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E308: Hey, disgruntled Nintendo fans -- remember Wario Land?
Though it didn't get so much as a syllable in the Nintendo presser earlier today, Wario Land: Shake It remains very much in our thoughts. It's not slipped Nintendo's mind either, for the company belched out fresh screens and character art for its 2D platformer earlier today. In a nutshell, it's basically more of what we've already seen -- quite gorgeous hand-drawn 2D art that continues to look like the cat's galoshes.Nintendo forgetting the hardcore? This gallery says otherwise.%Gallery-26293%[Via press release]
Slightly revised release dates for Wii Wario, DS Kirby
As part of a massive data dump accompanying their E3 2008 press conference, Nintendo has announced some slight adjustment to the previously announced release dates for Wario Land: Shake It! and Kirby Super Star Ultra. Both games are now listed for release on Monday, Sept. 22, a bump up form the originally planned release dates later in the week. On the plus side, now you'll be able to get your hands on the games earlier. On the downside, now you have less time to save up enough dough to blow. Drag!
Wario Land: Shake It! video blowout
Yesterday, we saw a clip of how the Wiimote will be used in the upcoming Wario Land: Shake It!; today, we get several new gameplay videos. In the clips (all found after the break) we see Wario, the yin to Mario's yang, using several different skills to make his way through his all-new 2D adventure for the Wii. The game currently has a release date of September 26 and 29 for Europe and North America, respectively. Gallery: Wario Land: Shake It
Twist and shake with Wario Land: Shake It!
The importance of shaking in Wario Land: Shake It! is apparent from the moment you read the title, but there are also moves available to Wario that involve twisting. Spencer of Siliconera spent some time studying videos from Shake It!'s official Japanese site, and listed down the different types of shake and twist that feature in Wario's adventure.He quickly discovered that many moves in the game are context-sensitive. So, shaking the Remote up and down repeatedly allows our dungareed hero to swing from bars, as well as shake the treasure from bags or enemies. Twisting the Wiimote is also multi-functional, and will let players steer minecarts, fire themselves from a cannon at a certain angle, or aim at where they'd like to chuck enemies. A respectable range of moves, all performed with two simple motions -- neat!%Gallery-26293%
See how Wario Land Shake's using the Wiimote
This is going to be hard for some of you to hear, so we're just going to come right out with it. This new video shows off how the Wiimote is used in upcoming Wario Land Shake and it doesn't look ... well, it doesn't look fun, OK? There, we said it.Maybe we're putting too much pressure on Wario after his delightful minigame outings, but we really expect Nintendo to be able to come up with something better than "Tilt the Wiimote to tilt the cannon." We should also point out that the above video is completely in Japanese, so there's every chance the announcer could be saying "This isn't at all what you'll be doing" or "We've intentionally made this look not fun so you won't expect the fun when it arrives." ... But we doubt it.
We're all shook up from Wario Land videos
We knew that Wario Land: Shake It! looked really nice, but we simply were not prepared to see it in motion in the gameplay video available on the new Japanese site. The crisp backgrounds and fluid character animation make Shake It one of the best-looking games on Wii or any other console. It's surprisingly beautiful for something that is also so Wario-like -- the gameplay footage is all busting stuff and hoarding treasure.The site also features the animated intro created by Production I.G., which we've embedded after the break. In addition, an animated controller diagram details the game's sideways-Wiimote-based control scheme: the 1 button tackles, the 2 button jumps, and shaking the Wiimote performs various context-sensitive actions, usually shaking stuff.
Wario Land Shake intro and gameplay videos
Scheduled to be released later this month in Japan, Wario Land Shake has been largely invisible ... until now. A little too dramatic there? Fair enough, but we're excited is all. While Mario and his fancy blue overalls snubs his mustachioed nose at 2D console games nowadays (even on a handheld, it's 2.5G or bust for Mario), there are still believers in the cause. Yes, dear reader, that's a plural believers; it's not just Castlevania creator Koji Igarashi who still thinks 2D platform gaming is "somewhat alive".Now you can add Nintendo's rascally un-mascot Wario to that list as well, as evidenced in these videos from his latest console outing. Above you'll find the animated intro (don't worry, your inability to understand Japanese shouldn't interrupt your ability to follow along) and after the break, you'll find the first gameplay footage, in all it's 2D, sprite-based glory.
Wario Land Shake gets dated for Europe, among others
We've been following Wario Land: The Shake Dimension for quite some time now. After the numerous scans and screens, we're about ready to hear something on a release date for the game. Well, as ready as we are in North America, it looks like Europe is the only region with a cemented release for the game. Wario Land: The Shake Dimension will release in Europe on September 26th. Aside from that game, Nintendo of Europe also dished out release dates for plenty of other Wii games, including Baroque (July 18) and Manhunt 2 (August). To check out the full list, head on past the break.
Wario Land Shake scans show more shaking
The same screens of Wario Land Shake keep on popping up in different places, but the latest scans from Coro Coro Comics reveal a bit more about the controls. As you probably deduced from the game's title, being the genius that you are, Wario Land Shake will involve quit a bit of shaking. We already went into a little detail on the controls a few weeks ago, but these new scans show more pictured instances of the scheme in action.As you can see above, you hold the Wiimote horizontally and use it like an old-school controller. Attacking enemies will be one instance that you need to shake and bake, since you can turn your foes into treasure this way. Google translator also tells us that climbing ropes will involve "moving the Wiimote up and down," which is pretty much the definition of shaking. It looks like most actions in the game will force you to shake the Wiimote, but we think Wario Land sounds awesome enough to warrant the waggle and ensuing Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Wario Land Shake sees an old favorite return
Scans of Famitsu's Wario Land Shake preview just hit the 'net, and although we've already seen most of the screens and art they contain (in various dimensions), there is the odd new screenshot to squint at, not to mention a synopsis of the story, which has been handily translated by a Something Awful forum member.Usually, we wouldn't even glance twice at a storyline from a Wario game, but Shake's narrative deserves a mention simply because it features the extremely welcome return of Captain Syrup, last seen pinching Wario's loot in Wario Land II for the Game Boy Color (over a decade ago, and yes, that makes us feel old).She's not the villain this time, however; instead, that role has been left to another pirate, Shay King (har), who invades the world of Yuretopia to nab its legendary "Deldel Purse" treasure. It's up to our dungaree-sporting anti-hero to take on Shay King and grab a slice of coin for himself.[Thanks, creamsugar! Story translation via NeoGAF]
Some slightly less tiny Wario Land Shake screens
The first Wario Land Shake screens we received were utterly minuscule, but we didn't care, because hey: fully 2D Wario game. Now, one NeoGAFfer has managed to lay their hands on a further four screenshots, all with slightly larger (though still not large) dimensions.While still only about half the size that they should be, these images do at least begin to show off some of the game's lovely hand-drawn art; that jungle area made us think of another game famous for its lovingly crafted 2D backgrounds. Hit the jump for all four shots.
Wario to shake up Australia
The original source of this image is unknown, but Jeux-France seems to have found a tiny rendition of Wario Land Shake's (potential) Japanese boxart. It's small and blurry, but it's clear enough to see that, as they have in the game, Nintendo put aside their usual 3D renders of the Mario series cast. While the game relies on cel-shading, this looks like it could be original, hand-drawn art. We'll get a better look at it soon enough.We may also get a good look at some English-language boxart soon, according to the new OFLC rating for "Wario Land: The Shake Dimension." We expected to hear about a localization eventually, but not so soon! Of course, it could still be forever before the game really comes out.[Via NeoGAF]
Wario Land Shake to feature 2D platforming action
Wario Land fans won't have to worry about their oft-forgotten favorite platformer making an awkward transition to 3D. Wario Land Shake, first revealed yesterday, will feature old-school 2D platforming flavor, akin to Super Paper Mario's better moments.A Japanese fact sheet -- lovingly translated by the NeoGAF community -- describes the gameplay as being largely 2D, with hand-drawn animation and backgrounds, and the requisite Wiimote waggling interactivity (hence the "Shake," we presume). According to the fact sheet (and according to NeoGAF), the game is slated for a 2008 release. You know, for now.[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
First Wario Land details Shake things up
Given Sega's apparent inability to commit to a fully 2D platformer on the Wii, we might have to rely on Nintendo to deliver the goods. Which is to say: a Wario Land Shake fact sheet has found its way on to the 'net, and appears to suggest that the game, revealed only yesterday, will be a brand new, exclusively 2D platform title on a home console -- in 2008. Sweet!Obviously, while we're not quite jumping from armchair to sofa in excitement just yet, Japanese blogger Sinobi also describes Shake as a "2D action" game, while NeoGAF users Anihawk and Teknoman translated some of the small print, and discovered that it promised cel-shaded characters, hand-drawn animation and backgrounds, and that the game was, in their words, "most likely 2D."According to the NeoGAFfers, there will also be 20 stages (taking in jungle, ruins, desert, and ocean locations), vehicles such as rockets and submarines, but no multiplayer. As for the Shake in the title, that refers to a whole range of actions that can be performed with the Wiimote -- by shaking your controller, you'll be able to uncover hidden locations, shake enemies (who then dispense coins), and much more.Make the jump for the full, larger version of the fact sheet.
Wario Land Shake jiggling its way to Japan
Now officially listed on Nintendo Japan's official site, we can celebrate the unveiling of the latest game featuring pseudo-evil badass Wario. The kanji is translated into English as simply Wario Land Shake, which is a natural connection to the whole motion-sensing thing the Wii's got going on.Now, despite the fact that Wario has been featured in a pile of different games in recent years, the inclusion of Land in the title brings hope to the possibility that this will be a full-fledged platformer that follows on from Wario Land 4 which was released way back in 2001. No longer is our portly friend relegated to hosting mini-game compilations and riding go-karts; he's in the spotlight and heading for the store shelves of Japan on July 24. Stay tuned for more details![Via GoNintendo]
Nintendo dates 'Wario Land Shake' Wii, 'Rhythm Tengoku Gold' DS, other titles for Japan
Nintendo of Japan has rolled out its schedule for the summer session, dropping a few surprises along the way. First, Wario Land will graduate from handheld to console with Wario Land Shake for Wii on July 24. No further details have been given, so it's up to each of us to pray, dance, sacrifice some virgins (or whatever!) so that "Shake" doesn't end up an inept deviation from the mostly excellent Game Boy predecessors. Thankfully, DS owners will be served a far more promising sequel in Rhythm Tengoku Gold, arriving July 31 from the capable hands of Nintendo R&D1 (you know, the WarioWare team). Here are some highlights from the release date calendar: June 19: Mario Super Sluggers (Wii) June 26: Band Brothers DX (DS) July 10: Resident Evil Zero (Wii) July 24: Wario Land Shake (Wii) July 31: Fatal Frame IV: The Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (Wii) July 31: Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS) August 7: Fire Emblem DS (DS) [Via NeoGAF & DS Fanboy]Source - Nintendo June Calendar (Japanese)Source - Nintendo July Calendar (Japanese)Source - Rhythm Tengoku Gold announcement (Japanese)Source - Fire Emblem game page (Japanese)
