Fire Emblem Wii TV ad focuses on Classic Controller

by Jonti Davies { Feb 19th 2007 at 12:15PM }

One of Famitsu's criticisms of Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess, which is released in Japan this Thursday, is that the game makes no particular use of the Wii's Remote. This could have been a GameCube release. But it's not, and yet there remains a perfectly adequate way to play Fire Emblem: get a Classic Controller (which is just what the girl in Nintendo's latest TV ad has done). Click through to see the TV spot and notice the girl's surprisingly honest facial expression -- does Classic Control mean profound boredom?

Tags: Classic Controller, ClassicController, Famitsu, Fire Emblem, FireEmblem, Japanese TV, JapaneseTv

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Feb 19th 2007 12:30PM

Wierd, because Turn-based strategy would REALLY benefit from a simpler point-and-click scheme

I'm REALLY waiting for this game (loved path of radiance), too bad they take a while to localize

Jon @ Feb 19th 2007 12:33PM

classic d-pad and face buttons work well on turn based strategy especially those designed for consoles. Not sure why some people think that every games needs to have WiiMote functionality.

Some of the best games on the DS ignores the touchscreen functionality. If it doesn't work well then don't use that particular feature.

TopaZ @ Feb 19th 2007 12:33PM

I'd so hit it.

Pikachelsea @ Feb 19th 2007 12:40PM

What a bizarre ad... anyway, I'm more concerned with the fact that Japan is getting this game in a few days while we have to wait until June than the use of the Wii remote. I've been dying for a sequel ever since Path of Radiance and really want to get this game. :(

And now cue 50 stupid comments about the completely irrelevant attractiveness/unattractiveness of the girl in the commercial, as opposed to anything actually relating to Fire Emblem.

Mr Khan @ Feb 19th 2007 12:42PM

That chick is so hott ;)

flamecannon @ Feb 19th 2007 12:47PM

I'm just pissed that the game will probably have classic controller support without having Cube controller support.

SynikaL @ Feb 19th 2007 1:01PM

Chick looks hella bored with that game.

-Kimosabae

Ajguy @ Feb 19th 2007 1:01PM

Did anyone else find that to be an extremely boring ad? Dull music, a stoic sounding voice over, and the girl playing just looked bored as can be.

Myke Greywolf @ Feb 19th 2007 1:05PM

Wrong... she's just devastated because her favorite character died.

And he's not. Coming. Back. Ever.

That's why Fire Emblem is so awesome. :)

dresam @ Feb 19th 2007 1:06PM

150 wii points for her? Japan's virtual console releases really put ours to shame. I mean, I love Streets of Rage, and all...

benjamin @ Feb 19th 2007 1:10PM

I wonder what that dude says that makes that girl drop her controller.

Oxybeles @ Feb 19th 2007 1:13PM

Classic Controller will work well with TB SRPGs, but it will lack Rumble.

Sensai @ Feb 19th 2007 1:15PM

It's a shame, really...these kind of games would really make nice use of the Wii remote.

Daniel @ Feb 19th 2007 1:22PM

Notice that she has to move the cable when she changes her posture. Theres a lot of talk about clips (see the related article) but what I'd like to see is a wireless classic controller with a reciever that clips into the Wii-mote if necesary. Same for the nunchuck. Perhaps we will see 3rd party controllers doing it the way it should be, like with the GameCube.

(I hate to say it, all my GC controllers are 3rd party).

REUYL @ Feb 19th 2007 1:22PM

I can *sort of* understand by SSB:B didn't get Wiimote functionality, but FIRE EMBLEM?

Two first party games are ditching the only controller that makes the Wii unique. That's a bad sign, IMO.

Draco @ Feb 19th 2007 1:23PM

seems to me this game would work just fine on a Wii controller, I mean SRPG's only ever really need the 4 direction and 2 action buttons, you could probably play on a atari controller. (they would just need to add a cancel option on screen instead of hitting B)

Darcrequiem @ Feb 19th 2007 1:56PM

Well I was gonna go into this long post about how Fire Emblem: Goddess of Dawn uses the Wii-mote, GC controller, or Classic Controller but Pedro beat me to it. He provided links to boot. Good job Pedro.

jay @ Feb 19th 2007 2:06PM

Pedro, you can't post 4,000 stories a second if you actually look into what you're posting.

james @ Feb 19th 2007 2:16PM

When Joystiq say "no particular" usage of the Wiimote, I think it is safe to assume that they mean no usage of motion sensing. And they are CORRECT.

Using the D pad, a and b buttons is hardly utilizing the wiimote as it could be, is it?

Avinash_Tyagi @ Feb 19th 2007 2:20PM

Maybe this is to show devs that they don't have to tack on motion controls when they don't want to or when it doesn't work for the game. Fire Emblem could use the Wiimote, but it doesn't really need to

Avinash_Tyagi @ Feb 19th 2007 2:21PM

Its like with the DS, certain games don't need the touchscreen

gLitterbug @ Feb 19th 2007 2:33PM

It's quite the difference between not being needed and having no benefit. DS is the prime example, some games don't need the stylus and wouldn't benefit from it. Some games on the other hand don't need the Stylus but would be a ton nicer to control with it. It would really not hurt anyone if they would've added pointing functionality, but I bet that would've taken some days to put in, horrible.

Koekoenutt @ Feb 19th 2007 2:59PM

It is discouraging that the WiiMote isn't used as a pointer/mouse device in this game, but in all honestly, I wouldn't have played it that way in the first place. Games like FF3 and Advance Wars on the DS, its really easy to screw up what you were picking with the stylus, and really thought playing with D-Pad was easier and more straight forward. Been times when I accidently selected something on my last dude, and I can see that being worse with the WiiMote as a Pointing device.

It's a strategy timebased game, Do you guys really need to complain about them not tacking on some controls? As long as you don't NEED the classic controller, I don't see any problem with this at all. Real-Time Strategies is what Im looking forward to using the WiiMote with, but that's a completely different ball game than turn based.

SenseiJinx @ Feb 19th 2007 3:10PM

Quite frankly, I could care less. Fire Emblem is the best turn based strategy series out there, and one of my favorite franchises of all time. I do not care that it has no Wiimote functionality.

Just to be fair, Joystiq, how about posting a video of some of the great FMVs from the game? This game is going to be far from boring, and it's not exactly fair to make a post about a relatively small portion of a game (the controls) and totally gloss over the positive aspects of it.

Duscrom @ Feb 19th 2007 3:11PM

Thank you Pedro. Cause this article is misleading.

I find it funny, for some games, the Wii controls are looking to be the best for the lazy man. I love playing Zelda, and not careing how my hands are resting. And now with this game.. just holding the remote in one hand.. and that's all i need to control? seriously.. what better way to relax.

Noshino @ Feb 19th 2007 3:14PM

No, this game...doesn't need motion sensing...they did that, and it would have screwed up the whole FE series forever...

Fire Emblem is awesome, hell, I couldn't stop playing it when the first gba FE came out, but since then, they have been screwing up, first by adding the chances of picking different classes, changing the course of action and so on, meh, go back to the basics.

I have more fun playing FE: Rekka No Ken than any of the other ones that have come out after it, the battle system is solid, so are the classes, well-balanced enemies, and there is MUCH MORE CHALLENGE than in the other ones, hell, I'm stuck on Hector's Hard mode around chp. 30 or so. Rebecca, Canas, and Dart....bring it on :)

Jake @ Feb 19th 2007 3:18PM

It makes sense. You can't gain with motion controls on a turn based strategy game, so you leave them out. And no, pointing at a list of selections isn't really any easier than just scrolling down to a selection.

Wii controls are proven better than GC controls for mini-games, seem worse for fighting games, and the jury is out on everything else.

Seroth @ Feb 19th 2007 3:35PM

I'm disappointed that there is no option for pointer functionality. I don't care if a D-Pad is better, I just want the option, for novelty. That's what I liked about Metal Slug Anthology. Sure, a lot of the control options in that game weren't very useful, but it was fun to try 'em out.

Still, this really really could've been released as a Gamecube game...

Avinash_Tyagi @ Feb 19th 2007 4:04PM

@Jake,

Actually they seem better for action games as well, most agree that Wii contolrs for Zelda were better, and that was a game where the Wii controls were added at the last minute, likely if the game had been built fro mthe ground up for the Wii it would have been even better

Rubang B @ Feb 19th 2007 4:45PM

Speaking of turn-based strategy, I'd give my firstborn for a Wiimake of X-Com: UFO Defense.

SwimminPants @ Feb 19th 2007 5:01PM

Man, I never react that solemnly to having a character die. I was playing Path of Radiance yesterday, probably spent two and a half hours on the chapter, had nearly beaten it... then this asshat with a brave sword comes up and criticals Zihark (by coincidence, the same character that died in the commercial), killing him instantly. I threw a fucking fit, and had to start the mission all over (I refuse to accept any casualities!)

I'm definitely all for not having motion controls for Fire Emblem. Anyone who's played it before knows that choosing the wrong menu item by accident can often be fatal, and it's easier to slip up with a pointer than it is selecting things with a D-pad.

Commercial was kind of boring, for certain. I don't think anyone who isn't already a Fire Emblem fan would understand or even care about what's going on, and if you're a Fire Emblem fan, you probably already decided, long before the commercial was made, that you were going to be buying this game.

Crono @ Feb 19th 2007 5:06PM

I know exactly what you mean swimming pants. I've reset my gamecube COUNTLESS times because I lost one of my favorite characters.

Noshino @ Feb 19th 2007 5:14PM

@SwimminPants

Rofl, wise words my fellow FE fan.

"...killing him instantly. I threw a fucking fit, and had to start the mission all over (I refuse to accept any casualities!)"

"Commercial was kind of boring, for certain. I don't think anyone who isn't already a Fire Emblem fan would understand or even care about what's going on, and if you're a Fire Emblem fan, you probably already decided, long before the commercial was made, that you were going to be buying this game"

This is the only game that could make me buy a wii.... now if it was only, i ll be all over it, but we are lightyears away from that....

Noshino @ Feb 19th 2007 5:15PM

only online*

Zell @ Feb 19th 2007 6:17PM

I always shudder at the 'gamers neeed laid' stereotypes that always pop up when I read comments made ONLY about girls in videos or photos about a game.

Jonny @ Feb 19th 2007 7:21PM

I don't get angry at games very often, but PoR made me want to throw my wavebird through my t.v. way too many times. I also refuse to accept any casualties. Reset bitch!

Tacoman @ Feb 19th 2007 8:16PM

The commercial says "Wii: Thanks to you we've sold more than 1.5 million units."

The music is a piano and acoustic guitar arrangement of the classic Fire Emblem theme

"You can also play with the Wii remote. The classic controller is sold seperately."

The woman says: "Together with your close friend, won't you try to create a legend? Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess."

Koekoenutt @ Feb 19th 2007 11:34PM

Honestly though, Who really plays a strategy game with a smile on their face, unless you were close to winning. It's a strategy game and most people sit there in concetration and not with a corny smile on their face like they are playing a mini-game. She does look bored, still.. don't know what you guys expect and think FE will be great when it comes out.

Martin @ Feb 20th 2007 7:45AM

I really don't understand why people are so surprised when there is an attractive girl in a commercial with a girl in it.... Don't you all know that when they cast someone for something like this, they do it based on looks??? You all are such victims for falling for it!!!