A WiiNintendo game review by hattrick.
Game – Spore Hero Arena
Version – DS (Spore Hero is available on Wii)
Time Spent Playing – Approx. 5 hours
Obtained – From EA (review copy)
Introduction
For those not familiar with the Spore universe, you might be a bit confused as to what Spore Hero Arena is all about. Essentially, you create and control an evolving creature, fighting and competing with other creatures in order to become the best. You gain new abilities based on the new body parts you add to your creature, hence the evolution aspect of the game. Specifically for Spore Hero Arena, you must defeat all the other Spore Heroes in order to become the best in the universe. (If you are still confused, check out the video below.)
Gameplay
In a similar fashion to Spore Hero for Wii, you start off with a basic creature that you help evolve. Exclusive for Arena, you travel from planet to planet, defeating the creatures there in order to become the champion. Each time you defeat a planet’s title-holder, you gain a piece of meteor. This meteor has corrupted everyone else it touches, but for some reason, it does not affect you.
Arena basically consists of two types of play: exploration and fighting. In my opinion, both are done very well. In fact, I prefer the fighting in Arena much more than Spore Hero for Wii. There are more actions to perform, including over sixteen bio-power attacks. In addition to the fighting, you will find yourself completing different quests (from snowball fights to races). I feel I do need to mention that, as opposed to Spore Hero, Arena seems to be a bit easier. I did not find myself loosing as many battles.
A key component included in Spore Hero Arena is multiplayer battle. This allows you and a friend to fight in an arena with up to three friends (locally) and a single challenger via Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. Make your own creature or pick from the characters in the game, and then fight to the death. As with the Wii version, this was a good addition to the game, but I believe the best way to play Spore Hero is the single-player adventure. However, I did not get to play with 3 friends locally, due to it being a multi-card multiplayer game (meaning everyone needs their own copy of the game). This was probably the biggest complaint I have about the multiplayer.
Controls
Arena has two control types. One way of controlling your creature is to use the touch screen for movement and the buttons for attacks. The other type is the more traditional way – control pad for movement and A, B, X, & Y for attacks. While I am not typically a big fan of touch-screen controls in action games, I found myself switching back to them after some time with the control pad. The main reason was because the control pad only gave me four directions of movement, where the touch screen gave a full 360-degrees. This was crucial in navigating the land and in battle sequences. While this ended up being my preferred style of play, I still found my hand cramping up from pushing the attack buttons, all the while holding the DS and pressing on the touch screen to move. While this may not be a problem for everyone, I found I needed to take a break every once in a while to give my hand a rest.
Creature Creator
I feel that, with it being a Spore game, I need to mention the Creature Creator. As with the PC/Mac version, your creature is fully customizable with over 150 parts. You can decide where to place those parts, and change their size and angle. The only thing I saw missing was the ability to customize the spine of your creature. Instead, you have a set number of pre-made body types to choose from. While I think many will complain, this was probably done to keep certain individuals from creating obscene and inappropriate creatures.
The creator utilizes the touch screen, which makes it very easy to use, and most people will be able to create a creature to their liking within a few minutes. It is also fun to play around and see what other types of creatures you can make. This is what Spore is really about – customization. While the DS did have a Spore Creature Creator before, this one surpasses that by leaps and bounds.
Visuals
Your creature and all the action takes place on the bottom touch-screen, while the top screen is used for your map. Spore Hero Arena goes for the third-person isometric view. It also has a cartoony comic book style of graphics. Overall, I feel that works for this game. The colors are bright and eye-catching at times, but also dark and gloomy when needed. While it probably does not push the DS to its graphical limits, Arena does a good job of creating a rich 3D environment that few others try on the Nintendo handheld.
Sound
The soundtrack to the game is very adventure-like. It feels like you are on a trek, and everything flows very well. When I am in the grassy field, a pleasant tune plays, and when I am in battle, the music ramps up to heighten the intensity. As with the visuals, I was very pleased with the music. As for the other sounds, everything seems to fit. The creatures speak in random sounds, and there is a good balance of background noise from the water, birds, and such.
Concluding Overall Impressions
While Spore Hero Arena may have a few minor problems in control style and the annoying multi-card local multiplayer, it does very well in every other aspect. From the point you crash land on the first planet, your quest awaits – a quest that will keep you entertained and engaged until the last battle.
To check out my review of Spore Hero (Wii), click here.
Click here to view the embedded video.
For more information on Spore Hero & Spore Hero Arena, visit http://www.sporehero.com.
A WiiNintendo game review by hattrick.
Game – Spore Hero
Version – Wii (Spore Hero Arena is available on DS)
Time Spent Playing – 3.5 hours
Obtained – From EA (review copy)
Introduction
For those not familiar with the Spore universe, you might be a bit confused as to what Spore Hero is all about. Essentially, you create and control an evolving creature, fighting and competing with other creatures in order to become the best. You gain new abilities based on the new body parts you add to your creature, hence the evolution aspect of the game. Specifically for Spore Hero, you must save your planet, which is being destroyed by an evil creature named Zarkhator. (If you are still confused, check out the trailer below.)
Gameplay
As stated earlier, your basic goal is to track down Zarkhator and defeat him. Along the way, though, you will encounter other creatures you must help, fight, dance with, or even sing with. All the while, you collect parts for yourself and for the Guardian Idol. In many ways, it is an adventure RPG – a game genre that, in my opinion, has not been touched much lately. Overall, I am a big fan of the gameplay mechanics and the overall premise of the game, even if it can get annoying to fight or dance with the same creature over and over again in order to unlock one part or ability.
A key component included in Spore Hero is local multiplayer battle. This allows you and a friend to fight in a 3D Street Fighter-type arena. Make your own creature or pick from the characters in the game, and then duke it out in a best-of-three bout. This was a good addition to the game, but I believe the best way to play Spore Hero is the single-player adventure.
Controls
The game is played with both the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, similar to Super Mario Galaxy. When exploring the land, movement is controlled with the analog stick, the camera is controlled with the control stick, the A button jumps, and you fight by waggling the Wii Remote. In fact, if I had to complain about any part of this game, I would say it becomes a “waggle-fest” at times. Quite often, I had to sit down the remote and take a break because my arm was tired from fighting other creatures. This was especially the case after fighting or singing with other creatures over and over again. However, nothing compares to how tiring you will be after battling your friend a few times. Sure, you can fight just as well with small movements, but most players will be swinging around as if they were actually hitting their opponent. Honestly, there are at least two buttons not used in Spore Hero. I am not sure why they couldn’t have mapped some of the excessive motion controls to one or more of those buttons.
Creature Creator
I feel that, with it being a Spore game, I need to mention the Creature Creator. As with the PC/Mac version, your creature is fully customizable with over 250 parts. You can decide where to place those parts, and change their size and angle. The only thing I saw missing was the ability to customize the spine of your creature. Instead, you have a set number of pre-made body types to choose from. While I think many will complain, this was probably done to keep certain individuals from creating obscene and inappropriate creatures.
The creator is very easy to use, and most people will be able to create a creature to their liking within a few minutes. It is also fun to play around and see what other types of creatures you can make. This is what Spore is really about – customization.
Visuals
This game could be one of the best looking games I have seen on the Wii. The colors are vibrant, and there is a great deal of attention to detail. From the waterfalls to the blades of grass, the visuals have definitely been polished. Even the menus look nice and simple. In fact, there is nothing that sticks out to me as a negative. The game is very pleasing to the eye.
Sound
The soundtrack to the game is very adventure-like. It feels like you are on a trek, and everything flows very well. When I am in the grassy field, a pleasant tune plays, and when I am in battle, the music ramps up to heighten the intensity. As with the visuals, I was very pleased with the music. As for the other sounds, everything seems to fit. The creatures speak in random sounds, and there is a good balance of background noise from the water, birds, and such.
Concluding Overall Impressions
Overall, I was very pleased with Spore Hero. The visuals, sound, and gameplay impressed me, and it drew me into the Spore universe. The only complaint I have is the amount of motion control required to fight through the game. While that criticism does hold weight, I am still going to recommend this game, especially if you are a fan of Spore and/or the adventure genre. Just try not to make huge movements, and your arm will last longer.
For my review of Spore Hero Arena (DS), click here.
Click here to view the embedded video.
For more information on Spore Hero & Spore Hero Arena, visit http://www.sporehero.com.
Eleven downloadable games grace us this week, which almost sets the record. Of course, the anticipated sequel to Excitebike comes to WiiWare, but so does Frogger and Dragon Master Spell Caster. On the DSiWare side, we get Bomberman Blitz, which is basically the multiplayer version of Bomberman, and five Electroplankton titles. For the Wii Virtual Console, we are now able to replay two rather lackluster classics: Wonder Boy 3 and Cybernoid. With titles like that, it seems like everyone should be able to find what they like. And don’t forget about our rumors of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker to come to the VC in the future (hmmm?). As always, be sure to check out the official PR from Nintendo, along with videos of gameplay we have spliced in.
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: LOAD UP ON EXCITEBIKE ACTION, MUSICAL PLANKTON AND MORE
Nov. 9, 2009
Rev up your engines for a huge week at the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop, starting with the launch of a pulse-pounding revamp for the WiiWare™ service, Excitebike™: World Rally. For the Nintendo DSiWare service, you’ll find five new titles in the mesmerizing Electroplankton™ series – available at just 200 Nintendo DSi Points™ apiece – plus the irresistible multiplayer mayhem of Bomberman Blitz. With two new classic Virtual Console™ offerings to sweeten the selection, there’s truly something for everyone to download and enjoy.
WiiWare
Excitebike: World Rally
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Prepare to face daredevil jumps, crazy obstacles and other racers in the newest installment in the venerable Excitebike franchise, available exclusively on the WiiWare service. Choose from multiple camera angles as you tilt your way to smooth landings using motion-sensitive controls. Compete in races around the world in four championship circuits. Use Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection to invite friends to a race. Or if you’re feeling brave, take on anyone else looking for a match. Feel like tackling a challenge of your own design? Use the intuitive Track Editor to choose from the available obstacles and put together your dream course, then share courses with friends to see whose creation skills reign supreme.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Frogger Returns
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Frogger Returns takes the heart-pounding challenge of arcade Frogger and moves it into the next dimension. Classic top-down 2-D game play is updated with colorful 3-D graphics, a new perspective, new levels, new enemies and game-changing power-ups. A local multiplayer mode lets you race a friend.
[Footage of Frogger Returns for the PS1, since I could not find WiiWare footage.]
Click here to view the embedded video.
Dragon Master Spell Caster™
Publisher: Stickmen Studios
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: The Dragon Lords have returned to the magical world of Nakiha, bringing ultimate power to whoever controls them. Choose your champion, then master amazing magic and fierce dragon attacks to defeat the rival Champions and their Dragon Lords. Choose from four different paths and decide the fate of the world in the fantastic story mode. Battle your friends in two-player split-screen arcade mode and tailor your tactics with different dragon and rider combinations, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Marvel at the effects of mind-blowing spell collisions. Mix spells and unleash their ultimate power. Control your Dragon Lord and crush, bite and burn your way to victory.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Nintendo DSiWare
Bomberman Blitz
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Bomberman makes his downloadable debut on Nintendo DSiWare with Bomberman Blitz. Dive into a classic multiplayer Bomberman experience with eight-player local or online multiplayer using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Hone your skills and learn the maps, then take the battle online. Change map and item preferences for enhanced customization. Delivering unparalleled multiplayer excitement, Bomberman Blitz lets Nintendo DSi users enjoy the addictive fun of Bomberman anytime, anywhere.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Electroplankton Trapy
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Trapy plankton make sounds as they swim over graceful lines made up of linked triangles. The creatures follow the lines you trace along the water. There are six types of Trapy in all, each with a unique color and sound. All Trapy plankton produce different tones depending on the direction they swim. They produce the lowest-pitched sounds when they swim to the right and produce higher-pitched sounds as their path veers to the left.
Electroplankton Hanenbow
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Normally aquatic creatures, Hanenbow sometimes use floating leaves to launch themselves out of the water, creating strange sounds and melodies as they bounce off the leaves. Entire schools of Hanenbow have been known to launch out of the water, one after another. As a leaf is repeatedly hit by flying Hanenbow, it gradually changes color. This also alters the sound made by bouncing Hanenbow. When all the leaves turn red, a flower will bloom. It remains unclear why the Hanenbow display this curious behavior.
Electroplankton Rec-Rec
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Rec-Rec are fishlike plankton that feed on sound waves. They absorb sound waves transmitted through water and use them as a form of nutrition. The sound waves that the Rec-Rec eat are then stored inside their bodies until they have been digested. Once the digestion process is complete, they play back the sounds in perfect four-second intervals. While these sounds are playfully emitted, wave patterns can be seen pulsating on their bodies. Rec-Rec always swim side by side in schools of four. When they swim at different speeds, the frequency with which they emit sounds also changes.
Electroplankton Nanocarp
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Nanocarp have very sensitive hearing. Using their two ears to sense vibrations coming through the water, these plankton can distinguish sound quality and frequency. They display very interesting reactions to the sound of humans clapping or breathing. Nanocarp are also excellent swimmers. They have a tendency to swim in formations of 16 and react together when they detect sounds. These plankton emit sounds on their own when they sense waves on the water’s surface. When this happens, the pitch of sounds they produce changes depending on where the Nanocarp is located.
Electroplankton Beatnes
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Beatnes are curious plankton with geometrically shaped heads that form vertical strands like seaweed. Their bodies are made up of eight sections, each featuring a distinctive diamond-shaped tail. The sound of a Beatnes can vary wildly depending on which segment of the body is tapped. However, all of the sounds closely resemble the short-wave and triangular-wave sound effects from a Nintendo Entertainment System™ sound chip. When Beatnes are tapped in time with a rhythm, they continue to repeat the sounds in perfect time for a short period.
[This video contains footage of all Electroplankton types.]
Click here to view the embedded video.
Virtual Console
Wonder Boy™ III: The Dragon’s Trap
Original platform: MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence, Tobacco Reference
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap is widely considered to be one of the best games produced for the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM. The direct sequel to Wonder Boy in Monster Land, it starts in the final lair of the previous game. This game is the first in the series to allow Wonder Boy to roam freely by using various animal forms, but as with previous games in the series, Wonder Boy can also buy various weapons, armor and items to help him in his quest.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Cybernoid™
Original platform: Commodore 64
Publisher: Commodore Gaming
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Federation storage depots have been raided by pirates, who’ve taken valuable minerals, jewels, ammunition and the latest battle weaponry. You have been commissioned by the Federation to retrieve the cargo and return it to storage within a specified time limit. The pirate craft have activated all planetary defense systems, which you must negotiate along with the pirates themselves. If you fail to reach the depot within the time limit, or if the value of your retrieved cargo is insufficient, you must forfeit one of your Cybernoid ships.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.
[Nintendo PR]
Nintendo has unloaded a pair of TV spots for upcoming New Super Mario Bros. Wii and they’re pretty slick. Each features a foursome of gamers playing the new Nintendo title while surrounded in what seems to be a convergence of the Mushroom Kingdom and reality — not unlike the plot of the horrible 1993 film. Unlike that movie, however, these ads are entirely watchable.
But, before you boot up your Wii and check ‘em out for yourself, head past the break to see the rest of this week’s Nintendo Channel content.
Continue reading This Week on the Nintendo Channel: It’s a New Super Mario Bros. world
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: It’s a New Super Mario Bros. world originally appeared on Joystiq Nintendo on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’re enjoying our DS game cases , and our other DS game cases, and all, but we can’t help but be a bit jealous at the latest gift available for Japanese Club Nintendo users. Wii de Ultra Hand is an exclusive Wii game based on the classic extendable grabbing toy — specifically, Nintendo’s own version, designed by Gunpei Yokoi and released in 1967.
The game uses the Wiimote and Nunchuk to simulate the handles of the Ultra Hand, and tasks players with picking up meat from grills and depositing it on plates. It’s available today for just 50 Club Nintendo points, one third the cost of a Wiimote stand.
[Via GAME Watch]
Nintendo extends Ultra Hand to Japanese Club Nintendo members originally appeared on Joystiq Nintendo on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Somehow, Sega has done the impossible: reacquired Michael Jackson’s likeness rights for a digital re-release of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker. At least, that appears to be the case, because the game has been re-rated by PEGI for release on Virtual Console. To give you an idea of the ridiculousness of that feat, Q? Entertainment has yet to release its PSP game Lumines for download on the same system because it has yet to acquire a license for digital release of its music.
We don’t know if this will be the Genesis version or the very different arcade game — or even, we suppose, the Master System port of the Genesis game. We’re contacting Sega for those and other details. Right after we catch a shooting star and turn into robotic, missile-firing versions of ourselves. Ow!
[Via Nintendo Life, image by Orioto]
PEGI: Moonwalker throwing a magical hat into Virtual Console originally appeared on Joystiq Nintendo on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s a very exciting day for Nintendo downloads, thanks to one very thrilling two-wheeler. But Excitebike World Rally is far from the only offering this week. In fact, there are multiple games available for WiiWare, Virtual Console, and DSiWare, which seems like a rare feat for Nintendo of America. Head past the break to see if any of the other new games excite you.
Continue reading NintendoWare Weekly: Excitebike World Rally, Electroplankton, Cybernoid, and more
NintendoWare Weekly: Excitebike World Rally, Electroplankton, Cybernoid, and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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