ZACK & WIKI! 300k Sold! BUY!!! $29.99 Now! IGN: 9.0! 1UP: 9.0! NP: 9.0! GS: 8.5!

I think it's pretty funny that most people on CAG claim reviews are meaningless and yet here's a game that seems to have hit critical mass with the reviews and now everyone is buying it (me included ;)). So, apparently, reviews DO make a difference. I bet if this was coming in with 6-7, or even 7-8 scores all around, there wouldn't be this avalanche of CAG purchases before the game even hits.
 
[quote name='io']I think it's pretty funny that most people on CAG claim reviews are meaningless and yet here's a game that seems to have hit critical mass with the reviews and now everyone is buying it (me included ;)). So, apparently, reviews DO make a difference. I bet if this was coming in with 6-7, or even 7-8 scores all around, there wouldn't be this avalanche of CAG purchases before the game even hits.[/quote]You're just mad that you have to buy it now.
 
I have to agree with you a bit Ico. I'm positive if this was getting 6s across the board like you suggest, we all would go, "DAMN IT NINTENDO AND THIRD PARTIES WHERE ARE THE GAMES?!"
But now that this is getting excellent reviews, I'm going to have to buy it to support good games. And of course, to play it.
 
It's over.

1up - 9
http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3163925

That makes a 8.8 across the big 3.

Thankfully, Zack & Wiki is far more than the sum of its pieces, and it absolutely succeeds despite any minor problems. It's a huge world of wonderful puzzles to solve, with creative approaches to even the most mundane solutions; it's also a big game, and it goes on far longer than even the story would imply (though some people may never beat the last couple stages without assistance). Its biggest hurdle will be finding its audience, as it's the kind of game you don't know you're dying for until you play it (and its youthful aesthetic doesn't do it any favors). But it's worth looking into for every Wii owner, and if it isn't the best game for the system, it's at least the most "must-play" Wii experience next to Wii Sports. It's unmatched as a cognitively and creatively challenging experience, and just about anyone can pick it up and enjoy and appreciate it for what it does...even if they won't get very far.
Click to expand...
 
[quote name='io']I think it's pretty funny that most people on CAG claim reviews are meaningless and yet here's a game that seems to have hit critical mass with the reviews and now everyone is buying it (me included ;)). So, apparently, reviews DO make a difference. I bet if this was coming in with 6-7, or even 7-8 scores all around, there wouldn't be this avalanche of CAG purchases before the game even hits.[/quote]

It's not that reviews are meaningless, you just need to know how to interpert them and weed out the bad reviews from the good ones. The explanations that go along with the score are actually a lot more important than the score itself.
 
[quote name='botticus']It's over.

1up - 9
http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3163925

That makes a 8.8 across the big 3.[/quote]
That's seriously holy shit and more shocking that than the Galaxy Famitsu score.

As others have said, this might be a game that Capcom only sends a set (30,000) amount to retailers expecting the game to bomb, only for it to sell out ala Phoenix Wright. Then we wait month after month for more copies to hit shelves.

Neo_Whoa.jpg
 
[quote name='The Crotch']Depends a good deal on the game. Reviews of an obscure game from a developer that can be hit-or-miss? Important. Reviews of Halo 3? Not really that important. You know what you're getting with the latter, but the former is still an unknown.[/quote]

Basically reviews are more important for new IPs.
 
When a game reviews such as this, it's worth noting. I look to them more for trends (hey, everyone is giving it a 9, looks like a winner!), and specific complaints if they're negative.
 
The GameTrailers review does have a small amount of new footage we haven't seen before, so if you are "going dark" you probably don't want to watch it.
 
Kotaku on the hypewagon:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/zack-&-wiki/please-go-buy-zack--wiki-tomorrow-314305.php

[quote name='Kotaku']We know, it's October, there are a ton of games vying for your time and money right now. But this goes beyond just you. See, Zack & Wiki is pretty awesome. But because it looks a little childish, because the concept's a little hard to explain concisely and because it's coming out at this time of year (tomorrow), there's a good chance it may be forgotten. Totally overlooked. Don't you dare let that happen. If you've got a Wii and will be up tomorrow, get off your ass and go buy a copy. We don't want to be writing about this game in 2-3 years time, listening to you all bitch about how much sealed copies cost and how bad you want to play it. Now's your chance.[/QUOTE]
 
I'm glad this game is getting good reviews all around. I've had this preordered and I am going to pick it up tomorrow, but it is reassuring that reviewers really seem to like this game.
 
So we shouldn't expect to see this in stores for another day or two, yeah? I am dying to get a new Wii game and this is exactly what I'm looking for - too bad I've got to hold out til then...

Please post when you get this game!! We gotta know what outlets are carrying it earliest.
 
Got in on a pre-order this afternoon @ Gamestop. Have credits to burn and this seems like a good way to go for this already reasonably priced game.
 
[quote name='Scrubking']So what are the negatives being said about this game in the reviews? Especially the 8.x reviews?[/quote]
GameSpot summary:

Good:
Clever and unique puzzles that are challenging without being overly difficult
Plenty of different stages to play through, some with multiple solutions
Sharp graphics with excellent art style
Good use of the Wii Remote.

Bad:
Story and characters aren't especially interesting
Sometimes grating voice work.

The other sub-9s are Play and GI which aren't online, and GameTrailers which I won't watch.
 
HTML:
[quote name='Scrubking']So what are the negatives being said about this game in the reviews? Especially the 8.x reviews?[/quote]

GI:

Concept: Hide serious puzzle challenges under a super cute veveer.

Graphics: Crisp cel-shaded characters and imaginative environments definitely impress

Sound: You'll want to strangle Wiki to silence his high-pitched baby voice.

Playability: Puzzles utilize a wide variety of motion controls, some of which work way better than others.

Entertainment: If you can get past the wacky vibe, these innovative puzzles will fry your mind.

Replay Value: Moderate

_____________________________


The review itself says nothing negative - it kind of summarizes the concept and then gives Capcom props for taking a risk, and whatever. In addition, there is a SECOND OPINION column below, rating the game at 7.75 (in contrast to the GI official score of 8.25):

"If you love that slightly odd, clasically Japanese sense of humor that Capcom brought to such titles as The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, I have a feeling that Zack & Wiki is going to be right up your alley. It's certainly charming, and its Wii remote controlled action/puzzle gameplay is nothing if not unique. At its best, it gives you a mix of intriguing puzzles and novel motion-based minigames that's like nothing else out there. However, this game is frustrating as often as it's fun, and at times the Wii control features seem to be doing little more than making the gameplay sloppier and less exact than it should be. It's an interesting concept that could have used a bit more polish. --MATT"
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, though I don't understand that whole "needs more polish" bit. IGN said the game oozes polish. Anyway...
 
[quote name='Scrubking']Thanks, though I don't understand that whole "needs more polish" bit. IGN said the game oozes polish. Anyway...[/QUOTE]


My thought was he meant in the control department.
 
From GAF:

The instructions are a poster sized fold out map!!
Click to expand...

[quote name='botticus']The other sub-9s are Play and GI which aren't online, and GameTrailers which I won't watch.[/quote]

The biggest knock Gametrailers had against Zack and Wiki was for its story category which gave the game a 7.5 but then again, you don't go into playing Zack and Wiki for the storyline.
 
Has anyone bothered contacting Wal-Mart about this game?

[quote name='MarioColbert']
GI:

Sound: You'll want to strangle Wiki to silence his high-pitched baby voice.[/quote]
This monkey won't have anything of the king of annoying high-pitched baby voices - Baby Mario.

Other impressions... Now we're hitting spoilers and I hate ruining stuff for people so SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

The monkey makes fun of you :\
THE HINT GOD.

BEST HINT SCREEN EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']
gstopcouponma5.jpg


I have no idea on the validity of this coupon.[/quote]It's legit, been posted in the deals forum for a week.
 
[quote name='botticus']It's legit, been posted in the deals forum for a week.[/quote]
Why does no one tell me these things?! :cry:

So that would be like what, 4$ off the game?
 
[quote name='io']I think it's pretty funny that most people on CAG claim reviews are meaningless and yet here's a game that seems to have hit critical mass with the reviews and now everyone is buying it (me included ;)). So, apparently, reviews DO make a difference. I bet if this was coming in with 6-7, or even 7-8 scores all around, there wouldn't be this avalanche of CAG purchases before the game even hits.[/QUOTE]

I don't happen to be one of those people -- I actually find reviews helpful -- but that's probably true. My take on this is pretty parallel to how I use movie reviews: if a movie I wasn't inclined to see gets good enough reviews, I'll suck up my preconceptions and give it a shot. If a movie I'm looking forward to gets poor reviews, though, they don't really matter -- I'm perfectly capable of getting my money's worth from stuff that isn't necessarily top shelf. Why people don't try to experience the full range of the things they supposedly enjoy ("Oh, you game?" "Yeah, but just first person shooters and sports games.") is beyond me.
 
Picked up my copy. No preorder bonus though. I'll check another store tomorrow, but I'm guessing stores didn't get them (yet?) unless someone tells me different.

Unfortunately the Japanese release is cooler as we do not have a fold-out map for an instruction manual. Can't play for 4 hours though.
 
[quote name='botticus']Picked up my copy. No preorder bonus though. I'll check another store tomorrow, but I'm guessing stores didn't get them (yet?) unless someone tells me different.

Unfortunately the Japanese release is cooler as we do not have a fold-out map for an instruction manual. Can't play for 4 hours though.[/QUOTE]

I am guessing gamestop had it for you?
 
I just picked up a copy from gamestop b&m. They only got 3 copies in and didnt even know they had them. I had to argue with the guy for 10 minutes, he just kept telling me that they shipped today and that they would probably be out tomorrow. While we were arguing one of his co workers found a fed ex box with 3 copies in it. So it looks like b&m stores are not getting many, if any copies.
 
[quote name='trq']Why people don't try to experience the full range of the things they supposedly enjoy ("Oh, you game?" "Yeah, but just first person shooters and sports games.") is beyond me.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps most have tried other stuff and didn't like it? Game's aren't art (to me anyway--but to each their own). I'm not going to subject myself to crap I hate like RTS games, MMORPGs etc. just to "experience the full range."

I just play some games to unwind and relax a couple evenings a week, no need for me to step out of genre's I love to play games in those I've tried and didn't care for.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']I am guessing gamestop had it for you?[/quote]Yep, didn't actually expect them to have it before noon, must have had an early drop off.
 
Got the game. Just got to my hideout.

I have to say that this game is pretty awesome so far. I can't get the smile off my face. This game is like playing a cartoon it's so well crafted. The dialog is funny and the way you use the wiimote is cool. You get graded after each episode and there are lots of little secret stuff to uncover that ups your score.

The only slightly annoying things I've seen so far is the fact that whenever a character talks it's text, but they babble something along side it (mostly japanese accents. Zacku and such). This happens every time you scroll the text. In my view they just should have gone with full voice acting if they were going to be mumbling so much. The other thing is that the cutscene text disappears way too fast so I can barely read it.

Also there is more polish in the first 5 minutes of the game than in the whole of most other games so you can throw that "not polished" crap out the window.
 
Where have you guys seen it available?

I've called a couple Gamestops and they haven't gotten shipments yet... and Best Buy doesn't even have it listed on their site.
 
Oh yeah I forgot to say that when I got to my Gamestop the guy at the counter was apparently new and had no idea what Zack and Wiki was. He kept asking me what console it was for. Then the other guy (manager?), started laughing when he found out I was picking up Zack and Wiki. I don't know if he was laughing at the name or what, but whatever.

Also I think the Japanese version has a fold out map for the booklet while this one is just a regular manual.
 
[quote name='OMGpenguin']Where have you guys seen it available?

I've called a couple Gamestops and they haven't gotten shipments yet... and Best Buy doesn't even have it listed on their site.[/QUOTE]

People are reporting that stores are getting VERY LIMITED quantities of this game if they get it at all.
 
I asked about this game yesterday at Gamestop and got laughed at by the manager as well. He was laughing and saying. " You're kidding, right? Is this for you or your girlfriend?" What a dumbass.
 
[quote name='flizmo007']I asked about this game yesterday at Gamestop and got laughed at by the manager as well. He was laughing and saying. " You're kidding, right? Is this for you or your girlfriend?" What a dumbass.[/quote]
Should have said it was for his mom. I probably would have yelled at him or something for an inane remark like that.
 
Just called my Gamestop, they said that they've definitely received the game, but that they haven't processed it into the system yet. I'm gonna go pick it up in an hour. Here's to my first video game purchase in three months!
 
[quote name='supershammy']Just called my Gamestop, they said that they've definitely received the game, but that they haven't processed it into the system yet. I'm gonna go pick it up in an hour. Here's to my first video game purchase in three months![/quote]
I'd literally be waiting in the store right now based on the limited supplies in which they shipped this game out in. Between CAG, IGN, GAF, and Kotaku, I have a feeling this intial run might just sell out.

I mean Capcom really hasn't bothered to hype this game up and so it's apparent they're going to undership it. But since the internet folk, myself included, have hyped it up so much, I think that 97% of the copies that reach retailers are going to sell out. It'll be Phoenix Wright all over again.
 
Woohoo! Scored a copy at lunch from Gamestop. This was after trying Toys R Us and Circuit City. The clerk looked at me funny upon hearing the name, then turned and found it in the pile of new shipment stacked behind him. It looked like they got 1, possibly two copies in. This reminds me of the original release of Katamari. Very low initial shipment, sold out, and word of mouth spread. By then, there were none to be found for a good while.
 
both circuit city and target have it on their sites, but say not available for pick up in store, delivery only. i hope my local gamestop has it. went to toys r us and bestbuy last night and they didn't have it.
 
[quote name='botticus']Picked up my copy. No preorder bonus though. I'll check another store tomorrow, but I'm guessing stores didn't get them (yet?) unless someone tells me different.

Unfortunately the Japanese release is cooler as we do not have a fold-out map for an instruction manual. Can't play for 4 hours though.[/quote]

Was the pre-order bonus exclusive to Capcom direct? I notice GameStop doesn't seem to be aware of any of the recent ones, like the PW plushie.
 
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