NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
Developer(s)	Over The Top Games
Publisher(s)	Over The Top Games
Platform(s)	WiiWare, Windows, Mac OS X, Apple iOS
Release date(s)	WiiWare EU June 19, 2009 NA August 10, 2009 Windows & Mac OS X September 27, 2010
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player, Co-op multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E OFLC: G PEGI: 7
Media/distribution	Download

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (formerly Icarian: Kindred Spirits) is a game, originally released for WiiWare by Spanish developers Over the Top Games. It was released in the PAL regions on June 19, 2009,^[1] in North America on August 10, 2009^[2] and in Japan on May 11, 2010. A demo of the game was released in North America on November 16, 2009.^[3] Versions for Windows and Mac OS X were released on September 27, 2010^[4] through the game's official website and Steam.

Gameplay

The game is set in Ancient Greece and incorporates mythological creatures and the Greek gods into the world of the game. Players control Nyx, a winged girl, who has befriended Icarus after he flies to her realm in the sky. When Icarus mysteriously disappears, Nyx sets out to find him in the ruined world below. As they progress through the game, players will be given special powers by gods such as Zeus and Eolus which gives them the ability to move objects, manipulate the scenery, control the wind and to cast rays to kill enemies.^[5]

Wii Players control Nyx and the powers of the gods by using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Players use the analogue stick on the Nunchuk to move Nyx and control her flight, while powers are cast by pointing at the screen and onto different objects with an onscreen reticule. The Wii version also features a two-player cooperative mode, with one player directly controlling Nyx and the other controlling the gods' powers.^[6]

Development

NyxQuest screenshot

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits is Over the Top's first project as a company, and was developed by a team of 4 people. The developer decided to use the Ancient Greece setting to explore the idea of a character that requires help from the Greek gods to advance in their adventure, and chose the Wii as a platform to take advantage of gameplay mechanics that use the Wii Remote. The team also wanted to create a game that had a flying character with wings. In early prototypes of the game, Icarus was the main playable character, but was changed to Nyx to make the story more interesting.^[7]

The game features 19 minutes of music from composer Steven Gutheinz. The developers only intended to use five minutes of music but were impressed enough to use everything he had composed for the project. Gutheinz worked from concept drawings, screenshots and video from the unfinished game to develop the soundtrack.^[8]

The game was originally released under the name Icarian: Kindred Spirits, but was changed due to legal reasons.^[9][10]

A port of the game for Windows and Mac OS X computers was announced on September 9, 2010^[11] and released on September 27, 2010 through the game's official website and Steam. It features enhanced graphics and is controlled with the keyboard and mouse. The version from the official website is completely DRM free, while the Steam version is SteamPlay enabled and includes Steam Achievements. The two-player mode is missing from the PC port. Demos for both Windows and Mac OS X versions are available on the game's website.^[12]

Name

Soon after its release in PAL regions (under the name Icarian: Kindred Spirits), the developers were forced to change the name.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	82%[13]
Metacritic	82[14]
Review scores
Publication	Score
Edge	8/10
Eurogamer	8/10
IGN	8.5/10
Official Nintendo Magazine	85%

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits has received largely positive reviews from critics. Nintendo Life greatly praised NyxQuest's presentation and gameplay, but were slightly disappointed that the game could be completed in as little as three hours, albeit time spent in "pure platforming bliss".^[15] Edge called the game a "surprisingly robust platformer" and "a simple pleasure" with perfect pacing, creative levels and exquisite presentation.^[16] Eurogamer stated that the game stood out from its WiiWare peers and compared it favorably to the game Braid.^[17] IGN called it a slow going but otherwise "fun and beautiful" WiiWare game with intelligently conceived and executed control mechanics and smart environmental puzzles.^[18]

NyxQuest was awarded "Best Indie Game" at the 2009 Campus Party event.^[19] Due to its similar themes, the game has been likened to the Kid Icarus series.^[20][21]

References

1. ^ "Nintendo Download: Icarian, Let's Catch and Brain Training (EU)". Nintendolife.com. 2009-06-18. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/06/nintendo_download_icarian_lets_catch_and_brain_training_eu. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
2. ^ "Big Names and Brilliant Games Make for a Must-See Downloadable Lineup". Nintendo of America. 2009-08-10. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/tG1QtWgMRGp3_xX6_rBWk5XYdoJCfLqL. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
3. ^ "Try Before You Buy: Nintendo Offers 5 Game Demos to Guide Holiday Shoppers". Nintendo of America. 2009-11-18. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/kV9UOOMH7X7skdvy7r5hgjrE5JxU2uF0. Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
4. ^ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits on Steam". Store.steampowered.com. 2010-09-27. http://store.steampowered.com/app/57000/. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
5. ^ "Over The Top Games Interview - Icarian: Kindred Spirits". Wiiware-world.com. 2009-01-16. http://www.wiiware-world.com/news/2009/01/over_the_top_games_interview_icarian_kindred_spirits. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
6. ^ "Icarian: Kindred Spirits". Go Nintendo. http://gonintendo.com/?p=64424. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
7. ^ "Interview: Over The Top Games". Noaddedsugar.ie. 2009-07-07. http://noaddedsugar.ie/?p=403. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
8. ^ "Kind Spirits: Interview with Over The Top & Steven Gutheinz". Originalsoundversion.com. http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=3850. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
9. ^ "Icarian Gets a New Name: NyxQuest". Wiiware.nintendolife.com. 2009-06-24. http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/news/2009/06/icarian_gets_a_new_name_nyxquest. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
10. ^ Icarian: Kindred Spirits becomes NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Nintendo Europe (UK)
11. ^ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits descends upon Steam this month". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/nyxquest-kindred-spirits-descends-upon-steam-this-month-183615.phtml. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
12. ^ "Kindred Spirits - WiiWare". NyxQuest. http://www.nyxquest.com/en/index.html. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
13. ^ "Game Rankings". Game Rankings. 2009-08-10. http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/960162-nyxquest-kindred-spirits/index.html. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
14. ^ "Metacritic". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/icariankindredspirits?q=nyxquest. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
15. ^ "Nintendo Life review". Wiiware.nintendolife.com. 2009-06-20. http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/06/icarian_kindred_spirits. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
16. ^ "Review: Icarian - Kindred Spirits - Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. 2009-06-22. http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/review-icarian-kindred-spirits. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
17. ^ Dan Whitehead (2009-07-23). "Eurogamer review". Eurogamer.net. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wiiware-roundup-review_3?page=3. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
18. ^ Matt Casamassina (2009-08-10). "IGN review". Wii.ign.com. http://wii.ign.com/articles/101/1012701p1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
19. ^ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits wins award". Gonintendo.com. http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=91728. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
20. ^ "Icarian: Kindred Spirits - Kid Icarus In All But Name?". Wiiware.nintendolife.com. 2008-11-27. http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/news/2008/11/icarian_kindred_spirits_kid_icarus_in_all_but_name. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
21. ^ Kid Icarus "Clone" Changes It's Name To Something Less Icarian

External links

• NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits - official website
• nintendo.co.uk - NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits - Nintendo of Europe game page
• NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits at Steam