NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits

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,[2] in North America on August 10, 2009[3] and in Japan on May 11, 2010.[4] A demo of the game was released in North America on November 16, 2009.[5] Versions for Windows and Mac OS X were released on September 27, 2010[6] through the game's official website and Steam. The game was ported to the iOS as NyxQuest on July 6, 2011.[1]

Developer(s)Over The Top Games
Publisher(s)Over The Top Games
Platform(s)WiiWare, Windows, Mac OS X, iOS
ReleaseWiiWare
  • EU: June 19, 2009
  • NA: August 10, 2009
Windows, Mac OS X
September 27, 2010
iOS
July 6, 2011[1]
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, co-op multiplayer

Gameplay
NyxQuest screenshot

As the protagonists Icarus and Nyx progress through the game, players are 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.[7]

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.[8]

Plot

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.

Development

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits is Over the Top's first project as a company, and was developed by a team of four 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.[9]

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.[10]

The game was originally released under the name Icarian: Kindred Spirits, but was changed due to legal reasons.[11] A port of the game for Windows and Mac OS X computers was announced on September 9, 2010[12] 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.[13]

Reception

The Wii and iOS versions of NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits received "favorable" reviews, while the PC version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[14][15][16] 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 was spent in "pure platforming bliss".[25] While the Wii version still had its original Icarian title, Edge called it a "surprisingly robust platformer" and "a simple pleasure" with perfect pacing, creative levels and exquisite presentation.[19] Eurogamer stated that said console version stood out from its WiiWare peers and compared it favorably to the game Braid.[20] IGN called it a slow going but otherwise "fun and beautiful" WiiWare game with intelligently conceived and executed control mechanics and smart environmental puzzles.[24] The same website said that the iOS version "delivers memorable puzzle platforming full of thoughtful brainticklers and leisurely challenge."[23]

The Wii version was awarded "Best Indie Game" at the 2009 Campus Party event.[30] Due to its similar themes, the game has been likened to the Kid Icarus series.[31][32]

In 2017, HobbyConsolas named NyxQuest one of the greatest Spanish games ever released.[33]

References
  1. "NyxQuest". iOS App Store. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  2. van Duyn, Marcel (June 18, 2009). "Nintendo Download: Icarian, Let's Catch and Brain Training (EU)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  3. "Big Names and Brilliant Games Make for a Must-See Downloadable Lineup". Nintendo. August 10, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  4. "ニックスクエスト （Wiiウェア ダウンロード版） [Wii]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  5. "Try Before You Buy: Nintendo Offers 5 Game Demos to Guide Holiday Shoppers". Nintendo. November 18, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  6. "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". Steam. Valve. September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  7. Calvert, Darren (January 16, 2009). "Over The Top Games Interview - Icarian: Kindred Spirits". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  8. rawmeatcowboy (November 27, 2008). "Icarian: Kindred Spirits heading to WiiWare - Kid Icarus clone". GoNintendo. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  9. Cullinane, Mark (July 7, 2009). "Interview: Over The Top Games". No Added Sugar. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  10. Sorlie, Audun (August 6, 2009). "Kind Spirits: Interview with Over The Top & Steven Gutheinz". Original Sound Version. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  11. van Duyn, Marcel (June 24, 2009). "Icarian Gets a New Name: NyxQuest". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  12. Devore, Jordan (September 10, 2010). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits descends upon Steam this month". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  13. "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits - WiiWare". NyxQuest. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  14. "NyxQuest for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  15. "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  16. "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  17. Tan, Maurice (September 16, 2011). "Review: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits [sic] (iOS)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  18. Holmes, Jonathan (September 3, 2009). "Review: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (Wii)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  19. Edge staff (June 22, 2009). "Review: Icarian - Kindred Spirits (Wii)". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  20. Whitehead, Dan (July 23, 2009). "WiiWare Roundup (Page 3)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  21. Matulef, Jeffrey (November 14, 2011). "Review: NyxQuest (iOS)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  22. Reboucas, Eduardo (November 20, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  23. Davis, Justin (August 25, 2011). "NyxQuest Review (iOS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  24. Casamassina, Matt (August 10, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review (Wii)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  25. van Duyn, Marcel (June 20, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  26. Miller, Zachary (March 11, 2010). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  27. East, Tom (September 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. p. 94. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  28. "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. December 2010.
  29. Jenkins, David (June 2009). "Icarian Kindred Spirits (Wii)". Teletext GameCentral. Teletext Ltd. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  30. rawmeatcowboy (August 3, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits wins award". GoNintendo. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  31. McFerran, Damien (November 27, 2008). "Icarian: Kindred Spirits - Kid Icarus In All But Name?". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  32. Plunkett, Luke (June 24, 2009). "Kid Icarus "Clone" Changes It's [sic] Name To Something Less Icarian". Kotaku. Gawker Media.
  33. Alonso, Álvaro (April 24, 2017). "Los mejores juegos españoles de todos los tiempos". HobbyConsolas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 23, 2019.
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