Wik and the Fable of Souls
{{Short description|2004 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Wik and the Fable of Souls
|image = Wikcover.jpg
|developer = Reflexive Entertainment
|publisher = Reflexive Entertainment
|released = Windows
September 14, 2004
XBLA
{{vgrelease|EU|December 2, 2005|NA|December 14, 2005}}
|genre = Platform game
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Microsoft Windows
Xbox 360 (XBLA)
Net Jet
}}
Wik and the Fable of Souls, also known in the Xbox 360 version as Wik: The Fable of Souls, is a platform video game developed by Reflexive Entertainment. The main character, Wik uses a combination of jumping and his long, grapple-like tongue to navigate the world. Accompanying Wik on his journey is a mule-like creature named Slotham. On each level the player must capture a set number of grubs and deliver them to Slotham, but getting the grubs to Slotham becomes more and more challenging through each chapter. There are various bugs that try to steal the grubs or directly harm Wik, and on some levels Wik can fall off the platforms into the abyss. Each level includes three gems; a ruby, an emerald, and a diamond, finding all of these throughout the course of the game is required in order to achieve the best ending.
The game is divided into 16 level sets of 8 levels each (or, on the Xbox 360 version, over 120 levels total). The game features a challenge mode which involves practicing acrobatics and other tricks used during normal game play.
Wik and the Fable of Souls won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize in the downloadable games section at the 2005 Independent Games Festival, and also made an appearance as one of the Xbox Live Arcade games on the Xbox 360.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/wikfableofsouls/news.html?sid=6144207 |title=XBox 360 Game Wik and the Fable of Souls Selected as the Downloadable Game of the Year |website=GameSpot |publisher=CNET |date=February 13, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614120946/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/wikfableofsouls/news.html?sid=6144207 |archive-date=June 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 24, 2019}} It was made available on Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1. The PC version of the game was made available for Steam in May 2007. In 2010, it was removed from Steam,{{Cite web |url=http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1515259 |title=No more on steam? |website=Steam |publisher=Valve |date=October 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200005/http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1515259 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 24, 2019}} but can be obtained via Amazon.com.{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KC00PM |title=Wik & the Fable of Souls [Download] |website=Amazon |access-date=2017-09-18 |archive-date=2023-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512024055/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KC00PM |url-status=live }}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| PC = true
| X360 = true
| na = true
| EuroG_X360 = 8/10{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=66624 |title=Wik: [The] Fable of Souls (Xbox 360) |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=August 11, 2006 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829102703/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=66624 |archive-date=August 29, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 26, 2017}}
| GSpot_PC = 9/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wik-and-the-fable-of-souls-review/1900-6152113/ |title=Wik & the Fable of Souls Review (PC) |last=Mueller |first=Greg |date=August 25, 2005 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 24, 2019}}
| IGN_X360 = 7.8/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/15/wik-the-fable-of-souls |title=Wik: The Fable of Souls (X360) |last=Onyett |first=Charles |date=December 15, 2005 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=March 24, 2019}}
| OXM_X360 = 8/10{{Cite magazine |title=Wik & the Fable of Souls |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |publisher=Future US |date=June 2006 |page=64}}
| PCF_PC = 80%{{Cite magazine |title=Wik & the Fable of Souls |magazine=PC Format |publisher=Future plc |issue=193 |date=November 2006 |page=104}}
| TX_X360 = 8/10{{Cite web |url=http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1104/Wik-The-Fable-of-Souls/p1/ |title=Wik: The Fable of Souls Review (Xbox 360) |last=Nardozzi |first=Dale |date=December 19, 2005 |website=TeamXbox |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223104046/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1104/Wik-The-Fable-of-Souls/p1/ |archive-date=December 23, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 26, 2017}}
| MC_PC = 88/100{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wik-and-the-fable-of-souls/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Wik & the Fable of Souls for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-date=April 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250403163527/https://www.metacritic.com/game/wik-and-the-fable-of-souls/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live }}
}}
Wik and the Fable of Souls received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. PC Format gave it a favorable review over two years after the PC version was released. During the 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Wik and the Fable of Souls was awarded "Downloadable Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2006&idGameAwardType=59 |title=2006 Awards Category Details Downloadable Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=6 November 2023 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106173152/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2006&idGameAwardType=59 |url-status=live }}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.wikgame.com|Wik and the Fable of Souls official website}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120418004205/http://reflexive.com/ The Reflexive Arcade]
- {{moby game|id=/wik-the-fable-of-souls}}
{{Reflexive Entertainment Games}}
{{Seumas McNally Grand Prize}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|border=yes}}
Category:Reflexive Entertainment games
Category:Seumas McNally Grand Prize winners
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Xbox 360 Live Arcade games
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