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Revolutionary: Playing. Creating? Sharing!
Every (other) Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. Custom level creation in console games has come a long way. It used to be, if you wanted to share a track that you built in Excitebike, you had to invite friends over to play your creation on your cartridge, until you powered off your NES and the track was lost forever. Nowadays our levels can be saved to internal storage, and shared by removable media, or across the internet to survive for posterity. It's a feature that's fully supported by all consoles this generation, and big games are highlighting it amongst their bullet points. System sellers like Halo 3, LittleBigPlanet, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are trojan-horsing the concept of custom level creation into the consciousness of the console-consuming collective. Former Sony exec Phil Harrison popularized the term "Game 3.0," but we'll be taking a look at how it is playing out on Nintendo's platform.
One 'El of a bargain
If you want to replicate the act of cruelty in the video above on some Elebits of your own, yet somehow don't have the title in your collection, know this: Konami's online store (and other outlets) are now offering Elebits for just under twenty bucks. That's impressively cheap for one of the Wii's most under-rated titles, not to mention a favorite of one David Hinkle, a man whose impeccable taste we dare not question.We wouldn't recommend Dewy's Adventure quite as strongly, but it's available for the same price elsewhere on Konami's site.[Via Go Nintendo]
Rumor: Elebits to make shocking transition to DS?
If you ask us, Konami's Elebits is one of the Wii's truly underrated gems, so when we saw that a page for a sequel had appeared in the database of rental specialists Gamefly, we whooped, punched the air, performed chest bumps with one another, and said stuff like "OH YEAH!!" a lot.Then we calmed down, only to realize that Gamefly has Elebits 2 listed as a DS title, with a release date of August 30th! Cue further bumping of chests and abusing of the exclamation mark key!Unless this is a simple error (and Gamefly is usually right on the money with these kind of things), we're dazzled by this development. Could a DS version of Elebits successfully recreate the wonderfully tactile sensation of chucking furniture about that was such a key part of the Wii title? Why, yes, we think it could!
Elebits, Dewy director on future plans and old game music
Gamasutra's Brandon Sheffield spoke to Konami's current de facto head Wii guy, Shingo Mukaitoge, who directed both Elebits and Dewy's Adventure, in an enjoyably in-depth interview about influences, interests, and a bit of game history. Mukaitoge got his start as an architecture student, but moved to games after college, directing console music games for Konami before getting a chance to develop his two original Wii games. When the time came to create the original game, he says, the design followed from the Wiimote -- which seems kind of obvious when you play Elebits, the game of pointing at stuff. The games were more popular in the U.S. than in Japan, which Mukaitoge theorizes is due in part to Japan's reliance on franchises: "Well I've found that mysterious myself, as well, but the Japanese market tends to purchase games that already have previous versions, like franchise games, instead of original ones. Maybe that is one of the reasons. It's not a good thing though..."This startlingly candid interview is worth checking out. Towards the end, Sheffield and Mukaitoge begin riffing on obscure Saturn and PC Engine RPGs and talking about great Yuzo Koshiro music. It's always nice to find out that game directors put some effort into playing games occasionally.
What we're thankful for: Wii edition
Aside from stuffing our faces with 7,000 calories worth of food on Thanksgiving, we Americans are supposed to reflect on what we're most thankful for. While things like LOLcatz and coffee definitely make the list (oh right, and our families and friends, we guess), we wanted to show a little appreciation for the Wii as well. The Nintendo Wii Fanboy staff was thus asked what about the Wii we are most thankful for. The following is what happens when you have a staff with the collective maturity level of 37% (calculated by science).
Matt C.'s new hype train: Medal of Honor: Heroes 2
Now that Zack & Wiki has been released into the wild, IGN's Matt Casamassina needs something new to hype, and we're all sorts of behind this latest choice: Medal of Honor: Heroes 2. In a recent blog entry, he reports that the controls are out of this world. In fact, he says the WWII title "beats the pants off Metroid Prime 3 in the FPS control department. This is the new Wii benchmark, period." That's a bold statement, but it seems to jibe with what we've seen and heard so far about the game ... and hey, we get bonus incredible multiplayer to boot. Put us down in the excited column on this one.In the same post, he drops possible hints of an Elebits sequel. Exciting![Via Joystiq]
IGN's Casamassina says new Medal of Honor 'beats the pants off Metroid Prime 3' controls
With equal parts vindication and deep personal loss in his life, IGN's resident Nintendo fanboy Matt Casamassina seized the moment and spent a little time blogging. The big revelation is that he believes the upcoming Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is a new benchmark in Wii FPS controls. He says there is a video coming in the near future, but for now says, "[MoHH2] officially beats the pants off Metroid Prime 3 in the the FPS control department." Casamassina also says while speaking with Shingo Mukaitoge (Elebits, Dewy's Adventure) that the game producer "paused for a moment, smiled, and would only say, 'That's a secret.'" in regards to an Elebits sequel. Mukaitoge says his team is already working on a new Wii project and will announce it soon. We're kinda looking forward to another Elebits. It's no secret that the game was a rush job for the Wii release, but it'd be interesting to see what the team could do with a little more time.
Joystiq interview: Elebits and Dewy's Adventure producer Shingo Mukaitouge
We spent some time with Shingo Mukaitouge, who besides having a very cool first name also produced Elebits and the recent Dewy's Adventure for the Wii. He was on-hand at E For All to sign little stuffed Dewy's for the crowd, and to talk to us about his love for the Wii platform.Dewy's Adventure has been out for over a month, but we had a good time playing around with it. Manipulating the environment with the Wii remote is a great idea, and the gameplay is really fun. Shaking the Wiimote to make earthquakes had us singing "Shake it, but don't break it ..." Blame the samples of Five Hour Energy we kept downing.Check out the short but sweet interview after the jump. And no, we weren't able to score a cuddly little Dewy doll. That poor guy was mobbed by more screaming teens than a Hannah Montana concert.
Konami announces Dewy's Adventure for Wii
The Konami Gamer's Day was widely expected to unleash a torrent of information on upcoming games, but in this case, it's but a tiny drop of water. IGN has the scoop on Dewy's Adventure, a Wii title that sees players controlling an adorable droplet of water on a quest to restore his forest home to its former glory. Developed by Konami's Elebits team, it appears to be a puzzle game vaguely reminiscent of Super Monkey Ball. It seems that cute creatures find themselves invariably hampered by devilish puzzles.The Wii remote will have a direct influence on the environment, with puzzles hinging on rotating the levels and positioning Dewy in the right spots. He's equipped with all manner of elemental powers to aid him in his progress, though we imagine that he'll have to keep any fire powers curbed at the risk of committing evaporative suicide. The thought of the poor little guy boiling alive is ... somewhat disturbing.Konami notes that the game will, much like Elebits, feature a level creation mode and allow players to design their own puzzles shortly before tackling them alone or with a friend.
Friday video: Elebits + Naruto = love?
We love all sorts of game-related videos, from straight up footage to fan-made homages, but videos that blend several elements from pop culture are always fun. Continuing the theme from last week's dramatic look at Super Smash Brothers Brawl is a similar video, though much lighter in tone. This one features those super cute Elebits and music from Naruto. Check it out after the jump!
Elebits gets renamed for Europe
Turns out, upon releasing to Europeans this Spring, Elebits is to receive a change of name. Apparently, the word 'bit' is a bit 'o English slang, which is defined as:Bit: Noun. A woman. Abb. of 'bit of fluff' or 'bit of skirt', generally a person viewed sexually. Derog.Eledees is going to be the new moniker by which hunting small electrical creatures in a wide variety of environments will be called in the PAL territory. While both names share a piece of the ridiculous pie, we wonder which one has taken the bigger slice?[Via Joystiq]
Elebits renamed for European release
European Wii owners will be hard-pressed to locate a copy of Elebits when it launches in PAL land this Spring, mostly due to the fact that it'll be called Eledees. As in, "LEDs" or possibly "Eledees, can I buy you a drink?" A quick and shamefully shallow internet search reveals that the word "bit" could be considered derogatory British slang, hence prompting Konami to drop it from the game's title. Right below "biscuit arsed", it reads:Bit: Noun. A woman. Abb. of 'bit of fluff' or 'bit of skirt', generally a person viewed sexually. Derog.Well, thank goodness they caught that one. Countless many people would have been left disappointed after learning that Elebits doesn't involve you lifting up skirts with a gravity beam. Expect that game from some other Japanese developer sometime in the future.[Image: Penny Arcade's surprisingly relevant Just for the Elebit.]
All the Elebits tutorials you'll ever need
Do you find yourself wondering what the various modes in Elebits are all about? Do you yearn for someone to show you how to get in on the zapping action yourself? Never fear, gentle fansters, there's help out there just for you! Check out the trio of Elebits videos after the jump for a mixture of walkthrough, review, and random commentary.
Metareview - Elebits
Back in May Elebits was showing signs of Katamari-like appeal. Seven months later the final product certainly stands out among Wii's early titles. A classic? Nah, but Elebits is one of the better available showcases of Wii's motion-driven potential; plus it dares to experiment with the WiiConnect24 service.If you've already plowed through Twilight Princess and surgery ain't your bag, Elebits should be a strong candidate for your attention, even if it's not a lasting experience. IGN (83/100) - "Elebits begins with a misstep in the form of a poorly presented storyline ... Once the game starts proper, though, Elebits shines ... The game dishes out a surprising level of hidden strategy, too, due in large to a clever balance between the electrified items in the stages and the ability of your capturing gun ... but the real stars of Elebits are the control and, of course, the physics ... This title is destined for sleeper status." GameSpot (75/100) - "Functionally [Elebits is] a first-person shooter for younger audiences ... You'll bust through the game's story mode in under six hours and fail maybe one or two stages during the entire course of the mode ... Though the game is simple, there's an oddly compelling quality to the action." Game Informer (70/100) - "[Elebits] taps into the same vein of quirky fun as titles like Katamari Damacy, but isn't as endearing ... With such a simple concept, it is really up to the control scheme and the Wii remote to salvage the experience, and it is only partly successful ... I couldn't shake the feeling that the game's big draw – total power over the surrounding world – will one day just be a small part of a much more involving and full-featured title...probably starring Jedi." See also: Joystiq hands-on: Elebits (Wii)
WRUP: looking for those Elebits edition
With a couple of notable releases this week, our pick of the litter obviously goes to Elebits. That's what we're planning on playing, but what about you guys? More interested in Far Cry or perhaps Metal Slug Anthology? Or are you still hung up in Zelda or another game? Or do you, in fact, plan on doing as we are and hunting down all of those little creatures, trashing houses in the process of doing so? Past posts: What were you playing?
Playing dominoes in Elebits
Have you ever seen those weird Half-Life 2 videos where a dummy is catapulted all around an environment through a series of explosions and the like? Well, with Elebits, it appears some are doing the same, as evidenced by the embedded video, available for view past the jump.
Wii releases for the week of December 11th
Plenty of games releasing this week for our beloved Wii, so which titles do you want to get your hands on? Perhaps, like us, you've waited for Elebits, slowly rocking back and forth in the fetal position on the floor in the corner of your room, counting down the seconds to release as you mumble incoherently to yourself. Or, perhaps, you remember to take your medication so things of that nature do not happen? Chicken Little: Ace in Action Elebits Far Cry: Vengeance Super Swing Golf World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions Metal Slug Anthology As always, quantities are subject to manufacturer delivery.
Joystiq hands-on: Elebits (Wii)
The world seems to have its eye on Elebits right now, hoping for another industry darling of the likes of Katamari Damacy. Sharing similar themes, Elebits is a fantasy story set in a mundane, domestic environment, collecting tiny electric creatures instead of junk-in-a-ball. It's the collecting that sets the games apart, with ball rolling replaced by shooting, only we're collecting the elebits instead of killing them.Using the Wii-mote as a capture gun (and Nunchuk for movement), the game is part hide and seek -- you see, those elebits like to hide in nooks and crannies -- and part light gun style shooter. The novelty comes in the fact that the capture gun has a furniture moving gravity beam, allowing you to truly rummage for the little tykes.A sense of progress comes from the gravity beam starting out quite weak, getting stronger as you collect more elebits. A typical level starts out with you rummaging throughout the shelves and cupboards for elebits, ending with your powered up gun lifting up entire pieces of furniture effortlessly, as you trash the place looking the elusive creatures.
Elebits import impressions plus video
The folks over at Gamebrink got their hands on a Japanese retail version of Elebits and taken some video, as well as documented their impressions, of the game. Their overall opinion of the game? Good, very good; simplistic gameplay melds with progressively difficult challenges to create quite the gameplay experience. They compare the game to a combination of Nintendo's Pikmin with Katamari Damacy. Check out the video, which has been embedded into the post past the jump and is rather lengthy and chock full of gameplay.
Elebits retail gameplay video and impressions
Gamebrink has posted some videos and impressions of the Japanese retail version of Elebits, which launched with the system in Japan but doesn't debut in North America until next week. The final game looks a lot tighter than the E3 demo, which saw the tiny electrical creatures practically leaping out of every available surface. The retail version looks more like a restrained game of hide-and-seek, with players searching every nook and cranny for the occasional Elebit or power up.Wider opinions on the game have been mixed, but GameBrink found the gameplay "extremely satisfying" and compared the experience to the likes of Pikmin and Katamari Damacy. Does the title have what it takes to become the next sleeper hit out of Japan? Decide for yourself by viewing the following videos.
