I think a bit of a disclaimer is in order before you read this review, so there is no confusion as to what Lost in Blue is. It is a game of island survival, though there is no real danger on the island except for starvation, so it is a lot less like TV-hit Lost (or The Edge, if you have ever seen that movie) and more like Harvest Moon: Hawaii if there were such a thing. In fact, a lot of comparisons have been made between Lost in Blue and the movie Cast Away, and the analogy is quite accurate. So, if that movie bored you, this game probably will, too; if not, then please read on.
The Survival Kids series - to which Lost in Blue belongs – has been out in Japan for several years now, though there are only a few games in the series and only one has made it to the U.S. before now. The first one to make it was for the Game Boy Color, but the latest installment is for the Nintendo DS, and that opens up a lot gameplay possibilities not before available to the series. In Lost in Blue, you play as Keith, a high school senior out on his own for the first time when the ship he is on gets ravaged by a vicious storm. Swallowed by the sea Keith loses consciousness, and when he comes to he finds himself washed up on a deserted island. But all is not as it seems. As soon as he is able, Keith crosses to the other side of the island, where he finds a girl not much younger named Skye. Each one providing the other with their own unique and helpful skills, the two set off together on a quest of self-discovery, survival, and eventually rescue.
That is the way Lost in Blue might present itself at least, but the “together” part is a bit of a stretch as you will find out. Keith ends up doing most of the work as Skye’s own skills are limited to cooking, domesticating animals and converting raw materials into something more useful. It may sound like a lot, but seeing her at work makes it seem like a crock no matter how essential it is, since you are forced to become a one man Lewis and Clark. And the likening to Harvest Moon can only extend so far too. In terms of hunter/gather, the two games are almost identical. Lost in Blue just has more killing, less girl trouble and the added hassle of micromanagement. And, in those first few hours, that micromanagement can be killer...literally. No part of the game is as frustrating, or more crucial, as it is in the beginning, trying to nurse both Skye and yourself back to health. However, as you play more, the game will eventually settle into its typical pace and routine, only unlocking something new for you to do as you try and pry into the mysteries of the island. As you do progress towards the end, Lost in Blue will bump up the gameplay a notch, adding more difficult tasks and even puzzles. But other than that, it is a slow pace, with not much out of the ordinary going on, and one that is kept fresh mostly by the innovations the Nintendo DS brings to the table.
In a test of manhood, some cultures send their children into the wild with only a spear, Survival Kids for the Game Boy Color at least gives you a knife, but Lost in Blue for the DS gives you...a stylus? Well, it works. While the idea of completing the ordinary tasks of island survival with the DS touch screen may seem like an unnecessary and added stress, it actually helps liven-up the gameplay and keeps it from becoming too monotonous. Some of the tougher challenges in the game, such as furniture making (which also uses the microphone for some reason) and hunting/fishing, are actually not that tough at all as you soon realize it’s just a matter of timing and a little precision. Even digging up certain food items, such as clams and a variety of vegetables, is not as much of a chore as it sounds and can be done rather quickly with short, purposeful movements. The microphone is used quite a bit, though mostly for the repetitive task of fire making and for building certain things, as I mentioned above. And Lost in Blue also balances the gameplay with a fair amount of standard controls (so the game isn’t all about novelty tricks) and leaves room for gamers of all sorts to have a fun time while playing. The top screen is also used quite a bit, displaying three pages of helpful information that you can flip through on the fly. The first page is list of player stats, showing the hunger, thirst, strength and overall health of both players; the second is a local area map; and the third is a birds-eye view of the island, which tracks your progress and covers unexplored areas with clouds. It is these sort of subtle visual effects that also make me so keen on the game.
Every time we get complacent with the GBA-quality graphics we are use to seeing now, a new game comes out that reminds us what the DS is capable of. Unfortunately, Lost in Blue is not one of those games. The graphics aren’t bad, only just above par for what you’d expect from a GBA game, but they are also used to such wonderful effect that they come through when it matters most. Take, for example, one of the many hunting trips. During those expeditions will you really appreciate what Konami has done with this title, rather then dwell on what they have not. And it is not just with the graphics, but rather a marriage of visual and audio cues that ensure your ability to remain successful (and happy) in the game. As you stalk through the grasslands, you will slowly start to hear the sounds of nearby animals as they wander around and root about. This is your first sign to stop running, and then you use the sounds to pinpoint where your prey is hiding. Once you find them, you will know instantly what they are and what kind of trap you need to set. And the trap set by this game is that the graphics certainly aren’t ugly, they are far from being lush, but they are of such a quality that you won’t mind playing through a second time. And play you will.
Sometimes you may not even have
a choice in the matter, as it often becomes essential to take advantage of Lost
in Blue’s Quick Save feature that lets you save temporarily anywhere at
anytime (permanent saves must wait until you go to sleep in your cave). You can still keep your Quick Save file
around even if you are playing and saving in your regular save game. This feature is quite useful when you are
about to take on a new challenge, such as sampling the unknown and possibly
poisonous mushrooms or attempting to make a new piece of furniture, before you
have the timing down that is. You may
also need to use it as you try to finish the game, since it has several
possible endings, so to speak. I don’t
want to go into that, though, lest I spoil anything for you. Should you finish the game, you have the
option of playing through a second time, this time completing the everyday
activities that make up Skye’s day. Of
course this is assuming you decide to play towards the game’s ending at
all. One of the nice things about Lost
in Blue is that it is entirely up to you whether you get rescued or
not. You could continue to live on the
island indefinitely, filling up your scrapbook with the information you have
gathered (assembled automatically as you collect new fruits and vegetables,
catch new fish and animals, and make new items), finding every alternate path
and shortcut there is to be had, and spending your days as a
hunter/gather/provider for Skye.
Bottom Line:
Lost in Blue is not perfect, and it could be improved quite a bit, especially in terms of graphics, but it does have great variety. You will spend most of your days doing the same things over and over, but it will rarely feel burdensome and can often be quite fun, so you can feel free to get the most of the replay value it offers. It has a fair mix of DS-unique and traditional controls, all integrated flawlessly into the game so that they simply feel natural, which makes this game perfect for the gamer unsure about the type of gameplay offered by the Nintendo DS. Essentially, Lost in Blue is the right game for the right person. If you own Animal Crossing and more than one Harvest Moon game and are eagerly awaiting the DS release of both, then this is the perfect game to tide you over until the new wave arrives.
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8.0 |
Posted: 2005-10-13 18:20:47PST