Nintendophiles 03.20.08
Posted by Theo Fraser on 03.20.2008
Nintendo is set to reveal a brand new title at this year’s E3, new details emerge for both Kingdom Hearts and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the DS, Bioware have their work cut out for them with Sonic’s sidekicks, and Activision unveils their DS peripheral for Guitar Hero: On Tour! Don’t miss the latest edition of Nintendophiles!
You guys are probably sick of me this week, what with my Play.com LIVE report, a hands-on preview with The Bourne Conspiracy, and impressions of Far Cry 2 coming tomorrow. Aside from all of that, there's still always time for a dose of Nintendophiles, so sit back and allow me to guide you through the week's biggest Nintendo-related happenings. We'll start things off with everyone's favorite gaming personality, Reggie Fils-Aime!
Nintendo to reveal brand new title in the coming months
Credit: GameTrailers
Reggie Fils-Aime has got the promotional bandwagon rolling early this year in preparation for E3, stating in a recent interview that Nintendo will be revealing a brand new title at this year's show, which will be released in time for Christmas!
Now I'm not going to pretend I have some kind of insider knowledge on what that title is, but I've definitely got a sound idea. The one Nintendo title that constantly crops up on release lists and has been rumored for a Christmas 2008 launch is...Animal Crossing Wii.
Oh, KK Slider, when will you grace us with your presence on the Wii?
It makes sense when you tie in Reggie's other comments:
"All I can tell you is what we announce during E3 is gonna be fantastic. The gamer is gonna be excited and the expanded audience is gonna be excited."
Expanded audience implies that the title will be something that appeals to the casual market, and with Animal Crossing: Wild World still one of the best sellers on the DS, I'd say the AC franchise is a sure-fire hit with the casual gamers that Nintendo is still intent on catering for.
It's all pure speculation right now, and there are other rumors floating around that the title in question is in fact a new-realisation of the Donkey Kong franchise, but Nintendo are, as always, refusing to comment, and I can't personally see how Donkey Kong would appeal to this ‘expanded audience' that Reggie talks about. Keep an eye out for that Nintendo keynote speech the day before the E3 festivities begin, when all will be revealed.
The Force is Unleashed on the DS
Credit: CVG
A couple of months ago now, I had a feature on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the Wii, and today we received word of how the Nintendo DS version would play.
The bulk of the title will be fully 3D, but feature 2D animated cutscenes, which will presumably be used to help forward the narrative. Control-wise, you'll move Darth Vader's apprentice with the D-pad, reserving use of the touch screen for lightsaber swings. This aspect of the game has the potential to be really strong, depending on how in-depth developer n-Space decide to go. It was far too difficult to implement 1:1 remote-based lightsaber duelling for the Wii, but on the DS, it would be simpler to animate lightsaber strikes depending on which way you draw with the stylus. Even at its most basic, I see a scenario for at least 8 directions of striking, plus a possible ‘stabbing' motion if you literally stab the screen with the stylus. Star Wars: Lethal Alliance wasn't anything too special on the DS, but n-Space have been given the chance to make this something a whole lot more than just a throwaway handheld port.
The DS iteration also has the bonus of a multiplayer mode, supporting up to four players. It's not online compatible, but if three of your mates have a copy of the game, you can all hook up, most likely to partake in deathmatches, but there's scope for a co-op mode as well.
Most Star Wars fans will be paying attention to the bigger console versions, and I'll hopefully be covering the Wii version again sooner rather than later, but gamers shouldn't be too quick to write this one off. As I surmised earlier, the potential is definitely there for this to be something worthwhile.
Kingdom Hearts fans take notice; new details uncovered on KH: 358/2 Days
Credit: Cubed3
Since it was first unveiled, we've heard next to nothing out of the Square-Enix camp regarding the development of Kingdom Hearts on the DS, Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days to give it its full title. But thanks to a French publication, some new details have been uncovered, and by the sounds of it the game is getting the proper KH treatment; this isn't some cheap spinoff, but a full-blown adventure for Roxas and co.
Of course, with all the talent involved, you'd expect nothing less. Studio Hand are the developers in charge, who previously worked on Chocobo Tales, giving them a good level of expertise with the DS hardware. Tomohiro Hasegawa is the co-director for the project, who was involved in the original Kingdom Hearts as well as Final Fantasy VIII, so once again the pedigree is of a high calibre. The music is written by Yoko Shimomura, who has done the music throughout the Kingdom Hearts series, and in the case of 358/2 Days, we can expect various rearranging and remixes of all the classic KH tunes.
Hints were made as to what the story would revolve around, and it appears that the title will take place at different stages through Roxas' life, from his first meeting with Organization XIII, to his battle with Riku, and Studio Hand are hoping to fill the gaps left by the previous two main KH titles. Much like Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, the game looks to pay lip service to the fans, and according to the report will deal with issues and questions raised by the fans themselves. I guess it pays to speak your mind then! Wow, whoda thunk I'd ever mention Resident Evil and Kingdom Hearts in the same breath?
A while back, Shonen-Jump magazine did reveal a few screens from the game, but just to confirm, the adventure will occur in full 3D with smooth animation and the usual high-res CGI cutscenes that Square-Enix have so beautifully transferred to the DS on numerous occasions before. On the field screen, or when in towns/dungeons, the camera will be a short distance behind Roxas, and you'll be able to control the camera with the DS' shoulder buttons, so as to set up the best sightlines for enemies and get the best view of your surroundings.
As for the surroundings themselves, 358/2 Days will feature the same areas from the previous games, but revitalised and recreated for the DS. Witnessed so far were Illusiopolis, Twilight Town, Agrabah, and Wonderland. It has been confirmed that no new worlds will come into play, but with a universe as extensive as the one in Kingdom Hearts, I can't see this being too much of a bad thing.
Finally, the DS offering will receive a multiplayer mode, but details are still a little sketchy at present. We know that you'll be tasked with directing members of Organization XIII around, possibly in an RTS-like manner, and that it'll be completely independent of the main story, which likely gives Studio Hand the excuse to chuck in every character from the Kingdom Hearts universe, past and present. Hopefully we'll get more word on this very soon, as this is a touch too vague to comment on any further. Sounds promising, though!
By now, everyone's well aware that Square Enix put a lot of time, effort and money into their DS products and treat them just as seriously as they do their console ‘big guns'. With that in mind, I see no reason why this will be anything less than stellar. Fingers crossed for a speedy localisation!
Bioware have more than just high hopes for Sonic: The Dark Brotherhood
Credit: CVG, MTV
This story caught my eye at the end of last week simply because it was a little ‘out of the ordinary'. Speaking in an interview with MTV, Greg Zeschuk, General Manager of Bioware, the famed RPG developer currently in the midst of making Sonic's RPG debut on the DS, mentioned that one of the key aims in writing the narrative and plotline for The Dark Brotherhood was to make Sonic's sidekicks and acquaintances into bona fide stars in their own right. Sure, Sonic can be incredibly cheesy at times, but he's still the lovable hero that everyone remembers from the Genesis days. Aside from maybe Tails and Knuckles, his merry band of followers remain largely unmemorable, if not incredibly irritating (I'm looking at you, Blaze). Bioware want to change all this, seeing this cast of characters as an opportunity to do something special, rather than it being a hindrance. Want to do something really special and just kill them all off please? No? Ok then.
In Zeschuk's words,
"I think maybe the challenge there, if people are not as excited about having the friends, is making them worthwhile, making them a good part of the game."
"They're not going to be gimmicky. They're not going to be side things. It is actually a core part of the gameplay mechanic. It's actually, we think, going to revitalize the love of the Sonic friends, especially Big the Cat."
If Bioware can get me to show anything other than disdain for Big the Cat, I will heartily applaud them. But don't take my cynicism seriously; in all honesty, it's a good move, and Bioware are the one development team who I think could actually succeed in this area. After all, these are the same guys that created HK-47, the awesome killer droid from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic with a sharp tongue and a penchant for calling everyone "meatbags". That is quality character design right there, and I really hope Bioware can employ that level of creativity to reinvent Sonic's stagnant and uncharismatic sidekicks. They've got their work cut out for them though!
Guitar Hero DS peripheral revealed!
After months of secrecy, Activision have finally revealed the peripheral that will be bundled with Guitar Hero: On Tour. Check it out in the video below!
It's certainly unique! I like the idea, and it looks like it could be pretty fun to play, but I can't help being concerned about the return of Metroid Prime Hunters-esque "HAND CLAW SYNDROME". Still, I can't judge it until I've had one in my hands (that's what SHE said...*sigh*).
As far as the game itself is concerned, 20 tracks are reportedly on their way, including tracks by Nirvana, OK Go and No Doubt, and the DS' microphone will be utilised in some capacity. Those worried that DS owners would be getting a watered-down version of Guitar Hero can put their fears to rest. Let's just hope this new peripheral functions well.
The 411 Games Crew
The 411 Games March Roundtable is here, put together by Sean Garmer. Check out what the 411 Games staff think about all of the major titles that see a release in the US this month.
In the latest edition of The SIXAXIS News Report, Mark Salmela goes hands-on with the new Dualshock 3 controller.
Yours truly was on hand to bring you an exclusive report of Play.com LIVE, which took place this past weekend at Wembley Stadium in London, England. I almost managed to procure a 20 minute sit-down playtest with The Bourne Conspiracy on the Xbox 360, so check out 411's exclusive preview here.
Hope you all have a very happy Easter this weekend, and I'll be back here in 7. See you then!
