N-Query IGN July 12th

Red Steel online, Wii load times, boxing and much more discussed.

Wii Loves Spidey 

Here’s my concern. I think there are many great ideas for Wii games, but I’m afraid that developers won’t put forth the effort to take well established franchises and mix them up. I have one in mind. Basically, Spiderman 2 was the greatest superhero game ever (at least of all that I played). It wasn’t really the missions or story, but the awesome controls. They need to make Spidey 3 and take it a step further with Wii. One could simply point to a spot on a building to shoot a web and swing, or to web yank, just target an enemy and flick the remote. The game would be fresh and impossible to put down, yet I no one would make this game, just “because”. Gamers are left with “what could have been” instead of getting slam bang game…Matt responds: Agreed, and I have hope for the Wii version of Spider-Man. Activision has actually outsourced the upcoming Wii build of Spidey to a very competent third party that has a history on Nintendo consoles, and I have faith everything will turn out pretty well for Big N fans. Of course, you can rest assured that Wii Spidey will make full use of Nintendo’s innovative controller, and I expect you’re not the first person to conjure up intuitive ways to use it. I haven’t seen the version and don’t expect to for some time, but I’m definitely hopeful that it’ll be more than a missed opportunity.  

 

A Big Load 

Hello My question is based on the speed of Wii games. When i mean speed i mean that crap they called “Loading”. Let me say that Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Gamecube both machines have had very little loading sessions, sometimes even none. If they were loading screens they are really fast, especially on N64, and i could say as well for Gamecube it wasnt super fast but fast. But if we look at the playstation series, they had horrible loading sessions that last quiet awhile, and well the x-box is a beast loading is limited. However my quesiton is based will “Wii have its loading session to a minimum or will it take an outrageously long as the Ps1 and Ps2?”

Matt responds: Fret not little pony. That’s right, I called you a pony. What’re you going to do about it? Anyway, Nintendo has really been stressing the fact that Wii load times – like GameCube – will be incredibly quick. Both company president Satoru Iwata and master designer Shigeru Miyamoto have gone on the record to state this point. Also, in reference to the Virtual Console, Iwata is quoted as saying: “If I have to wait 30 or 40 seconds for a game to load I know I am frustrated and I don’t want to play. Wii’s Virtual Console can power up games in just a few seconds.” But we expected as much about the Virtual Console. After all, it doesn’t take long to load 100k into memory.

 

Boxing 

Will there be a boxing game (like Fight Night) coming out for Wii in the near future? The use of the analog sticks was a big step, but a Wii-Mote in each hand is the closest to the real thing. If it’s done right, it would K.O. all the other boxing video games right out of the market.

Matt responds: Well, there’s no official word from the big boys, including Nintendo or Electronic Arts, but I expect that it’s only a matter of time. Thing is, boxing on Wii might not be as friendly as you think. Imagine going 15 rounds while punching with the Wii controller and the nunchuck unit (or possibly two Wii controllers). You’re not going to need an on-screen stamina bar, which is a plus. But on the downside, you might be bent over and heaving, especially if you look anything like this guy. It’s a hell of a lot easier to tap a couple of analog sticks than it is to throw air punches for 20 minutes at a time. That noted, it’ll still be sweet.

 

Not Quite Two Swords 

I was looking at the new screen shots for Red Steel, and they all look beautiful. I saw in one of them that the player had two swords! Is this new? Does this mean that you’ll be able to control one sword with the remote, and one with the nunchuck?

Matt responds: You know, as soon as Ubisoft sent over the latest screens, the same thought occurred to me. I think I had a brain fart, though, because I played the damn game at E3 and should have remembered what the second sword is for. You don’t actually maneuver it. Rather, the second sword (or long dagger) appears on-screen when you block or parry attacks in the game. You just motion with the nunchuck controller to do it. Pretty simple, actually.

 

Red Steel Multiplayer 

The first time Red Steel was announced a lot of site kept on confirming its online….now no one seems to be talking about it. Is it online or not?

Matt responds: A shiny, pretty question to be sure, and I wish I had a shiny, pretty answer to complement it. Ubisoft’s official line as this: “Red Steel has confirmed split-screen multiplayer modes at this point in time. Nothing in regard to online for Red Steel has been announced as of yet.” Personally, I think the game will indeed feature some sort of online mode, but I don’t think Ubisoft can talk about its plans in this regard until Nintendo gives it the green light.

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