Gaming Odama

[Semjaza]

I've been wanting to post about this game for days, but lack of good screens has stopped me. Finally some decent ones are out.

[IMG]http://media.nintendo.com/mediaFiles/6def91ce-910d-4d4d-950e-8e3e006c5f09.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://media.nintendo.com/mediaFiles/0d6049e6-91a1-4c74-ab33-e159322e72a2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://media.nintendo.com/mediaFiles/21e921d9-7c17-4132-a4b9-aeb88cf82912.jpg[/IMG]

Odama is more or less a pinball game. However, it is being developed by Vivarium who were responsible for Seaman, so it's definitely not what one would expect.

You obviously control the flippers. However, your goal is destroy approaching enemies, free your allies and so forth.

[quote]In Odama, players fire a giant pinball known as -- conveniently enough -- the Odama around a real-time strategy-like environment set to the backdrop of ancient Japan. Giant-sized flippers help direct the ball through the environment as it crashes over enemy battalions and into troop barracks. But Odama-ists will have to be careful not to crush their own troops underneath the giant weight of the rolling pinball. Gamers will be challenged to collect prisoners of war, who will -- once captured -- become allies. Allied troops will, according to the press sheet on the game, do their best to dam rivers, liberate extra flippers and clear the way to the enemy's gate.[/quote]

I think it sounds pretty interesting.

[I, Colossus]

I was going to post a topic on this title, but after a little searching I found this. There is no real big news that would warrant another thread being made so I hope it's not too old to bring back.

Anyway, I'm very intrigued at the premise of this game. It sounds like it's really going to be something else. The only problem I might have with the game is, I'm not sure about the legnth, or the replay value. I just hope it's not just wave after wave of ground troops and that there are some interesting challenges, requiring more than firing a gigantic pinball at enimies.

One thing you neglected to mention, though, is that a second player can rally your troops by playing the Donkey Konga drum periphiral. Which is interesting in itself.

[satan665]

What console is this for?

[Semjaza]

[quote name='satan665']What console is this for?[/quote]

It's for GameCube. Apparently people weren't too fond of it at E3, though.

[BlueYoshi]

[color=teal]I honestly don't see the problem with Odama. People want to see innovation in gaming just as much as Nintendo do, and by fusing a semi war-sim with a common arcade game I think Vivarium have served their duty towards that.

It can't be that bad though, obviously I'll never know until I play it but from what I've heard it sounds okay. If I was to compare it to something, then I'd have to say Super Mario Bros.. Apparently the gameplay method is repetitive in each level, but surfaces difficulty as you progress, just as the first Mario game did. I can't be sure if it will be as fun and persistent, but the premise does sound interesting. Though I can't help wondering if it would still be getting bashed left and right had there been an entirely new concept, other than that of soldiers in a battle field.[/color]

[Semjaza]

It didn't seem to be so much the concept as the fact that it just wasn't pulled off that well in its current state. I have been led to believe that it just wasn't that fun and didn't really seem like something that'd be worth paying for in the long run.

However, who knows what'll happen between then and whenever it comes out.

[BlueYoshi]

[color=teal]If I wasn't so trusting of Nintendo then I'd think the concept would be the least of its worries at first glance.

Well, regardless of it being fun or not, I have always seen pinball as an addictive game, or at least hard to let go of. For me to see it under a completely new terrain can either influence me, or discourage me, and I'd hate to think the latter. However, I think pinball is an extremely easy scenario in some cases and should be well enough for Vivarium to accomplish so as it can float with the other arcade style games out there and live up to what it supposedly was cracked up to be. I sure hope there is some time left for a few more little tweaks if it's as bad as some might say so.[/color]

[Semjaza]

Well, Nintendo isn't making it... Vivarium is. As far as I know, they've made nothing outside of Seaman on DC and PS2. Last I heard, the game doesn't even have a definite publisher. Nintendo apparently wasn't on board even though it was at their booth at E3.

I don't know. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt right now heh.

[BlueYoshi]

[color=teal]Yes, yes, I know that Vivarium are making it. I was only trying to say that the GameCube in whole has a nice little reputation going for Nintendo that specialises in new ideas and such and such, you know.

I think the publisher is Nintendo though. Down to earth, I don't know the inside details, but a few sites and NOM say that they are, so I'd go with it.[/color]

[Jokopoko]

[color=teal][size=1]I hope no one minds me bringing this thread back from the dead but it seems appropriate seeing as the game has been released in Europe now and will be in the US on Monday. Since its appearence at E3 2004 Odama has had a few changes made too it. One of the biggest is being able to issue voice commands to your troops with the Nintendo Microphone (Comes with the game), as far as I know there are 11 commands ranging from "Rally" too "Press forward". Personally I'm picking up my copy tomorrow so then I should be able to give you all a decent review of the game.

Is anyone else planning on getting the game?[/size][/color]