Nintendophiles 04.05.07
Posted by Theo Fraser on 04.05.2007
Wrestlemania may be over, but WWE is still in the headlines with the announcement of WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 for Wii and DS! Come inside for the very first details, as well as news on the confirmation of a NiGHTS sequel, Resident Evil info galore, a host of new VC titles, and much more!
Hello everybody, and welcome to your post-Wrestlemania edition of Nintendophiles!
Right now, I am lovestruck by Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney on the DS. I bought it brand new for £10, and it is eating my life. Like an engrossing novel, I seriously can't put it down, which is perhaps quite fitting seeing as the game is quite text-heavy. That's no bad thing in my book (that wasn't meant to be a pun, don't worry), as it means the characters are all extremely well fleshed-out. Wright himself is actually a God, and some of his lines have been absolute gold; the game has a great sense of humour. I'm about half way through the adventure, but I can see already that I'm going to be forced to purchase the sequel. If you don't mind reading a lot of text, I implore you to at least check out the Phoenix Wright series. Capcom strikes a home run once again!
Anyway, an absolute TON of earth-shattering, life-changing news for you this week. So let's get straight to it!
These are crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy NiGHTS!
Credit: CVG, Gamespot, Maxi Consolas, SEGA
Yes, I did just use lyrics from a KISS song as my heading. Don't worry, I'll go beat myself with nettles after I'm done with this.
Anyway, for a couple of weeks now, rumours have been floating around about a Wii sequel to one of the Sega Saturn's finest titles, NiGHTS Into Dreams. Finally, SEGA have given the green light and have confirmed the title's existence, which will be called "NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams."
So far, we know very little about the game, save for the fact that it ACTUALLY exists, although we do know that the game will be set in Nightopia, much like in the original, and you'll be tasked with defending the world from its evil neighbour, Nightmare. However, it won't be a rehash of the Sega Saturn version, as there will be new enemies and bosses, and of course the Wii-mote will be utilised to its fullest extent, enabling you to fly around the level and perform all those twirly acrobatics that Mr NiGHTS does so well. A two-player mode has been revealed by SEGA, as well as some kind of ‘special online function.' I was about to give you my favourite line, "but no specific details have been released as of yet," BUT WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS!
Yes, SEGA's official European site has just unveiled even MORE details on the game, and possibly what this ‘special online function' is (although it appears that the information has now been taken down…but SEGA can't silence ME, dammit!). Supposedly, Journey Into Dreams will be making use of the WiiConnect24 service, by linking up with the Weather/Forecast Channel to altar the game's environments, kind of like the seasonal aspect of Animal Crossing: Wild World, but on steroids. Whether these alterations take place in real-time or not is yet to be determined, but it should make for a pretty exciting feature.
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams also looks to include elements from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, enabling the player to don three types of mask, opening up new abilities and giving you access to new areas of the game's seven dream worlds. The masks include a Dragon Mask, which turns NiGHTS into a giant dragon, impervious to strong gusts of air, the Dolphin Mask, allowing you to transform into a sea-dwelling dolphin, and a Rocket Mask, in which you become a rocket, and can zoom through a level at super-sonic speeds.
NiGHTS fans are probably in a state of shock after hearing this wondrous news, but fortunately for them, they won't have to wait too long, as the game is set to ship this coming Winter in Japan, with a pre-Christmas launch pencilled in for Europe. So that leads me to believe that you'll be seeing it around Thanksgiving in the States.
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 Wii and DS first details
Credit: THQ, IGN, GoNintendo
Wrestlemania weekend is always full of surprises, and THQ love to cash in on that fact. Prior to the festivities, THQ held their annual WWE press conference, announcing the first details on WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008, coming to all major platforms.
So first of all, what can we expect from Smackdown vs Raw 08 in general, aside from the inevitable updated roster/arenas? Well, THQ are boasting two new features to help spice up combat. There will now be eight different Superstar Fighting Styles, including Dirty, Powerhouse, High-flying, Technical, Submission, Brawler, Showman and Hardcore. This will give each wrestler their own ‘personality' as such, and make sure it doesn't feel like you're playing as the same guy all the time.
Then, there's the addition of the Struggle Submission System, which basically makes submissions a lot more interactive and tactical, instead of simply button-mashing. By rotating the analogue stick, you can add more or less pressure to a hold, and of course there are benefits and detriments to both.
Both of these new features certainly sound like they'll make the experience more interactive, and THQ have said that their main aim this time around is to go for a sense of ‘realism'. If you just made a joke about wrestling being fake, please go hang yourself now.
But this is Nintendophiles, people! We don't deal with petty multi-platform titles! No, we want the exclusives! The killer apps! The games that make you want to scream till your lungs fall out! Luckily for you, Smackdown vs Raw 2008 doesn't look like it will disappoint on the Wii…
Instead of me attempting to describe to you what the Wii version will be like, why don't you take a look for yourselves? The video is provided below, although I'm not entirely sure who to give credit to; GoNintendo? IFilm? Whatever the case, the video below is the full Wii demonstration from the THQ conference. Please bear in mind that this is an extremely early build of the game (we're talking pre-alpha, FAR behind the development of the game on other platforms).
If your thoughts were anything like mine after watching that, you're probably thinking "Holy shit, he just pulled off a DX crotch chop with the Wii-mote!" It's unknown whether that was just for show, or whether you do indeed fully motion the chop, but it's clear from the video that this version will be extremely intuitive and far more advanced in terms of Wii remote usage than we have seen before from any other Wii title. More than anything, it looks like Smackdown vs Raw 2008 will be a genuinely fun and satisfying experience on the Wii. Personally, I'm intrigued to know what gesture you have to pull off for a Candice Michelle taunt…
So we were treated to nice, hi-res pics from the Xbox 360 version, an intriguing video demonstration of the Wii version, but what about the DS version?
THQ confirmed that it will be a touch-specific title, requiring you to use the stylus to control your chosen superstar. The game will offer over 80 different holds/manoeuvres, which whilst being a significant cut from its bigger brothers on consoles, is still an impressive figure for a portable title.
Console iterations are introducing a new ‘24/7 mode,' (Career mode combined with the General Manager mode) but the DS Smackdown vs Raw 2008 will keep the traditional Season Mode, where players take their favourite wrestler to the top of the WWE to main event at Wrestlemania. The roster will be very compact, as THQ is selecting 20 of the top stars in the WWE, so expect Cena, HBK, Undertaker, HHH, Batista, Lashley and all of those main eventers. Likenesses are said to be pretty good, although only brief screenshots were shown at the conference.
The game will be in full 3D (so those fearing it would look like the awful GBA games can rest assured), graphically being on a par with the N64 titles like No Mercy. The control method has not been revealed, although with THQ stating that wrestlers will be stylus-controlled, one could guess that you'll pull off different strokes and/or patterns with the stylus to unleash your arsenal of devastating moves. Hopefully we'll get some concrete information on this soon.
Right now, that's all we know about WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008, but it's certainly got me excited. The Wii version intrigues me the most, as if THQ manage to get that motion-detecting down to a tee (as they have stated they are hoping to do), this could not only be a great wrestling game but perhaps a must-buy Wii title, much like WWF No Mercy was all those years ago on the N64.
Nintendo of Japan announce April line-up for Virtual Console
Nintendo of Japan has updated its Virtual Console line-up for the month of April, and it looks rather tasty if you ask me.
Wii owners will no doubt already be well aware that Starfox 64 was released via the VC earlier this week in the US, so if you missed out on it the first time round, don't make that same mistake again and get to downloading it now!
As for the Japanese line-up, Gradius 2 is a good choice, and no doubt worth a look for all you hardcore gamers out there. It's great to see Final Fight see a Virtual Console release too, as it was a launch title for the SNES and a pretty important one at that. Unfortunately, this VC port is of the SNES version (…obviously), which was the worst of the bunch, as it was quite heavily censored, and omitted a few features from the arcade game, such as a two-player mode, a third playable character, and the original fourth stage. Still a good game though!
Oh, and Punch Out is always welcome on my Virtual Console! So yeah, a nice selection of games this month. Let's hope they're all brought over here.
Resident Evil 4 to be Wii-made!
Credit: Cubed3
Ha, I get 10 bonus points for making up a new Wii pun!
Reports broke out late last week that a Wii port of the magnificent Resident Evil 4 was on its way in the next month or so, after US retailers Gamestop and Blockbuster both listed the game as being released in June for $29.99. Later, "Sofmap," a Japanese store, also listed the game with a 4,380 yen price tag for a May 31st release, but the listing was quickly taken down, suggesting a mistake had been made. However, respected Japanese gaming publication, Famitsu, has finally exposed the project, receiving confirmation that Capcom are indeed slaving away on a Wii conversion. But this will be no lazy port; Capcom are implementing full motion-sensitivity and Wii-mote support.
As you might expect, the Wii remote is used for shooting, and a targeting cursor will be applied to make the process that little bit more accessible. Reloading sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, requiring you to hold down the B trigger and shake the Wii-mote, prompting the remote's speakers to chime in with a joyous reloading sound effect.
Close-range attacks are also handled with the Wii-mote, simply by shaking the remote when an enemy gets a little too close for comfort. In the Gamecube version, this was done by pressing ‘A', the context button, so I'm guessing a shake of the Wii-mote will be used in all the context-sensitive areas, such as jumping through a window, kicking a door down or climbing a ladder. Knife attacks are handled in the same manner.
In case you are wondering/worrying, the control set-up is not limited to the Wii-mote, as there is the option of simply using the Classic Controller or a Gamecube controller, but as to why you would choose to do so, I have no idea, as the GC game can be bought pretty cheaply nowadays.
[GC screenshot]Ooooh, Wii-mote induced rocket launcher frivolity gets me all tingly!
Aside from the controls, there are a few bonus features which might entice you to purchase it again, even if you've already played the Gamecube original. "Easy" and "Amateur" modes will be included from the start, which will no doubt be a welcome addition to new players to the series.
In a bonus to loyal Nintendophiles, all the extra modes featured in the PS2 port will be included in the Wii Edition, such as the "Another Order" mission featuring Ada Wong.
The game will also come packaged with a special treat; the first full trailer of Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (which, coincidentally, is detailed below). A nice little extra for all Resi aficionados.
Cacpm confirmed the Japanese date as being 5/31 (just as ‘Sofmap' had reported), and whilst an official announcement of the game on these shores has yet to be made, its appearance on lists from Gamestop and Blockbuster suggest that it will be with us around June or July. At a budget price, this is a must-buy for those who didn't experience in a few years ago, and as someone who played the GC game to death, even I'M tempted to get this Wii version.
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles to be an on-rails shooter
Credit: Famitsu
Famitsu had even more Resident Evil news for its fans, as it revealed that Umbrella Chronicles, the upcoming Wii-only Resident Evil title, will be an on-rails first person shooter; a big departure from the third-person action/adventure we have come to expect from the series.
The Wii-mote will be used to target and shoot enemies, and whilst you won't have control of your specific movement, you are free to look around your surroundings via the analogue stick on the nunchuk. This is vital if you are to find secret items. Levels won't be entirely linear, as you will be given the option of which path to take at various points, which I'm guessing will function in a similar manner to Killer 7 on the Gamecube.
The command-based event sequences will return from Resident Evil 4, where the view will switch to a third-person camera, and you'll have to input various button presses and Remote motions in order to fend off your attackers.
The "Chronicles" part of the game's title looks to be an indication of the plot, with the player being treated to the rise and fall of the Umbrella Corporation, from RE: Zero right the way through to Umbrella's demise before RE: 4 kicked off. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine are said to be ‘heavily featured' in the game, leading me to believe that a big portion of the action takes place in the original mansion.
That's all the Famitsu publication had to offer at this time. As mentioned earlier, your first proper look at Umbrella Chronicles will likely be when Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is released later next month. A release date for RE:UC is currently unknown, and Capcom have reportedly said that production is only 25% complete, so we've likely got a fair wait on our hands.
The 411 Games Crew
We have just entered the month of April, and that can mean only one thing! It's time for the 411 Games Roundtable! Get in the know about all the upcoming releases by checking out the full article now!
The Select and Start News Report is brought to you by Vincent Chiucchi, who has a feast of news for you, including the news that everybody's favourite blue hedgehog will be taking a little break from the gaming world. Find out why in his latest report!
Greg Bruno debuts a new column this week in the 411 Games zone, and it is absolutely fantastic. With input from Dan Owen and Jordan Williams, Bruno asks "What If?" to those questions you'd never dream of asking. What if Mario was killed off? What if Sonic batted for the other team? What if Chris Tucker did voice-over work?
Andrew Mellick resorts to T&A to get you to read a Sony column. Tsk. Oh, there's also something about some Solid Snake guy…dunno if you'd be interested in that? It's all in the latest edition of The SIXAXIS.
Shawn Struck has all the odds and sods from the gaming world in the Code Games News Report. Find out what happened to the System Shock podcast, a plethora of Katamari goodies, THAT Grand Theft Auto trailer, and everything else in between.
Steve McHugh's Flashback turns to X-Men and Spiderman games as he concludes his series on Comic Book Video Games. Hopefully, Steve has his eye on Spiderman 3 for the Wii, as that is shaping up to be rather good.
The Digital Pulse pulls no punches this week as Joshua Richey tackles the touchy subject of Jack Thompson and his crusade against violent video games. Rumour has it that Joshua is currently in contact with Mr Thompson, so I get the feeling we could be hearing more on this matter reasonably soon…
As always, be sure to check out our Myspace page on a regular basis at www.myspace.com/411mania and www.myspace.com/411games for all the up-to-the-minute happenings on the site. Thanks for joining me this week, I hope you all enjoyed Wrestlemania if you watched it! Have a good weekend, and I'll see you back here at the same time next Thursday!
