Author Topic: Sega Announced Alien Syndrome for Wii (Read 8749 times)

Svevan · « **on:** December 12, 2006, 05:51:32 PM »

Game is a resurrection of an old Sega arcade title and has no connection with the previously announced Alien movie franchise games.

SEGA’S 'ALIEN SYNDROME' VENTURING ONTO THE WII AND PSP® SYSTEM

Action-RPG Meets Fast-Paced Sci-Fi in an All-New Adventure

SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON (December 12, 2006) – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe, Ltd. today announced they will be publishing Alien Syndrome, a fast-paced action-RPG set in a stunningly imaginative sci-fi universe. Developed by Totally Games, Alien Syndrome will launch simultaneously for Nintendo’s Wii™ system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system in Summer 2007. Alien Syndrome features two fast-paced action-RPG modes – the dramatic and engaging single-player campaign, plus an infinitely replayable co-op multiplayer mode for up to four players. Derived from the classic SEGA arcade game, Alien Syndrome’s new action-RPG gameplay makes it easy to pick up and play, while its depth and wealth of features and missions keeps it challenging for all gamers.

In Alien Syndrome, players will take control of the game’s strong and enigmatic heroine – Earth Command Trooper Aileen Harding – and battle a variety of fearsome aliens and colossal bosses. Gamers will choose from a wide selection of character specialties and skills as they progress through an engrossing campaign, protected by many different types of armor and using a variety of melee and ranged weaponry. Players can improve their heroine’s statistics and discover a huge number of powerful new abilities as they fight through infested spaceships and bizarre alien planets.

“SEGA is updating its classic franchises and re-imagining these brands on next-generation and portable consoles for today’s gamer," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “Alien Syndrome uniquely combines arcade-style shooter gameplay with RPG elements, making it the only fast-paced, sci-fi action-RPG on the Wii and PSP."

Alien Syndrome features 20 different weapons including flamethrowers, quad-barreled lasers, nanobot swarms that dissolve enemies, and incendiary grenades that shoot fire geysers from the ground. Each weapon offers advantages and disadvantages, dependent upon how it is used and the specializations players have chosen to adopt. Alien Syndrome’s fast-paced combat also allows for any number of combat strategies to defeat over 100 different alien enemies at one time.

“Completely re-designed from the ground up for the PSP and the Wii, this new Alien Syndrome offers a refreshing blast-athon on a venerable classic," said Larry Holland, President and Creative Director of Totally Games. “As well, it has allowed us to exercise our science fiction chops to the fullest to create a totally involving futuristic action-RPG game experience."

Aileen has an indestructible battle-robot assistant trailing her at all times. This helpful companion will automatically attack nearby targets during battle. It also acts as a vendor through which players can purchase or sell items at any time, as well as construct better weapons and synthesize more powerful items. Additionally, the robot can be upgraded with abilities such as healing and charging weapons.

Alien Syndrome on the Wii will utilize the Wii Remote’s motion-sensitive technology to allow players a full range of motion when slashing through enemies, unloading on bosses, or running and gunning through hallways. Gamers will also be able to access new game modes and mechanisms that expand on the core gameplay. These new features include using the Wii Remote to craft new items, to enhance existing items and character abilities, and to hack into computer systems.

For gamers on the go, Alien Syndrome on the PSP system is Wi-Fi enabled so that up to four players can play cooperatively in various multiplayer modes.

Alien Syndrome is developed by Totally Games and will be available for Nintendo’s Wii system and PSP system in Summer 2007.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2006, 06:29:55 PM »

This sure came out of left field...

But Wii and...PSP? Strange combination...

Crimm · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2006, 07:13:19 PM »

God, I hope those are PSP version graphics. That's just terrible.

“Completely re-designed from the ground up for the PSP and the Wii, this new Alien Syndrome offers a refreshing blast-athon on a venerable classic"

Yes well you had better get to re-designing the graphics engine or start designing a bargain price-tag.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2006, 07:31:31 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Crimm
God, I hope those are PSP version graphics. That's just terrible.

“Completely re-designed from the ground up for the PSP and the Wii, this new Alien Syndrome offers a refreshing blast-athon on a venerable classic"

Yes well you had better get to re-designing the graphics engine or start designing a bargain price-tag.

hahaha, I agree, that definately look about mediocre PS2 level graphics, and is supposed to come out in about 6 months? It better be the PSP version that was shown, there is no excuse for a game that is "Completely re-designed from the ground up for Wii" to look like it was made specifically for the PSP.

Faithinchaos · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2006, 07:57:08 PM »

Since when did Nintendo fans turn into graphics snobs?
hhhmmMMMM?!?!?!

..but I agree, that's rather bad unless theres somethings really going on in those screens. But if it looks like this, plays like buttah, and throws some serious PCP-induced action my way, I'd be more than happy to partake.
Also worth noting... both platforms are 16x9. yet these screens aren't. could be an indicator of the thought put into selecting their first screens (or lack therof).

Entroper · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2006, 09:31:54 PM »

I thought the screens looked pretty decent myself, if you pay attention to the art. Honestly, to me it looks better than Red Steel, though I admit that's not saying much.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2006, 02:07:30 AM »

You don't have to be a graphics snob to be disappointed by lackluster graphics. The second one in particular looks like a rushed Dreamcast launch game to me. The aspect ratio is the only reason I'm not convinced these are PSP shots.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2006, 02:21:43 AM »

We were graphics snobs all along - we were just forced to retreat when Nintendo made Wii less powerful than the other systems.

I think it looks fine - the graphics aren't the best the system can do but I don't care if the game is fun.

The real question is, does this mean Sega smells what the Nintendo is cooking?

ShyGuy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2006, 03:41:45 AM »

Explosions look "this gen". As long as it's coop and has decent contrast between the backgrounds and the characters, I will give it at least a rental.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2006, 04:12:13 AM »

I'm more concerned about how it plays than how it looks.

It can look awesome and still be a sh*tty game.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2006, 04:41:04 AM »

Aside from the fact that the graphics themselves look lousy I also think it looks too dark. The original Alien Syndrome was much more colourful. Nothing makes a game look more dull than having it be needlessly dark.

NWR_pap64 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2006, 04:42:19 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
This sure came out of left field...

But Wii and...PSP? Strange combination...

MEGATON!

WII VERSION TO CONNECT WITH PSP!

Crimm · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2006, 04:53:01 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
I'm more concerned about how it plays than how it looks.

It can look awesome and still be a sh*tty game.

If it comes out looking like that we can be sure the production values are sub-par. If that's the case, I can't fathom it playing all that well.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2006, 05:21:26 AM »

Quick question for all you "graphics don't matter" types: Have you ever played a really great game that looked like ass? I haven't. I've played games that look beautiful but play like sh!t but I've never played a game with really lousy graphics that was fun. The really great games usually are polished enough that they look pretty damn good too.

And I'm naturally talking about how well the graphics were at the time so don't say something like Pong to be cute.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:02:06 AM »

I really don't think they're going to make two different asset sets for these versions, they're going for the lowest common denominator and knowing Sega that's the Dreamcast (seriously, Sega games look bad even on the PS2).

Quick question for all you "graphics don't matter" types: Have you ever played a really great game that looked like ass?

Not sure if you'd count it as really great but Stratosphere was loads of fun for me making me wish it'd run under XP. You're saying "really great" (in my terms "really great" means GOTY calibre, review average >94%) but I think good is sufficient. You aren't going to find many bad looking masterpieces outside of indie offerings (among those I'd say Chelsea and the 7 Devils would count as looking pretty bad but being loads of fun) and maybe Animal Crossing. And of course low budget titles like Gungrave Overdose and Earth Defence Force 2 (both of which could be argued to not loook THAT bad).

Ceric · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:05:45 AM »

I'm sorry but the pictures I saw really look like a not that great SNES game.

Dirk Temporo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:14:20 AM »

On one hand, the game looks fun, on the other hand, the graphics look like garbage.

Svevan · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:19:04 AM »

Quote
Quick question for all you "graphics don't matter" types: Have you ever played a really great game that looked like ass? I haven't. I've played games that look beautiful but play like sh!t but I've never played a game with really lousy graphics that was fun. The really great games usually are polished enough that they look pretty damn good too.

Body Harvest

Dark_Sloth · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:21:10 AM »

Yeah. The screenshots on there look pretty bad. I wish i could see more developers actually trying to push their games to look something above what's been on the GC already. If it was a new game for VC i'd probably buy it for a bargain price. But the game itself sounds like it could be a fun game. I wonder how its really using that wiimote. It sounds like the PSP version will have wifi coop, while the wii one wont! agh, whats up with that.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2006, 07:05:00 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Quick question for all you "graphics don't matter" types: Have you ever played a really great game that looked like ass?

I hope I don't make too many enemies here, but these are my honest opinions.

I put Final Fantasy VII in that category. When it was first revealed, I was dumbfounded that people raved about how good it looked. I assumed they were talking about the FMV and prerendered backgrounds, but even those turned out to be pretty bad when I finally played it. I didn't play it until FF IX was out because it took that long before I could forgive it for looking bad on the grounds that it was old. I ended up enjoying it in spite of its looks.

Star Fox 64 looked pretty terrible when it came out, too. I bought it new, played through it, and put it away after a while because the music grated on my nerves, the graphics looked grainy, and the beachball explosions drove me nuts. A couple years later, I went back to it with lower expectations and found one of my all time favorite games. I played it over and over and over again, trying to get all the medals in Expert mode (I never did get Sector Z). I even ended up liking some of the music, although I still hate the instrument sounds and think the main theme is boring.

I realize that my opinion of the graphics of these two games is different from the majority's, but the question is rooted in opinion, anyway. That's why I can say that I have indeed played a game that I thought was really great even though I thought it looked terrible.

Kairon · « **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2006, 07:30:25 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Svevan
Quote
Quick question for all you "graphics don't matter" types: Have you ever played a really great game that looked like ass? I haven't. I've played games that look beautiful but play like sh!t but I've never played a game with really lousy graphics that was fun. The really great games usually are polished enough that they look pretty damn good too.

Body Harvest

I <3 you.

Also: Earthbound.

Also, note that Body Harvest was made by DMA, (also Space Station Valley) so don't be snobby about your graphics, because you might miss out on TRUE potential. You can already see the beginnings of GTA 3 in Body Harvest.

But seriously, I am desperate for anything in the lines of a good Gauntlet 64 or multiplayer co-op game. I could care less if these were SNES graphics, just make it play like buttah!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Ian Sane · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2006, 08:25:49 AM »

"Also: Earthbound."

I wouldn't consider Earthbound's graphics to be poor. It's an intentional art style and I think it looks really good.

There are always going to be exceptions but in general videogames require a certain amount of technical achievement to be any good. A great book can be written on looseleaf paper. A good song can be recorded on a tape recorder. A good movie can be filmed on a camcorder. In those cases the creative work can be easily captured with minimal training or skill. All you're doing is recording. A game requires more effort because of all the programming involved. Many of us have ideas for games but we can't just make them as easy as we could make any book, song or movie we had an idea for. A game requires a lot of attention. You cut corners and the controls turn to crap or the collision detection is off. When that amount of attention is being put into a game everything is typically going to benefit including the graphics. Really lousy graphics can be an example of a corner being cut and a lack of attention so the rest of the game will likely suffer. It's not a hard fast rule but there are a lot more ugly crap games than ugly classics. When you look at the devs that make the most brilliant stuff usually their games also look really good. Nintendo's games usually look pretty good.

And Body Harvest was originally going to be an N64 launch game but got delayed many times. It would have looked better had it been released in 1996.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2006, 08:31:01 AM »

I'm not in the camp of "graphics don't matter" For myself, I would put it as "graphics aren't as important as other things"

That being said, NES Baseball. Bases Loaded and RBI Baseball looked much better, but I still enjoyed NES baseball quite a bit.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #23 on:** December 13, 2006, 08:37:43 AM »

"I'm not in the camp of 'graphics don't matter' For myself, I would put it as 'graphics aren't as important as other things'"

That's what I could classify myself as as well.

"That being said, NES Baseball. Bases Loaded and RBI Baseball looked much better, but I still enjoyed NES baseball quite a bit."

I believe NES Baseball came out well before the other titles so I wouldn't count it.

Svevan · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2006, 08:46:50 AM »

Though on the whole I agree with you Ian, I really think you need to take some of the examples given as proof that your generalization is not 100% true (as most generalizations aren't).

Quote
And Body Harvest was originally going to be an N64 launch game but got delayed many times. It would have looked better had it been released in 1996.

No it wouldn't have. Compared to Mario 64 it is lackluster graphically. Besides, it wasn't released at launch, it was released years later and looked pretty lame: muddy textures, solid blocky characters, sprite-based explosions, poor animation, and simplistic environments. Compared to Blast Corps (a very early N64 game) that used sprite-based explosions and very few actual characters, Body Harvest really really looked BAD.

Other things in Body Harvest were bad too - control, roleplaying elements, difficulty, among other small things. The game wasn't perfect, but it's a great example of why we view games holistically and not on a systematic math-based scale that says good graphics + good gameplay + good control = good game (see Lego Star Wars for more proof).

Of course though, I do agree with the general thrust of your argument, Ian: good graphics are an integral part of the gameplay experience. Defining good graphics is a difficult thing, and even Body Harvest didn't look quite as bad as some of the licensed crap-games out there. As said before, it's a design thing, not a polygon thing - and Alien Syndrome looks to fail on both counts.

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Author Topic: Sega Announced Alien Syndrome for Wii (Read 8749 times)