Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga announced for Wii

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 5th 2008 at 12:00PM }

The latest issue of Japanese gaming supermag, Famitsu, had a welcome surprise for fans of Nintendo's three-DVD-wide home console -- the announcement of Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga for the Wii. Gamekyo originally posted scans of the article announcing the title, translating a few key features of the former PSP series' Wii-imagining -- chief among these being an online co-op mode using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. While the PSP version of Valhalla Knights received middling reviews, we remain, as ever, cautiously optimistic about any RPG offerings for the Wii -- though considering the game is about 70 percent complete and not due out in Japan until next year, it may be a while before we get our hands on it.

Tags: famitsu, marvelous, rpg, valhalla-knights, valhalla-knights-eldar-saga, wii

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Vegnagun bwf @ Oct 5th 2008 12:14PM

Analyst: Wii is 'inhospitable' for third parties.

Mr Khan @ Oct 5th 2008 12:20PM

I'm beginning to think its true enough, at least in the case of Western 3rd parties. They still haven't figured out how to make a hit that isn't a waggle party game (though Force Unleashed Wii sold rather well compared to usual performances against "next gen" titles, only 33% worse than the 360 version), with the other exception of Boom Blox. Though Mushroom Men could help disprove that.

Japanese 3rd parties have done rather well in terms of getting quality games on there, and getting respectable sales out of them, and that situation is only improving rather quickly

Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir and MR.ESC) @ Oct 5th 2008 12:54PM

Wii isn't inhospitable.But it's audience definitely deserves some of the blame.Casual don't check out reviews on Metacritic.They simply buy by using their "gut" and judging how fun the game looks like.

Hence, why a lot of developers decide it's easier to create a crap game with heavy advertising and pretty looking cover rather than risk making a good game that could turn out to be a flop because "soccer mums would find it too complicated and rather play some 'Waggle!'".

Mr Khan @ Oct 5th 2008 12:16PM

As you've said, i've heard bad things about the PSP version.

The Wii's getting quite a few JRPG's in the near future, there'll be no room for a mediocre one.

Gun Barrier @ Oct 5th 2008 1:23PM

"Japanese 3rd parties have done rather well in terms of getting quality games on there"

You have to remember that most Japanese developers are not capable of affording to make games on the 360 or ps3. US developers have put almost no attention on the wii since they are capable of making 360 games.

guttertalk @ Oct 5th 2008 1:58PM

Gun:

Without any references, I don't buy that Japanese third parties can't afford to develop for the 360. Much more persuasive facts are that the 360 isn't selling well in Japan, that the Wii is stronger worldwide than the 360, and that the Wii costs 1/3 to develop for than the 360:

http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/cost-of-development-greatly-favors-wii-say-publishers/69714/?biz=1

But this is a different issue that Khan's point about Japanese developers understanding how to develop good games for the Wii. The Western developers that do make Wii games often don't bring high quality or good game controls to the games. Why don't they?

Even if your statement is true, it doesn't explain why Western developers don't turn out better quality Wii games. If anything, it makes the question even more puzzling.

Mr Khan @ Oct 5th 2008 2:50PM

I don't like to generalize, and i have a bias towards Japanese devs, not because i'm a weeaboo or anything like that, they just seem to cater more towards my tastes, games that are, first and foremost, fun

Western developers seem to focus more on providing more meat and substance to their games, but often (imo) at the loss of sheer fun. There are, of course, many exceptions to this (Metroid Prime, most of Valve's work, Mirror's Edge) Western developers, most of whom cut their teeth on PC games, still work in the PC mindset, games that are harder to learn and have a lot of depth and are fulfilling on a deeper level.

In Japan, developers have been indoctrinated with the console ideal, of an experience that is easy to learn and get into, but can be (or not) very difficult to master. Again: there are exceptions, some FF games (the ones that tried over-complicated skill/exp management systems), and Kojima's work.

PS360 development is right up the alley of average Western devs, who like to make meaty experiences that push an advanced hardware to its limits, while they view Wii development as a step backwards. Japanese devs, on the other hand, thrive on Wii because it is the console that has the "console" mentality to it, low barriers of entry. This leads to two phenomena we see today: the "decline" of Japanese devs, as they struggle to keep up with Western devs on the "hardcore" consoles, and the "lack of good games on Wii," a claim put forth by the same people clamoring for the horde of AAA Western projects (the bulk of Western core gamers) that is making this holiday season so sweet.

Sorry for the long post.