Review: Lost in Shadow

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Hudson

Publisher: Hudson

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 +)

Official Site

Score: B+

Ethereal, innovative, methodically paced yet wholly rewarding, Hudson's Wii exclusive Lost In Shadow is one of those artistic gems that should appeal to gamers across a few different genres. The dreamlike visuals and puzzles that revolve around light and shadow play will draw in fans of games such as ICO or echochrome or the original Price of Persia, the platforming elements are fun and challenging for young to older players and the overall innovation and intriguing story will please fans of games with more than flashy graphics going for them. While it isn't quite perfect, it's amazingly well designed and has a way of keeping you hooked in as you traverse back and forth through some pretty trippy stages that play with your perceptions.

Hudson's Lost In Shadow Drifts Into Stores

Hudson's innovative adventure/platform/puzzle/action game (it does everything!) is in stores NOW. Go buy a copy if you have a Wii (you can thank me later). While I'm waiting for my reviewable to show up, you can keep yourselves busy reading some of my previous coverage on this gem.

Lost in the Shadow Video Dev Diary 4: Pre-Launch Secrets

Some of you might be a tiny bit depressed that this year is rushing to a close too darn quickly, but for me, that just means that it's closer to seeing the final version of Hudson's Lost In Shadow hit retail on January 4, 2011. Here's the final developer diary, featuring a peek at some of the cool secrets to be found in this Wii exclusive - enjoy!

Lost in the Shadow Video Dev Diary 3

BUSY WEEK, what with A few Bonds, COD and a bunch of other titles eating my free time. Nevertheless, something new so you know I'm not dead. This latest LOD video diary touches a little more into the innovative gameplay in the upcoming Wii title. This one is definitely looking to be one of the more memorable game experiences coming your way in 2011...

Lost In Shadow Birth & Mysteries Featurettes

It's a total twofer today - the first two out of four parts from Hudson's making of feature on the upcoming Wii game, Lost in Shadow. Enjoy!

Lost In Shadow Hands-On

After looking at many Lost In Shadow screens and a few haunting gameplay movies since the game was announced, I finally had the great opportunity to get some hands-on time with the game at Hudson's New york Comic Con booth this past weekend. The game is not only visually striking, it's also highly innovative and absolutely recommended for gamers of all stripes thanks to the blend of platforming, adventure and later, combat against an assortment of shadow creatures. There's a good deal of depth here from the great use of the 2D plane in 3D environments to how well the visuals convey a certain emotional impact through light, color and yes, shadow usage.

Random Release News (Or If It's Tuesday, It Must Be DLC Day...)

Yikes - plenty of new games and games news hit the inbox today, so instead of individual postings, a rapid-fire approach is in order. In general, August is flying out with a big ol' bang and September is rolling in with an even bigger set of booms. Here we go with part one:

Hudson + Lost in Shadow + Child's Play + Facebook = A Great Cause!

You have to love Child's Play and Hudson for teaming up for the charity with a simple yet extremely awesome Facebook idea YOU can help with. How? Just boogie on over to the official Lost In Shadow Facebook page and "Like" the game. What is Lost in Shadow, you ask? Heck, it's looking like an amazing, ethereal Wii adventure like no other on the console, so you also get a chance to find out more about it (bonus!).

Once you "Like" the game page, Hudson will donate ten cents to Child's Play - now how great is that? Want to contribute even more? Well, just change your profile pic on Facebook to a shadow of its former self (any shadow will do) and Hudson will up that contribution to a dollar.

I'm off to snap a new pic now. So far the LOS page has a mere 58 likes... let's change that in a BIG way, OK? The event ends on September 7, 2010, so don't wait! By the way, Lost in Shadow is set to hit retail on January 4, 2011 - back with more on the game shortly. The press release is below le jump if you want to check it out.

Gallery Update: Lost In Shadow

Oops. It's not that I'd been ignoring Hudson's really interesting looking adventure/platform hybrid, folks. It just got Lost in the Crunch of far too many other games coming out this year. Anyway, here are a bunch of recent (and not so recent) screens from the upcoming Wii exclusive. As noted in last year's preview, there's bit of an ICO vibe in the graphics that I find rather pleasing. However the gameplay is looking a bit different than that found in Sony's cult classic.

The big question is: will Hudson have a huge enough hit with LOS or will it be yet another solid niche title lost to the bargain bin, ignored by all but those looking for something different on the system? I guess we shall see at some point, now won't we? My money is on it at least being one truly memorable experience for Wii owners.

Hudson Announces Lost In Shadow

More Hudson news? OK! The company has also announced Lost in Shadow, a unique new platformer/adventure/puzzle game hybrid scheduled to reach the Nintendo Wii sometime in Summer 2010. Based on the images and press release below, my take on this one is that I'm definitely intrigued. Stylistically, the game's visuals and color palette seem highly influenced by the phenomenal PlayStation 2 sleeper hit from 2001, ICO. Similar aesthetics aside, it will be extremely interesting to see this one in action, as the shadow platforming idea is certainly innovative enough for a really solid game experience.

Here's the complete press release and five screenshots for your reading and viewing enjoyment.

There is a Tower that rises above all in an alternate world. No one knows who built this or why it was built. One thing is certain, the Tower both sheds a large shadow and at the same time is filled with moving shadows.

There is a shadow of a boy that climbs this tower. He runs through the shadow of the Tower, solves mysteries and puzzles along the way, and fights off enemies that try to impede his progress. The boy is not affected by gravity but his movement is restricted within the thin boarder between light and shadow.

The boy is not alone in his endeavors as a creature of light joins him on his quest. A winged sylph known as a “Spangle” supports him in his journey.

Lost In Shadow mixes unique platform elements and levels of puzzling, to challenge the player. The combination of light and shadow creates a unique blend of game styles, with the shadow boy altering shapes of surrounding objects’ shadows, creating walkways to previously inaccessible areas, and adventuring into a world never before seen on Wii.

The Beginning of a New Kind of Platformer

- Adventure through a land that is in the shadow of the tower. A land that is both familiar and foreign at the same time.
- Manipulate light and shadows to traverse this alternate land where even gravity is influenced.
- Battle shadow creatures with traditional weapons
- You are not alone in your quest: Journey with a spangle that assists you in your travel. Together unlock the mysteries in and around the Tower
- Meet other shadow beings along your journey.

We'll have more on Lost in Shadow as information becomes available - stay tuned.