We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
WiiU

North America

The Wonderful 101

by Aaron Kaluszka and Neal Ronaghan - June 12, 2013, 1:13 pm EDT
Total comments: 5

UPDATE: We played the (local-only) multiplayer. It is bonkers!

The last time we played The Wonderful 101, it was still titled Project P-100. Like other games from developer Platinum Games, the game is a frenetic action game that will require nimble fingers and the ability to filter out the intense visuals so that you can figure out what you're actually doing. The game features Viewtiful Joe-like characters – the main character looks like Joe, but I also saw a Silvia look-a-like. It looks a bit shinier than last year; the graphics have been improved as well as the controls.

Instead of a single hero, you collect bystanders and have them join your team. The more people you can collect, the more powerful your attacks become and the longer reach you gain. To "Unite" powers, you draw shapes including a circle for a fist, a line for a sword, an L shape for a gun, and an S for a whip on the touch screen or by using the R-stick. The formation glows in a representative color to let you know what power you'll be activating with the A button. I found the stick easier to use in the middle of action, but the touch screen shows characters as dots on a map, which makes it easier to see what command you're performing on the touch screen. You can also use the characters as bridges to climb to hard-to-reach areas. To perform the special moves, you have to keep a battery meter charged by collecting scattered batteries. These moves are sometimes used to solve puzzles – in the demo, I had to start a ferris wheel by turning into the fist and turning a giant crank.

The demo included a series of boss battles, beginning with a boss made of dozens, if not hundreds, of drills. Each battle makes you think about which weapon formation works best. In this case, the whip was necessary to tear off the enemy's armor. But you still had to pay attention to its attacks so that you wouldn't get crushed (which I did, many times). The second boss was some sort of jelly cuttlefish that arrived in a flying saucer and which required slicing with the sword attack and who would trap you with gelatinous blobs.

The last boss that was reachable within the time limit was Gagujin, an immense robot that tore apart the city as you jumped from building to building. These jumps are completed through stylized quick-time events, though rather than just button presses, gestures were sometimes required. As the buildings collapsed, you had to lead your party from girder to remnant of platform. It's no easy feat, but the game lets you retry.

The missions are chained together seamlessly, and while it may seem intimidating, it's not too difficult to get a handle on. At the end of each mission, ratings are given which score players on time, combos, and damage, going with a medal scale going up to the apt platinum. The platinum medals seem to have special significance, perhaps for unlockables.

There's a lot going on in The Wonderful 101, but if you want action, you'll definitely find it here. It's a brawler at its core, but it's full of unique features and it captures the non-stop action hero feeling well.

Update: With experimentation, we discovered some different Unite abilities. In the frantic multiplayer, I unearthed four different abilities. First off, there is the hang glider, created with a triangle, which lets you hover through the air. You can also create a bomb (by drawing a bomb), which can be lobbed to explode over groups of enemies. A hammer is, well, it's  a hammer that can be used as a melee weapon, which is also generated from drawing its likeness. One of my personal favorites was the claws, which could be drawn into being with a lightning bolt symbol. These were fast and quick melee weapons.

Update (6/12): So, apparently the five-player local multiplayer was highlighted as well, which Aaron didn't get a chance to try yesterday. I (Neal) got to check out the multiplayer, which used Pro Controllers. It was absolutely chaotic; as you can imagine, having five groups of Pikmin-like mobs on screen at once is very busy. I was using a Pro Controller and had a lot of trouble figuring out where my group was in the chaos.

The multiplayer is a cooperative experience kind of similar to how Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon's multiplayer works. There is a score attack component, because you are rewarded for getting a higher score and accruing more heroes to your team. You have to work together, though, because if one player dies, then everyone loses and must restart the stage.

We'll probably find out more about the multiplayer before the game comes out, but we know there will not be any online component to it.

Talkback

Leo13June 11, 2013

I can't wait! In the Nintendo Direct they mentioned 5 player. Do you know if this is a different mode or if this is co-op?

RazorkidJune 12, 2013

This is my most anticipated WiiU game this year because its so unique and full of SOOO much style.

MASBJune 12, 2013

It'll be nice 10 years from now when the Wii U is fully emulated. Maybe some dedicated individual will make quality net code since Nintendo often refuses to even try. C'mon! It can't be that hard or costly. Look at the numerous outfits both big and small that do it. I don't use online gaming much, but I know a lot of people do and it would be nice to have the option.

It can't even really be cost at this point. It's like Nintendo sees online gaming as a betrayal of their single player and local multiplayer games. The only time it is a "betrayal" is when online gaming is the only option in a game, not when it's one option out of many!

As for W101 itself, it looks great and right up my alley. :)

AdrockJune 12, 2013

I had no idea this had any multiplayer.
http://i.imgur.com/gBjb6xt.gif

RazorkidJune 12, 2013

Quote from: MASB

It'll be nice 10 years from now when the Wii U is fully emulated. Maybe some dedicated individual will make quality net code since Nintendo often refuses to even try. C'mon! It can't be that hard or costly. Look at the numerous outfits both big and small that do it. I don't use online gaming much, but I know a lot of people do and it would be nice to have the option.

It can't even really be cost at this point. It's like Nintendo sees online gaming as a betrayal of their single player and local multiplayer games. The only time it is a "betrayal" is when online gaming is the only option in a game, not when it's one option out of many!

As for W101 itself, it looks great and right up my alley. :)

Can't really blame Nintendo, Platinum is developing the game.

Share + Bookmark





WiiU

Game Profile

The Wonderful 101 Box Art

Genre Action
Developer PlatinumGames

Worldwide Releases

na: The Wonderful 101
Release Sep 15, 2013
PublisherNintendo
jpn: The Wonderful 101
Release Aug 24, 2013
PublisherNintendo
Rating12+
eu: The Wonderful 101
Release Aug 23, 2013
PublisherNintendo
Rating12+
Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement