Software:NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits

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Short description: 2009 video game
NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
Developer(s)Over the Top Games
Publisher(s)Over the Top Games
Designer(s)Rob Alvarez de Lara
Dr Juan de Lara
Mauro López Arias
Enrique Orrego [1]
Platform(s)WiiWare, Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android
ReleaseWiiWare
  • EU: June 19, 2009
  • NA: August 10, 2009
Windows, Mac OS X
September 27, 2010
iOS
July 6, 2011[2]
Android
March 20, 2019[3]
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (formerly Icarian: Kindred Spirits) is a platform game, originally released for WiiWare by Spanish developers Over the Top Games. It was released in 2009 for the PAL regions on June 19,[4] and for North America on August 10.[5][6] The game was later released in Japan on May 11, 2010.[7] Versions for Windows and Mac OS X were released on September 27, 2010[8] through the game's official website and Steam. The game was ported to the iOS as NyxQuest on July 6, 2011[2] and to the Android on March 20, 2019.[3]

Gameplay

NyxQuest screenshot

As Nyx progresses 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 thunder-bolts to kill enemies.[9]

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.[10]

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

The founders of Over the Top Games. (Left to right) Mauro López Arias, Enrique Orrego, Rob de Lara and Juan de Lara.

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 who requires help from the Greek gods to advance in her 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.[11]

The game features nineteen 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.[12]

The game was originally released under the name Icarian: Kindred Spirits, but was changed for legal reasons.[13] A port of the game for Windows and Mac OS X computers[14] was 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 D.R.M. free, while the Steam version is SteamPlay enabled and includes Steam Achievements. The two-player mode is missing from the P.C. port. Demos for both Windows and Mac OS X versions are available on the game's website.[15]


Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
iOSPCWii
Destructoid8/10[16]N/A8/10[17]
EdgeN/AN/A8/10[18]
EurogamerN/AN/A8/10[19]
GameProStarStarStarStar[20]N/AN/A
GameRevolutionN/AN/AB+[21]
IGN7.5/10[22]N/A8.5/10[23]
Nintendo LifeN/AN/A9/10[24]
Nintendo World ReportN/AN/A8/10[25]
ONMN/AN/A85%[26]
PC Gamer (UK)N/A65%[27]N/A
Teletext GameCentralN/AN/A7/10[28]
Aggregate score
Metacritic79/100[29]67/100[30]82/100[31]

The Wii and iOS versions of NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic, with a score of 82 out of 100. [29][30][31] Nintendo Life greatly praised NyxQuest's presentation and gameplay, and described it as "pure platforming bliss", while as one of the critiques to the game was it short duration of three hours.[24] 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.[18] Eurogamer stated that said console version stood out from its WiiWare peers and compared it favorably to the game Braid.[19] IGN called it a slow going but otherwise "fun and beautiful" WiiWare game with intelligently conceived and executed control mechanics and smart environmental puzzles.[23] The same website said that the iOS version delivers "memorable" puzzle platforming that requires some thinking and challenge.[22]

The Wii version was awarded "Best Indie Game" at the 2009 Campus Party event.[32] Due to its similar themes, the game has been likened to the Kid Icarus series.[33][34]

In 2017, HobbyConsolas named NyxQuest one of the greatest Spanish games ever released.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (2009)". https://www.mobygames.com/game/41429/nyxquest-kindred-spirits/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "NyxQuest". https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nyxquest/id443896969. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.overthetopgames.nyxquest. 
  4. ↑ van Duyn, Marcel (June 18, 2009). "Nintendo Download: Icarian, Let's Catch and Brain Training (EU)". Gamer Network. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/06/nintendo_download_icarian_lets_catch_and_brain_training_eu. 
  5. ↑ "Try Before You Buy: Nintendo Offers 5 Game Demos to Guide Holiday Shoppers". November 18, 2009. https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/kV9UOOMH7X7skdvy7r5hgjrE5JxU2uF0. 
  6. ↑ "Big Names and Brilliant Games Make for a Must-See Downloadable Lineup". August 10, 2009. https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/tG1QtWgMRGp3_xX6_rBWk5XYdoJCfLqL. 
  7. ↑ "ニックスクエスト（Wiiウェア ダウンロード版）[Wii"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=13386. Retrieved October 22, 2018. 
  8. ↑ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". Valve. September 27, 2010. https://store.steampowered.com/app/57000/. 
  9. ↑ Calvert, Darren (January 16, 2009). "Over the Top Games Interview - Icarian: Kindred Spirits". Gamer Network. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/01/over_the_top_games_interview_icarian_kindred_spirits. 
  10. ↑ rawmeatcowboy (November 27, 2008). "Icarian: Kindred Spirits heading to WiiWare - Kid Icarus clone". https://gonintendo.com/?p=64424. 
  11. ↑ Cullinane, Mark (July 7, 2009). "Interview: Over the Top Games". http://noaddedsugar.ie/?p=403. 
  12. ↑ Sorlie, Audun (August 6, 2009). "Kind Spirits: Interview with Over The Top & Steven Gutheinz". http://www.originalsoundversion.com/kind-spirits-interview-with-over-the-top-steven-gutheinz/. 
  13. ↑ van Duyn, Marcel (June 24, 2009). "Icarian Gets a New Name: NyxQuest". Gamer Network. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/06/icarian_gets_a_new_name_nyxquest. 
  14. ↑ Devore, Jordan (September 10, 2010). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits descends upon Steam this month". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/nyxquest-kindred-spirits-descends-upon-steam-this-month-183615.phtml. 
  15. ↑ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits - WiiWare". http://www.nyxquest.com/en/index.html. 
  16. ↑ Tan, Maurice (September 16, 2011). "Review: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (iOS)". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/review-nyxquest-kindred-spirits-ios--211555.phtml. 
  17. ↑ Holmes, Jonathan (September 3, 2009). "Review: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (Wii)". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/review-nyxquest-kindred-spirits-145745.phtml. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Edge staff (June 22, 2009). "Review: Icarian - Kindred Spirits (Wii)". Edge (Future plc). http://www.edge-online.com/reviews/review-icarian-kindred-spirits. Retrieved October 22, 2018. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Whitehead, Dan (July 23, 2009). "WiiWare Roundup (Page 3)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wiiware-roundup-review_3?page=3. 
  20. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (November 14, 2011). "Review: NyxQuest (iOS)". GamePro (GamePro Media). http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/224878/review-nyxquest-ios/. Retrieved October 22, 2018. 
  21. ↑ Reboucas, Eduardo (November 20, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/44881-nyxquest-kindred-spirits-review. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Davis, Justin (August 25, 2011). "NyxQuest Review (iOS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/25/nyxquest-review-ios. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Casamassina, Matt (August 10, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review (Wii)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/10/nyxquest-kindred-spirits-review. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 van Duyn, Marcel (June 20, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review". Gamer Network. http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/06/nyxquest_kindred_spirits. 
  25. ↑ Miller, Zachary (March 11, 2010). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". NINWR, LLC. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/22751/nyxquest-kindred-spirits-wii. 
  26. ↑ East, Tom (September 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Review". Official Nintendo Magazine (Future plc): 94. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/13243/reviews/nyxquest-kindred-spirits-review/. Retrieved October 22, 2018. 
  27. ↑ "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits". PC Gamer UK (Future plc). December 2010. 
  28. ↑ Jenkins, David (June 2009). "Icarian Kindred Spirits (Wii)". Teletext Ltd.. http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/df1892eed91ee2d6a551a374a3a8e384/Icarian+Kindred+Spirits+(Wii).aspx. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "NyxQuest for iPhone/iPad Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nyxquest-kindred-spirits/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nyxquest-kindred-spirits/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits for Wii Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nyxquest-kindred-spirits/critic-reviews/?platform=wii. 
  32. ↑ rawmeatcowboy (August 3, 2009). "NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits wins award". https://www.gonintendo.com/stories/99465-nyxquest-kindred-spirits-wins-award. 
  33. ↑ McFerran, Damien (November 27, 2008). "Icarian: Kindred Spirits - Kid Icarus In All But Name?". Gamer Network. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/11/icarian_kindred_spirits_kid_icarus_in_all_but_name. 
  34. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (June 24, 2009). "Kid Icarus "Clone" Changes It's [sic] Name To Something Less Icarian". Gawker Media. https://kotaku.com/kid-icarus-clone-changes-its-name-to-something-less-i-5302290. 
  35. ↑ Alonso, Álvaro (April 24, 2017). "Los mejores juegos españoles de todos los tiempos" (in Spanish). HobbyConsolas. https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/mejores-juegos-espanoles-todos-tiempos-62880. 
  • NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits - official website
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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