Update: More Info on Wii Exclusives for Star Wars

New details into the fencing mechanics of LucasArts’ highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Unleashed were recently revealed by Gamepro. Check out the initial preview of the game by MyWiiNews here.

It has already been reported that the Wii version will attempt the most unique and accurate fencing to date for the console. While games like Red Steel and Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors left gamers feeling let down, the gang at LucasArts are working hard to finally deliver what could be the sword-fighting sim that Wii owners have been salivating for since the console’s launch.

The mechanics in The Force Unleashed will allow players to attack in all five cardinal directions — left, right, up, down and a forward thrust — giving gameplay with the Wiimote an edge over other titles that have featured fencing. Although the controls won’t mimic the player’s motions entirely, gamers should still be able to get a more fulfilling fencing experience when playing The Force Unleashed. Not only will the game allow players to get a closer feel to actual fencing, but the gameplay also lends itself for player-created combos.

Another key component to sword fighting is blocking, which LucasArts have made sure to include. Instead of just pressing a button to block, players will have to raise the Wiimote up into the air, as if they are actually blocking an incoming attack. Raise the Wiimote to shield an attack coming at your character’s head, and your dark apprentice will do the same on screen.

The next step for immersion via the Wii is the use of the nunchuk.

The nunchuk comes into play when players want to use the dark powers of the force. Used in conjunction with the motion-controls of the Wiimote, players will be force pushing their way through enemies with ease.

Just like the fencing mechanics, the gameplay when using the force relies on the gamer making the motion of the desired action. For instance, let’s look at the force push; a Jedi/Sith technique that has the character thrusting his palm towards an enemy and sending them reeling backwards. Just as the avatar will extend his hand out towards the enemy, the player will do the same with the nunchuk. By merely pushing the nunchuk towards the screen, the player will perform a force push.

Simplicity and intuitiveness at its best, perhaps.

Other force moves, such as the force repulse, will allow players to send multiple opponents flying backwards through the air by combining the Wiimote and nunchuk movements. To execute a force repulse, players must hold Z and A and swing the Wiimote and nunchuk in a downward motion at the same time.

The Wii version will also offer an exclusive force technique known as the force maelstrom. By performing the motions for the force repulse, while adding a repeated downward swing of both controllers, players will be able to create a larger radius of destruction for the regular force repulse.

But perhaps the most sparkling difference between the Wii and its Xbox 360 and PS3 counterparts, is the exclusive ability to duel other players.

Players will have a variety of worlds to duel on and a lengthy list of characters to choose from, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Count Dooku, two different versions of Luke Skywalker, and even Lord Darth Vader himself.

Provided LucasArts is able to provide the depth of online play that Wii owners have been begging for, multi-player duels could be one of the biggest things that comes out of the Nintendo camp this year.

Intuitive controls and Wii exclusives make this port of the game a stand-alone title from the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. What the Wii lacks in graphics is being replaced with what Wii owners have wanted all along - innovative gameplay with satisfying results.

It’s been a period of growing pains for sword fighting on the Wii. The gameplay in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess seemed more of a nuisance than anything else, while Red Steel offered movements that were far too scripted. Suda 51’s No More Heroes brought fencing to a new level by actually allowing players to somewhat immerse themselves in the combat control scheme, however the game still failed to provide a truly realistic approach to each and every aspect of combat. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed looks to be the next step in evolution for an authentic fencing simulation for the Wii.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed hits store shelves on Sept. 16. Stay tuned to My Wii News as we continue to preview this exciting title.

Will Wii Still Dominate in 2008?

Analysts are funny things. They’re kind of like modern day soothe sayers, predicting what will happen, but instead of determining loves fate they deal with the all-important dollar. The latest prediction from a top analyst in the gaming industry is from Daniel Ernst of Hudson Square Research who believes that the Wii will remain on top for 2008 as well (hooray!). He points out the fact that, unlike the 360 and PS3, the Wii still has a surprisingly large amount of momentum behind it. Ernst gives Hudson Square’s prediction of sales for each console based off sales figures for fiscal year 2008. The company believes that Nintendo is on track to sell 23 million Wiis, while Microsoft will only sell 11.2 million Xbox 360s. Coming in last will be Sony with somewhere around 12.5 million PS3s sold. According to them, the Wii won’t only come in first, but will outsell both the PS3 and 360 combined!

“Microsoft got the jump on the industry with a one-year headstart, but nine months after its the launch, the Nintendo Wii overtook the Xbox 360 on a global basis. While the PS3, has struggled out of the gate, we note that since last fall, the console has been outselling the Xbox 360 in Europe, and in the first two months of this year has even outsold the Xbox 360 on its home turf, in the U.S. (In Japan, overtaking the Xbox 360 was almost immediate). With its strong slate of software scheduled for the coming year, we expect a material acceleration for the PS3 this year, but we believe the Wii will sell more than the PS3 and Xbox 360 combined this year.”

This is a Wii site and as such we’re all big fans of the system, but even I have to wonder how true this can be. Shortage reports are still cropping up, major games are coming out for both the 360 and the PS3, and at some point everyone who wants a Wii is going to own a Wii. I’m no analyst though, so what do I know? Wii Fit is sure to move even more consoles and third parties are starting to produce better and better games for the system, so even with the aforementioned problems we could still see some truly great sales for the Wii. Only time, or the next analyst prediction, will tell.

Alone in the Dark Confirmed for the Wii

While you may go to your local game store and notice that half of the Wii section is filled with E-rated mini games, you also might notice the abundance of horror games already out on the Wii. With well-known games like Resident Evil doing extremely well so far, there is definitely potential for more survival horror games on the Wii.

Recently, two solid survival horror games made their way to the Wii -  House of the Dead 2 and 3 and Obscure: The Aftermath. Both of these titles should hold survival-horror fans over for a bit, but what about the future? Just when you might feel like you need some more terror in your life, Alone in the Dark should be ready for retail; helping to fulfill your survival horror needs as you navigate your way through a dark and eerie park located in New York City.

Todd Slepian, the North American producer of Alone in the Dark, comments on just how accurate the environment will be compared to the real New York City park.

The park was mapped using GPS satellite data to an accuracy within 50cm, using the same remapping system used in Test Drive Unlimited. Then Eden visited New York and took thousands of photos of everything from the buildings to the lampposts, which their artists used to recreate the park in exacting detail, but adding an unsettling Alone in the Dark ambience to everything – taking the familiar and twisting it.

From hearing that, anyone who has visited or lives in the wonderful New York City should definitely check this game out! Alone in the Dark is looking at a June 24 release date and is coming to the Wii, PS2, PS3, 360, and PC.