The articlegameplay, story, development, reception
Gameplay
In LIT, a teenager named Jake must make his way through his high school, which is overrun by shadowy creatures, to save his girlfriend Rachel, who keeps in touch with him through the school's internal phone system. The game also features unlockable content, including a much more difficult 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.
Development
LIT features character and creature designs by Singaporean 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.
Reception
The Wii game received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website 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.
