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.

Wiikly Wii Releases - 3/16 - 3/22

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.

Worms: A Space Oddity
THQ – March 17
Worms is one of those games you have probably played in some form or another ten times already, but always seem to pick up again and again for the new add ons and extras. There’s not much more to this iteration aside from special Wiimote functions, space-themed environments, and a few casual gaming toss-ins to spice things up a little bit, but it still makes for a fun time. The quirky environments make the single-player game a worthy purchase for any Worms fan out there, but the multiplayer is what will probably keep everyone coming back for more.

Worms has always been a party game, so it’s great that a game can be shared among 4 of your closest pals, but it’s quite the disappointment that no online features are built into the game. If you need some Worms on your Wii, and don’t mind playing with people you can actually touch, give this game a try. Space is bound to be far more interesting than earth any day!

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
Konami – March 18

Crazy about soccer? Weird. “Non-American Football” is practically the lifeblood of every other country in the world aside from the U.S., so I have no way of understanding the fervor so many people have for this sport. One thing I do know about the sport is its quality titles, and soccer fans should be rejoicing everywhere as Winning Eleven, one of the biggest soccer series in the world, has finally made its way to the Wii in the form of Pro Evolution Soccer.

For those skeptical about the Wii’s ability to play a mean game of soccer, check out the tutorial above. PES is basically Winning Eleven 2.0 with simplified menus and and overall experience that caters to the Wii’s casual crowd. Don’t think it’s simply a cakewalk, though. As any Winning Eleven fan knows, it’s a serious series that will seriously kick the crap out of you if you don’t put some work into it. With little competition, PES will most likely be the soccer sim of choice for most Wii owners.

Sega Superstars Tennis
Sega – March 20

The Wii just can’t get enough of sports-themed mascot affairs. Why exactly Mario needs to partake in practically every sport imaginable is beyond me, but apparently Sega decided to be a little more selective in their sporting outings, only allowing their mascots to play some simple Olympic minigames with some tennis on the side. Sonic has been in a downward spiral for a while now, with the only silver lining found on Nintendo’s powerful little handheld. Will tennis be the event that brings him out of Mario’s shadow and back into the limelight? Most likely not. Will it be a fun diversion to last all us Sega fans a little while longer until Sonic Team can finally pull their stuff together? Hopefully!

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Sega Superstar Tennis will be practically like every other tennis game out there, with less focus on realism and more fanservice than you can shake a racket at. With 16 characters from all walks of Sega life ranging from Sonic to Samba de Amigo, there should be a little Sega here for everyone. Even though it won’t be the most engrossing tennis simulation for the Wii, Sega Superstars Tennis will likely be a welcome nostalgia fest for all those who enjoy a bit of Sonic now and again. The music will likely be worth the price of admission alone.

Apparently a game entitled Space Station Tycoon is coming out this week, but I can only find extremely scant and vague information on the game itself. Why exactly a company would put money into a game that they don’t plan to tell anyone is released is beyond me, but hey, it’s not my money. If you like space stations and being a tycoon, go and check it out. Oh, and last week’s House of the Dead title was apparently pushed back to this week in some areas, so if it wasn’t in your stores then, have a look now. Unfortunately, no titles this week stood out enough to get the fabled MyWiiNews “Pick of the Week” badge, so check back next week to see what game snaps it up! If you have to buy something this week, go pick up or play some more Brawl. See you soon!

Wiikly Wii Releases: 3/9-3/15

Welcome to the second 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.

Octomania
Atlus– March 11th

Do you enjoy aquatic creatures? Does the idea of a wall of octopuses and sea urchins excite you like no other? Can you take a break long enough from doing nothing in Endless Ocean to play a puzzle game? If you’ve answered yes to any of these three needless questions, Octomania just may be for you.

Designed by Puyo Puyo creator Moo Niitani, Octomania bridges the gap between the undersea and the puzzling with hundreds of stages of octopus-eliminating fun. Take turns battling the CPU and advancing throughout the story mode, or hop online to throw down with your fellow Octomanians. Since a puzzle game is only as fun as its puzzles, this little video here should tell you whether or not it would be your cup of tea.

If your on the fence with Octomania, its extremely welcoming entrance price of $19.99 should be enough for you to take the plunge. Either way, more quality budget titles are always welcome, so hats off to Atlus for bringing it to us cheap.
House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
Sega - March 11th

If House of the Dead could be surmised in three words, it would probably have to be something along the lines of “Zombies, Zombies, Zombies!” Needlessly said, this new collection of the last two House of the Dead titles offers more of the same zombie-massacring action that lightgun fans love, but if you’re not a zombie kind of guy, you’rre probably not going to find much to like here. The games hardly look better than Dreamcast ports, and the game doesn’t offer much extra content to justify its $30 price point, but hey, that’s a whole lotta killing for $30!

Fans of the series won’t find much new in the bundle pack, but the game has been reformulated to respond masterfully to the Wiimote’s capabilities, making it a fun way to get a little more bang for your buck if you bought the Zapper add on a few months back. If you missed these titles a while back and can’t find them at your local used games shop, think about giving them a go this round on the Wii.

George of the Jungle: Search for the Secret
Crave Entertainment – March 11th

George is back, and he’s looking even more cartoony than ever! Whether or not this is a massive setback from the masterful Brendan Frasier adaptation from 10 years ago is up for discussion, but the mediocrity of this title is not. Of course you’ll probably be vine-swinging your way to the inner depths of the jungle, gently laying hoardes of baddies to rest while platforming your way to the goal, but will it really matter?

Chances are, no. But this game wasn’t exactly designed for people like myself, so I’ll leave the decision up to you. It’s a game that’s based on the latest iteration of an age-old cartoon, so those who are fans of the series or enjoy watching children’s television should take the time to watch a video and see if it’s something that’s up their alley. If it’s not, you’d probably be better off playing through Mario Galaxy again for your necessary platforming fix.
And now for our long-awaited…

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Nintendo – March 9th

Arguably the biggest title of this year, Super Smash Brothers Brawl finally hit stores this Sunday, making it the single reason that practically every Wii owner is currently offline. Will anyone even read this? Who knows, but the important thing is that the game is here, and it’s absolutely AWESOME.

I don’t really think I can say much more about this game that hasn’t been said already throughout the site, but if you have no clue what this game is about, take a peek at this YouTube video to understand how one videogame can hold so much awesome.

For those still looking for their elusive copy, I suggest you look in some of the more unconventional places. My local Costco had approximately 100 copies for $43 a piece, so get out there and find your copy! Word on the street is that other nontraditional gaming outlets, like Longs Drugs, certain supermarkets, and your local pharmacy/store may have a copy, so don’t quit looking. You have to play this game, so get out there and put up some friend codes!

No More Heroes - Review

No More Heroes is a difficult game to pin down, especially when trying to figure out how to balance the sum of its parts. On first impression, the game borrows from so many different sources, games, and eras that it’s hard to explain how all the different elements come together to “work” so well. It’s part dark comedy, part cheesy B-movie, and part mindless sandbox beat-’em-up, all tossed together with a hefty helping of 80’s retro kitsch, making No More Heroes feel unlike any other game out there. Even though the game stumbles in some of its larger areas, No More Heroes’ amalgamation works surprisingly well for making so little sense, making it a game that every Wii owner should consider adding to their collection.

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The overall story of No More Heroes is one of the most ridiculous to come around in a while, as you take control of videogame-enthusiast-turned-assassin Travis Touchdown throughout his quest to become the #1 rated assassin in all of Santa Destroy. As you make your ascent to the top, a bevy of missions await you ranging from lawnmowing and picking up trash, to massacring countless Pizza Butt employees (who are completely unable to do much more than die in a bloody explosion, more on that later) and eliminating rival assassins. To this you add one cat, a love interest, a few minor characters and a Grand Theft Auto-esque “sandbox” environment, and No More Heroes is born.

By and far, the bulk of No More Heroes revolves around tracking down and eliminating the ten higher-ranking assassins who would otherwise have little to do with you. With a few exceptions, the assassin battles are tense and drawn out, giving you the feeling that you’re really fighting for your life against a cold-blooded killer. Even though the AI can be a bit mindless and cheap, most of the bosses put forth a solid challenge that can be surmounted through a bit of time and work. With a relatively simple fighting system that can be picked up by practically anyone who can stand a little chaos and blood, the battle segments of No More Heroes present a well-struck balance for the Wii’s diverse crowd.

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Aside from the battle system and story, No More Heroes also succeeds in taking director Suda 51’s trademark cell-shaded style to another level. The dark and dirty style, which admittedly looks a lot better in motion, works wonders for painting a picture of the grimy reality of life in Santa Destroy. Fans of Killer 7 or other cell-shaded games should certainly look into No More Heroes, as it’s one of the few titles with a decidedly “Mature” theme that doesn’t leave you with a saccharin aftertaste.

Even though it shines in so many areas, No More Heroes is not without a few sizable flaws that make picking up the Wiimote more of a chore than it should probably be. Firstly, the poor excuse for a sandbox known as Santa Destroy is little more than a “glorified level select” that is ultimately a complete waste of time. The controls are sloppy, the design is buggy, the physics are terrible, and you never really interact with your surroundings (aside from mowing down palm trees and “moving” struck people with your motorcycle). When you’re not trying to figure out the counter-intuitive sliding controls or getting stuck in invisible walls, you’re launching over cars and going from 90 MPH to zero in about two seconds. It’s so poorly designed and vacant that it’s hardly believable, making every minute spent trekking throughout the buggy, enormous city especially tedious and bothersome.

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As the game progresses you begin to get a feel for Santa Destroy and how to get from one place to the other relatively painlessly, but it’s hard not to feel like the giant city had so much unrealized potential. Santa Destroy doesn’t distract from No More Heroes’ overall experience so much that the game is unplayable, but it will probably take you a little while to get used to it. There are things to discover and places to see throughout Santa Destroy to give it a tiny bit of pizazz, but it’s difficult to shake the feeling that you’re the poor sap stuck playing in a half-empty sandbox without a single toy in sight.

Meanwhile, some of the challenges could have been modified to be more entertaining or challenging for experienced players. Slowly carrying coconuts, killing the same 25 Pizza Butt employees over and over, and what is undeniably the dullest lawnmower simulator known to man await all who brave No More Heroes. While they aren’t usually too difficult or require much mental effort on the behalf of the player, a handful of the mini-games could have been a little more enjoyable and less repetitive. Thankfully the humorous outweigh the mind-numbingly bad in the long run, and the missions help to provide a worthwhile diversion between the assassin matches that make up the meat of the game.

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Luckily, when you actually get down to kicking ass, the game shines like no other. The comedic blood squirting (reminiscent of battle scenes in Kill Bill) makes massacring legions of identical twins a surprisingly colorful and jubilant experience The combat is rather straightforward, yet deceptively tricky — when fighting bosses, there seems to be a large element of chance coming into the timing of the unspeakably damaging suplex grabs. You can usually widdle the assassins down and make everything work to your advantage, but a little less blind luck would have been appreciated

Likewise, even though it can be a little annoying making your way through Santa Destroy to do so, upgrading your gear and going on side missions is a fun experience on a whole. The brainless minions that offer their lives throughout each mission present a fun amount of challenge with the coupled restrictions (no hits, no death, kill a certain person, etc.), and if a certain challenge is too tough at the moment, plenty others are up for the taking. The more time you spend completing missions and maneuvering around Santa Destroy the better, as it takes a few hours to really get a feel for how No More Heroes plays and progresses.

I… uh …I don’t have anything to say.

On a whole, No More Heroes is a worthwhile, if flawed, blood-soaked adventure that is nothing if not fresh and original. Fans of dark humor, cell shading, retro nuances, and complete randomness will find a lot more to enjoy in No More Heroes than they might expect, but with that said it’s certainly not a game for everyone. It takes a little bit of time to get used to Santa Destroy’s eccentricities and many people might be so put off by it (or the excessive blood and coarse language) that they might not get to fully appreciate the game for what it is: a dark and gritty gem of a game that Nintendo needs far more than it knows. Regardless of whether or not you can look past its flaws, No More Heroes is a game that deserves (at least) a rental for taking new concepts and ideas and making something original and fresh for the Wii. Now if only there were a way to turn off Santa Destroy…

Wiikly Wii Releases: 3/2 - 3/8

Welcome to the very first 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.

Major League Baseball 2K8
2K Sports – March 4th

Are you finally getting tired of Wii Sports baseball? Have you found other Wii baseball games to be a little “lacking?” Are you just too lazy to update rosters yourself? If you answered yes to any of these three relatively useless questions, you just may be in the market for MLB 2K8!

MLB 2K8 takes over where 2K7 left off, adding all kinds of new features and upgraded rosters to make the most anal MLB fan happy. With an unprecedented emphasis on the Minor leagues (including 90 playable real-life Minor League players and downloadable stadiums), a revamped pitching system, and collectible in-game trading cards, MLB 2K8 should have a little something for everyone.

Now here’s to hoping that the game ended up looking better than this screenshot leads us to believe:

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Ninja Reflex
Nunchuck Games – March 4th

It’s hard to deny the fact that ninjas are awesome. While some would have you believe that pirates, aliens, dragons, or other quasi-mythical creatures are superior, the truth is that ninjas take the cake. Knowing this, it was only a matter of time until ninjas and mini-games came together like peanut butter and chocolate for the Wii in Ninja Reflex, this weeks casual gaming selection.

Ninja Reflex, in a rather unsurprising move, tests your ninja reflexes in a series of mini-games that range from zen-like (grabbing fish and relaxing on the water) to bizarre (feeding your master his noodles). It will surely be a great game for all of your ninja-themed get togethers, and will likely bring you lots of inner peace while (hopefully) teaching you how to kill in stealth.

Since the meat of the game is its mini-games, it’s important to get a feel for whether or not they are minigames that you would actually want to play. Taking a peek at this Youtube video should grant you the knowledge you seek, young grasshopper:

And now for our long-awaited…

Bully: Scholarship Edition
Rockstar Games – March 3rd

One of the most needlessly controversial games of last year finally makes its way over to the Wii with lots of waggle and extras for all. Bully tells the tale of Jimmy Hopkins, a raucous young lad who must survive amongst the bullies and tyrannical teachers that roam the halls of Bullworth Academy. Throughout Bully you take control of Jimmy and help him make friends, rough up adversaries, and find love in his new surroundings.

Anyone who has played a Grand Theft Auto game in the past five years or so will be savvy to the “sandbox” layout of the game, as you become increasingly free to explore the campus and surrounding city as the game progresses. The meat of the game is made up of schooling (in the form of minigames) and going on GTA-esque missions to advance the game. Even though the game is a lot more timid in comparison to most of the murderfests that Rockstar is known for, it more than makes up for this (possible?) shortcoming with a solid story and refreshing pace.

If you didn’t get a chance to pick Bully up for the PS2 a couple of years back, do yourself a favor and check it out the special Wii version with all of it’s extra missions, mini-games, accessories, and more. Besides, who doesn’t want to skip some classes and rough up a few schoolmates every now and again?

That’s all for this week, fellow Wii gamers. If I were you, I just might save my pennies for a certain Brawl that’s coming next Sunday, but who am I to tell you what to spend your hard-earned cash on? If Ninjas, Baseball, or Bullies are your thing, then by all means go crazy. See you next week!