Hey, you see that can of worms over there? The one the rest of Destructoid has left alone to rot in its own soil? Yeah I'm gonna prise that thing wide open again.
After last week you may have dismissed the WiiWare version of Eternity's Child. It might be due to Luc Bernard's passionate/asshole defence of his game or it might purely be due to the game not being fun to play if you bought it off Steam or just played the demo. However I think that dispite all this the WiiWare version still has the potential to be a fun game. Sit back, get some Irn-Bru and let me explain why for this week's 5 Reasons.
1) A Different Developer
Its an odd one to start with, but Luc Bernard is not part of the development team working on the WiiWare version. Alter8 have already distanced themselves from Bernard and what he's said about the problems with the Steam version. They are dedicated game developers who do know how to develop with a controller, this is going to fix a lot of problems with the controls.
2) Delay
The WiiWare version is not finished yet, that is one of the biggest things it has going for it. The developers can therefore look at the main complaints from the demo (bad controls, enemies taking 20,000 hits to kill) and fix them in the final version. At least they could make it so that your bullets don't bounce off enemies bullets.
3) The Wiimote and Nunchuk
The game I'm most comparing Eternity's Child to in terms of WiiWare is Lost Winds. Lost Winds uses the Wiimote in the same way that the mouse would be used in any PC version of that game. Lost Winds would work because of the lack of jump button in that game whereas EC's use of jump would work so much better on the Wii because you have all buttons in your hand and the mouse as well. EC's controls just seem so much more suited to the Wii thn the PC.
4) It Will Still Look Awesome
Jerky, 4 frame animation doesn't bother me. If it did I would never have finished Professor Layton. Luc's art is still going to look awesome, maybe even more awesome on a big TV and if the gameplay is improved as I've said above perhaps we'll see that animation as more of a niggly fault rather than the last stake to drive into the game's heart. Hell, won't it look a little double standardish to fault EC for that when we're celebrating Megaman 9 for it?
5) [ABSENT]
This week's 5th reason did exist until Silver Sphere made some 'changes' and fucked up my article. I'll leave it up to you to try and figure out what it was.
So there, 5 reasons why hope should be held out for Eternity's Child on the Wii. I hope we're not all so jaded that we're going to let an asshole designer ruin our enjoyment of a game that still has the potential to be fun. Also maybe its me being a sucker for a beautiful art style or just the fact that I'm insanely fond of Luc but I really want this to be a game worth playing.
When someone gets knee deep into the community they're trying to sell to and shows everyone what a jerk he is, nobody's going to be able to play the game without thinking about his "contributions."
I'm not giving him my money. If he had shut up and let the game speak for itself, maybe.
Could you please elaborate on #1? I wasn't aware of this; I thought the game was Luc Bernard's baby through and through. He has nothing to do with the WiiWare version?
@Char - On the EC website it specifically states that the Wii version is ported and developed by Alter8. I guess that means that Luc made it for PC but he's actually getting help putting it over on the Wii.
Alter8 put out a press statement the day after EC was released on Steam saying that Luc was not on their staff and that the version on Steam was their base product for porting and that they were going to try and fix what was wrong with it.
Basically, Luc has given them the Steam version and I think they're free to do what they want with it as far as getting it on WiiWare is concerned.
I thought EC was supposed to be just a wiiware game to begin with and then it was made for PC to get more money, so with any luck it should be the way it was always intended to be on the wii. That is unless it was always going to suck...
How does being put on the Wii fix the level design though? This was stated as a large problem by both Dtoid and Kotaku. Unless they go and fix 'em all I think the game will still come out to negative press.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
about me
Prononciation njsykora is pronounced like this.
en-jay-sik-ora
Yeah it would be easier if it were spelt njsikora but it doesn't look as cool does it?
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
(# 0) on 08/07/2008 11:18
I'm not giving him my money. If he had shut up and let the game speak for itself, maybe.
(# 1) on 08/07/2008 11:29
(# 2) on 08/07/2008 11:47
(# 3) on 08/07/2008 12:01
(# 4) on 08/07/2008 12:17
(# 5) on 08/07/2008 12:24
(# 6) on 08/07/2008 12:35
Basically, Luc has given them the Steam version and I think they're free to do what they want with it as far as getting it on WiiWare is concerned.
(# 7) on 08/07/2008 14:26
(# 8) on 08/07/2008 14:58
(# 9) on 08/07/2008 15:42
(# 10) on 08/07/2008 17:33
(# 11) on 08/07/2008 18:52
(# 12) on 08/08/2008 00:04
I sure hope they fix it... seemed like such a great idea :-)