E3: Odama turns strategy on its head

This thing better come out for the DS, or I'll whine more than usual. Odama is a pinball strategy war game. That's right. Mountains are bumpers, buildings are power-ups and two massive flippers protect your troops until you give the marching orders.

The point of the level I played was to get the soldiers to the top of the screen where a big wooden door protects the enemy's fort. The enemy troops are trying to push a marker down the screen and into your territory. You need to do everything you can to stop them. Use the flippers to roll the ball over them (but be careful of your own troops) or use your forces (at strategic times) to outfight the bad guys. You get a mic for the controller that allows you to bark orders like "March!" or "Stop!" and the troops will dutifully follow them. If you manage to break the opponent's door down with your Odama, and slip your troops through, you win.

The hook of the game is similar to the gun turret levels in Armed & Dangerous. You?re being overwhelmed by the other side and you need to throw your entire arsenal at them. But, unlike A&D, Odama demands clear thinking as you strategize troop tactics while playing a twitch game.

This is the kind of innovative, weird title that will keep Nintendo in the game. And they know it, as the pic above proves (that banner is probably 30 feet tall). It?s due out this Fall.