reliably informed that this exact same puzzle appears around one-third of the way through the game. Not that we would know, for our copy sits shamefully on our "to do" pile, silently mocking us. %Gallery-3283%
Zack and Wiki Flash demo available
We know that Zack and Wiki is exceedingly old now. Having been released in the fall of 2007, it's practically an e-octogenarian at this point. But we also know that, for whatever reason, some of you still haven't sampled the delights of the whimsical puzzle adventure. Well, as so rarely happens in life, you are now being given a second chance. A Flash demo for the game is available right here. Just click on "Gameplay" when the site loads up, you'll see the demo on the right. Keep in mind that the actual game has a bit more to offer (Wiimote action, Zack actually moves, etc.) but this brain-teaser should give you a good idea of what you've been missing.
Capcom sees Q3 profit decline, raises full-year forecast
Capcom has announced (via Gamasutra) the results of its fiscal third quarter, showing 51.66 billion yen in net sales (US $484.5 million; a 4.8 percent increase) but net income dropping 17.8 percent to 3.57 billion yen (US $33.5m). Despite the decline and thanks to expected sales of Devil May Cry 4, Capcom raised its expected fiscal year operating profit to 11.5 billion yen (US $107.9m), a 20 percent increase over last year and 15 percent more than previous forecasts. Strong-selling titles for Capcom include Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles in North America and Monster Hunter 2 in Japan. Zack & Wiki unit sales were noted as growing "steadily" (and given the title's critical praise, it's about time). The publisher's "stagnant" arcade and coin-op divisions and uncertainties in the Japanese and world economies were cited as reasons for its profit drop. Devil May Cry 4 is expected to hit 1.9 million in unit sales by March 31.
Guess what Zack & Wiki's universal price drop means?
Remember how a bunch of you promised that you'd buy Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros Treasure as soon as it hit the bargain bin (sub-$20)? Well, we remember, so you better not go back on your word ... Now that the adventure game has been marked down to around $29 at most retailers, if you've received one of those $10 gift cards Wal-Mart gave out to apologize for its Brawl preorder mess, you can use the $10 to order Zack & Wiki online for only $19.82! Who could have expected that a blundered Super Smash Bros. Brawl reservation would lead to you buying a cheap copy of Zack & Wiki? Masahiro Sakurai works in mysterious ways! %Gallery-3283% [Via NeoGAF]
Quest for Bargain Treasure [update]
Judging by its disappointing sales, very few of you went out and bought Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure when it hit stores lack October. Was it the god-awful title that turned you off? Or perhaps the kiddie colorful art direction? Surely it wasn't the price? Paying $40 for a AAA third-party title -- one developed by Capcom, no less -- seems more than reasonable! Well, if it was in fact the $40, take note that Amazon has slightly marked down the price, temporarily listing Zack & Wiki for only $32.99 (free shipping). What more do you need to convince you into buying this critically-acclaimed adventure game? [Update: Best Buy has the game on sale for $29.99! There's still the matter of shipping/handling, but you can probably still find the game at your nearest Best Buy location. Thanks, vidGuy!] %Gallery-3283% [Via CAG]
For the fans, some Okami swag
As we all sit up straight and proper in anticipation for Capcom's port of Okami for the Wii, the folks at the official Capcom blog have decided to snap up some pictures of random things about their offices. Too bad they don't travel around the entire office, because then we wouldn't get so few pictures of so few things. Hit up past the break to see the other side of the fan, as well as a piece of swag from another Capcom game.
Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2007
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii) Though its puzzles may occasionally infuriate, the real source of frustration regarding Zack & Wiki stems from the fact that nobody bought it. Every year has its share of titles that deserve an audience yet never find one, and in this regard, Zack & Wiki is easily one of the most tragic games to put an uncontrollable smile on your face. Relentlessly charming and beautifully presented, the debut of Capcom's choc-chomping pirate and his simian sidekick challenges the mind and warms that cynical, meh-spouting lump in your chest. How refreshing it was to overcome obstacles and bosses by choosing the power of the mind over an impossibly large bazooka.
Oz gets Zack & Wiki in February, Wii Fanboy suggests everyone buy it
Gamers down under are getting a treat come February 21st when Capcom's stellar title Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure hits retail shelves. Australia, we have one thing to ask you: will you please buy this game? Seriously, you need it. When we reviewed the game, we found it to be one of the absolute best games on the system. It's such an amazing game on all levels that we're incredibly surprised that nobody else thought so, as the game's sales were incredibly poor. We wondered if complex games such as this would even have a future on the Wii. Actually, we still do. So, Australia, do your part. Make sure you buy this amazing game. %Gallery-3283% [Via Go Nintendo]
Wii Fanboy Review: Zack & Wiki
They're on a quest to pay off their considerable debt. Er, scratch that. They're on a quest for treasure. It's jokes such as those that are running rampant throughout the entirety of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure. And, this blogger can easily say it is one of the best games to grace the Wii yet. %Gallery-3283%
Do complex games face an uncertain future on the Wii?
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Do_complex_games_face_an_uncertain_future_on_the_Wii'; During its first four days on sale in the US, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure sold approximately 30,000 copies. A week later, it had added 15,000 to that total. Hardly breathtaking figures in a nation with over 3.7 million Wiis in its bedrooms and living rooms, and the game also struggled to leave a mark in its homeland, where it is known as Takarajima Z: Barbaros no Hihou. There's no doubt about it: Capcom's splendid piratey adventure has, as much as it saddens us, flopped. On the face of it, the game's commercial failure might seem odd. After all, Zack & Wiki earned eye-catching scores from a number of reviewers, while IGN's Matt Casamassina loved it so much, he frothed and raved about it non-stop for four months, before slapping a 90% on it come review time. Its bright, attractive visuals, cute character design, and puzzley action were seemingly the perfect ingredients for massmarket appeal. Ultimately however, it sank faster than a holed galleon. %Gallery-3283%
Metareview: Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii)
Once you get past its generic and overly long title, So-and-So & Friend: Quest for the Something Or Other, you'll come to discover that Capcom's latest Wii endeavor sees them gracefully leaping across the pitfalls, mires and traps so many third-party developers have encountered on the road to Wii mega success. If the $40 point-and-click-ish adventures of a pint-sized pirate kid and his flying golden monkey (!!) fail to melt the block of ice in your chest, perhaps these glowing reviews will: IGN (90/100): "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." Gamespot (85/100): "Zack & Wiki is one of those sink-or-swim kind of games, the sort of thing that is conceptually so offbeat that if the execution isn't spot-on, the whole thing could drown. Good thing this one's got water wings. Essentially a puzzle game pretending to be a more traditional adventure, Zack & Wiki is the sort of weirdly engaging game that, dare we say it, probably could only really be done on the Wii hardware." Game Informer (82.5/100): "In the Wii's expansive gutter of shoddy third-party ports and minigame garbage, Capcom is showing that it's possible to make something original and fun. I just hope that the presentation doesn't kill Zack & Wiki's chances."
A 20 minute glimpse into Zack and Wiki
For a lot of you, Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure is one of the best-looking games on its way to the Wii. Capcom looks like they have quite the hit on their hands here, and this 20 minute long video over at GameSpot only strengthens our desire for the game. Of course, we don't understand a bit of the speech, because it's all in Japanese, but it doesn't get in the way much. The focus is on the gameplay, and it looks amazing.
Friday Video: Zack, Wiki, and hats
After this promo for Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, we just may be buying a ticket on the hype train. Not only is this trailer long and content-rich (in fact, those who don't like to see a lot from a game may want to watch only the beginning), but it's full of hilarious cartoon clichés. We just couldn't resist a chance to show off adorable pirates in this week's video spotlight. [Via GoNintendo]
Zack and Wiki on ice
Some kind of Ice World may be standard fare for video games, but the one in Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure at least has looks going for it. The cartoony art style found throughout the game lends the ice level a beautiful, clean appearance that is enhanced by the bright blues used to render the ice. But that's just our opinion, of course. The latest screens from Capcom's pirate adventure also highlight (get it) the multiplayer screen-writing mode, which nobody will ever use for its intended purpose, ever. We still love it, because we like being childish. For more Zack and Wiki, check Dengeki for a new WMV video of the game.
Zack and Wiki inspired by Princess Tomato
That's not the entire message of Chris Kohler's interview with Hironobu Takeshita, producer of Zack and Wiki: Quest for etc., but it's the part that makes us grin the most. When Takeshita mentioned that the game was indeed inspired by classic adventure games, Kohler asked which games in particular were most influential. Apparently this has been the subject of some conversation between Takeshita and the game's director, Eiichiro Sasaki (who did Power Stone!). He cited the following games: " Princess Tomato In The Salad Kingdom, and (obscure, horrible-looking Japanese adventure game) Dezeniland. Also Spelunker, which is that game where you die really quickly." Spelunker, it would seem, got the team to consider how death would work in the game; Takeshita goes on to talk about the system of buying continues with tokens, and restarting at a particular puzzle. It's comforting to know that the guys in charge of this title have some experience with classic adventure games-- maybe they'll have learned what works in an adventure game, and what kind of illogical puzzles and game-ending mistakes don't work. The interview also covers We Love Golf, and gives some information about how swinging the club actually works in that game. As expected, it's significantly more complicated than Wii Sports Golf.
