Some people play games to go through stories or competitive scenarios and some even just like to play games to kill time. Arrow Time U is one of those games you play just to kill some time and have a little fun. This is the first game from ZenoHorizon and what better place to debut than on the Wii U console. As many may have noticed, the Wii U has been a great haven for many new and old indie developers to release their games on.
You play as an arrow in this title and control it with the left analog stick trying to reach the goal of each level. You can use the ZR button to slow time for dodging obstacles or projectiles and ZL is used to go through walls in your way. Each level is designed to make you think and wonder what is the fastest, yet easiest way to finish it. At first I had a hard time with Arrow Time U, simply because the tutorial was over so quick and honestly the second level took me quite a few tries to complete. This game is definitely a huge trial and error style with some spontaneous decision making with your time meter dwindling ever so quickly. Your time meter is a blue and white health style bar that constantly goes down and will decrease faster upon getting hit by damaging objects or bullets fired from turrets. The power bar is green and lets you know how much you can use the ZR and ZL buttons to achieve your goal. Every level actually starts you out with a different amount of power so you have to take caution with each decision, whether to go through that wall or slow down those bullets aimed right at you. There are pickups within each level, with some being a clock to increase your remaining time and a “P” that adds to your power meter. Arrow Time U has 40 levels and every eighth stage is a boss fight, well not really a fight since you can’t attack. During the boss fights you have to use your wits and actually make them attack themselves somehow by dodging strategically out of the way from their bullets.
The music is very upbeat and hyper feeling with sound effects that are repetitive, but do the job. One thing that got on my nerves right away was the announcer at the beginning of each level. Imagine the timer running out and constantly hearing “Ready”….”GO” every single time you have to restart. Visually it is very simple and that’s ok, because you don’t need amazing graphics to create a good game.
The Recommendation
Arrow Time U is a decent first game from ZenoHorizon and I personally am looking forward to any other titles they may be working on. Even though the only replay value to this game would be achieving a higher completion rank on the levels, for $1.99 I’d say it’s worth picking up regardless to support this new Indie Developer. For anyone looking for an inexpensive, but very challenging time killer then I suggest giving this game a chance.