Hey Malstrom,
On a couple of occasions you’ve had the idea of why doesn’t Nintendo release a Gauntlet-type of game with co-op, showcasing the Wii Remote (or even M+). Just today, Nintendo has announced Dynamic Zan (also referred to as Dynamic Slash) for an early Feb. 11th, 2010 release in Japan. Courtesy of IGN:
The Wii title isn’t actually new. Late in 2008, Nintendo announced Dynamic Zan, an action game from the makers of Earth Defense Force. After over a year of silence, the game has finally resurfaced under the new name of Zangeki Reginleiv. In addition to EDF-level combat and a high level of weapon customization, the game will feature free four player co-op play. A Japanese release is set for February 11.
No other details are known yet, but I wouldn’t put it past this game to incorporate M+. On an unrelated note, given Miyamoto’s comments on Zelda, I think it will definately be built around the M+ (WSR archery and sword-fighting on the fly via a possibly tweaked over-the-shoulder-Zelda-camera-angle). Here’s hoping Dynamic Zan gets the M+ treatment to really take off.
Thank you for alerting me on this. There aren’t any details out, and I don’t know whether Zan gets the Motion Plus.
For those of you perhaps new to this site, I try to throw my hat in the ring and say what type of game needs to come out to really score big with the Expanded Audience as well as Nintendo’s Core Audience. Prior to E3 2009, I kept saying “New 2d Mario, Nintendo. DO IT!!!” over and over to the point of nauseum. And, lo and behold, Nintendo made it, and we’re going to see how it performs. I think it will hit a sweet spot of satisfying BOTH Core consumers and Expanded consumers. Girls love playing Mario. I hear everywhere from guys how their wives are excited to play NSMB Wii, and they aren’t really excited to play any other game.
So, throwing my hat in the ring again, I have been saying that the next big thing after that would be taking the Wii Sports Resort type controls, such as arrow shooting, swordplay, frisbee, and applying it to a four player Gauntlet type game. People would have different weapons and would need to cooperate to get through the monsters. Think of those Instance dungeons in World of Warcraft where people have to cooperate to get through. And, of course, such a hypothetical game could be played alone. But the idea that you can get new swords, upgrade your swords and bows, and play it all with motion plus controls just sounds so sweet to me.
Nintendo sees their Expanded Audience as people who do not like to be caught up in a fantasy world which is why the Wii brand games use the Miis and use an almost sterile setting. And Nintendo saw the Core Audience as the Zelda, Metroid, 3d Mario types.
Isn’t there anything in between? Most gamers were made in games like NES Super Mario Brothers or NES Zelda. NSMB DS, Mario Kart Wii, and Mario Kart DS proves that an arcade centric type game, even placed in a fantasy setting, will satisfy core gamers as well as satisfying Expanded Audience gamers. The uptick in Mario Kart sales of the DS and Wii from prior incarnations shows this. And NSMB DS shows that the game will attract people who have never played Mario before.
Gauntlet was a game that had people come together and play together. Such a type of game seemed fitting and doable with Wii Sports Resort type controls. I recall women playing Gauntlet when it was out.
And many women do play World of Warcraft. So a party dungeon-crawler or party RPG type game I think would be the next big hit (correctly executed, of course).
Nintendo is apparently publishing the game, Zangeki no REGINLEIV, in Japan. This will also be the first ever Nintendo-published title with a D rating in Japan (basically the equivalent of an MA15+).
Below are 2008 screens:
Nintendo has worked before with the game’s developer, Sandlot, on the DS. Sandlot made the very well made Earth Defense Force on the Xbox 360 and PS2.
From what little we know:
Wii owners can look forward to Zangeki Reginleiv. This action title from Earth Defense Force developer Sandlot was previously announced as Dynamic Zan. The game promises combat at the level of EDF, complete with flashy visual effects, along with high customization options allowing for over 300 weapon types. Players will be able to team up for four player cooperative play, all at no extra cost.
300 weapon types!? Combat at the same level as Earth Defense Force? Four player co-op? Oh, this I have to see!
If you are wondering how Earth Defense Force is, here is a review of the 360 one:
Here is another review.
Like Wii games, game reviewers are confused about this game. They know it is fun, very fun, yet they keep saying “low budget” over and over again to explain why it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. The truth is that Earth Defense Force feels like those classic Dreamcast arcade shooters. Users review the game very highly even if the “professional” game reviewers do not. Some say it is the most underrated 360 game.
I expect Zan to be knights and Valkyries running around with crazy monsters coming, one after the other. My Gauntlet game would require more dungeon crawler or RPG mechanics. This appears to be more of an action game.
Still, let’s keep an eye on it. Maybe NOA might want to bring this title over as its type of gameplay would fit better with the Wii audience. But do change its name.
Malstrom's Articles News 