Wizorb

Wizorb is a video game created and published by Tribute Games. It was released on the Xbox 360 Xbox Live Marketplace on September 29, 2011. The gameplay is a cross between a Breakout clone and a role-playing video game. Wizorb was ported to Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It was released for Windows through Steam on March 14, 2012, with added achievements and cloud storage. Upon release, Wizorb saw favorable reviews from critics, with VentureBeat's Jacob Siegal listing it as one of the top 10 independent video games of 2011.[1]

Wizorb
Developer(s)Tribute Games
Publisher(s)Tribute Games
Designer(s)Jonathan Lavigne
Programmer(s)Jean‑François Major
Artist(s)Jonathan Lavigne
Paul Robertson
Justin Cyr
Composer(s)Jean Chan
EngineXNA
Platform(s)Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Linux, Mac OS X, iOS, Ouya, Nintendo Switch
ReleaseXBLIG
September 29, 2011
Windows
November 7, 2011
Linux, Mac OS X
December 19, 2011
PS Minis
July 25, 2012
iOS
August 3, 2012
OUYA
March 28, 2013
Nintendo Switch
October 6, 2022
Genre(s)Breakout clone
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Wizorb is a cross between Breakout and a role-playing game.[2] The core of the game takes place in a Breakout clone where the player can use magic to control the ball and help destroy the bricks and enemies.[3] The RPG elements concern rebuilding a town, restoring its citizens and leadership, and fighting mini-bosses and bosses within the primary block-breaking gameplay.[4]

Development

Wizorb was developed by Tribute Games and first released for the Xbox 360 through the Xbox Live Marketplace's Xbox Live Indie Games section on September 29, 2011.[5] The game is the first title by the independent developer Tribute Games.[6] Destructoid's Jordan Devore noted that high quality Xbox 360 indie games are often ported to the PC, praising, "Wizorb is one such game".[7] A port for Microsoft Windows was released on November 7, 2011, through the digital distribution website GamersGate.[6] The computer version can be controlled by a gamepad, keyboard, or mouse.[4][6] The entire game can be played using only a mouse, and the developer recommends this method as it "makes Wizorb rely even more on reflexes which feels great and makes the game a tad easier."[6]

Even before the Windows release, the developers were working on porting the game to Mac OS X and Linux.[6] On October 29, 2011, the developers stated they were considering porting the game to a smartphone platform, to which GameSetWatch's Eric Caoili exclaimed, "This thing needs to be on every device ever!"[2] Using the MonoGame programming library, ports were released for OS X and Linux.[8] The Windows version was made available through the Steam digital distribution platform on March 14, 2012.[9] The game was later released for the Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2022.

Reception

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[14][15][16][17]

The Xbox 360 and PC versions were rated as one of the top 10 independent video games of 2011 by VentureBeat's Jacob Siegal.[1]

Legacy

Cyrus was supposed to appear as a playable cameo character in the then-upcoming Wii U and PC game Hex Heroes,[29] before the Wii U version was canceled, and there is no indication that the game will ever be completed.

References
  1. Siegal, Jacob (December 24, 2011). "The best indie games of 2011". VentureBeat. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  2. Caoili, Eric (October 28, 2011). "Wizorb Releasing To Windows On Nov. 7 Through GamersGate". GameSetWatch. UBM plc. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  3. Lamotte, Sarah (January 18, 2012). "Wizorb Review". PC PowerPlay. Next Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. Podgorski, Daniel (September 9, 2015). "Through the Looking Orb: Wizorb and the Tradition of Short, High-quality, Arcade-style Games". The Gemsbok. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  5. Mitchell, Richard (September 23, 2011). "Tribute Games' Wizorb paddling to XBLIG Sept. 29". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  6. Conditt, Jessica (October 30, 2011). "Wizorb smashing into PC on Nov.7, more ports to follow". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  7. Devore, Jordan (October 29, 2011). "Wizorb prepped for a November release on PC". Destructoid. Gamurs. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. Makeout (December 20, 2011). "Wizorb". CodePlex. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2022. Note: Forum user Makeout is the creator of Wizorb.
  9. Hinkle, David (March 14, 2012). "Wizorb works its magic on Steam". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. "Wizorb for Xbox 360". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. "Wizorb for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. "Wizorb for PSP". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  13. "Wizorb for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. "Wizorb for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  15. "Wizorb for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  16. "Wizorb for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  17. "Wizorb for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  18. Devore, Jordan (October 19, 2011). "Review: Wizorb (X360)". Destructoid. Gamurs. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  19. "Review: Wizorb (PSP)". GamesMaster. Future plc. November 2012. p. 83.
  20. Zuccarelli, Dan (March 23, 2012). "Wizorb Review". Gamezebo. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  21. Aurio (July 18, 2013). "Test: Wizorb (PC)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  22. "Wizorb". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. November 2012. p. 117.
  23. "Wizorb". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. June 2012. p. 101.
  24. Slater, Harry (August 9, 2012). "Wizorb (iOS)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  25. Willington, Peter (August 15, 2012). "Wizorb (PS Vita)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  26. Ingram, Christopher (August 3, 2012). "Wizorb Review [US Import]". Push Square. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  27. Ford, Eric (August 10, 2012). "'Wizorb' Review – Breaking Out of the Puzzle Mold". TouchArcade. TouchArcade.com, LLC. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  28. Nichols, Scott (August 13, 2012). "Mobile review round-up: Pitfall, Organ Trail, Farming Simulator, more". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  29. Prismatic Games LLC (April 4, 2014). "Classes, Cameos, and Carousels". Kickstarter. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
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