One Duck's Opinion Forums

The only other times I can remember wanting a game quite this much was when I first saw Chrono Trigger in my first Nintendo Power magazine, and when I read about Sin and Punishment in an issue of Gamer's Republic (Thank you Nintendo!!). The trailer that's been posted on gonintendo this week has seen daily viewing on my computer; the need for it has only intensified with the subtitled video just posted today:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7HFO37RtwI&eurl=http://gonintendo.com/?p=70051[/youtube]

Someone has posted up gameplay videos from start to save point. Part 1, check video responses for parts two and three (yes; I saw them first on Go Nintendo).

The setting; the characters; the art style; the atmosphere it has. It's like they know what buttons to press, and they have a turbo-fire controller. According to NCSX it releases tomorrow (their price is ~$70 + shipping), so perhaps I'll be treating myself to a (pricey) birthday present in a couple weeks, even if I won't fully understand it. I just need to investigate/figure out the Wii homebrew/region free stuff (lucky me, I haven't updated the Wii firmware in a while).

I really can't understand why Bandai Namco (Namco Bandai?) hasn't said anything about bringing it out of Japan. It's by far one of the strongest third-party efforts the console has seen; it would be tragic if it doesn't come to other territories, particularly now that other third parties are (finally) getting serious on the console.

I've been watching this one for a while. It gave off the whole "what the heck is going on?" vibe, so I doubt it will come here. Hopefully I'm wrong, though.

I bought the game yesterday (Happy B-day to me!), and finally got the Homebrew Channel installed so I can play it. I've only played to just outside the subway station, so here are some very early Fragile impressions:

Control issues first:
Flashlight/camera control takes some getting used to, but hardly the 'bad controls' I read comments about. If you point off the screen, Seto controls like Link in the 3D Legend of Zelda games (he'll run in whatever direction you move the analog stick, 'Z' button to center camera behind). When pointing the remote at the screen, camera turning works on a sort of 'bounding box'; if you press 'back' on the analog stick, you'll slowly walk backwards (he'll always face where the cursor/flashlight is facing). If you're pointing at a surface you passed, he'll turn around and face it, which gets kind of annoying (and hard to explain ).

Through the subway, the game's atmosphere is great. It's dark, but in an intriguing kind of way: I just want to keep exploring and looking at everything. The environments look fantastic, as do the characters. You can hold 'B' to see from a first-person perspective; from there, hold 'A' to either examine something (controller will vibrate when cursor goes on something of interest), or to simply zoom in further. Lots of small things to look at: writing on walls/floors, posters strewn about... little things to help bring the game to life. If any animals are nearby, you'll hear them on the Wii remote; which is cool, but I was immediately wishing the remote's speaker was louder.

The game starts in an observatory, but quickly has you exploring a subway in pursuit of the girl you stumble across. You find a "Personal Frame", a sort of back-pack/computer thing, that both provides something to talk to, and miscellaneous information (though I don't know enough Japanese/Kanji yet to know *how much/what kind of* information). Some items you find strewn about seem to provide some short story/background info when you rest at a bonfire type place (which are all over the place so far); you also get to save the game at said bonfires.

Combat so far is relatively simple; I can't find a lock-on button (but there may be one and I simply fail at finding it). 'A' attacks: mash 'A'-button for what seems to be a weaker 3-hit combo; mash at a slower pace for (I think) a medium-strength 3-hit combo; time attacks properly for (again, I think) a stronger 3-hit combo; the color and animation of 'swings' changes to, I assume, signify different strengths. Different/stronger weapons seem to be findable, or maybe even buyable. Initial enemies were borderline harmless, attacking only if I stood still for several seconds. I stumbled across some dogs that had me wishing for the maybe-non-existent lock-on button (need to find out if there is one, maybe hunt the manual for ロックオン (ROKKU ON) or something).

Could have used a bit more work on some of the miscellaneous dialog scenes, since every now and then when Seto talking to the "Personal Frame" the camera's simply looking at him, and he's just standing there talking, nothing more.

So far, I loving the game. I just wish my comprehension of Japanese was further along, so I could fully enjoy the game; at least the game's giving me some motivation for studying again .

Here's hoping for a localization!

And please forgive the sloppy-ish writing. It's not one of my strong points.

I'm hoping for a localization too, but couldn't you just adjust the volume of the Wii-mote speaker?

I had the Remote's speaker all the way up already; I suppose I could have turned my surround receiver down... but I needs my volumes o_O. I did get my dad's dog to leave my room by holding the remote's "meow" up to her ear though .

Maybe that third party remote (Nyko?) has a louder speaker somehow... *will investigate*

[off-topic]
I liked your old avatar better
[/off-topic]

Yeah, I'm still going back and forth... it really seems too big since everyone else's are smaller, so I'll have to make it smaller when I get a chance... but I still chuckle whenever I see it, so it's sticking around (at least for a short while).

[on-topic]One can download the ten track pre-order bonus OST that came with fragile here, at Destructoid, if one is inclined to do so. The theme used in the trailers is there also

XSeed is bringing Fragile to North America.

Things like this is what gives me hope for an industry plagued with too many sequels and "safe" game releases; what keeps me smiling whenever I look towards Nintendo's little white console sitting on my shelf. The fans shout out for something, and someone atleast tries to make it happen. People wanted Sin and Punishment released outside of Japan on the Virtual Console: Nintendo made it happen. After an inability to find a publisher, High Voltage Software reveals the Conduit via IGN, Wii owners get hyped/vocal about playing it: Sega pulls through. Capcom brought Okami to Wii, and followed through on they're words regarding Tatsunoko Vs Capcom.

I'm trying my best to not sound fanboyish, but I don't really see this sort of... community?... between the HD console developers and consumers (I'm positive there's a word more applicable than 'community', so don't take it the wrong way); perhaps they merely don't need to endlessly request *this* game, or *that* game, as they're being offered high quality software on a rather regular basis; or perhaps the FPS CONSOLE stereotype merely hides the underlying "niche" gamers who crave things like Demon's Souls (thanks Atlus!), Cross Edge (thanks NISA!), or more traditional RPGs (thanks Mistwalker!). It just seems like the smaller companies are "connecting" with their fans on the Wii more than the other consoles (even more than Nintendo of America, in some ways).

Back to point, Bandai Namco decided (for whatever reason) they didn't want to put the effort into a translated Fragile release, so Wii fans turned toward the one company that seemed to be paying them attention: XSeed. They're bringing to NA what is one of my favorite games of this generation so far (and I have only a slight grasp of what's going on in it). The game is a work of art: the characters, scenery and atmosphere are all top quality production.

Whatever sales they get, I feel XSeed deserves them all; and more. They're doing this for the fans.

I'm just so excited; I felt compelled to express it somehow. Maybe I need my own blog. Writing that felt good, somehow.