GENRE
	Puzzle Adventure
	DEVELOPER
	Game Arts
	PUBLISHER
	Game Arts
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

The emergence of digital distribution plus a market expansion from core to casual means we're seeing an influx of unique, petite games which we might not otherwise have seen even five years ago. Developers have more freedom to create such games due to lower production costs, and consumers have more freedom to sample said games due to their lower price points. It's the difference between eating at a buffet and at a sit-down restaurant; the food isn't inherently better at either, it all depends on how it's made. The Magic Obelisk is an especially delicious dish at the WiiWare buffet.

The Magic Obelisk has a fairly simple premise: a young tree spirit named Lukus is in search of the perfect place to take root and grow. For all intents and purposes, Lukus is the embodiment of a seed; wherever he is, as soon as sunlight hits him he will permanently take root. Because of this, he won't get very far from the shade of the great elder tree without a little help from his friend Popo, a light spirit with the power to cast shadows from magical obelisks scattered across the land. For Lukus, these shadows act as bridges between the shadows cast by other objects such as trees and structures, allowing him to venture ever further out into the world.

From this basic premise sprouts a heartwarming story told through episodic variations on a puzzle theme, revealed across The Magic Obelisk's thirty plus levels. Players discover and master the use of several different obelisks, some of which cast icy, slippery shadows and others which cast gusty, wind shadows. All of these must be arranged in such a way that Lukus can safely traverse each ever-sunny environment. Common obstacles include ravines, rivers, the time-sensitive nature of created obelisk shadows and a general lack of shade.

Beginning with Lukus's own perpetual (but infectious) enthusiasm, the many characters he encounters enrich both the game world and his own journey's narrative. From the simple dialogue between the flustered elder tree and the boisterous, naive young tree spirit, the cast branches out to include Lukus's friend, a slightly older tree spirit named Luck, gentle bears and other animals in need of help, whirring, erratic gardener robots, shade-haunting ghosts and a mysterious gent on a quest of his own. Lukus wants to help as many people as he can, and so the story unfolds.

All of the characters are highly memorable thanks to unique design and a loving attention to detail, down to each figure's animations. For example, Lukus bounds from place to place enthusiastically, gazing about for the next path while robots clatter around as synthetic automatons and ghosts float through shade balloon-like, knocking into Lukus if he comes too close.

These ghosts are about as close as the game comes to enemies; The Magic Obelisk is more about traversing the obstacles of the environment to get Lukus safely to his goal. Players can move Popo freely in each level to cast the obelisk shadows, while Lukus wanders around within shadows and will automatically traverse a bridging obelisk shadow when he sees one. The need then arises for a bit of Lukus management, as he can easily wander into a ghost or a dynamic bit of shade if left unattended for too long. Happily, in addition to creating shadows, Popo can whistle to Lukus, directing his path and guiding him to precise points. The puzzles aren't too easy, nor are they too difficult, but there is a nice curve of ever-increasing challenge as levels progress. The unfolding, interwoven narrative of the characters Lukus encounters along the way will hold players' attention and keep them coming back, level after level.

While the main story mode can be completed in a leisurely five hours or so, each level can be re-played in a free play mode with the added challenge of setting record low times. Don't let a cold sum of play time scare you off; the game's relatively short length is reflected in its relatively low price: a mere 500 Wii Points. The Magic Obelisk has the high-gloss polish of a first party title and is easily at the pinnacle of production value in terms of what's available for WiiWare. From the over-arching, bright, storybook visual style, down to the little details of flowers and tiny creatures in the grass, The Magic Obelisk is a rich and memorable experience. If you're at all a fan of puzzles or charming tales (or any combination of the two), don't overlook this gem. For the price, there's really no reason to hesitate. Download, partake and spread the word, fellow Shadow Walker!

9.0/10