Nintendophiles 06.21.07
Posted by Theo Fraser on 06.21.2007
The controversy of Manhunt 2 begins as it receives its first official ban! Don’t miss all the latest developments on this situation plus my personal thoughts on the matter in this week’s Nintendophiles. Also on the card, I rundown my picks of the next ‘killer apps’ for the Wii, and look at all the other news items from the week.
I've talked about myself quite a lot recently, so for my Introductory Spiel Thing this week, I'll instead focus on some general pop culture stuff.
Saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3 last week. For the record, does anyone else hate the way it's referred to as just "Pirates!"? It's like the whole ‘TMNT' thing, I can't stand it. I guess as long as Transformers isn't called "Trannies" in the trailers, I'll be OK. Anyway, Pirates was OK, just basically more of the same. Kiera Knightly and Orlanda Bloom can't act to save their lives, which was cringe-making at first, but then actually became pretty funny when Knightly gives her ‘rousing speech' towards the end. I still enjoyed the film, but the first was most definitely the strongest.
Music-wise, I bought Modest Mouse's new album, which is full of brilliance. A very strong album with few weak songs. A new British band called Mumm Ra just released their debut album, which I also bought, and it is fantastic. They're definitely the next big thing to hit the Indie scene. Oh, and speaking of music, I managed to get my hands on the full soundtrack to Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. I can barely comprehend how good it is!
The Wii's had quite a bashing this week on 411, don't ya think? Jordan Williams and James McGee both laid the verbal smackdown in their respective columns, but thankfully all of you Nintendophiles came out in force to defend the console. However, James and Jordan's arguments were very intriguing, and got me thinking. I noticed a lot of the criticism was based on the longevity of the Wii, and whether or not it can sustain the public's interest, or just fade off into obscurity as ‘just another gimmick'. So I decided to take a special look at what we can all look forward to in the Wii's near future, as I analyse my picks for the Wii's next ‘killer apps'.
Metroid Prime: Corruption
Two months. That's it. Two months left of waiting until this beauty will be in your hands (assuming you live in NTSC territories, naturally). It's amazing to think we haven't seen anything of this since E3 last year, but that just goes to show how busy Retro Studios has been perfecting this to the best of their abilities. It's suffered more than a few delays, but finally it's nearly here. The last we heard was that Retro were adjusting the controls to make it more responsive, and better reflect FPS controls on a PC. If they've pulled this off, then wow, Corruption is going to be a must-buy.
The other great thing about this final part of the Metroid Prime trilogy is that it is far more story-driven than the previous instalments. Personally, in the original Prime, I found myself wandering around as Samus with little direction, wondering why exactly I was doing what I was doing. With Corruption, however, there will be plenty of interaction with NPCs and story-furthering cutscenes to give everything a purpose. Let's hope it's a fitting end to this remarkable series of games.
Super Mario Galaxy
DUH! Anyone not looking forward to this needs their head re-attached and their definition of FUN evaluated. This is the big ‘un. It's the most beautiful Wii game we've yet to see, and proof that despite the Wii's ‘smaller innards', it can still pull off next-gen graphics when it wants to. Watching the early movies of this, you really get the feeling this is the revolutionary Mario game we've all been waiting for since Super Mario 64 crashed onto the scene all those years ago. Control is as fluid as you could imagine, and being set in space will quite literally take the Mario series to dazzling new heights.
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
Resi fans worried about the move to on-rails shooting (no doubt having flashbacks of Gun Survivor/Dead Aim) should put their concerns to rest. RE:UC is shaping up to be brill. The thing that sets it apart from the usual light-gun offerings of other consoles is the fact that environmental damage plays a huge part. Everything you see in the game is done in full 3D, unlike the pre-rendered scenery in the previous games (save for Resident Evil 4, of course). As a result of this, you can shoot EVERYTHING! Paintings are knocked off their hangings, walls chip, wallpaper crumbles, glasses smash, chandeliers drop onto unsuspecting foes...literally everything can be shot up. My trigger finger's itching already! And I seriously can't wait to see what Raccoon City looks like in proper 3D. Also, despite being on-rails, it's not just a case of "shoot anything that moves as soon as you see it." Players are rewarded for holding off until the last minute, as your focus reticule becomes clearer and more accurate. Of course, you'll have to weigh up the fact that you'll be getting REAL close to those zombies! Ever wondered what zombie breath smelt like? You'll find out! With that in mind, it's got the potential to be the most chilling Resi game yet.
Battalion Wars II
This looks to have fallen under the radar somewhat, which is a great shame as it looks absolutely fantastic. The original on Gamecube was an unheralded masterpiece, only let down by its lack of proper multiplayer. This looks to be corrected this time round, as the Nintendo WiFi connection is being employed to take the series online. And with 3 online modes available, there's going to be tons to keep you hooked for months.
No More Heroes
It's been a quiet few months on the No More Heroes front, but that doesn't mean you should be anticipating it any less. Plain and simple, this is going to rock your world. It's wonderfully violent, it's GTA: The Nintendo Edition, it's got lightsabres in it, and it's made by the same guys who brought you Killer 7, which was so unbelievably whacky and out there it was tremendous. Currently, many developers are going for the "shake the Wii-mote until your arm drops off" method of control, but SUDA 51 and his band of merry men at Grasshopper Manufacturer are making sure it feels natural, structuring the remote swipes to help preserve the player's energy (so you'll actually be able to play this for more than 5 minutes at a time). The visual style is excellent, and the sandbox gameplay should please GTA/Godfather/Scarface fans. And knowing SUDA 51, the story will be totally insane...and that's a compliment.
Sadness
Again, we've heard relatively nothing on this since the first proper details were revealed in February, and have still yet to see official in-game screens or movies. The game went through a rough patch where it was dropped by its publisher, but don't let that deter you. This has the potential to be a ground-breaking title, something so innovative it will blow the competition out of the water. The game doesn't feature any "weapons" as such; instead, you'll utilise ‘environmental objects' in various ways to help you out during the course of the adventure. This is bound to give the game a really tense, exhilarating atmosphere, as you'll have to work out ways to use these objects you find along the way to defeat your enemies. Innovation is what the Wii is all about, and this certainly looks to fit the criteria. Anyone complaining that the Wii is growing stale needs to keep an eye on this one, as I get the feeling this will prove to be something quite extraordinary.
Manhunt 2: Banned before its even released!
Credit: CVG
So I started this week's edition of Nintendophiles a little earlier than usual, and had the majority of it done by Tuesday. Just as I was about to finish with the net for the day, I figured I'd check the news sites for any ground-breaking developments, thinking "please, no whammy, no whammy, no whammy!" And then I see it...Manhunt 2 has already been banned in the UK. "AWW, THAT'S A FUCKIN' WHAMMY!" (Old school CM Punk quote, for those keeping score).
It's been all over the news the past few days, but just in case you missed it, here are the details.
The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) have rejected the game on PS2 and Wii, meaning that it cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK. The game has also been banned in Ireland, after the IFCO (Irish Film Censor's Office) found "the level of gross, unrelenting and gratuitous violence" to be "unacceptable."
Hate-mail can be directed towards the Director and the Presidential Team of Sir Quentin Thomas, Lord Taylor of Warwick and Janet Lewis-Jones, who were the ones responsible for refusing to rate Rockstar's upcoming psychological thriller/horror game.
Director of the BBFC, David Cooke, spoke out about the matter, and had the following to say:
"Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board's published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.
"Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game's unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was classified '18' in 2003, before the BBFC's recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.
"Against this background, the Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public."
Anyone attempting to supply the game in Britain faces a six month jail term and a fine of up to £20,000. The game will not be illegal to own, but imports can be seized at customs. Preposterous.
You know what the best part of all this is? The backing of the ban by Paul Jackson, director general of UK games trade body ELSPA. This is priceless. Check out what he had to say:
"A decision from the BBFC such as this demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective. It shows it works and works well."
NO IT DOESN'T!!! IT DOESN'T AT ALL! The BBFC most likely would have rated the game ‘18', but were worried about the consequences of it falling into the hands of youths. In other words, the games ratings system DOESN'T WORK as minors still manage to buy/play the damn games!
So what does this mean for us UK gamers looking forward to playing the game later this summer? You certainly won't be able to buy it in high-street shops, so forget that option. My knowledge of internet distribution is a little lacking, but I'm assuming you'll still be able to buy the game via online sites. Of course, don't expect it on anything major like Amazon.co.uk, but its possible Rockstar could set up a separate site for UK purchase. However, with the revelation that imports will be seized at customs, I'm not even sure that's a viable option. It looks very bleak for UK Manhunt fans.
I am extremely disappointed with the BBFC, not because it has suddenly decided to have standards, but because of the DOUBLE standards it seems to employ. Basically, a realistic scene in Saw III with actual human actors in which a woman's rib cage is torn wide open is fine for public viewing, but cartoony violence in a computer game should be banned? That is absolutely ridiculous. Right now, I am forming a letter to the BBFC and the national newspapers, as I am fuming over this. Thanks, BBFC, way to frickin' spoil my week/month/year. You've got one pissed off Nintendophile on your case now!
On a lighter note...even MORE Smash Bros. goodness!
OK, I'll try and calm down now. Boy, that whole Manhunt stuff has got me ticked off. Let's look at some soothing Smash Bros. pictures, yeah? Alrighty then...
Nintendo's resident bounty hunter was shown in all her glory late last week, and Samus really looks marvellous. Check out the beautiful reflections on her trademark orange suit, pictured below. Oh, and kudos for making metal look...metal. Great work, round of applause for the Smash Bros. development team!
The next update on the official Smash Bros. site was the first to show off the brand new Final Smash moves that were revealed in a big update a little over two weeks ago. Below, we see Link call upon the power of the Triforce as he does battle against Wario, and then the aftermath of said attack. Wario doesn't look to be in too good a shape after that, does he? He no likey dem apples!
I'd also be remiss not to point out the stunning lighting effects utilised in Pikachu's Final Smash, as he prepares to unleash an electrifying bolt of energy. Kirby's expression says it all, kind of an "ooooooh shiiiiiiiit" face, whilst Fox McCloud hightails it out of there. And Mario? Well, he appears to be... dancing. Um...let's just ignore him for now.
All in all, it's shaping up to be awesome, as we all expected. And whilst I love seeing all these screenshots, can we possibly get some videos up please? Or...you know...something with Solid Snake in it? Kthnxbye!
Has Project H.A.M.M.E.R. been cancelled?
Credit: IGN
You might remember the short clips of Project H.A.M.M.E.R. shown at last year's E3 in Nintendo's show reel, featuring a mechanoid human swinging a giant axe around the place and smashing up stuff. It didn't look too complex, but certainly looked a ton of fun, and as it was a second-party title, it was assumed that it would turn out to be pretty damn good. Which is why it came as somewhat of a surprise to learn that the title has possibly been canned.
According to IGN, sources close to the development studio (NST) have spoken out regarding the progress of the game, saying that Nintendo terminated the project. It was then further claimed that the team formerly working on the title is now underway with one or more efforts that fall into the "expanded audience" lineup of games, i.e. the more simple and intuitive titles aimed at casual gamers and the mass market.
A reason for Project H.A.M.M.E.R's termination has not been given, and the higher ups at Nintendo have not been available for official confirmation.
It's worth noting that apparently Nintendo is actively re-working some traditional/hardcore games being produced by second-party developers so as to be more accessible and intuitive to casual gamers. Perhaps that was a factor in why (assuming the rumours are true) Project H.A.M.M.E.R. hit the cutting room floor.
Great Nintendo Gaming Moments
Goldeneye 007. The name strikes fear in FPS developers the world over. It can never be topped. Hell, it can rarely be matched. It's a classic for a reason. For some, it was THE reason to buy a Nintendo 64. And whilst the game as a whole is a masterpiece, and a pure example of how a game should be made, I'm going to ignore the magnificent single player for the purposes of this article, and focus solely on the multiplayer. Because the multiplayer in Goldeneye 007 is the definition of a Great Nintendo Gaming Moment.
But hold on a second, I'm not going to talk about the multiplayer as a whole. No, for me there is one defining moment of the multplayer mode in Goldeneye and that is...the Facility level.
Playing the Facility map always meant you were guaranteed some classic moments of play. From the intense dogfights around the pillars of the checkered floor room, to stalking your prey around the massive grey tanks hidden away in the corner of the map, there are so many great and memorable places for a shootout.
Nothing could possibly beat hiding in the toilets, waiting for your friends to wander into your sights, as you frag them before they're even made aware of your presence. Of course, I tended to give away my position by giggling like a little school girl, but when you're having that much fun, who cares? Perhaps even better than hiding in the toilets yourself is when you REALISE someone is hiding in the toilets, responding by throwing a proximity mine on the door so they can't get out. Aha... ahaha... ahahahahaha!
What about the ventilation shaft ABOVE the toilets, and the sense of glee as you waited up there until some other cocky son of a gun thought he'd try and be clever by sitting on the toilet. You line up your sights, your foe completely unaware of your presence, and then BOOM! HEADSHOT!
If it wasn't obvious by now, I'm a pretty big fan of the Facility map. It's a brilliantly constructed level, and in a game that often takes itself quite seriously, it's just tremendous fun. Goldeneye is remembered fondly for a lot of things, but in my book, it's the Facility level that gets top trumps for being so fantastically awesome.
The 411 Games Crew
The 411 Games June Roundtable is up! Check out what the 411 Games staff had to say about the gaming industry in May, and find out which games you need to pick up over the coming months...and which to avoid at all costs.
I think I've fallen in man-love with Steve McHugh, as his latest Flashback focuses on the glorious Dreamcast title Skies of Arcadia, brought to the Gamecube a few years later. It's in my Top 10 list of RPGs, and definitely my favourite Dreamcast game, alongside Shenmue. Hey, speaking of Shenmue, can we please have the final part of the trilogy, SEGA? Anyway, check out Steve's column, and then head over to eBay to pick up a copy.
The Select and Start News Report, brought to you by Vincent Chiucchi, covers everything from Soul Calibur IV, a PS3 price cut (about damn time!), longevity of the Wii and plenty more in this week's jam-packed edition.
FINISH HIM~! Cory Moore takes a look at Mortal Kombat Trilogy this week in The Fun Factor.
Damian Sarcuni puts the Shadow Hearts, Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem series under the microscope in the latest edition of Angry Gaming, as he points out the inconsistencies and cheapness that plague the genre. I love me some RPGs, but I've gotta admit...he's right on the money.
Check out the Negative Edge News Report by Tommy Coloma for all the quirky news items from the week on emulation and Tomb Raider amongst a wealth of other news bits.
Andrew Mellick is back with another edition of The SIXAXIS, in which he looks at the PS3 price cut, the Church of England sharing a cup of tea with Sony, new info on Time Crisis 4 and much more.
