Please Let This Be Good

I don't know what kind of company Hudson is. In the US they're practically irrelevant. Beside the occasional Bomberman release, they're not known for too much else here but in Japan, I think they're a much bigger company and more than just Deca Sports.

Recently I came across a new game being developed by HudsonSoft. Lost in Shadow.

It is easy to see that this game has a very similar look and feel to ICO. It's obvious so people don't need to get upset or make the comments that it is a rip off. That is not what concerns me. More important is the game play and setting.

The main character is a shadow. One of a boy that has been lost and is trying to a mystical tower while solving puzzles, platforming, and fighting enemies. I can only assume that all of this is in an attempt to regain what is now lost.

While the idea of having lost a shadow is not completely new, the usage of it in the world of video games and the potential game play mechanics has me excited. Let's say the character is only able to move by being connected to other shadows so to progress forward, a player must manipulate the environment to connect shadows. That kind of light reflection and light manipulation has only been barely touched on. If there are any Naruto fans out there, think of any fight that Shikamaru has been in, especially in his battle against Temari in the Chuunin Exam. The way me messed with shadows and used them to capture opponents.

To be honest though I'm not expecting that much. It is Hudson Soft here and it is on the Wii. I don't think that there is the personnel or dollars being put behind this game to make it even close to what my mind is imagining. But I'm sure I'll still try when it comes out next year.

7 out of 31,
David