Nintendophiles 05.24.07
Posted by Theo Fraser on 05.24.2007
Covering all the news to come out of the Square Enix Party, a host of name changes (well, two), a tremendous addition to the Virtual Console, and Metroid Prime: Corruption hits the stores in 3 months!
Wow, I can't believe what I've just seen. I'm at Hervey Bay on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, and whilst sipping a cold beer on the beachfront, what do I see? Literally tens of thousands of fruit bats filling the sky as they migrated over to Fraser Island (big thumbs up for that name!) for the evening! It was absolutely unbelievable!
And speaking of all things unbelievable, how about the video games-related news piece that hit the internet by storm early last week...Deus Ex is getting another sequel! Now, I don't normally talk about PC games, this being a Nintendo-related column and all, but I really had to comment on this. To some, this may not be such a big deal, but I personally consider the original to be one of the greatest games ever made. Deus Ex: Invisible War didn't quite live up to its predecessor's high standard, but hopefully Eidos have learned from their mistakes.
Eidos published the original game, which was developed by Ion Storm (a now-defunct studio), but the new Deus Ex will be produced in-house by Eidos' new Montreal studio. This will be their first project, so let's hope they're qualified to undertake such a task. Warren Spector, the creator of the original, is not on board this time due to other commitments. It remains to be seen how much of an affect that will have on the third instalment in the Deus Ex franchise, but I'll hold out hope for now. I'm just happy I'll get the chance to venture into the Deus Ex universe one more time. Hurray for me!
Alrighty then, let's get to the real reason you're here: the Nintendo goodness! Square Enix held their annual Square Enix Party last weekend, and there was a ton of news-bits to come out of it, but perhaps most importantly was the first concrete details regarding the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV. So we'll begin with that!
SEP 07: Final Fantasy IV
Credit: IGN, Famitsu
In the last edition of Nintendophiles, I brought to you the news of a DS remake of Final Fantasy IV. Not much was known two weeks ago, apart from its existence, but at the Square Enix Party last weekend, Square Enix representatives spilled the beans on what we can expect.
Famitsu magazine interviewed both the director and producer of the game, Takashi Tokita and Tomoya Asano, respectively. Tokita carried out the scenario and planning for the original SNES version, so it's certainly in good hands. Asano is no amateur either, as he worked on the FFIII DS remake, which fans are currently enjoying all around the world.
Tokita stated that he is at present rechecking the scenario of the original SNES game, deciding which bits stay in the DS version, which are cut, and which are altered. Not only that, but Tokita has promised brand new scenarios, which should be a huge incentive for FFIV diehards to revisit the game, if the added bonus of 3D is not enough.
Final Fantasy III on the DS looked great, but it was criticized for not making enough use of the dual screens. That looks to be amended this time, as the guys mentioned how they are hoping to utilize the DS's special features. In battle, the help window can be displayed larger thanks to the second screen. What this potentially means is that the Battle Menu will be displayed on the touch screen, with the action taking place on the top screen, hopefully eliminating the problem of everything feeling cramped. During dungeon areas, the touch screen is used as an auto mapping feature, meaning that you can move you character by dragging the stylus across the map, presumably much like how Link is controlled in the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. The D-pad will remain as the primary source of movement, but it's great to see this option included. Finally, Tokita and Asano commented on various stylus-based mini-games that will crop up throughout the course of the adventure, which should add a different dynamic to the proceedings.
As if a full-blown Final Fantasy adventure wasn't long enough, Tokita announced plans to give huge incentive for a second play-through, quickly dismissing the idea of extra weapons/abilities being enough. What this means remains to be seen, but I‘d hazard a guess that at a major turning point in the story, you'll be given the option of which plot branch to take, with a whole new ending to the game awaiting players who select the appropriate path. Final Fantasy IV was an astounding game before, but this remake has the potential of being something quite marvelous. A release date is still a way off, but by God I'm excited already!
SCORE! Paper Mario on the Virtual Console!
Credit: Nintendo Power
Throw away the Viagra, folks, this kind of news is enough to get me going every time! According to Nintendo Power, the legendary N64 classic (as voted for by me) Paper Mario will be heading to the Virtual Console! Nintendo Power selected the game as its top pick from the host of titles that will see a VC release in the near future.
Paper Mario really brought the humour into future Mario titles, so we can thank this game for the Mario & Luigi GBA/DS games and, of course, subsequent Paper Marios. It's a really fun scenario, as you would probably expect, and the gameplay has an unprecedented amount of depth to it thanks to an intricate Abilities/Skills system (known as Badges in the game). And uh...it's Mario...since when have you NOT wanted to play a Mario game? (Wow, THAT'S inviting some ‘colourful' feedback...)
It's a sensible move, as I'm sure that with the release of Super Paper Mario on the Wii, there are plenty of first-time fans new to the series who want to go back and see how it all started. No word on exactly when it will arrive in the Shop Channel, but expect it in the next month or two. Can I get a High Five all round?!
Wii NiGHTS name not necessarily finalised
Credit: IGN
At a recent press conference by Sega Japan, where the gaming giant announced its upcoming release schedule, it was noted that the highly anticipated Wii sequel to the Sega Saturn's NiGHTS Into Dreams has a new subtitle...in Japan, at least.
Announced a little over a month ago, the game went by the name NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams in the Western world. But at Sega's press briefing, the game was referred to as NiGHTS: Hoshifuru Yo no Monogatari. Which is pretty fun to say, but what does it mean? Well, a very rough English translation shows the phrase to mean "Story of the Night of the Falling Stars." And that's quite a bit different from Journey of Dreams, I think you'll agree. So what does this mean for us then? Sega haven't confirmed a new name for the NTSC/PAL version, and it's possible that this new subheading could be purely a cultural thing to make it more ‘Japanesy.' Whatever the case, the title hints at the content of the story...something about falling stars, presumably? Anyway, if Sega do end up changing the Western name, we'll probably hear from them in the next week or two. If we hear nothing, assume that Journey of Dreams is final.
Project Treasure Island Z gets a crappy name change
Credit: CVG
Capcom's upcoming pirate adventure/RPG game, formerly known as Project Treasure Island Z (purely a developmental name, of course), has received its finalised name...Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure.
Zack is the main pirate character we have seen in the officially released shots, and Barbaros is the talking skull from some of the more recent pics. Haven't got a clue who this Wiki person is, although it could be the name given to the Ocarina-type instrument Zack plays at regular intervals. Or perhaps it's TOTALLY wild, and Zack has to constantly consult Wikipedia to check on his facts in order to progress through the adventure. Just a hunch here, but it's probably not that last one.
Anyway...Zack and W...Zack and Wi...oh man, I can hardly bring myself to say it. Honestly, ‘Project Treasure Island Z' was possibly more marketable. The thing is, judging by what we know about the game thus far, it doesn't seem to be strictly aimed at kids; it's a ‘proper' action-RPG, so to speak. But Capcom could really be kicking themselves in the foot, as I can't see many older gamers happy about buying a game with such a kiddy-centric title. I mean, I can happily sit and watch half-naked, sweaty men tussle with each other every week on Raw and Smackdown, but I think even I'd be more than a little embarrassed to walk into a store and ask for "Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure." Capcom, please fire your marketing department.
Set your Charge Beams now...Metroid Prime 3 is coming!
Credit: Nintendo of America
Oh what a glorious day this is! After Reggie Fils-Aime gloomily told the world that the Metroid three-quel had been delayed indefinitely, things did not look good for dear Samus a month back. It was presumed by most (myself included) that we wouldn't be playing with the bounty hunter (calm down, boys) until well into 2008.
Fast forward to this past week, when Nintendo published their Q3 release list for the Wii and DS, confirming to the public that Metroid Prime: Corruption will hit US store shelves on August 20th! Excuse my rather basic response but WOOP F'N WOOP!!!
Corruption's August release is at least 6 months earlier than previously thought, which is a great bonus for avid Metroid fans. The Gamecube's first summer heralded a drought in quality games, so it's also particularly reassuring to see such a key title released in the Wii's respective first summer. Sure, you may be sick of Twilight Princess now, and sure, you've gone over every Wario Ware: Smooth Moves minigame a gazillion times, but you better clear your schedule for late August, as you'll want all the time in the world to enjoy the latest offering from Retro Studios.
One Nintendo Game You Must Play Today
Since coming to Australia, I've pretty much neglected my usual features, as I haven't had as much time to dedicate to them as I would have liked. But ONGYMPT was the next scheduled feature, so it returns RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW! Yes, I can smell your anticipation.
I often turn to Nintendo's vast back catalogue of games when looking for a subject for this feature, but it's important not to overlook the current gems out in the shops as we speak. I've been spending an awful lot of time on my DS as of late, and the game that constantly occupies the card slot is none other than Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. It may be a little obscure for some, possibly a bit too niche, but it is without a doubt a game that you should at least give a go at some point.
So what's it all about then? Well, in case you couldn't guess from the Ace Attorney subheading, it's a lawyer sim. Think of it as Boston Legal: The Game (minus the awesome Denny Crane, natch) and you're half way there. You play as the titular character, Phoenix Wright, who, in this game at least, is a rookie attorney, specialising in murder trials. Sure, gameplay isn't anything revolutionary, being mostly point-n-click, but it's the total package that makes it so great.
It's very text heavy, which admittedly might not be to everyone's tastes, but fortunately the script is extremely witty and well executed. The humorous dialogue had me chuckling on numerous occasions, and there are plenty of tongue in cheek character names, such as ‘Sal Manella', ‘April May,' and ‘Redd White' (who works for ‘Bluecorp'). Sal Manella had me in stitches with his geeky ‘l33t' speech, asking Maya (the geisha-dressed assistant of Phoenix) if she likes cosplay. F'n gold. And it's not just the dialogue; the plot to each chapter is carefully and cleverly constructed, and it's very rewarding when you start to see loose ends tie up in later chapters. The characters are exceptionally well thought out and designed; for once you actually care about what happens to them and connect with the scenarios of each trial. Phoenix is a genuinely amiable character, rarely annoying like many other leading characters these days, which really helps you become involved with the proceedings.
Whoever says the DS is incapable of busting out some good tunes needs to listen to the wicked musical score for Phoenix Wright. I've been humming the Witness Testimony song for weeks! I'm incredibly jealous of Japanese fans, so much so it hurts a little bit, as the lucky S.O.B.s can actually buy the soundtrack in shops. Try and find some samples of the songs somewhere, they're perfect for the required atmosphere in the game, and most have a feel-good nature to them.
So it's bliss on the ears, it's a great read, and above all else, it's fun! You'll enjoy sorting through your evidence or scouting out a murder scene for clues, as the stylus makes everything so slick and easy. Whilst the visuals certainly don't push the DS in any way, the anime style is tremendous, and allows the characters to be particularly expressive; an all-important feature when you're trying to determine who looks suspicious. There really isn't much to dislike, apart from if you don't like your games to be too wordy, in which case you'll find it frustrating to sift through all the text. If you enjoyed Hotel Dusk: Room 215, you'll get an equally enjoyable experience out of this one, so a big recommendation goes out to fans of that game.
The sequel to Ace Attorney, Justice for All is out now, and is just as good, albeit more of the same. With shops usually dedicating shelf space to newer titles, you should be able to pick up the original for a budget price. The DS has been commended on its large array of different genres and titles, and the Phoenix Wright series certainly adds some variety. Give it a try; as unlikely as it sounds, this lawyer-based text adventure is one of the top titles on the system.
The 411 Games Crew
Yay, I finally managed to sit down and have a read of some of these! There's some great stuff on 411 Games at the moment, so make sure you check everything out.
Next Thursday I'll be on a plane on my way home, probably somewhere over Dubai, which means that a Nintendophiles entry will probably be unlikely. If I can find internet access on Tuesday, I can get it up early, but if not, you'll hear from me in two weeks! I‘ll probably be clinically depressed as there is no way England can possibly look good after the delights I've experienced Down Under, but looking on the bright side...I'll be able to play my Wii again!!! :)
