You're a wizard, Cyrus!
Indie developers tend to have a lot more creative freedom than the larger gaming companies. With less money involved, and therefore less risk, independent developers can experiment with genres and art direction that would otherwise be ignored by bigger developers. Take Wizorb for example. Can you imagine Activision or Electronic Arts investing in a game with antique graphics where players slide a paddle back and forth across the screen?
Based on screenshots from the game, it's easy to assume that Wizorb is one part Breakout clone and one part old-school RPG. But it's actually about 90% Breakout, 10% RPG. Paddle and ball mechanics make up the core of Wizorb, with RPG trappings like spells, item shops, dungeons, and needy villagers filling in the gaps. Players control Cyrus, a heroic wizard who transforms himself and his wand into a ball and paddle in every stage, bouncing back and forth to defeat monsters and free the land from a mysterious curse. There isn't much of a story to Wizorb, apart from what's hinted at in conversations with distressed villagers. The whole affair is very lovingly built on the foundation of NES era role-playing games -- clichés and questionable translation included. What else would you expect from a company called Tribute Games?
Wizorb is a forgiving paddle game. Tutorials are built into the first few stages of the game, and the overall difficulty level gradually rises over the course of 60 stages. The game is also, surprisingly, non-linear. Players can use keys, switches, and glyphs to unlock doors and explore new areas. Stages with branching paths, along with the ability to replay stages for high scores and "perfect" ratings, give Wizorb a healthy replay value. The game may be short, but it can be played again after the story ends.
The graphics in Wizorb might appear laughably outdated, but they match perfectly the style, tone, and overall presentation of the game. In any event, the graphics are secondary to gameplay, which is where Wizorb earns its high score. From such simple collision mechanics -- a ball bouncing off a paddle -- Tribute has made a fun, frenzied, and unexpectedly strategic game. Through the clever (and timely) use of spells, upgrades, and good old-fashioned geometry, players can determine whether they win or lose.
Note: Wizorb will be available on the Playstation Store starting July 24. The game is already available on PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox Live Arcade.
Indie developers tend to have a lot more creative freedom than the larger gaming companies. With less money involved, and therefore less risk, independent developers can experiment with genres and art direction that would otherwise be ignored by bigger developers. Take Wizorb for example. Can you imagine Activision or Electronic Arts investing in a game with antique graphics where players slide a paddle back and forth across the screen? Based on screenshots from the game, it's easy to assume that Wizorb is one part Breakout clone and one part old-school RPG. But it's actually about 90% Breakout, 10% RPG. Paddle and ball mechanics make up the core of Wizorb, with RPG trappings like spells, item shops, dungeons, and needy villagers filling in the gaps. Players control Cyrus, a heroic wizard who transforms himself and his wand into a ball and paddle in every stage, bouncing back and forth to defeat monsters and free the land from a mysterious curse. There isn't much of a story to Wizorb, apart from what's hinted at in conversations with distressed villagers. The whole affair is very lovingly built on the foundation of NES era role-playing games -- clichés and questionable translation included. What else would you expect from a company called Tribute Games?
Wizorb is a forgiving paddle game. Tutorials are built into the first few stages of the game, and the overall difficulty level gradually rises over the course of 60 stages. The game is also, surprisingly, non-linear. Players can use keys, switches, and glyphs to unlock doors and explore new areas. Stages with branching paths, along with the ability to replay stages for high scores and "perfect" ratings, give Wizorb a healthy replay value. The game may be short, but it can be played again after the story ends.
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| Light role-playing elements are sprinkled throughout Wizorb. |
The graphics in Wizorb might appear laughably outdated, but they match perfectly the style, tone, and overall presentation of the game. In any event, the graphics are secondary to gameplay, which is where Wizorb earns its high score. From such simple collision mechanics -- a ball bouncing off a paddle -- Tribute has made a fun, frenzied, and unexpectedly strategic game. Through the clever (and timely) use of spells, upgrades, and good old-fashioned geometry, players can determine whether they win or lose.
Score: 8.5
Note: Wizorb will be available on the Playstation Store starting July 24. The game is already available on PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox Live Arcade.
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