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Art Style Orbient - WiiWare Review

THE FACTS: Art Style Orbient
WiiWare | Nintendo | Out Now | 600 Wii Points (£4.20 / $6.00 Online)
Controller Compatibility: Wii Remote (Pointer)
Reviewer: Billy White

Orbient is the third and final game in the European Art Style trilogy, and has been adapted from it's GBA Bit Generations original. The basic idea is that you are a star that can generate both gravity and anti-gravity. Using these techniques, you must absorb other orbiting stars to grow and eventually be big enough to orbit around the glowing star in each level.

    There are lots of different levels which each take around five minutes to complete, and each one is fairly simple. You float around by pressing the A button to attract nearby stars and pressing B to repulse them. When you pass by stars that are smaller than you, they will start to orbit around you, and when you run into stars of equal size, you will absorb them and grow. You can also pass by larger stars and float around in their orbit, but this has no effect on the final outcome.

    The game is based on a really good idea, but sadly when put into practice, it doesn't work very well. This is all because of the awkward controls. Sure, it sounds simple enough, but the gravity is all over the place, meaning that if you hold the attract button whilst in between three differently sized stars, you may end up being pulled away by something a mile away off screen. The repulsing doesn't always work either, and when you're gliding towards a huge planet, you don't want to crash.

    If you can get over the minor control niggles though, with a bit of patience, you could come to really enjoy this. There are plenty of levels to make your way through, and each one also has a collectable moon which you can find by staying around the item for a few seconds until it starts to orbit around you (which is the same as what happens when you need to pick up smaller stars than yourself, or if you need to orbit around a bigger planet). Otherwise, there isn't too much to do here, and it's only recommended to people who enjoy puzzle games that don't go too fast, but still aren't too easy either.
Final Score
22/30
Good
Gameplay 8
It works fairly well, but the controls can often feel a bit lacking
Presentation 7
Not many memorable sounds, but the graphics are very clear and atmospheric, if a little dull
Enjoyment 3
If you're a big puzzle fan, you're sure to feel welcome here - just don't expect a fast paced thrill-ride, and prepare for annoying gravitational mishaps
Other 4
For 600 points, there's a lot to get on with here, despite a lack of any multi player or real high score options


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