Disaster: Day of Crisis hero with a heart Raymond Bryce is back with another pair of videos, this time featuring the game's opening cut-scene and first crisis sequence. Painfully wooden acting aside (though it's certainly no worse than Resident Evil 4), it's actually very nicely executed, and genuinely feels quite dramatic.
True to the corny TV dramas on which Disaster could easily be based, this first video ends with a bunch of cliffhangers and questions to be answered. What has become of Steve? Will our intrepid heroes keep their own lives on the mountain? How amusing is Ray's janky running style? Find out ... dun dun dunnn! ... after the break.
Of course, not like it matters, because, thanks to the Japanese game releasing, we've basically seen the whole game on YouTube. But, we're still contacting Nintendo for a comment, so sit tight.
We all know the man's stance on bears. He doesn't like them. In fact, he downright despises them. That's why we're sure that Nintendo's latest, Disaster: Day of Crisis, is among Colbert's most treasured games. Why? Well, it features a boss battle against a bear. Aside from teaching us the near indestructible nature of the beast, it also shows us what kind of weapons to use against a bear should it get you in its sights. Also, it teaches us that bears like to stupidly charge back and forth.
Even when escaping buildings that are crumbling around his ears, Disaster: Day of Crisis hero Raymond Bryce takes time out to line his stomach with the huge food that can be randomly found in large wooden crates.
We're just pleased to see him looking after himself and getting his five a day. We're sure his mother feels the same.
None of us know why Nintendo kept such a tight lid on Disaster: Day of Crisis for so long. Logic dictates that the company didn't present us with much info because, well, the game was bad. Kind of Project H.A.M.M.E.R. bad. Well, the truth may be very different.
Famitsu recently revealed its score for the game, and it received a respectable 34/40. Not too shabby, if we may say so. Especially for a game that pretty much got a surprise release. Not a Sega Saturn kind of surprise, but you get the idea.
Didn't we already have a Nintendo Media Summit this year? By golly, we did! But, still, it turns out that rumor is true, as Nintendo will be holding an event on October 2nd and 3rd, showcasing games for both the Wii and DS in San Francisco. We know because we just got our invite.
So what should we expect? Well, something on Disaster: Day of Crisis we imagine, but anything outside of that is anyone's guess. What do you all think?
Two trailers for Disaster: Day of Crisis are now available on the Japanese Nintendo Channel. The first, above, does an excellent job of channeling American action movies, which is good for something that purports to put the player in one. It's got a brooding hero, stern-voiced narration from some kind of military official, and explosions all over the damn place. The second trailer combines the gameplay footage we've seen with a bit more context, which basically means walking around. Presented this way, it seems a bit less like a collection of disconnected events.
We don't mind saying that these trailers have worked. We could really stand to hear about a US release.
We're starting to think that the mythical Disaster: Day of Crisis may someday turn out to be a real video game! No, really! Nintendo of Japan has released a series of short commercials for the action/survival game, proving that they're probably going to sell it!
The ads are built around the theme of the game as an action movie with you as the protagonist. Each starts with "Movie star on Wii" and keeps a persistent arrow with the word anata "you" pointed at the onscreen Raymond Bryce. The commercials end with the tagline "Starring: You." A pretty exciting way to start your fake acting career!
Imagine our surprise when we heard that Nintendo of Japan plans to release Disaster: Day of Crisison September 25th. After hearing barely anything about the game for months, including a no-show at E3 and PAX, we were incredibly doubtful the game would release this calendar year, yet alone at all. But, sure enough, the official Nintendo of Japan website has it listed. Right here.
So with a Japanese release ironed out and the European release date for October 24th set in stone, when can North America expect the game? We've contacted Nintendo and are awaiting word. As soon as we get it, we'll update the post.
Nintendo's favorite new tactic of discussing its games really, really close to release (see also: Wario Land: The Shake Dimension, Captain Rainbow) has extended to Disaster: Day of Crisis. Two weeks ago, Nintendo had to reassure the world that the game was still being made. Now, it's announced it will be coming out in Europe next month, on October 24th (falling in line with earlier speculation). That's a pretty rapid turnaround!
The announcement on Nintendo of Europe's site also explains more of the backstory in the game, as well as the inclusion of "Survival Points" and "Battle Points," which can be used to hone Ray's abilities, giving the game an (extremely light) RPG element. If you haven't already, dodge that oncoming tsunami and leap heroically into our new Disaster: Day of Crisisgallery to see more!
Okay, so Disaster: Day of Crisis is definitely coming. Nintendo just dumped an almighty batch of almost 70 (mainly new) screens on our local press site, all of which you can find here. They predominantly feature Wolverine look-a-like Ray as he takes on such well-known natural disasters as infernos, flooding, uhm, terrorists and ... bears.
There's still no word on a release date, though this sudden burst of media fills us with bright-eyed hope, being the naïve, optimistic fools that we are.
Update:NeoGAFfers spotted an update at Nintendo's German site that let slip a few precious details on Disaster (and, yet again, mentions a Q4 2008 release date). Apparently, we'll be playing as former US marine Raymond Bryce as he drives, swims, runs, and shoots his way through 23 "different parts" (a machine translation, which we assume means "23 stages"), faces volcanoes, earthquakes, flooding, tornados, and tsunamis, and fights it out against a terrorist organization known as "SURGE." Ray's health bar needs to be constantly watched, as he will require both food and fresh air if he's to rescue citizens. And that's your lot for now!
It's coming! No it's not! Yes it is! You get the idea. Since it was first exposed to the world more than two years ago, Disaster: Day of Crisis has been shrouded in FUD.
Recently however, the project's vitals have been looking healthier by the week. The OFLC age-rated the game in Australia, Nintendo itself has stated that progress is being made on development, and a supposedly leaked release date for Europe (October 24th) has now appeared on NeoGAF. Though the veracity of such a source could easily be questioned, the game has also appeared in the database of a Danish retailer, along with a "Q4 2008" release date and an age rating of 16+. Disaster averted?
Source: Disaster: Day of Crisis "leaked" date (via Go Nintendo) Source: Appears in database of Danish retailer
Following last week's Australian classification of Disaster: Day of Crisis, we've all gotten our hopes up again that the game could actually release during the Wii's lifespan. As a response to that, a Nintendo of America representative told GamePro that the title is, in fact, "still in development."
Sounds good to us, but could you give us something else, Nintendo? More info? No? Okay, then. Back to waiting it is.
Well now, it looks like we might be hearing more on Disaster: Day of Crisis soon. That is, if an Australian certification that recently popped up has anything to say about it. So, what's the deal? Your guess is as good as ours.
The title received a Mature rating from the Australian classification board, on August 13th, so could the title be destined for a release this year? We can only hope. But, as it stands, that's all we have to go on right now.
We've heard some quiet rumblings that Fatal Frame IV might be better if it had a little more action (the whole point of the series notwithstanding). While it's certainly not the voice of the majority, we can't help but wonder if there is a perception that some of the self-proclaimed hardest-core gamers won't be happy with anything short of a frag fest, which means that developers may be looking at either FPS games and other titles built around violence for the core contingent, casual and party games for everyone else, and the titles that are more deeply nuanced are being shelved. That could explain a few things, such as the disappearance of Disaster: Day of Crisis, and the lack of love for a few ports/sequels that would be absolutely appropriate for Wii gamers.
We've heard some quiet rumblings that 
