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LIT (video game)
Encyclopedia
LIT is a video game by WayForward Technologies
for WiiWare
. The game is directed by Adam Tierney and co-designed by Tierney and Mark Bozon. It was released in North America on February 9, 2009.
The game has been described as a "horror puzzler", and its style of gameplay has been compared to Sokoban
, Chip's Challenge
and the Adventures of Lolo series. It is built around the concept that "light is life and darkness is death".
, which is overrun by shadowy creatures, to save his girlfriend Rachael, who keeps in touch with him through the school's internal phone system. The game also features unlockable content, including a much harder time-based challenge mode called "Dark Mode".
Played from either a top down or a third-person perspective, the game sees players controlling Jake with the Nunchuk as they aim an on-screen reticule with the Wii Remote
. The reticule helps aim Jake's flashlight and is the player's point of focus. The Wii Remote's motion controls are also used, with a throwing motion used to throw objects, and players shaking the Remote to recharge Jake's flashlight.
Using the flashlight in addition to other sources of illumination such as lamps, flares, televisions and broken windows, Jake must carve paths of light through the darkness to safely reach the exit in each room. Along with being used in combat against the monsters that roam the hallways, this manipulation of light will also play a big part in solving certain puzzles along the way. However, Jake must be careful in managing his sources of light, as some sources of illumination work on a timer, while having too many electrical appliances turned on will blow a fuse
, plunging the level into darkness and resulting in Jake being pulled into the shadows by the creatures.
During the levels, Rachel attempts to contact Jake through several phones scattered across the stages. The audio for the calls makes use of the Wii Remote's speaker.
After beating the game once as Jake, if the player received all the phone calls, they are given the option to play the game again as Rachel, playing through the same level, but with Jake giving the phone calls, who, still insists he will save Rachel.
an comic artist Foo Swee Chin
, with Jake's emo-styled appearance chosen to both fit the dark tone of the game and to create an interesting role reversal by having a teenager with a dark outlook on life becoming the one to literally light up his school. Jake is voiced by WayForward Technologies founder Voldi Way
, while Rachael is voiced by KROQ
DJ Nicole Alvarez.
In addition to expanded language options, the European release of the game features minor gameplay tweaks to address issues brought up in North American reviews. The game does not feature widescreen display options. According to Tierney, this is because each level is square in shape, though it was considered.
and Metacritic
. IGN
found the concept solid and "enormously creative", but found fault with occasionally awkward context-sensitive controls and inconsistent puzzles that force players into using trial and error in order to solve them. GameSpot
however, found the puzzles logical and the boss battles clever, but noted design inconsistencies.
WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies is a game development company based in Valencia, California. Founded in 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational...
for WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
. The game is directed by Adam Tierney and co-designed by Tierney and Mark Bozon. It was released in North America on February 9, 2009.
The game has been described as a "horror puzzler", and its style of gameplay has been compared to Sokoban
Sokoban
is a type of transport puzzle, in which the player pushes boxes or crates around in a warehouse, trying to get them to storage locations. The puzzle is usually implemented as a video game....
, Chip's Challenge
Chip's Challenge
Chip's Challenge is a tile-based, puzzle video game for several systems, including the hand-held Atari Lynx, Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, DOS, and Windows . It has also been ported to the TI-84+ calculator and the TI-89 Titanium...
and the Adventures of Lolo series. It is built around the concept that "light is life and darkness is death".
Gameplay
In LIT, a teenager named Jake must make his way through his high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, which is overrun by shadowy creatures, to save his girlfriend Rachael, who keeps in touch with him through the school's internal phone system. The game also features unlockable content, including a much harder time-based challenge mode called "Dark Mode".
Played from either a top down or a third-person perspective, the game sees players controlling Jake with the Nunchuk as they aim an on-screen reticule with the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
. The reticule helps aim Jake's flashlight and is the player's point of focus. The Wii Remote's motion controls are also used, with a throwing motion used to throw objects, and players shaking the Remote to recharge Jake's flashlight.
Using the flashlight in addition to other sources of illumination such as lamps, flares, televisions and broken windows, Jake must carve paths of light through the darkness to safely reach the exit in each room. Along with being used in combat against the monsters that roam the hallways, this manipulation of light will also play a big part in solving certain puzzles along the way. However, Jake must be careful in managing his sources of light, as some sources of illumination work on a timer, while having too many electrical appliances turned on will blow a fuse
Fuse (electrical)
In electronics and electrical engineering, a fuse is a type of low resistance resistor that acts as a sacrificial device to provide overcurrent protection, of either the load or source circuit...
, plunging the level into darkness and resulting in Jake being pulled into the shadows by the creatures.
During the levels, Rachel attempts to contact Jake through several phones scattered across the stages. The audio for the calls makes use of the Wii Remote's speaker.
After beating the game once as Jake, if the player received all the phone calls, they are given the option to play the game again as Rachel, playing through the same level, but with Jake giving the phone calls, who, still insists he will save Rachel.
Development
LIT features character and creature designs by SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an comic artist Foo Swee Chin
Foo Swee Chin
Foo Swee Chin is a Singaporean comic book artist.She is the creator of several alternative comic books, including "A Lost Stock of Children" and "Mince," published by Neko Press, as well as "Chimney 25" and "Zeet", published by Slave Labor Graphics...
, with Jake's emo-styled appearance chosen to both fit the dark tone of the game and to create an interesting role reversal by having a teenager with a dark outlook on life becoming the one to literally light up his school. Jake is voiced by WayForward Technologies founder Voldi Way
Voldi Way
Voldi Way is an American technology entrepreneur and founder of WayForward Technologies, a Valencia, California based videogame development studio. In 1980, at age ten, he starred in the film The Changeling.-External links:...
, while Rachael is voiced by KROQ
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
DJ Nicole Alvarez.
In addition to expanded language options, the European release of the game features minor gameplay tweaks to address issues brought up in North American reviews. The game does not feature widescreen display options. According to Tierney, this is because each level is square in shape, though it was considered.
Reception
LIT has been mostly well-received, holding an average score of about 73 at both Game RankingsGame Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
and Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
found the concept solid and "enormously creative", but found fault with occasionally awkward context-sensitive controls and inconsistent puzzles that force players into using trial and error in order to solve them. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
however, found the puzzles logical and the boss battles clever, but noted design inconsistencies.