Nintendophiles 04.04.08
Posted by Theo Fraser on 04.04.2008
Everything you need to know on Smackdown vs Raw 2009 for Wii and DS, Square Enix WiiWare downloads are priced, a Chrono Trigger remake possibly in the works, Trauma Center comes back home to the DS, and SEGA have a big surprise in store for RPG fans. Check it all out in this week’s edition of Nintendophiles!
Hello everybody, and welcome back to another edition of Nintendophiles! Here at 411mania, we're all still recovering from Wrestlemania weekend, which was of course highlighted by the tremendous Shawn Michaels/Ric Flair match. The Wrestling Zone has got a ton of reviews and thoughts from the show, so there's no need for me to go over old ground, but I will say that I absolutely LOVED the ending to that Michaels/Flair match. "I'm sorry…I love you." Gave me chills! I'm in the process of watching this week's Raw, as I've been away for the past few days (hence why this is going up a day later than usual, apologies for that), and it's off to a good start. I'm definitely looking forward to the Flair Celebration/Tribute that caps off the show.
On a similarly wrestling-related note, how awesome was it to see The Rock at the Hall of Fame? I know there are mixed reports about how he was received by some of the wrestlers backstage, but heck, I'm a Rock mark, so I'll blindly overlook that. The Rock is the sole reason I started watching wrestling full-time (I only caught it sporadically before), so I owe a lot to him really. Anyway, it was great to see him on top form, laying the verbal smacketh down on the majority of the top WWE stars.
OK, so there's a lot of wrestling talk here. How do I tie that in with Nintendophiles? Easy. This past weekend saw THQ announce the brand new title in the long lineage of Smackdown games, and much like last year, it's coming to the Wii and DS!
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009: Everything we know so far
Credit: IGN, GameDaily
It's that exciting time of year for wrestling gamers again, as THQ give us an overload of info on the latest Smackdown title that is currently in development. Last year's efforts on the Wii and DS were "first-generation," and whilst being a good starting point, they failed to give the unprecedented level of depth that the Smackdown series is known for on other platforms. This year, THQ and developer Yukes are looking to correct all of that.
We'll start by looking at the Wii version, which can be summed up in a few easy words: "like last year, but MORE!" It's an update of SDvsRaw 2008 in every sense of the word, with more moves, more match types (Cage, Ladder and Tables matches have been confirmed. No word as of yet on the Elimination Chamber, but we'll find out soon enough!), more wrestlers, more customisation, better presentation, more interaction…everything is bigger and better. But probably the biggest news from the Wii side of things is the fact that WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 will offer online multiplayer! This is the first time a wrestling game has gone online on a Nintendo console, so it's quite a milestone. All the match types that you can play in single player will supposedly be available online, and whilst there won't be any special features per se, it was confirmed that an online ranking system would be in place, so these won't merely be pointless exhibition matches; the world rankings should encourage you to play and give you the drive in your quest to become the best in the world.
For those worried that Wii users would get a watered-down Career Mode like last year, fear not! The Wii iteration is said to have the same "Road to Wrestlemania" story mode that its bigger brothers on Xbox 360 and PS3 have, with the added bonus of Wii-specific controls/function at certain times. These will likely come in the form of mini-games, but that's just a guess on my part.
The final big difference between this and last year's title is the inclusion of "interactive entrances." Entrances will no longer be a sit-back-and-watch affair; you'll be interacting with your favorite Superstars all the way down to the ring. At various points in their entrance, icons will flash up on screen, and you'll be able to choose which taunts or gestures to pull off by replicating the action with Wii-mote movements. As John Cena climbs into the ring, you have the option of throwing his baseball cap into the crowd, and can control it with your own movements. That's a nice touch, and it won't be a futile exercise that you'll do once just to see how it looks and then never go back to; each successful gesture or pose will reward you with a Momentum Boost, meaning you'll start the match with part of your Momentum meter already filled. For the first time ever in a wrestling game, your wrestler's entrance will play a strategic role in the match itself.
As far as the DS version of Smackdown vs Raw 2009 is concerned, forget everything you know about the previous DS effort. Gameplay has been radically altered after last year's ‘experiment' with stylus scribbles simply didn't work as well as the developers had hoped, and now things have been turned over to TOSE, who previously worked on Dragon Quest: Rocket Slime and did a damn fine job with it, if I may say so. So what can expect this year in terms of gameplay?
You'll get a more traditional affair this year with D-pad movement and button presses, alongside some minimal stylus motions. It sounds like a strong combat system, as you'll move your wrestler with the D-pad, and then either tap the screen to perform a strike, or quickly circle your opponent with the stylus to initiate a grapple, where you'll then be given the standard wrestling game choice of pulling off moves depending on which direction you draw a line. I'd love to test it out for myself to get to grips with it, but picturing that control scheme in my mind it just sounds like it works well. Hopefully TOSE can deliver a system as good as it has the potential to be.
Much like the Wii version, Smackdown vs Raw 2009 DS will have more match types and a roster of over 30 stars, which is a significant increase over the 21 grapplers that graced the 2008 iteration. Making its way onto the DS cart will be a full-blown Create-A-Wrestler mode, which fans will no doubt be ecstatic to hear after it wasn't included last year.
Season Mode has got me particularly interested here, chiefly because TOSE are creating an almost RPG-like offering, with the option of stat-building by winning matches and meeting various requirements. Outside of matches, your chosen wrestler will be entered into a free-roaming environment, where you can chat with fellow WWE superstars (thus building friendships and, more likely, gaining a few enemies along the way), visit Mr McMahon in his personal office, take a trip to the General Manager's room, work out at the gym, buy weapons and stuff from the WWE Shopzone, and participate in other activities that haven't been announced yet. I don't want to overstate this or give it unnecessary hype, but that's fantastic. Depending on how strict the free-roaming environment is (will we be able to approach ANY wrestler we see backstage and get involved in an angle with him/her?), the potential is there for seemingly endless replayability, as no Season Mode would ever be the same as the last.
Both Wii and DS versions are showing great promise at this early stage. Whilst I haven't got any screens for the DS at my disposal, it's not too hard to find them, and I think you'll agree that it looks very good indeed; a noteworthy improvement over last year's visuals. Both titles are due out in the Fall, and you can be sure that I'll be covering their progress very carefully here in Nintendophiles as we work towards their release.
Last week I mentioned that Square Enix were introducing paid extra content for their WiiWare title, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. The company have just released confirmation of prices and a little bit more of an insight into what you can buy.
Just like Virtual Console downloads and any WiiWare title, this additional content will cost Wii points, so you better make sure you're all stocked up before you go on a spending spree. Three new races are on offer (Lilties, Yukes and Selkies), and cost 300 points each. Alternatively, you can spend 800 Wii Points to get all three as a set. Bear in mind 800 points is the same price as a SNES title on the VC…
New buildings are also up for grabs, and there is a pretty big incentive to get these if you're really involved in the game, as they will boost various stats in-game and help improve your general funding. Each building type is sold for 200 points.
Finally, minor things such as costumes are on sale for 100 Wii points each, but by the sounds of it, these will be merely aesthetical changes, having no effect on gameplay. Again, you're only likely to purchase these if you're a diehard FFCC:MLaaK aficionado.
When downloading some of the bigger extras such as entire new races and big buildings, the WiiWare title will need a full update, so you'll have to re-download it from the Wii Shop Channel (free of charge, of course). That might be a pain if you download things bit by bit over a certain period of time, but it can't be helped.
More downloads are supposedly on the way, including an unlimited dungeon (which admittedly would be a pretty good download, as long as it's not hugely expensive). Stay tuned!
New Trauma Center heading to Nintendo DS
Credit: Nintendo Power, DSFanboy
The Trauma Center series that began life on the DS and then went on to find greater success on the Wii with two sequels is going back to its handheld roots, according to a report in the latest edition of Nintendo Power.
Leading on from the DS original, Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 stars Dr Stiles and assistant nurse Angie Thompson in the battle to rid the world of GUILT, the nasty mutating virus that can only be stopped with some truly deft skills with a stylus.
Developer Atlus have yet to release any specifics on new modes or tools/equipment, but they have said that the existing tools with be revamped with improved functionality. One criticism levied at the original DS title was that it could be tricky selecting the right tools, often being too fiddly and causing frustration, so this is one area that is hopefully addressed. On a similar note, some DS owners complained about the difficulty level and sharp learning curve (bah, pussies!), and Atlus have taken this into account, adding in an "Easy" difficulty mode. That's a good move on their part, in my opinion, as it should entice some of the more casual gamers who shied away from Under the Knife the first time round.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 is scheduled for a Summer 2008 release, so expect first screens and a full press release in the coming weeks.
Chrono Trigger remake a possibility?
Credit: Nintendo Power
Takashi Tokita, who directed the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV, recently sat down with Nintendo Power magazine to discuss upcoming projects from Square Enix, and was questioned in particular on the abundance of remakes of older titles. Chrono Trigger, considered by many to be one of the finest RPGs of all time, is one such title that would benefit greatly from a remake, especially from the point of view of PAL gamers such as myself, who never had the pleasure of playing it the first time round. Tokita, who worked as the director for Chrono Trigger on the SNES, spoke about the possibility of a remake at some point down the line.
"Chrono Trigger was a no-holds-barred, swashbuckling adventure that was a lot of fun to work on... If the demand is great enough, it's certainly possible. But as a creator, I feel the need to create new titles and not just series instalments and remakes. I realize it's a little strange for me to be saying that in an interview about Final Fantasy IV (laughs). But I need to remind myself of that, too."
It's an interesting prospect, and clearly some thought has gone into a Chrono Trigger remake, but it looks like it's not on the cards just yet. Yes, the DS has been receiving a lot of Square Enix remakes, but they've been based on the Final Fantasy universe, which is simply more profitable than Chrono Trigger, which doesn't quite have the same name value, despite being held in such high regard by older RPG gamers. Rumors persist of a 3D Final Fantasy VI DS remake, which would be absolutely fantastic, but would likewise put back the Trigger remake by at least a year. Nevertheless, as Tokita said, if the demand is there, Square Enix can't ignore it. Want to play a Chrono Trigger remake any time soon? It might be time to get that online petition up and running!
SEGA Gamer's Day could hold big surprise
Credit: Sega Nerds
This coming May, SEGA will host the annual SEGA Gamer's Day, where they will show off a number of their upcoming titles to the gaming press, giving attendees an opportunity to test out the games and get some much sought-after hands-on time with them. The following is an "unofficial" list of titles the company are likely to show off at the event, and amongst the ones you would expect to see, there are a couple of real gems thrown in. Take a look…
Alpha Protocol
Beijing 2008
Empire: Total War
Golden Axe: Beast Rider
New Eternal Arcadia (Tentative title)
New NiGHTS (Tentative title)
Samba De Amigo 2008 (Tentative title)
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic Unleashed Preview
Space Siege
Storm Chaser
Super Monkey Ball for iPhone (Tentative title)
The Crucible: Evil Within
The Incredible Hulk- The Videogame
So for starters, it's nice to see Sonic Chronicles on the list, as this will be the first time the media have been able to get to grips with it in person. Sonic Unleashed is the new Sonic title that still hasn't been ‘officially' confirmed or even recognised by SEGA, but I imagine this is where they'll unveil it for the first time. The "preview" tagline suggests that it will be a video demonstration, rather than a proper hands-on demo.
But the name that really stands out is New Eternal Arcadia. Anything sound familiar there? The obvious link is with Skies of Arcadia, the popular Dreamcast-turned-Gamecube traditional RPG, which has a pretty big cult following, and fans have been clamouring for a sequel for years. No word on what platform this title is coming to, but if it is indeed the follow-up to Skies, I'd imagine a Wii appearance is more than likely. I'd be more than happy just to see it released point blank, no matter what console it appears on, but I can't pretend that I'm not hoping it'll come exclusively to the Wii. As The Nintendo Guy ™ of 411mania, I'm crossing all my extremities and limbs in the hope that it finds a home on a Nintendo platform.
The new NiGHTS title is also somewhat surprising, considering the fact that the Wii remake didn't exactly set the world on fire. Could this be a venture onto another platform? A handheld iteration, perhaps? We'll find out next month.
[UPDATE] - Just prior to going to press, SEGA formally confirmed Sonic Unleashed, with it coming to Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii. Check out the first official trailer below:
The 411 Games Crew
The SIXAXIS is dead. Long live the B3yond the Report Gaming News Report, as Mark Salmela presents all the news from the Sony camp over the past 7 days.
Next week Nintendophiles will also be a day late, going up on the site on Friday, as I'm having a couple of days on vacation in Sardinia. In the meantime, have a great week and I'll see you right back here next time for another instalment of all the Nintendo news you can shake a Shy Guy at!
This entire column should just be a countdown to when Dr Mario comes out on the Wii as that's the only thing worth mentioning, seriously...
Posted By: Mark Salmela (Registered) on April 04, 2008 at 02:38 AM
One of my favorite RPGs of all time was Chrono Trigger. I would kill to see that game made for the DS or the Wii, you just have to tell me who or where.
The PSOne remake was frustrating because of the loading (before a battle). Hopefully, the remake has been that fixed.
In any event, it would be fun to see Magus romp around. Dark Matter was sweet.
Posted By: David R. (Guest) on April 04, 2008 at 04:09 AM
It wouldn't take much to improve on SDvsRaw 08 for Wii. That sucked.
Posted By: Brent (Guest) on April 04, 2008 at 04:13 AM
no more smackdown games pleeeease, bring back No Mercy style!
Posted By: daniel (Guest) on April 04, 2008 at 01:41 PM
