Topic: Wii RPG Opoona Available in Stores

[NWR_Neal]

Innovative controls lead in the Koei game.
 http://nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15618

 OPOONA™, KOEI’S ROLE-PLAYING GAME FOR Wii™ IN STORES NOW    

Opoona™ is Ready to Take You on an Out-of-this-World Role-Playing Adventure    

Burlingame, CA – March 26, 2008 -- KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Opoona™, a new Role-Playing Game (RPG) exclusively for Wii™ is available now in store and online through retailers across North America including: Amazon.com, Game Crazy, Gamefly, and GameStop.    

About Opoona    

While on an interplanetary family vacation, the young boy Opoona crash lands on Planet Landroll after his family’s spaceship is involved in a mysterious accident. Separated from his family, Opoona is forced to live alone. On the planet, Opoona must find a job, search for his siblings, and defend himself and the people of Landroll against creatures known as the Dark Rogues. Luckily for Opoona, he is the descendant of a long line of warriors known as the Cosmo Guards. Thus, Opoona’s adventure begins as he struggles to establish a new life and reunite his family.    

The game’s action-oriented battle system lets players use powerful "Energy Bonbons" against their enemies. Using just the Nunchuk™, players can manipulate an Energy Bonbon’s trajectory in a number of different ways. All of Opoona’s commands are also controlled by the Nunchuk, to allow a complete "single-hand control" of the game.    

The gameplay in Opoona is not just about battling; it is a "Lifestyle RPG." As Opoona, players must adapt to a new environment, meet new people, and contribute to society through work, all while becoming aware of the precious world and people around him. As the game progresses, Opoona will develop relationships and uncover a broader range of activities including new jobs and clues to new adventures.    

The unique characters and a modern fantasy world created by Art Director, Shintaro Majima, are sure to fascinate gamers. From futuristic buildings to ancient ruins and strange rock formations in the wild, the world of Opoona is a remarkable fusion of both contemporary design and whimsical fantasy.    

Developed by ArtePiazza, the team behind four installments of the best-selling DRAGON QUEST® series of RPGs, Opoona showcases the talent of some of today’s most creative game designers including: Art Director Shintaro Majima, Planning Director Sachiko Sugimura, and Composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, acclaimed for his contribution to the FINAL FANTASY® XII soundtrack.    

Opoona is rated "E10+" (Everyone 10+ - Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Opoona is a single player game. For updates on Opoona, please visit www.koei.com/opoona.

[NWR_Neal]

This game seems to echo Pikmin a little bit at first glance.
Besides that, I haven't heard much about this game. Is it supposed to be good?

[Kairon]

I don't care if it's good. It's an RPG. I'll take it!

[Nick DiMola]

Wow, this one totally flew under my radar, for some reason I had it pinned for a Summer release. I am going to have to check this one out, looks pretty interesting.

[NWR_Neal]

As I still live in Brawl aftermath and recently got Harvey Birdman for cheap, I'll probably pass in the interim. However, I am intrigued. Anyone who gets this, lemme know. My interest is piqued.

[decoyman]

I don't know a lot about it either... but I have to say, I'm not a big fan of the art style, at least in stills. Maybe in motion it's better. I'm also a little suspicious of this "one-handed controller using just the nunchuck" thing... will wait for a review, I think.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

More 3rd-party sabotage that grossly misinterprets the Wii's audience?

[DAaaMan64]

I'm interested, reviews say 6-8 out of 10.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Just played an hour or so of the game and so far I'm impressed. It has decent production values and the game is quite unique. So far I have only skimmed the surface but it does seem to mix things up quite a bit, battling is only one aspect of the game to where you move up in rank, you do other tasks and make friends as well. It is more like a simulation game where you go about life, but at the same time you have RPG battles to progress yourself.

[NWR_pap64]

Isn't it funny how there are campaigns so that people can buy Zack and Wiki, No More Heroes and even Okami, yet mum's the word about Oopona?

[GoldenPhoenix]

Isn't it funny how there are campaigns so that people can buy Zack and Wiki, No More Heroes and even Okami, yet mum's the word about Oopona?

Well to be fair, it isn't on the same level quality wise as either of those games. It is a seemingly good game but it doesn't appear to be a great game.

[NWR_pap64]

Isn't it funny how there are campaigns so that people can buy Zack and Wiki, No More Heroes and even Okami, yet mum's the word about Oopona?

Well to be fair, it isn't on the same level quality wise as either of those games. It is a seemingly good game but it doesn't appear to be a great game.

True, but still. I thought the point of these campaigns was so these games could get noticed and be given a fair chance, especially since they are original IPs created exclusively for the Wii (save for Okami of course). Even if Oopona isn't as great it wouldn't have hurt to let people know to try it out.

[Nick DiMola]

Isn't it funny how there are campaigns so that people can buy Zack and Wiki, No More Heroes and even Okami, yet mum's the word about Oopona?

Well to be fair, it isn't on the same level quality wise as either of those games. It is a seemingly good game but it doesn't appear to be a great game.

True, but still. I thought the point of these campaigns was so these games could get noticed and be given a fair chance, especially since they are original IPs created exclusively for the Wii (save for Okami of course). Even if Oopona isn't as great it wouldn't have hurt to let people know to try it out.

I agree. This game may not be of the same caliber as the other games mentioned, but perhaps if it sells well and gets some attention a sequel will be released that improves upon the basic thoughts and concepts of the game.

[Pale]

Am I supposed to think of scandalous business practices every time I see Neal's forum name?

[Smash_Brother]

Am I supposed to think of scandalous business practices every time I see Neal's forum name?

Obviously.

[Kairon]

Picking this up in a couple of hours!

[DAaaMan64]

Picking this up in a couple of hours!

Let us know Kairon, I'm definitely interested in this one.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Huh?  Is Kairon interested in reinforcing Koei's suspicions that only kiddee games sell on Wii?

[NWR_Neal]

Am I supposed to think of scandalous business practices every time I see Neal's forum name?

Obviously.

Yes yes. It's a terrible pun that I've stuck with ever since that damn company was relevant.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Picking this up in a couple of hours!

Let us know Kairon, I'm definitely interested in this one.

But I already let you know what it is like!

[DAaaMan64]

Picking this up in a couple of hours!

Let us know Kairon, I'm definitely interested in this one.

But I already let you know what it is like!

I know, but I want big impressions! Your tastes are probably closer to mine then Kairon's. But I want more more more and he's a writer now.   Shouldn't take it hard GP.

[NWR_pap64]

Huh?  Is Kairon interested in reinforcing Koei's suspicions that only kiddee games sell on Wii?

That's a rather bold claim from someone who liked Zack and Wiki (a title heavily inspired by children's anime).

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Koei and Crapcom are 2 different animals.  Koei has yet to release a serious Wii game, and yet to figure out what sells.

Capcom KNOWS kiddee games don't sell.  Only zombie games sell.

[NWR_pap64]

Koei and Crapcom are 2 different animals.  Koei has yet to release a serious Wii game, and yet to figure out what sells.

Capcom KNOWS kiddee games don't sell.  Only zombie games sell.

You are right in that we are talking about two different companies, but the idea still stands.

You have to remember that the Resident Evil series has been around for years now and has built a strong fanbase that will follow it no matter what (and yes, I am also including spin off games in the mix). Not to mention that Umbrella Chronicles was hyped since the Wii was first announced.

Zack and Wiki on the other hand was a brand new IP with no name recognition, and was quietly announced in the middle of the Wii's life.

So its expected that a "zombie" game sold better than a 'cartoony" game. But even with that (and the lack of a marketing campaign so weak that the fans have to make one) Z&W did very well and performed better than expected.

As for Koei, I have yet to play Oopna so I can't talk about how it plays, but I applaud the fact that they created a brand new IP for the Wii, even if both the game and the company that created it have no name recognition at all.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I find it odd that some reviewers are saying the game is a "traditional" RPG. Even the battle system is not really that traditional and leands more to real time than turn based. Basically you have your choice between your "magic" and normal attack. Now you have to strategize with your normal attack because to use it you must pull back on the joystick and "charge" your ball that is on top of your head, the longer you hold it down (without going past the charge limit which counts down) the more damage you give the enemy. The kicker is that if you charge it too long and hit an enemy you are vulnerable until it charges again. So you need to decide if you should hit an enemy with a stronger attack and leave yourself more vulnerable to the other enemies (Including, possibly the one you hit) or use quick attacks with less "recharge" time to get off more hits and possibly spread damage around. It is a fun system and not like the normal turn based battles.