UFO Entertainment announced today their plans to release Kiki Kai World for the PS2 and Wii. Kiki Kai World is a "spiritual successor" to Taito's classic shooter Kiki Kaikai, known in the US as Pocky & Rocky.Developer Starfish announced a sequel to Kiki Kaikai last year with crisp, bright 2D art. It was cancelled. According to the UFO rep Game|Life's Chris Kohler spoke to, this isn't the same game, but it's "very similar" (which probably means just similar enough to avoid problems with Taito.)
We were sad when Kiki Kaikai 2 died. Little did we know that it would come back on a system that is so dear to us. Everybody, cross your fingers and hope this actually makes it to the shelves in early 2008.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2007 @ 1:22PM
Backslash said...
AAAAAAH POCKY AND ROCKYYYY. ;__;
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9-01-2007 @ 1:39PM
Tibbles said...
It is really starting to annoy me every time I see "PS2 and Wii". Why the hell can't developers just make a decent Wii title that isn't graphically gimped because of the fact that it is also on PS2?
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9-01-2007 @ 1:50PM
hvnlysoldr said...
Worse than PS2/Wii is PSP/Wii.
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9-01-2007 @ 2:29PM
Tibbles said...
"3. Worse than PS2/Wii is PSP/Wii."
I won't say that is true, because Medal of Honor 2 looks quite good on the Wii... So far.
But its the fact that these half-assed PS2 titles are being ported to the Wii with absolutely no promotional intention.
If you're going to do it, do it right. With Okami or something.
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9-01-2007 @ 2:51PM
BPM said...
Tibbles, this game has 2D visuals and gameplay much like Pocky & Rocky. There's really nothing that can be "gimped" by the game being on PS2.
And, if a solid game comes out of this "spritiual successor," then I see nothing wrong with it being on Wii.
I'm tired of people whining about ports. Almost EVERY multiplatform title is a port, except for one platform. And RARELY do publishers take advantage of each console's strengths (see: Madden '08 on PS3 running at 30fps, while the 360 version runs at 60fps).
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9-01-2007 @ 2:52PM
BPM said...
Oh, and why is her outfit blue on the box? Screenshots and artwork show it's red...
Besides, I don't recall ever seeing blue miko outfits (then again, not like I've researched the subject much, either)...
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9-01-2007 @ 3:03PM
JC Fletcher said...
In this case, it was a PS2 game first.
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9-02-2007 @ 12:50AM
Tibbles said...
BPM...
So you're saying Madden 08 is to PS3 as Boogie is to Wii?
I guess that makes sense. I used Boogie as an example because of the evil death star that is EA.
Anyways. I am just saying I would appreciate more 'Wii-specific' features in my games. By saying that I mean I don't want a simple last-gen port with updated "omglook you can shake your wristz" abilities.
I don't think Nintendo is, or will, appreciate such titles. I have strong hopes for the upcoming year, as I have devoted myself to PC and Wii gaming and both look to have incredibly strong titles.
Less Wii Fit, please.
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9-02-2007 @ 1:19AM
BPM said...
I don't get your analogy.
360 was the leading platform for Madden 08 (well, the HD version, at least), which is why it performed better on 360 than PS3.
Wii was the leading platform for Boogie, and a PS2 port is coming later. Can't really say anything about its performance (Wii version), as it has gotten pretty mediocre reviews as it is.
My point was that nearly all multiplatform titles are ports, except for the system it was originally developed on. Some exceptions are when hardware differences force them to do things differently (DS vs. PSP).
And this game (Kiki Kai World) is 2D visuals anyways, so performance of the Wii version isn't hampered by it being on PS2 as well.
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9-02-2007 @ 10:17PM
Tibbles said...
I don't care much for your first paragraph as it is just a failed attempt at understanding my point...
But the rest makes some sense to me. But (to me) it seems like these 'differences' are exactly what make the gimmicks we see constantly being fed into our systems. You take a game that had it's development started on something other than a Wii or a DS, and just toss it over. What real conclusions can be made about the gameplay 90% of the time?
It is going to be gimmicky. It is going to be 'flick wrist to go' basically. Look at Tomb Raider coming out for the Wii, that looks like they are actually putting an effort into it. Or look at GRAW2, what little info you can possibly find.
My point is that I would prefer more third-party exclusives. Dewy looks to be an incredible purchase and is being hyped all over the place, hense +anticipation. If developers can't make exclusives and force themselves to do meer ports, why not give it some time and actually work on it instead of dishing out the same junk with sketchy additions.
I'll admit I am jumping at this game fairly quickly considering I know so little about it. But just seeing "PS2/Wii" brought me into this discussion, PS2 ports are becoming a Wii infestation.
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9-24-2007 @ 5:30PM
SuperKawaiiNeko said...
I'm assuming it's blue on the box because they had to change it now that it's not a licensed Kiki Kai Kai game anymore, to avoid legal issues with Taito. The art and screens you've seen with the traditional red outfit are, I believe, from back when it was still Kiki Kai Kai 2.
As for the graphics...I don't think that it was dumbed down on the Wii for PS2. If you think about it, those are hardly top of the line graphics, even for PS2. Japan has a tradition of cheaper games with 2D art and a heavy anime style, most of which don't reach the US. Generally, these are RPGs, shoot em ups (as in like Gradius, not Quake) or Dating Sims. Again, these are almost NEVER released in english...but games like Atelier Iris, GrimGrimoire, and Disgaea have actually been doing pretty well over here, so maybe we'll start seeing more. I'm actually super excited about this; I've been a HUGE Kiki Kai Kai/Pocky and Rocky fan since the 16 bit days, and I was afraid we wouldn't see an english version of a lower budget, VERY japanese game like this. Also! I heard it will be $30 at launch. Not a lot to complain about there, eh?
Also also! Games of this nature have traditionally been developed for the PS2. The XBox has never been very big in Japan, though I honestly don't know why more of them arent available for the Gamecube. However, that generation is coming to a close, and Ive been wondering what platform they would migrate to. Perhaps this is a sign that we'll start seeing them on the Wii? I'd like that.
As for lack of Wii controls...eh. I like the wii controls, they're great. But I would rather have a solid game without them than a mediocre game that tries to tack on clunky Wiimote functionality. Especially IF YOU CANT TURN IT OFF. Why do games not allow you to turn off the wiimote mode and just play them like a regular game? ;_;
Besides, this is being developed for the PS2, not the Wii. The Wii version is a port, and you can't really expect every game and every port to have good Wii controls. That's a little silly.
Sorry this got so long!
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