Wiikly Wii Releases -3/23- 3/29

Welcome to the this week’s edition of the Wiikly Wii Releases! Here we will let you know about all the great Wii titles coming out this week and give you some information to help you pick the game that’s right for you. When applicable, we’ll choose one game to be the “MyWiiNews Pick of the Week,” a game that stands out among all the others as the title that takes the crown for that week. Without further ado, let’s look at what’s coming out this week.

Obscure: The Aftermath

Ignition Entertainment- March 25

What’s better then walking through shadowy hallways, while in a creepy school, with your best friend, basically knowing that your about to die? Hmm, let’s see… Nothing!

While you may not have a school nearby that is filled with crazy monsters, demented teachers, and zombified students, you can still pick up Obscure: The Aftermath, and have the next best thing!

Obscure: The Aftermath is a sequel to the game that never made it to the U.S. last time around. So chances are you never played the first game, and while the game does start off from where you ended in the first game, the story isn’t very dependent of the first game; so you will still know what is going on.

If you have a little bit of money lying around, and survival horror is your thing, you should seriously consider picking up Obscure: The Aftermath for your Wii.

King of Clubs

Oxygen Games- March 28

The Wii has seen its share of puzzle games during its relatively short lifespan, and King of Clubs is another one of those wacky puzzle games. Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a lot of people love puzzle games, and if you are one of those people, King of Clubs is definitely a game that you’ll want to check out this week.

King of Clubs is really hard to explain, but its some kind of sport combined with minigolf that is just completely crazy. Supposedly this game is never the same game twice, it allows you to play with a ball that looks like an eyeball, leaves a purple trail and moo’s like a cow when you hit it according to ign.

This game certainly looks interesting and if you’re a puzzle lover, definitely go check it out!

Opoona

Koei- March 25

Its about time that the Wii gets a good RPG!

This game will be perfect for any RPG lover who is looking for something new, something with a bit more pizzazz! Our very own Cole “llchymis” Jones, who is an RPG lover himself, will be reviewing this colorful game so be sure to check it out!

But about the game, Opoona is following the story of a boy who is a descendant of brave warriors, known as the Cosmo Guards. During a trip to a planet called Landroll, Opoona becomes separated from his family. His brother and sister are missing, while his parents are hospitalized with serious injuries. He must search for his siblings which is how Opoona’s adventure begins as he struggles to establish a life for himself on this new planet with no parents and siblings to give him a hand.

With an interesting story, charming graphics, and neat controls Opoona is shaping up to be a great RPG on the Wii which is why it is this weeks, “PICK OF THE WEEK!”

Rock Band For Wii Release Date

As reported way back in February, Rock Band was announced to be coming to the Wii. Today, we have been given a release date of June 22, 2008 at a price of $170.

According to Multiplayer Blog at mtv.com there will be no downloadable content (I am still awaiting DLC for guitar hero!), but there will be 5 songs unique to the Wii platform.

“When developing ‘Rock Band’ for the Wii platform, we focused on making the core gameplay experience as solid and enjoyable as possible while tailoring it specifically to the strengths of the platform.

“The Wii version still contains the robust four-player band experience and all the fun at the core of other versions of ‘Rock Band.’ However, because the Wii’s online capabilities and potential have yet to be fully realized, we wanted to wait before we explored online functionality for ‘Rock Band’ to ensure that players get the high-quality of online performance they’ve come to expect.”

According to the above statement, the Wii will be getting the gimpy version, very similar to the PS2 version which had no DLC. Way to go Harmonix, way to go. I will not be purchasing this game for that very reason. And I would imagine that several others will feel the same way I do. To make it even worse, my Guitar Hero 3 Les Paul won’t work with it.

I can’t lay all of the blame on Harmonix. Nintendo still hasn’t given us a simple way to store what we download anyway. How hard could it be for the techno-geniuses at Nintendo to create a driver that would allow us to hook up an external hard drive via one of the USB ports on the back of the Wii? I would be willing to wager that homebrew guy will come up with a solution before Nintendo does!

Cambridge, MA - March 24, 2007– Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to release the award-winning music video game Rock Band on the Wiiâ„¢ home video game system from Nintendo in the U.S. and Canada on June 22, 2008 for the suggested retail price of $169.99.

Rock Band for Wii will be released as a Special Edition bundle including the software, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar. Stand alone instruments will also be available on June 22nd for people who want to build their band one instrument at a time or want to play the drum versus drum game mode. The game will feature 63 songs including five bonus songs for Wii gamers to enjoy.

“The Wii’s success among casual and core gamers of all ages makes it an ideal match for the cross-generational appeal of the music featured in Rock Band,” says Bob Picunko, Vice President of Electronic Games and Interactive Products, MTV

“The social interaction and addictive nature of the Rock Band experience is a perfect fit for the Wii and will undoubtedly be fun for the entire family,” says Steve Singer, licensing VP from Nintendo.

Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune - all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards this year including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

Rock Band is currently available on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system.

via Kotaku, MTV, joystiq
Rock band for Wii cover created by Ilchymis.

Virtual Console Games For 3-23-08

KING’S KNIGHTâ„¢ (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): In the kingdom of Izander, the fair Princess Claire has been kidnapped by a foul and insidious dragon, and it is the mission of four brave fighters to save her. Through five thrilling, fast-action stages, our gallant heroes-a knight, a wizard, a monster and a thief-will take on an army of incredible enemies. You must help them reach their goal, as you are now part of the team that will fight to free the princess from her imprisonment. Keep your wits about you, plan your strategy and set off on an exciting adventure.

POWERBALLâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Eight different teams representing various nations are vying to become the POWERBALL champions, and you control one of the eight in your quest for the championship. A hybrid of games like rugby and football, POWERBALL is played on a 100-yard field. Try to score by either carrying the ball into your opponent’s end zone or kicking it into your opponent’s net for points. This one- or two-player game offers both exhibition and league play. Jump into a game of POWERBALL and try a brand new sport.

Opoona - Impression

Well, look what we have here! MyWiiNews was lucky enough to get our hands on a review copy of Opoona, the quirky interstellar RPG that will be hitting store shelves this Tuesday, March 25. While I’ve only had the game for a couple of days so far, Opoona looks like it just might be the breath of fresh air that we all hoped it would be. Read on for our hands-on impressions of the game, and check back later on this week for our full review!

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It’s been somewhere around five or six hours since I first popped in Opoona, and it’s certainly unlike anything else available for the Wii. From its unique controls, to the overall structure and story of the game, Opoona is certainly in a league of its own. Opoona begins his eponymous adventure aboard his parent’s spaceship en route to a relaxing family vacation. Within seconds of meeting his family, everything suddenly flashes red and sirens erupt from all corners of the room. Opoona’s family flees to the escape pods to save their lives, desperately hoping for help from the planet below.

After three days of unconscious slumber, Opoona’s journey finally begins. As he awakes, he meets Serge, one of the many concierges of Tokione, the largest residential dome on Planet Landroll. Serge explains that there are a handful of different domes on Landroll, each specifically designed to keep out the recurring onslaught of enemy Rogues that currently plague over half of beautiful planet. After a bit of initial testing and preparation, Opoona finally embarks on his first journey.

A Rogue Approaches!
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Five hours into Opoona, and it’s obvious that I’ve barely cracked the surface of what this game has to offer. Opoona is a self-proclaimed “lifestyle RPG” that revolves around exploring Planet Landroll and obtaining licenses for the colonies, searching for employment, procuring friendships, and much more. Opoona begins his quest as a Ranger, a sort of “warrior class” that explores the land outside the domes and rescues people overwhelmed by enemy Rogues, but can eventually branch out and try a myriad of different vocations that offer new side quests, minigames, and more. He attacks through his “energy bonbon;” the bouncy orange ball atop his head that can be lethally chucked at foes by flicking the Nunchuk’s joystick. It’s a simple system that has a lot of potental and surprising depth, and will be interesting to see how it works with multiple characters later on.

Speaking of adventure, Opoona’s art style creates does a wonderful job enveloping you into its colorful surroundings. From the absolutely massive dome of Tokione, to outlying grassland areas and hotels, Planet Landroll manages to feel both cohesive and expansive. As with most cel-shaded games, Opoona looks much better in action than in screenshots, and doubters should at least see it moving before passing judgment. Equally impressive is its music, hand crafted by Final Fantasy XI veteran Hitoshi Sakimoto, which has to be some of the best futuristic tunes I’ve ever heard in an RPG. Even though its graphics may be a little rough around the edges, the Opoona’s overall aesthetic is charming beyond words.

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As most people who have picked up the Wiimote have noticed, controls are of the utmost importance to Wii games. I was initially skeptical of Opoona’s unique, one-handed control scheme that allows for the entire game to be controlled solely through the Wii’s Nunchuk. After spending over five hours trying to figure out which setup works best (you can use the standard Wiimote setup as well), I’m still finding myself switching between the two different setups. On the one hand (pun not intended), the Nunchuk setup is beautiful in its simplicity, and actually works rather well. But after cutting my teeth on Super Mario Galaxy, I can’t shake the comfort that comes from using both hands to control Opoona, especially with the ease of camera control that the Wiimote offers. So far, I’ve found that two-hands is good for getting down to business in big battles and when exploring places quickly, while the single-handed Nunchuk route is great for casually getting from place to place. We’ll see how this changes as the game progresses.

While Opoona succeeds through its expansive landscapes and endearing art style, it also has a few annoyances that occasionally grind my gears. Firstly, the fact that the camera is completely uncontrollable when exploring in the field seems like a huge hurdle for a game that focuses so much on exploration. I’ve also found it’s particularly easy to get lost in the domes, as the map on your PDA-esque device is a bit lacking, but that’s just a matter of time. Also deserving of mention is the occasionally shabby localization, with confusing lines such as “Opoona won the battle handily!”, and mysteriously delicious morsels known as “CALORY CUBES” that seem to make little sense on their own. It’s by no means unplayable, but chances are anyone who enjoys critiquing language will have a few giggles here and there.

There’s so much packed in Opoona that it’s difficult to try and efficiently sum it all up without turning this into a full-blown review. Even if it’s a little rough around the edges, Opoona has a certain air and charm about it that I haven’t seen in an RPG since Earthbound. Even if it’s not for everyone, it’s certainly shaping up to be an enjoyable and unique experience that you can only find on the Wii. Stay tuned for MyWiiNews’ full-length review, discussing Opoona’s battle system in length, and giving the adventure a final verdict that will help you decide whether to buy or rent this quirky, quirky game.

Read the full in-depth Opoona Review!

Okami - Preview

Once upon a time, a wonderful game was released at the worst possible time in a system’s lifespan. No amount of critical acclaim and praise seemed to bring the game into more than a few hundred thousand households, seemingly sealing its unfortunate fate. Okami, one of the most innovative and beautiful titles of 2006, was left to collect dust in the relatively obscure clearance aisles of game stores everywhere.

A few months after Okami’s initial release the Wii exploded onto US shores, causing a much bigger splash than anyone could have ever foreseen. Even before it first came to the PS2, people were taking note of the game’s innovative drawing system and wondering about the Wii’s mysterious motion controls. It didn’t take a genius to see how perfect the two were for each other, but Okami was all set for a PlayStation 2 release, and Wii owners everywhere were left to dream about what should have been.

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After a year of waiting with rumors and whisperings of a port, late last year Capcom finally announced what many Wii owners had been waiting for: an official port of Okami was in on its way to the Wii. With a handful of gameplay and presentation additions, Wii owners everywhere should write down April 15 as the day to get the definitive version of 2006’s game of the year.

For the new, curious, and/or confused, Okami sketches the mythological tale of the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu on her quest to save age-old feudal Japan. Due to the usual complications that come from being a sun goddess, Amaterasu must take the form of a white wolf to interact with the material world and explore the vast countryside, solve hundreds of puzzles, and complete any other tasks necessary to save Japan. Throughout Okami, Amaterasu interacts with the world around her through her “celestial brush;” a magical paintbrush that performs a myriad of “miracles” ranging from watering plants and slashing foes, to casting spells and controlling the elements. This makes Okami perfect for the Wii, as you can simply press B any time during the adventure to whip out your brush and use the Wiimote to sketch your way out of, and into, many tricky situations.

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Okami’s majestic quest takes you through different paths inspired by Japanese mythology that leaves it feeling unlike any other quest.. The actual gameplay of Okami will feel similar to anyone who has played The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, with hoards of boss battles, powerups, puzzles, and quests to help you explore every inch of the map. That’s not to say that Okami is simply another Zelda clone, as it borrows and improves upon many elements that made Zelda great while still providing a fresh and fun experience unlike anything else on the Wii.

Okami’s most striking aspect is its captivating cell-shaded, watercolor art style that manages to be both instantly recognizable and entirely original. Every frame of the game stands out like a hand-drawn masterpiece, making Amaterasu’s epic journey look like something lifted from your favorite art gallery. Even though the game looked wonderful on the PS2, Capcom took a little extra time to polish up the graphics and add 16:9 widescreen support to the Wii version, making Okami look and play better than ever before.

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With so many people missing out on Okami when it first came out, hopefully it will finally find its place among the Wii’s crowd that is constantly clamoring for more worthwhile third-party titles. Even if it is “just” an updated port of a game that’s a year-and-a-half old, Okami is worth looking into for everyone, including those who have already dabbled in the PS2 adventure. It wasn’t only the swan song for its development group (Clover Studios), but a true labor of love that looks to stand the test of time. Check out Okami when it finally makes its Wii debut in stores on April 15.