Nintendophiles 08.05.09: Shin Megami Tensei, Crystal Bearers, FF Gaidan, and More!
Posted by Theo Fraser on 08.05.2009
UFC titles are Nintendo-bound, a look at the next installment in the Shin Megami Tensei series, an impressive old-school style WiiWare title emerges, and we have ourselves a Final Fantasy-fest with all the latest on Crystal Bearers for the Wii and Gaidan for the DS!
Hello everyone, and welcome back to Nintendophiles, THE place to be on 411mania to satiate all your Nintendo cravings. Out of the blue it's been a busy week in Nintendo land, so I'll forgo my usual ramblings about life, the universe and my poor Power Ranger Megazord toy (RIP, we hardly knew ye) that was *ahem* ‘dismantled' by a three year-old this morning, and we'll get straight to the Tidbit News of the Week!
~Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized heads to DS That's far too many colons for my liking. And why has the Call of Duty moniker returned? I thought that was being dropped? Hmph. Anyway, n-Space are bringing the famed series back to Nintendo's handheld (after a reasonably decent outing with CoD4), this time with added six player online capabilities! Survival Mode (hold off as many waves of enemies as possible) and Arcade Mode (the single player campaign with added time limits and score multipliers) have also been added into the fray. Could be good.
~ Monster Hunter Tri to see US release. Capcom have confirmed it; Monster Hunter Tri will arrive in the West in early 2010. This is something to get very excited about it indeed. 4 player co-operative online, two-player split screen offline...oh, and only some of the best visuals on the Wii! Just look at it, it's gorgeous:
Shin Megami Tensei series continues on DS
Credit: Cubed3
The non-importers out there likely won't be very familiar with the Shin Megami Tensei series, despite it being a massive hit over in Japan. However, you may well have heard of the spin-off series, Persona, with the most recent addition causing quite a storm on PS2. Well, Atlus are bringing the fifth mainline SMT title to the DS, entitled Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. This is the first mainline title in 5 years since the release of SMT: Maniax, so this is likely to fly off the shelves in the homeland. A release over here is very debatable; this sort of thing doesn't often see the light of day in the West, but the Persona fanbase may help its cause.
But if we're to care about it seeing a US release, we need to know a little bit more about it. The game's concept in terms of storyline has got me very intrigued, to say the least. As you'll see in the debut trailer below, a gigantic hole has opened in the Earth's atmosphere over the South Pole, which is apparently a new dimension, called the Schwarz-something or other. There seems to be some error in translation, with some sources calling it the Schwarz-Birth and others calling it the Schwarz-verse. I'd go with ‘Schwarz-verse' personally, a play on ‘universe' and considering this hole acts as a gateway to a new dimension, it makes the most sense.
You play the role of a Japanese member of a specialist task force put together by the United Nations. Your cohorts include Captain Gore, a US researcher called Jimenez, and Zelenin, a Russian scientist, and together they are given orders to go and investigate this ‘entity' over the South Pole. The team are given Demonica suits, DEMOuntable Next Integrated Capability Armour (Mmmmkay?), giving special abilities and regulating the team's health while inside the Schwarz-verse. In other words, the Demonica acts as your on-screen HUD.
Unique to SMT: SJ is the fact that the 3D first-person display is actually projected on the top screen of the DS, with the touch screen presents a map and the usual support information you'd expect from an RPG. A Metroid Prime-esque gameplay device, requiring you to scan enemies and objects in order to procure information, also plays a large role in the proceedings.
The development team have all been involved in previous SMT titles, so the project is certainly in safe hands. The debut Japanese trailer can be seen below, and it's looking pretty epic by my standards. Look for more on this as it becomes available, right here in Nintendophiles, as we work towards the title's October 8th release date.
FFCC Crystal Bearers squeezes full potential out of Wii
Credit: Cubed 3, Shonen Jump
Aside from the DS Final Fantasy remakes, Nintendo platforms haven't seen a proper, full-blown Final Fantasy epic since the SNES days. That's not to take anything away from the likes of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on the Gamecube or the more recent and well received Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings RTS DS title; they're still very good games, but they're not the proper FF title fans have been craving. When Crystal Bearers was announced, the debut snippets of footage looked extremely promising, but no one dared get their hopes up (and we'll ignore the fact it slipped off the face of the planet for 2 years). But in recent months, Square Enix have really pushed forward the idea that this is the Final Fantasy title Nintendo gamers have craved for so long. With a deep, twist-and-turn-filled story and a budget right up there with other mainline FF instalments, Squeenix are seemingly rewarding us for our patience.
Expectations are naturally sky-high, but the development team remain optimistic, assuring us that they are pushing the Wii to its very limits.
Toshiyuki Itahana [Character designer ]: We were extra careful about things like making sure to including exciting and heroic highlight scenes at regular intervals in the scenario, and using the visual capabilities of the Wii [console] to its fullest potential. Even right now, and for as long as time permits, the development team will continue to pour their efforts into the presentation and sound for a final product that looks and feels great.
Also, NEWS JUST IN~! Cid is back in the fold! Japan's Shonen Jump magazine confirmed that series staple Cid returns in Crystal Bearers, appearing as Dr Cid, a member of the Lilty race. This further goes to show that FFCC:CB is a mainstream Final Fantasy, and one that Wii owners can be proud of. A release before the end of the year is still on the cards, so we could be playing this in time for Santa, but do these things EVER arrive when expected? It's probably best to assume an Early 2010 date, and then be pleasantly surprised if it turns up earlier.
Old-school WiiWare title ‘La-Mulana' set to debut in November
This is La-Mulana, a remake of a Windows title by the same name, inspired by action-adventure titles of the 80s, often likened to the 2D Metroid titles in terms of gameplay. Hold the phone right there and count me interested! Various members of the Nigoro development team have spoken to gaming media about the project over the last few days.
Shoji Nakamura: We want to develop more games for consoles and bring back that 'excitement of classic games.' It's the concept for our games in the future, so thank you and bon appétit for the support!
Takumi Naramura [La-Mulana's Director]:We've been following the Internet chatter after our La-Mulana announcement. The reaction has been awesome and we're very excited about the reception from fans. Thank you! However, I want to address a fan concern that has been mentioned by blog commentators and some forums. The preview trailer we released is a Flash movie that was created for publicity purposes. Its speed is different from the actual speed on Wii. Don't worry, Lemeza's movements on the Wii are very fast! I think everyone will be pleased with the finished game. Please be patient and thank you for watching.
This is the first WiiWare title in a while that's really grabbed me. The music is awesome and feels very 16-bit, in a good way, with more than a hint of Super Turrican in there. Obviously a title of this ilk should appeal to the 2D Metroid fans, as mentioned, but I'm willing to bet it will tap into the market set by Mega Man 9; fans of that one should lap this up. No price point has been set as of yet, but I sincerely hope it's cheaper than Mega Man 9, which carries a 1,000 Wii Points price tag; a little steep for a title with NES-style graphics. La-Mulana arrives on WiiWare this November, so you'll want to start saving those Wii Points if you're a fan of the genre.
Final Fantasy Gaiden: First trailer revealed
More Final Fantasy for you, Square Enix are spoiling/killing us [delete as appropriate]! FF Gaiden is the title that was teased on their website, with a big countdown prior to its official announcement (because as we all know, 2009 is Square Enix's Year of the Teaser Site). Coming exclusively to the DS, this is a brand new Final Fantasy, and as you'll see in the trailer below, the artistic style is a bit of a departure from the norm, although the FFIX ‘big heads' remain, much to the dismay of those who prefer their FF cup of tea to be a little more realistic ala FFVIII.
Fans holding out for a remake of FFV and/or FFVI may have to wait a while, if recent findings are anything to go by. Matrix Software (the development team for Gaiden, as well as being responsible for bringing us the 3D FFIII and FFIV remakes) said they decided to create a brand new FF adventure as opposed to a new 3D remake due to the Game Boy Advance ports affecting sales of the DS FFIV. FFIV, V and VI were all relatively recently ported to the Game Boy Advance, and if that meant IV on the DS didn't sell as well as expected, they'll obviously hold off on making a V and VI remake until sufficient time has passed. As long as we get them one day, I'll be a happy man. I'd be an even happier man if VI was remade on the Wii, but that's beside the point.
Back to Four Warriors of Light (Gaiden's official subtitle), the trailer below shows off the game's unique visuals. It's got a sort of picture-book feel to it, which could well be what they are going for, in order to give it a fairy tale-esque atmosphere. The camera is significantly more drawn in than in previous DS FF titles, and you'll instantly notice the ‘rolling fields' viewpoint. If I'm being picky, I'm not sure I like the amount of fogging going on when it comes to indoor areas, but at least it seems to be smoothly implemented. There are a lot of nice touches and the world genuinely feels alive, especially the World Map, with a rather sexy night/day cycle (yay for sunsets!) and ‘background busyness' with what looks like flags fluttering in the distance. I'll have to see more of the fighting before I can properly judge it, but what we are shown looks promising. Check out the trailer for yourself, and if you're desperate for more info, fear not! With a Japanese release set for October 29th, we'll no doubt be hearing more from Matrix regarding Gaiden's development in the coming weeks.
UFC franchise heads to Nintendo platforms
Credit: IGN
With THQ finding such success on other platforms with UFC 2009: Undisputed, it was only a matter of time before the powers that be made the call to bring a variant of the game to the Wii and/or DS. The ground-and-pound aspect of UFC brawls are a natural fit for motion control, and I could easily see such a title finding a great little niche market, outside of the graphically superior 360/PS3 versions.
During THQ's first quarter financial call last week, CEO Brian Farrell confirmed the company's plans to widen their fanbase with a move to new platforms.
Farrell: We plan to build our UFC franchise by expanding international sales and by developing games on new platforms such as handhelds and the Nintendo Wii.
THQ and Nintendo are certainly no stranger to each other, so there's really nothing holding it back; it's a logical move for both THQ and the UFC themselves to expand onto the console with one of the most diverse audiences of them all. Whether or not EA follow suit and bring their MMA game to the Wii remains to be seen. Just don't tell Dana White I mentioned it...
Week Beginning 08/03/09
[VIRTUAL CONSOLE]
~ TECMO BOWL - 600 Wii Points
The Blurb: Released in 1987, the football game that took America by storm is back. This arcade version required a custom-made dual-screen cabinet and was popular for its large characters and intense graphics. The game is filled with great action as players take control of receivers and running backs, quickly moving the controller to break a tackle. Play alone or with up to four players in a two-on-two match. Experience the best moments of both competitive and cooperative play, finding holes in your opponent's defense, then savor the thrill of receiving a pass thrown by your teammate. In addition, game options such as play time, team division and difficulty level can be adjusted.
[WIIWARE]
~ OVERTURN - 800 Wii Points
The Blurb: OVERTURN is a futuristic robot-versus-robot fighting game. Choose from eight different robots to pilot and master, using various close-range and long-range weapons to blast away enemies in six single-player tournaments. Unlock secret modes and up to 12 new weapons. Customize your robot's color and weapons to prepare for your next battle. Then take the action online to play in a two-player Versus battle or a four-player Battle Royale match. Search the world for Friends or other players who are online and ready for battle. Players with the optional Wii Balance Board can use it to control their robots by shifting their weight.
~ Sexy Poker - 500 Wii Points
The Blurb: Get your pulse racing with a game of strip poker against a selection of six lovely manga-style women who may wind up in nothing but swimsuits or underwear when the final hand is dealt. Choose the classic Texas Hold'em Poker to be thrilled as the bets increase, or try the Black Jack game for a mix of chance and strategy. Discover the girls' personalities: they'll bluff you! Enter the photo gallery to see the pictures you've unlocked by playing and winning. If you're good enough, Emi, Sakura and their seductive girlfriends will bet their clothes to stay in the game.
[DSIWARE]
~ Art Style: precipice - 500 DSi Points
The Blurb: The sky is falling in the form of cubes in the action-oriented Art Style: precipice. Watch for the telltale shadow to avoid seeing your character get crushed by a falling cube while climbing the stacked cubes to ascend to the floors above. Push, pull or shove cubes to make your climb easier. Try to gain extra points by stepping on five cubes in a row on the same floor. In addition, you'll encounter special cubes that can either be helpful or harmful to your effort. Choose from either TEN FLOORS mode, which challenges you to reach the tenth floor while scoring as many points as possible, or TOWER mode, which gives you the chance to climb as high as you can. Do you have what it takes to make it to the top, or will you be crushed?
Sorry, Theo, articles that act like Persona was the first time Shin Megami Tensei found success in the west flat out piss me off. Strange Journey will see a release in the west no problem, considering there were 4 PS2 SMT titles released in the west before they even made Persona 3, and Atlus have brought over far smaller titles, this one will be their portable Magnus Opus.
PS. Mainline Shin Megami Tensei >>>>>>>>>>> Persona.
Posted By: Sean McCabe (Guest) on August 05, 2009 at 02:00 PM
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