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Wii

Ace Combat Creator Working on Sky Crawlers for Wii

by Carmine Red - March 23, 2008, 1:27 pm EDT
Total comments: 14 Source: Famitsu

This aerial dog fighting is based on the story and designs of the original Sky Crawler series of Japanese novels as well as the upcoming anime film.

Much like Ace Combat, Sky Crawlers will be a flight-shooter game in which players control fighter planes in aerial dogfights. However, whereas the Ace Combat series is known for using modern fighter planes and settings, Sky Crawlers features planes that come from an alternate reality of fantastic WWII era propeller design and dog fighting.

Additionally, the game's creators hope to defeat the perplexity of most flight games, focusing on controls that are easy to use so that even people who aren't normally fans of flight games can enjoy Sky Crawlers. Already, the feeling of controlling the game is described as exhilarating, and the sense of flight very satisfying. Although the game was just recently unveiled, a video interview on Famitsu's website shows a snippet of gameplay footage with both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk.

Like the upcoming anime film of similar name, (The Sky Crawlers, directed by Mamoru Oshii of Ghost in the Shell fame) the game is actually is based on a recent series of hit Japanese novels. The setting is an alternate world where aerial warfare is staged as entertainment and the pilots, youth known as "Kildren", never grow into adults. Despite the fact that their lives may end suddenly and abruptly, or because of it, they live every day like it could be their last. However, the game will feature its own original storyline.

As the film is due for an August 2nd release, and the Wii game is also expected to be available this summer in Japan.

James Charlton also contributed to this article.

Talkback

I just found out that Mamoru Oshii worked on Uretsei Yatsura, and the Uretsei Yatsura movies. Even though I disliked Ghost in the Shell, this hereby makes Mamoru Oshii officially awesome.

EnnerMarch 23, 2008

Oh YES! A flight combat game for the Wii! And it's by the Ace Combat creator to boot! This is very nice news.

Quote from: Enner

Oh YES! A flight combat game for the Wii! And it's by the Ace Combat creator to boot! This is very nice news.

You do realize the same team made Star Fox Assault, right?

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Quote from: Enner

Oh YES! A flight combat game for the Wii! And it's by the Ace Combat creator to boot! This is very nice news.

You do realize the same team made Star Fox Assault, right?

They seem to have no plans for on-foot.

DAaaMan64March 23, 2008

LOL the flying wasn't very good either.  Not compared to the 64 game.

walkingdead2March 23, 2008

Quote from: Crimm

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Quote from: Enner

Oh YES! A flight combat game for the Wii! And it's by the Ace Combat creator to boot! This is very nice news.

You do realize the same team made Star Fox Assault, right?

They seem to have no plans for on-foot.

ohhh that would be so funny and suck so much if they put that in the game.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 23, 2008

I haven't played Starfox Assault, but considering the popularity of the Ace Combat series the team is pretty decent.

The problem with Assault was that it was a sequel to a Miyamoto directed, Nintendo developed title, Starfox 64. It is considered by many one of the best games not only of the 64-bit era but of all time. Just how can you top that?

Its like making a sequel to E.T. but without any of Spielberg's influences at the helm. Even if the director and producers are competent it will suck because they have a lot to live up to, and without Spielberg to aid them, it will be a disaster.

If this new game is any good it should prove my point further.

Geez. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth...

SheckyMarch 24, 2008

Quote from: pap64

The problem with Assault was that it was a sequel to a Miyamoto directed, Nintendo developed title, Starfox 64. It is considered by many one of the best games not only of the 64-bit era but of all time. Just how can you top that?

'Well I guess he's good for something'

oohhboyHong Hang Ho, Staff AlumnusMarch 24, 2008

The problem with assault was that it wasn't a flight sim, nor was it a space sim. It couldn't decide which one it was. If they when for full space mode with no true horizon, it would have opened up the 3D space in a lot of the levels. It would have meant that the arwing would have two different feels, but would have been a superior game for it.

Tossing gravity inside the space station would have been fun as too.

I wonder how sim the physics are going to be. Without the missiles to fudge the characteristics of the aircraft which in Ace Combat, really floaty, I hope they go for a more sim like feel.

EnnerMarch 24, 2008

Heheh, nice one there, Jonny.

Out of curiousity, I peaked around to see who made Star Fox Assault since it didn't seem to be Project Aces (at least explicitly, then again Project Aces seems to be more of moniker than a concrete dev team from what I can tell). After clicking around some names, alot of them only has Assualt as a credit. Hmm...

After thinking about it, the article doesn't say who exactly is on the project. Guess finding out who will have to wait. Anyway, the screenshots already look quite nice. I hope this game turns out well.

EDIT: Ah, there is a name. Now if only I could read Japanese...
http://www.famitsu.com/fwtv/?61214245
Ooo a video interview with a tiny bit of gameplay in the beginning. The game certainly looks like it's on a good track.

EDIT,EDIT: Hmm, well if NWR and Wiki (er...) say the Ace Combat team is working on it (whoever exactly that might be), then shame on me for doubting!

The Namco-Bandai internal team assigned is Project Aces.  They are known for their work on Ace Combat 0, 5, and 6.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 24, 2008

Quote from: Shecky

Quote from: pap64

The problem with Assault was that it was a sequel to a Miyamoto directed, Nintendo developed title, Starfox 64. It is considered by many one of the best games not only of the 64-bit era but of all time. Just how can you top that?

'Well I guess he's good for something'

And what are you implying with this?

*Raises eyebrow

EnnerMarch 24, 2008

Quote from: Crimm

The Namco-Bandai internal team assigned is Project Aces.  They are known for their work on Ace Combat 0, 5, and 6.

Yay! And they're using their favored Geo Eye to texture the landscape. I really hope this turns out well and gets a localization.

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