PixlBit

Yuji Naka's latest effort may be simple, but it's extremely enjoyable.

As some of you may already know, I've had quite a bit of hands-on time with Ivy the Kiwi? thanks to my import copy of the Japanese title. You may also know that XSEED is bringing that title to America, with as far as I can tell, two simple but highly effective changes.

For one, Ivy the Kiwi? is now in total English, duh, that was an obvious one. The second and more interesting change is that the game is now in color, rather than the sepia tone found in the Japanese version of the game. The change only adds some reds, greens, and yellows, but the effect is pretty massive. The game looked great before, no doubt, but this gives it some flair and some visual pop. According to Jimmy Soga from XSEED, the change was made to accommodate American players, who they felt would appreciate some brighter colors. Basically, we're crows and we like shiny things. I agree.

Putting aside the aesthetic changes that were made to the game, Ivy the Kiwi? is the same title I have had the pleasure of playing for a month or two at this point. It's hard to explain exactly why the game is so much fun, but it just is.

Essentially, players must guide Ivy from the start of the level to the finish through the use of a vine platform you can draw with the Wii Remote. To draw the platform, you simply point at a starting spot, hold down a button and pull it to where you want the end point to be. Essentially, all lines you draw are straight, but Ivy can walk on them as soon as you drop the starting point. The implication of this is that you can do some neat stuff with Ivy once she is on the vine platform you have drawn.

Once Ivy hops on you can spin, and will have to spin, the platform in order to get her to obtuse spots on the map. Other times you will have to use the vines as a safeguard, disallowing Ivy, who has a forced forward progression, to walk into something that will hurt her.

In order to spice things up, players must collect ten feathers that are strewn about the level, most of the time put in tricky spots that require some amount of skill to obtain. Other times, rather than skill, players must solve a puzzle, all while Ivy is constantly progressing forward. Thankfully, players have five vines that can be laid out at a time before the first one disappears.

At times, this is a blessing, other times, a curse. If you are trying to get somewhere, five vines may eliminate Ivy from falling a very large distance and requiring you to redo a lot of the level to get her back. Sometimes you'll draw a bad line and have to exhaust all your vines just so Ivy doesn't meet her impending doom.

The concept of the game is quite simple, but it becomes complex in its implementation. Furthermore, it's extremely fun to play, and has an addictive quality about itself.

Ivy the Kiwi is coming this August to America thanks to XSEED, I strongly suggest you check it out.