Making its first appearance as a WiiWare title, Art of Balance introduced an enjoyable and wonderful puzzle style gameplay to the world of Nintendo. Then it became available for the Nintendo 3DS which greeted us with this same magnificent gameplay coupled with some nice 3D effects. Now, Art of Balance once again graces us with its presence this time over to the Wii U courtesy ofo Shin’en Multimedia.
In case you are not familiar with its gameplay, the whole idea involves putting various objects on top of each other ensuring that they don’t topple off or get in contact with the water below. However, there are various types of blocks that you need to consider in terms of shape, delicacy, etc. As a result, you will be constantly figuring out the right solution, thus testing your thinking skills. There is quite a bit of trial and error, but still the game is addictive enough to keep you engaged. Control-wise, it functions very well with its responsiveness and accuracy. And this is vital as there are times when you need to carefully place these blocks accordingly.
Art of Balance on the Wii U is packed with content on account of the numerous modes available, whether its via sole player or multiplayer. The arcade mode is your typical classic and familiar affair where with the added option of playing with four other players. However, it can be a double-edged sword during this co-op gameplay since it just takes one player to mess up and the whole experience can end up feeling frustrating, especially during the later levels when the puzzles can get pretty difficult.
Then you have the endurance mode, in which case you have a set of puzzles to complete given that you have only a limited number of lives. Here, your score at the end of the level will take into account the time spent to solve the puzzle, the number of remaining lives you have and the difficulty of the puzzle. Do well and your score will be posted via the online leaderboard.
Take note that there are other modes in Art of Balance for the Nintendo Wii U that can only be played with multiplayer. The first is called Tower Tumble where players take turns in placing a block. The last player to cause the resulting tower to fall is the loser, in which case, the other surviving players will be rewarded with points. This particular mode is quite amusing since during your turn you can set the situation up so that the player following you can be placed at a disadvantage.
The second multiplayer exclusive mode is Swift Stacker where players are divided into two teams. The objective for each team is to be the first in solving the same puzzle. What makes Swift Stacker also enjoyable is the ability to engage online. The only drawback is that if you have an inexperienced player, frustration will arise from the failed attempts. Or worse yet, if the player that you’re teamed up with does not play seriously and causes your team efforts to be naught, then you’ll have many moments of hair pulling.
Graphically, the blocks on screen are presented with a colorful array of beautiful textures and details. The background itself as well as the water have a nice rendering touch to it that successfully immerses the players with its peaceful and magnificent atmosphere. There is not going to be a whole of special effects, as in explosions and such, but there’s enough beauty to appreciate this game in its simplicity whether you witness on the big screen or even on the Wii U gamepad. As for the audio, Art of Balance gives a nice, tranquil experience with its relaxing and memorable soundtrack. Again, there isn’t going to be a whole lot of sounds other than the dropping of the blocks. Nonetheless, such an approach is appropriate and even welcomed for this type of game.
At the end of it all, Art of Balance is a remarkable title for the Nintendo Wii U. The sole-player experience is delivered swiftly with functional controls and gorgeous presentation while the multiplayer aspect really adds some moments of fun but also possible frustration depending on which players you run into. It’s not going to be the most advance or complex game out there, but the puzzle-solving aspect is very addicting. Art of Balance really is a work of art.
