Though the many Marvel characters duking it out in Ultimate Alliance frequently find themselves doing somersaults, hurling punches and generally super-spazzing out, it's not an accurate expectation for the players of the game to perform similar feats. Speaking at the recently concluded Comic-Con, Activision's Chris Palmisano commented that the Wii version of the game would not have major changes implemented to its control system."The basic game controls like the camera and the movement and stuff like that -- you can do that on the Wii with left side in most cases. Then there are standard combo moves, which you can also do with the Wii controller." After this rather vague statement (do combo moves with the controller, you say?!), Palmisano goes on to curtail the level of input you might have expected from a Wii game. "I don't know how many games you're going to see where people are jumping around -- our game is an RPG so it's really hard to require that much physical energy to play a game for 30 hours."
Though we have yet to think of any Wii game that actively requires you to jump around, we suspect the lack of physical energy required to play Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is tied into a lack of mental energy when attempting to explain why your game will have a bog-standard control scheme. This is an issue that will come up again and again: a multi-platform game that fails to take advantage of the Wii's controller risks not only being surpassed by graphically superior versions (why buy the Wii version?), but the rest of the games in the Wii lineup (why buy this game that doesn't use my system fully?). Of course, shoehorning a game into an inappropriate controller scheme is just as undesirable, as is certainly the case with an action RPG largely built upon repetition. We'd rather just press the A-button, thanks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-24-2006 @ 6:55PM
Probot said...
Why not just use the Classic Controller? I don't expect every game to be tailored to the Wiimote. That would cause delays (at least for the Wii version) or it'll just be tacked on at the last minute.
"why buy the Wii version?"
Because it's the only console a budget-minded consumer might own. However, for a game like this, I doubt the graphical difference between consoles will be noticable.
"why buy this game that doesn't use my system fully?"
Because it's a RPG using Marvel characters. While I like the Wiimote and I hope it's used in games, it won't be the deciding factor when I purchase a game.
Just how not every game needs Xbox Live to be great, not every game needs to use the Wiimote extensivly to be great.
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7-24-2006 @ 7:07PM
Ludwig Kietzmann said...
That's actually a good point. Why don't they just use the classic controller for this game? Perhaps this is an indication that it'll be sold seperately.
Like I said, it would be silly for them to try and force some Wiimote mechanics into the game when they don't really belong there. It won't affect you either way if you only have the one console, but if you're like me and have more than one system, you're likely to pass and get the PS2 or Xbox 360 version. I'm not particularly keen on the idea of playing a standard game on the Wiimote versus a normal control pad.
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7-24-2006 @ 7:19PM
Probot said...
IGN mentioned this in their Wiimote documentation article:
"Developers tell IGN Wii that they are expecting to get classic Wii controllers in early September..."
So maybe developers don't have it yet? That would make sense if it were being sold seperately. However, that still leaves the option of Gamecube controllers.
All else being equal, I'd probably play this game on my GC, since the Marvel RPGs are good multiplayer games and I already own multiple GC controllers.
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7-24-2006 @ 8:15PM
Jon said...
The recent Video Interview on IGN (filmed this part weekend I believe) says differently. Some sort of high-level producer made specific mention of Wii-exclusive controls. He talks about "charging" special moves by pulling back the Wiimote or shaking it up and down, he spoke of all this in certain terms so hopefully the functionality actually makes it in.
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7-24-2006 @ 9:36PM
Pat said...
I always figured that they would just use a normal controller for this game. That would seem to make the most sense.
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7-25-2006 @ 2:10AM
Duscrom said...
"why buy the Wii version?"
Because it's the only console a budget-minded consumer might own. However, for a game like this, I doubt the graphical difference between consoles will be noticable."
Um, actually a budget-minded consumer would probabbly own a PS2. $130 for the console, and a library of hundreds of games that look about the same as Wii games... all of them for $20 bucks.
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7-25-2006 @ 9:32AM
Loban said...
I don't see anything wrong with standard games that use a standard "boring" control scheme being ported to the Wii. That's what the classic controller is for (or whatever it's being called). You can't expect EVERY game for the Wii to take advantage of the new controls in every way.
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7-25-2006 @ 11:19AM
Deathwing said...
"Um, actually a budget-minded consumer would probabbly own a PS2. $130 for the console, and a library of hundreds of games that look about the same as Wii games... all of them for $20 bucks"
Your trollish bunk about the graphics aside, the PS2's entire library is hardly $20. Any non-crap or non-Greatest Hits game is still easily at least $30, with many at $40 or even more for new, rare, or "collection" titles.
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7-28-2006 @ 2:43AM
Sid Jay O said...
Hi I'm sid I have to say why don't you have game cube
I mean you have all of those other systems but one. game cube. cheat code central told me that G.C will be in there.
cheat code central lied to me all my hopes and dreems gone.
cheat code central you have one made custermer say good by
to Sid mickoy!!!
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8-11-2006 @ 7:59PM
Cheezedog420 said...
I don't think it will do too badly for the Wii. After all not everyone can afford a X360... and slightly less advanced graphics are not all that bad, (Expecally for the Nintendo market.)
Heck, the Wii might end up being the only console I can afford, (since I still can't afford a Xbox 360) and then my chooses are ironed out for me...
What I really like to know though, is if Nintendo is doing anything to let 3rd party manufactures make games that take full advantage of the Wiimote???
Cheezedog420
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8-13-2006 @ 8:15AM
Sponge said...
Do you people know that the Ps2 had the worst graphics of last generation but still won? The Wii will have better graphics then the GC or Xbox so stop trying to compare them.
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