After years of trade shows, Odama finally smashes into stores.
FORGET HYBRID CARS -
NINTENDO INTRODUCES A HYBRID VIDEO GAME
You've Never Played a Game like This Before
REDMOND, Wash., April 10, 2006 -- Nintendo's Odama(TM) is the finest
microphone-controlled Japanese feudal warrior pinball game you'll ever play.
[Unlike all of the feudal warrior pinball games without a mic.] The
one-of-a-kind game, which launches today exclusively for Nintendo
GameCube(TM), represents just one more way that Nintendo is pushing the
boundaries of what constitutes a video game.
"With all these different genres, Odama delivers a unique and compelling
game-play experience," said Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo of America's vice
president of marketing & corporate affairs. "Without playing it, it's not
the easiest concept to grasp, but once you play, it's tremendously fun and
easy to get into." [Not unlike a comfy pair of tennis shoes or a warm bubble
bath ... Wait, what were we talking about?]
Odama lets users command an army of soldiers who are subject to the
sometimes devastating power of the Odama, a massive pinball controlled by
giant flippers. The Odama rolls over enemy troops and eliminates obstacles,
though it also can crush a player's own soldiers if not aimed properly.
[FYI, this part rocks. The little soldier guys scream when the ball rolls
over them. They're all like "It ... hurts ... the horror!"]
Players can issue a variety of commands to soldiers on the battlefield
simply by speaking into the included Nintendo GameCube Microphone. For
instance, saying "press forward!" will cause your soldiers on the screen to
make an aggressive push into enemy territory, while saying "rally!" will send
a team of soldiers to gather in a certain location. The longer players play,
the more voice commands they learn. [Now if only it had commands for "bring
me a pizza" and "do my laundry."]
Odama appeals to a wide variety of gaming fans, from pinball enthusiasts
to military gamers and strategy fans. [Not to mention cubicle dwellers who
dream of one day mastering the ancient, sacred art of multitasking.] Odama,
available now, is Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older.