Nintendo’s Wii MotionPlus attachment has proven to greatly increase control accuracy in games like Wii Sports Resort, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010, and a few others. What we hadn’t seen yet is a WiiWare game that takes advantage of it. ShadowPlay is the first one. This is in fact very encouraging; it means the device is here to stay and hopefully improve the gaming experience with future releases.
ShadowPlay is a unique and ambitious downloadable game some of you might not have spotted yet. It’ll remind you of those good old times you spent when you were a child projecting shadows on the walls, making them look like things. Who hasn’t managed to project a barking dog on the wall with just a little bit of imagination? Of course, the game takes things even further, so don’t be surprised when you’re given a couple knives, a bowling pin, and a pen to try and make up a dragonfly!
By holding the Wii Remote in different ways, twisting it, and with the help of the B button, you’ll be able to manipulate objects and place them in such ways they’ll project the shadows you need. Of course, one object won’t be enough for these increasingly difficult puzzle challenges; as you clear the levels, the game will provide you with more objects to help you with the task of filling out the figure on the canvas. The trick is to use their projected shadows in such a way that everything is correctly filled in. However, you’ll also have to make sure the objects at hand are not interfering with the other objects placed over the canvas. This becomes especially tricky in later levels. Even if the casted shadows would be able to create the desired figure when combined, if an object is obstructing the space you need for another item, you won’t be able to use them that way and will have to rethink the strategy.
There’s no time limit, but a timer will keep track of how long it takes you to solve the puzzle. When you complete the figure properly, the game will give you a sound signal and will also let you know if you’ll obtain a bronze, silver, or gold medal (film reel) considering the way the objects are arranged and shadows are casted. Depending on how tough it was, you may want to tweak things and aim for the gold medal, or you can just call it good and take bronze or silver. At first I wouldn’t take anything less than gold, but after a while the puzzles got very complicated and I was just happy to get a bronze.
I found that Wii MotionPlus controls weren’t absolutely necessary for this game, and in fact you can use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination instead, but they were certainly appreciated when moving objects. With WiiMotion Plus attached, you can twist the wrist slowly and adjust and move the objects with a lot more precision. Other than that, the D-pad, A, and B buttons are the ones responsible for panning in and out, changing the camera angle, and bringing the objects closer or further in order to increase/decrease the size of the casted shadow – Wii MotionPlus doesn’t make much of a difference in this regard. Overall, everything works well enough to make it an interesting experience. Of course, as is the case with most Wii games, there will be some moments of frustration as well; sometimes it feels as if they’re asking for too much accuracy.
The music is entertaining and relaxing, and it will help you stay focused for a while. Unfortunately, soon enough you’ll realize it keeps looping and looping non-stop. A change of tune could have really helped to keep the game fresh, but between the repetitive music and the redundant gameplay, the game ends up becoming a bit monotonous. That’s why it’s best played in small doses, plus it’ll last you longer that way. As far as graphics go, you’ll notice the objects look detailed and realistic, and the diverse themes and backgrounds are somewhat refreshing. However, this is not a game to admire by its looks. It’s more about the puzzling gameplay and its power of addiction.
ShadowPlay is not made for everyone, but certainly those who enjoy a tough puzzle challenge and are used to the Wii’s motion controls will be able to enjoy it quite a bit. There are over 100 shadow brainteasers to solve, 100 different objects to use and unlock, and 10 different themes. In addition, there’s a Free Play mode that lets you unleash your imagination and use the unlocked objects to project whatever shadow figures you can think of. I started off by designing a monkey. I made it with a couple of candy canes, a basketball, squash, and a vise. After some tweaks, it turned out pretty nice, but then the truth struck: there wasn’t a way to save it! I guess it kept me busy and it was fun while it lasted, but why wouldn’t we want to keep our creations or even share them with friends?
If you turn on a second controller, you’ll be able to enter a co-op mode, which lets players join forces to try and figure out the puzzles. Sadly, few people will be willing to share a game like this. It’s definitely meant to be a single-player experience, and preferably for adults, as kids may become easily frustrated in later levels. The $8 price point seems fair for this kind of puzzler, as 100 levels offer some lasting appeal. However, once you’re done with them, the replayability value will depend on how much you care for gold medals, better timing, or the Free Play mode. If you’re ready for a break from Tetris-style puzzle games or are sick and tired of riddles and point-and-click adventures, ShadowPlay might be a refreshing change.
RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.5 Graphics
The game looks sharp and the objects are detailed, but the themes and backgrounds are not overly exciting. 3.8 Control
Wii MotionPlus controls are accurate, yet oftentimes they require too much precision. Nunchuk controls can be used as well. 2.8 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Relaxed tunes are fit for the game, but they keep looping, which becomes tiresome. There are just a few sound effects when you clear the levels. 3.5
Play Value
The game contains 100 puzzles with different themes and objects. It’ll keep you busy for a while, especially if you’re enjoying it.
3.5 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
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