NintendoWare Weekly: Water Warfare in for a Reel Fishing Challenge
by David Hinkle 
{ Jun 29th 2009 at 11:25AM } 
Gallery: Water Warfare
DSiWare
- Sudoku Master (Hudson, 1 player, 500 DSi Points): It's Sudoku, with 150 different puzzles to play and a focus geared toward beginners. It's for the six people who don't own Brain Age.
- Water Warfare (Hudson, 1 - 8 players, 800 Wii Points): Water Warfare combines the cleansing power of H2O with the intensity of competitive combat. Featuring online support and two-player split screen, you and your friends can soak each other without having to worry about that weird kid filling up his gun with something other than water.
- Reel Fishing Challenge (Natsume, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Featuring two different ways to play (free play mode lets you play at your own pace, mission mode offers, well, missions), what better way is there to put your Dorf instructional videos to the test?
- Silver Star Reversi (Agetec, 1 - 2 players, 500 Wii Points): Go head-to-head against a CPU or human opponent.
- Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): The follow-up to a popular shmup, Fantasy Zone II brings more of the same in the sequel. There are bright, colorful sprites, lots of enemies to shoot, and plenty of toe-tapping tunes. Even though it's another shmup on a service over-saturated by the genre, we can't be too upset. It's Fantasy Zone, after all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shadow Hog @ Jun 29th 2009 11:32AM
Do they really have to tighten up the graphics? After all, Hudson has several other games that they need developed!
Bowser Rogozhin: Death of a Ladies Man @ Jun 29th 2009 11:39AM
Hudson are pretty much the James Brown of games development. You can't knock the hardest working developers in the games business. It's like calling out Jesus. Wrong, without base, just plain wrong.
Jerk Face @ Jun 29th 2009 12:20PM
Okay, Bowser, you're joking right? I mean, really? What in the Hell has Hudson released that is actually good or relevant in recent times? Mario Party? Pfft.
Maybe I'm missing something.
Bowser Rogozhin: Death of a Ladies Man @ Jun 29th 2009 12:30PM
Star Soldier R, Omega Five and Alien Crush Returns redeems the seemingly unredeemable.
Shadow Hog @ Jun 29th 2009 2:15PM
I was referring to the commercial, actually.
http://tightgraphs.ytmnd.com/ (for lack of a YouTube video)
"Hey guys, finished testing that game yet? I've got another one I need designed!"
Obi-Habby @ Jun 29th 2009 2:53PM
I cry for everyone who missed the stupid Collin's College joke at the end. That was pure win.
Guy 1: Where do you think we should put this sound effect?
Guy 2: You mean this one? *lazer fires*
Guy 1: Yeah that's it.
Dopple Boppler @ Jun 29th 2009 11:37AM
You know, Water Warfare actually looks surprisingly kinda sort of decent. It's been so long since I bought anything off the Shop Channel that even though I've been saving points for Cave Story since like January I'm about to just say forget it.
Markez @ Jun 29th 2009 12:53PM
I dunno, pal, if I were you I'd shy away from it. Some of the other things I'd read about it say it's really more of a children's and/or 'family' game. But I just found this minute ago, which I suppose is rather glowing - http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/06/water_warfare
I'd say check out Onslaught on WiiWare instead. I don't own that one, but it got pretty positive reviews.
Dopple Boppler @ Jun 29th 2009 1:39PM
Oh yeah, I own Onslaught which is actually what made me interested in this. I probably won't bother with it simply because of my love for Cave Story, I just hate having all these extra Wii points for an extended period of time.
Markez @ Jun 29th 2009 4:13PM
Yeah I'd been sitting on a pile for quite awhile as well, got (finally) World of Goo and High Voltage Racing. In retrospect, I should've gotten Onslaught instead of the racing game :P
sam @ Jun 29th 2009 5:33PM
I hadn't got anything for a while, but picked up Neves Plus last week.
It's actually pretty cool - yes the entire game is just tangram puzzles, and it could do with more background graphics (than one) and music, but in small doses it's entertaining in a sort of hypnotic way. They also included some multi-player modes which would be fun (in similarly small doses) if I didn't live on my own...
And the character design is RIDICULOUSLY good. seriously the characters are awesome. given that the characters do nothing whatever except silly poses/animations while you are moving little shapes around with the pointer, this seems like a total waste :)
However, um, I won't be getting anything this week...
sam @ Jun 29th 2009 5:38PM
I hadn't got anything for a while, but picked up Neves Plus last week.
It's actually pretty cool - yes the entire game is just tangram puzzles, and it could do with more background graphics (than one) and music, but in small doses it's entertaining in a sort of hypnotic way. They also included some multi-player modes which would be fun (in similarly small doses) if I didn't live on my own...
And the character design is RIDICULOUSLY good. seriously the characters are awesome. given that the characters do nothing whatever except silly poses/animations while you are moving little shapes around with the pointer, this seems like a total waste :)
However, um, I won't be getting anything this week...
Shiaoran @ Jun 29th 2009 11:45AM
Kids with water guns... Meh... I'd rather see women with water guns, but that game would definetly not be on the Wii.
MRLN @ Jun 29th 2009 11:45AM
I thought Water Warfare was DSiware at first... disappointing in two ways.
I'm kinda more interested in Hudson's other, more hexagonal project.
TRON.dll @ Jun 29th 2009 1:06PM
Agreed.
Those Nintendo Power screens looked really nice, and 4 player online sounds even better.
Adv2k1 @ Jun 29th 2009 11:49AM
Damn it. I wanted NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits that came out last week in Europe.
Or even the Wiiware version of Bust A move that Japan got.
I guess nothing for me this week.
mr mobius @ Jun 29th 2009 11:51AM
Has Icarion Kindred Spirits been released in America yet? When it does - buy it.
Adv2k1 @ Jun 29th 2009 12:49PM
it got renamed NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits. And no it hasn't released yet.
Mr Khan @ Jun 29th 2009 11:55AM
Hudson's really all over this Ware development
Jerk Face @ Jun 29th 2009 12:22PM
Wait.. are you guys actually serious about this stuff looking good? It's a shitty squirt-gun shooter. In no way is that compelling or even minorly entertaining-looking.
Jerk Face @ Jun 29th 2009 12:28PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSToHikPBU8
I mean.. REALLY?
Sly @ Jun 29th 2009 12:45PM
it actually looks kinda fun in the drunk with friends kinda way... even though it takes WAY too many shots to "kill" someone...
Shagittarius @ Jun 29th 2009 12:47PM
If you get drunk with your friends and play games like this I recommend you switch to juice boxes.
ChibiKawase @ Jun 29th 2009 3:09PM
Stupidly fun games are still stupidly fun. :D
Plus, it's WiiWare-- intended to be a short little diversion or "refreshing" series of rounds against others.
ramuji @ Jun 29th 2009 12:30PM
Reversi is Othello. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversi
eilegz @ Jun 29th 2009 12:48PM
sigh instead of modern warfare wii user get something like this...
sure its noting related to those games but still...
Adv2k1 @ Jun 29th 2009 12:51PM
oh come on !
We got The Conduit last week. If your going to do unfair comparisons at least know your material.
samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jun 29th 2009 2:18PM
eilegz, aren't you the guy who basically got Capcom to put achievements in the Wii version of Mega Man 9?
D_Average @ Jun 29th 2009 12:50PM
Hight Voltage Software would do themselves a favor by studying Water Warefare. See that guys, its called "creativity".
ChibiKawase @ Jun 29th 2009 3:11PM
So when did the word "homage" die off?
aleafinthewind @ Jun 29th 2009 1:02PM
Best reference to the worst commercial evar!!!!11
kid_ic @ Jun 29th 2009 3:16PM
Yeah man, the 8/10 score on Nintendo Life and other early reports back from people who have *actually played* the game and not just looked at screenshots have been pretty positive. Here's a portion of that review:
"Earlier this year, Hudson released Onslaught, WiiWare's first FPS which proved that Japanese developers can actually make good FPS games! One of the only complaints with Onslaught was that it only featured online co-op and versus modes, there was no deathmatch. Water Warfare seems to have been made just to fill that gap...
If you've played Onslaught, you'll be pleased to find out Water Warfare controls exactly the same. You look around with the Wii remote's pointer, you move with the control stick, and fire with the B button. Water Warfare has a few different gameplay features though, so there are also some extra controls. The A button allows you to zoom in with certain weapons to get a more accurate shot, the C button lets you use items, and possibly most importantly, the Z button makes you jump...
The game's kiddy image is really just because of Hudson's family friendly policy... not to make any games where you actually kill people. Don't think that instantly means the game is for inexperienced players only though, because it's got all the features you'll find in other FPS games. Among the weapons, there's regular pistols, machine guns and shotguns, and of course rocket and grenade launchers. Item-wise, there's a water bomb which functions pretty much like a grenade, towels which act like first aid kits, water bottles to refill your guns, raincoats which temporarily shield you... and more!
Graphics-wise, the game gets the job done nicely. For some reason, your hand in first-person view looks a bit off, but all of the environments and character/weapon models look quite good and colourful...
Hudson have pulled it off again and created yet another quality FPS! If you played Onslaught and sorely missed more online multiplayer modes, then this should be an instant download. The single player modes...might grow stale quickly, but the online is great, frantic fun. Don't let the game's cuteness fool you, there's just as much depth here as in certain "hardcore" shooters!"
kid_ic @ Jun 29th 2009 3:49PM
"Okay, Bowser, you're joking right? I mean, really? What in the Hell has Hudson released that is actually good or relevant in recent times? Mario Party? Pfft. Maybe I'm missing something."
@ Jerkface -- I think you are missing something. Even though Mario Party 8 is one of the best-selling titles of this generation at 6.5 million units sold, besides the hit Mario Party DS, Hudson has not done their yearly cash-cow updated for three years!
Instead they've been concentrating on launching new IPs and reviving classic franchises. Besides the afforementioned Star Soldier R, Omega Five and Alien Crush Returns, and Onslaught, they've released for WiiWare alone the well recieved Tetris Party, Bomberman Blast, Pop 'Em Drop 'Em SameGame, Cue Sports, and Star Soldier R, which was a huge hardcore following shmup community. Though Adventure Island: the Begining has gotten very mixed reviews, as a member of the A.I. fan community, I assure you core fans have enjoyed it and are competing in the online rankings. PLUS, Hudson has supported the virtual console with all manner of awesomeness, I'd say second only to Nintendo themselves, with platformers, strategy games, rpgs, adventures, shooters and more...
On that note, their Star Soldier re-make, and the Saphire and Star Soldier Collections for the PSP were all well received by shmuppers. Dungeon Explorer, Miami Law, and recent Sudoku titles for PSP and DSiware have also been solid portable titles.
Their recent Bomberman Live, PSP Bomberman, and Japan only Wii Bomberman were all highly rated. Bomberman DS, and both Bomberman Land titles on DS have been well received, and and a slieu of Import Bomberman DS Games from Japan and Europe were all well reviewed (Bomberman II, Bomberman Story, Custom Battle Bomberman)
Hudson have pumped out other worthy console releases like Far East of Eden Ziria (360), Kororinpa Marble Mania, and Marble Saga: Kororinpa.
And fans are certainly looking forward to the new Devil's Crush, Military Madness: Nectaris, and new horror IPThe Calling, all on WiiWare.
I am admittedly a big Hudson fan, and no, I don't work for their marketing department, but I get irked when people look down or over look such a classic Japanese developer...