Toki Tori Review

Platform: Wii
Developer: Two Tribes
Publisher: Two Tribes
Release Date: June 2nd, 2008
Genre: Puzzle
Scores:
1. Graphics: 8/10
2. Sound: 8/10
3. Interface: 8/10
4. Replay: 7/10
5. Gameplay: 8/10
6. Stability: 8/10
7. Overall: 8/10

In 2001, a little chicken by the name of Toki Tori made his video game debut in a self-titled game on the Game Boy Color. Unfortunately though, by the time the game found a publisher, the Game Boy Color era was drawing to a close and the Game Boy Advance era had already commenced. Despite this, Toki Tori was met with fairly positive reviews. Know, over half a decade later, Toki Tori makes his triumphant return in Toki Tori, a remake of the original.

Perhaps what made the original so great was how unique the game really was. Using his special abilities, Toki Tori must search the lands collecting his buddies which are trapped in eggs. Once Toki Tori comes in contact with the egg, the chicken inside of it is let free. In order to pass each stage, all of the eggs must be collected. Using his abilities, Toki Tori will be able to rescue all his buddies in no time, or so it seems. As the game progresses, the difficulty level increases at a constant rate. Eventually the game gets a little too difficult, resulting in you spending a bit more time with each level.

Levels are comprised of a variety of things, ranging from towering waterfalls to wooden ladders. Each level is designed to capitalize on one or more abilities that Toki Tori acquires throughout his journey. The first ability Toki Tori acquires allows him to construct bridges in order to cross spaces. This ability repeatedly keeps getting build on throughout the game. In the first few levels, it's pretty easy to know where the bridge(s) have to. In the later levels, you'll need to do a little more thinking before you decide to build one. Once it's build, there's no reversing it and since most abilities have limited uses in each level, you may have to do a little thinking before finally figuring out what to do.

Besides abilities, Toki Tori has some basic moves that he has access to in each level. When he encounters a ladder, the option is there to climb it. If he encounters a small ledge, he can hop up on it. By pointing and clicking a spot on the screen, Toki Tori will run there, but if it's impossible to get there by foot, he'll remain stationary. To solve this problem, you can use one of his abilities to get there. By using the directional pad, you can switch between his abilities. All of the abilities and quantities of each ability are shown at the bottom of the screen for easy reference. Besides the Wii Remote held vertically, the game also allows you to play with the nunchuk or classic controller attached. Though I prefer the Wii Remote by itself, the other two control schemes may be worth looking into for players who dislike just the Wii Remote.

In total, Toki Tori boasts four worlds that Toki Tori can explore: Forest Falls, Creepy Castle, Slime Sewers, and Bubble Barrage. Each level in each world looks practically identical, with a few minor exceptions. Though the game is a little dark in color, it makes it easier for you to be able to see Toki Tori.

Like many other video games, Toki Tori also plays home to some monsters. Each world has a unique type of monster that suits the area well. Creepy Castle plays home to some spooky ghosts while Forest Falls plays home to some porcupines. Using Toki Tori's abilities, he can easily rid the area of monsters that try to stop him in his quests to save his buddies.

Unlike the original, the remake brings a new concept to the table. If you find yourself in a situation where you just can't seem to find out how to complete a puzzle, players can use a wildcard to get out of the mess. Wildcards will automatically allow you to skip over the level so you can progress to the next level. Be warned though, Toki Tori has access to only one wildcard. Once used, you'll need to finish the level you skipped in order to reacquire it. Since there are over forty levels in the game, you're probably going to have to use the wildcard quite frequently, especially in the higher levels.

Graphically, Toki Tori improved upon the original by miles. Everything has been given a whole lot of color and detail that look incredible in 480p.The soundtrack is also pretty impressive, despite that some of the pieces in the game are repeated for practically an eternity. Overall though, Two Tribes has really taken advantage of WiiWare in order to deliver a puzzle game that looks and sounds great.

All in all, Toki Tori is an excellent attempt at remaking the original. Though the difficulty level of the game can turn some people off, the six or more hours you'll actually spend playing the game are well worth it. Besides that minor conflict, the game is a must-have title for puzzle fans. Even if you're not a puzzle fan, it may still be worth your time and money to invest in this game.