Released for the Wii and Nintendo DS in North America On August 24th, 2010
Adorable Game Bonus: +1000
Played on: Nintendo Wii
First Impressions...
You don't have to look very deep to see that Prope and Yuji Naka's newest game, Ivy the Kiwi?, has got style. This game is adorable and looks like something out of a storybook. On top of that, gameplay is solid and features a beautiful soundtrack and an endearing main character (the titular kiwi). To top it all off, it's extremely affordable at 29.99.
The Appeal of Ivy...
If you tug on the vine, you can send Ivy flying. This allows her to break certain blocks and defeat enemies. Still, it feels abusive sending this cute little creature flying through the air haphazardly.
Certain games available on the Wii, like Little King's Story, become known for their great gameplay and endearing style, and also for going generally unpurchased. Ivy the Kiwi? will no doubt, unfortunately, continue the trend of unsung heroes on Wii. This game is fun, well made and, fortunately for me, provides plenty of additional challenges offered to more advanced players (such as time trials, the opportunity to collect hidden feathers in each stage and a bonus mode awarded to players for beating the game with all feathers collected). What really sticks out on top of all this though is the subtle storytelling that comes with helping Ivy through her journey.
This frantic little bird has woken up looking for her mother. She sets off running and that's where the player comes in. It's up to you, the player, to create vines that will lead her on her path and protect her from each stage's numerous hazards. Spikes, rats, crows, raindrops... you're her only defense against a cruel and harsh world that she doesn't belong in! And, as her sole guardian and friend, it feels awful to see her die. The whole scenario certainly encourages you to keep her safe!
As the game progresses, Ivy travels through a series of stages that reflect the progress of her journey - a rainy field, a snowy city, a sleepy mountain, a forgotten castle... each of the locales feel distinctly vast and lonely, with often melancholic overtones adding to the atmosphere of her story, such as the darkness of the rat's woods or the rainy and stormy nights of some of the mid-game stages. But there's also a sense of wonderment and discovery that comes through in gameplay and level design. Discovering alternate routes or the location of an elusive feather is genuinely fulfilling, as is seeing Ivy come out of a dark scenario and into the curious city-lights during a nighttime snowfall.
Since we're talking about atmosphere and storytelling, it would be irresponsible of me not to mention this game's amazing soundtrack. It certainly does a lot to convey to players Ivy's fluctuating emotional state as she perseveres through her trial. Reminiscent of Yoshi's Story on the Nintendo 64, the game ends with a storybook moment that recaps the game's events and (unlike Yoshi's Story) leads up to a surprise ending (although you probably saw it coming). It's really, kinda, sorta heartwarming.
Final Thoughts...
Ivy the Kiwi? isn't a terribly long game, although if it were it might feel like it was dragging on. My friends already know this about me but I don't often demand for games to be frighteningly long unless I was personally set on investing into a great epic (see PS1 Final Fantasy titles). What affects me most about this whole thing though is how this game will almost certainly go unnoticed, except in reviews and by those reading them. It's important, I think, for us as gamers to belay our reservations and our distrustful cautiousness at times to allow ourselves the opportunity to enjoy something simple and well made, like this particular game here.
To bottom-line it, Ivy the Kiwi? is fun, endearing, atmospheric and, all-in-all, a well made game, especially considering its budget price tag. If you have a soft spot for cute creatures or charming storytelling, play this one. If you enjoy challenging side-scrollers, play this game. If you enjoy getting lost in soundtrack and atmosphere, definitely play this game.
I've already trailed on for so long about how much I appreciate this game's atmosphere and presentation that I don't feel like going into great detail describing mechanics, etc... so I included a trailer video below that will pretty much show off how the game plays!
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