Spyborgs

[Nester the Lark]

New hands-on preview from IGN.

And really the highlight of the game – lame as it may sound when I say it, but true nonetheless – is that everything just works in Spyborgs Even in this preview build there wasn't often that I felt like I was critiquing a game, so much as just enjoying something that was polished, well made, and fun. Each new enemy type enters the scene with a cinematic cut-to when dropping in for the first time, you get plenty of variation with enemy entrances – dropping from ropes, teleporting in, crashing through doors and windows, jumping up from would-be pits – and everything that looks like it should break in the environment does. There are plenty of visual effects going on, distortion in cloaked objects (I'll get to that in a minute), lots of sparks, no frame issues, and a clean look. There's something in the air. What is that? Is that… effort? It smells yummy.

I think Mark Bozon really hits the nail on the head about why Spyborgs hasn't attracted more attention. There isn't anything in particular that really stands out. There's no real hook, no unique graphical style, no extreme violence, and no innovative gameplay mechanic. It's just a good, solid, traditional beat-em-up. (At least, I hope it's good.)

Personally, that's exactly why I'm interested in it. No gimmicks, just gameplay. It just looks like a fun beat-em-up. (And you have to admit, the graphics are pretty slick.)

There's also some new videos up that show a little more than just the stuff from the E3 demo. I noticed that in one of the videos, the characters get a message from someone called Voxel, which was the name of one of the two characters that were cut from last year's version. It'd be funny if they were still included as secret characters.

Anyway, if you guys need help getting into the mood for a good beat-em-up, then check out this article I wrote for Wildcat a couple of weeks ago. (If TEi can shamelessly plug his articles, so can I! )

[Wildcat]

Oooh, effort! That's a rather unfortunate compliment (not for Spyborgs, per say, but for the entirety of Wii development XD ).

Well, this sounds like fun to me, too. I've been ignoring it, but I think it's time I give this game some attention.

[Nester the Lark]

Capcom has announced that Spyborgs will be released on September 29th! The final package art is revealed as well.

Something I forgot to mention in my last post was about the enemy entrances. That's something I always enjoyed about classic beat-em-ups -- especially TMNT. One of the things that kept those games interesting was seeing how the bad guys would enter into the screen next. They'd pop out of manholes, crash through windows, ride by on trucks, teleport in, etc. Details like that are what made those games cool back then, and a lot of modern beat-em-ups forget stuff like that. I'm glad to know that Spyborgs is trying to retain that charm.

Anyway, so Muramasa is due out at the beginning of September, and Spyborgs is due out at the end. Guess I'd better start hoarding some extra cash!

[Wildcat]

I suppose you should, my friend. It's really nice to have some Wii games to be excited about, isn't it? (hey, another backhanded compliment! XD )

[Nester the Lark]

Actually, I think it's a little disingenuous for people to keep hammering on the Wii for not having enough good games or not having enough "core" games. It may not be flooded with great software, but every time I turn around, it seems like there's another game being released with "core" appeal, or a developer announcing that they're catering to gamers.

It's starting to look like the GameCube all over again. The library isn't as bleak as it's made out to be. I wrote the Third Party 'Cube Game of the Week to say "here's a bunch of good games that are being ignored." Do I have to bring back the 3PS to remind everyone?

[Wildcat]

I think the 'Cube had a fantastic lineup of games. But perhaps what is different for me between then and now is that I was able to keep up on the Gamecube. I knew what was going on, and I had a strong idea of what I wanted. With the Wii (and now the DS, which wasn't an issue when I first had it), there's so much glut clogging the release windows that I have had little to no idea when something I actually desire is coming out. Adding to that is the loss of magazines that I used to frequently read (EGM is dead, and I don't care for NP as much since Imagine took over). But in the end, maybe I'm just missing out on the gems that slide in between all the sludge. I do want to get Madworld and Deadly Creatures, and I'm very stoked about Silent Hill, Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, Fragile, Muramasa and ARC Rise Fantasia (all third party!). And for the most part, I'm content with the Wii games I do have. I just think that the gaps between the good stuff has been wider.

[kirbychu]

Eh, I wouldn't say it's anything like the Gamecube. I found a new Gamecube game to buy and enjoy every time I got paid. I haven't found a Wii game I've enjoyed that much since Brawl. I've pretty much migrated to the 360 now, which is pretty sad, since I'm not really into the super-realistic violent games than dominate it. Even then, it still has more games that appeal to me than the Wii does right now.

That said, I am looking forward to Spyborgs. Capcom have become one of my favourite companies since the Wii's launch. I'm playing games by them on all three of my consoles right now, thanks to Mega Man 9, Ace Attorney and Zack & Wiki (yes, I'm still playing that).

[Nester the Lark]

It's not exactly like the GameCube, but I think it is in that the situation isn't as bleak as people seem to think it is.

Jul 17, 2009 19:16:30 GMT -5 Wildcat said:

I just think that the gaps between the good stuff has been wider.

I would call that a side effect of Wii being the top selling console combined with it's novice-oriented image. There's a lot more chaff mixed in with the wheat, but the games are still there. As far as "gamer games" go, this year alone has provided (so far) Deadly Creatures, The House of the Dead: Overkill, MadWorld, Excitebots, Punch-out!! Wii, The Conduit, and Ghostbusters: The Video Game. That's seven games in six months, and that ain't bad. (Of course, this is for North America.)

Maybe you guys really do need the 3PS back.

Anyway, back on topic, GameTrailers has new gameplay footage of Spyborgs: part 1, part 2, and part 3.

[Wildcat]

Hey, I have nothing but joy for third parties. If you wish to do so, you could even cross-post them here and at LVLs. if you so choose.

And I did know about those games you listed, but only two of them really interest me (Deadly Creatures and Madworld). The rest don't really do much for me (although TEi's 360 Ghostbusters review did make me consider it...for the PS3, when I get one).

But anyway, yes, back to Spyborgs. I'll need to watch those when I have a chance.

[Nester the Lark]

Oh, I forgot Klonoa. That's an eighth "core" game released in the first half of this year!

[Manspeed]

I can vouch. Klonoa kicks ass.

[Nester the Lark]

At Comic-Con, Capcom will be giving away an exclusive Spyborgs comic book, created by the guys at UDON. The story is a prequel to the game.

You can check out some samples here.

Given that Spyborgs already has a comic book style to it, I think this is brilliant! I wonder if Capcom will ever make this available any other way.

[Nester the Lark]

New videos and screenshots from Comic-con, courtesy of Nintendo Raw.

I have to admit, I like the characters in the game, even if they come off as a little generic at first. They seem well designed. I hope their personalities are also appealing.

[Nester the Lark]

Triple combo!!!

Capcom-unity has an article explaining how they arrived at the art for the final packaging from early concept sketches.

So according to focus testing, Clandestine is the least popular of the Spyborgs? Personally, I prefer the speed characters in beat-em-ups, mainly because I tend to trust my own reflexes more than a predefined defense stat.

[Wildcat]

I have to admit, this game is climbing up my radar. I took a glance at the cover art and read up on some of the details while you were out (welcome back, btw ), and it does indeed sound fun.

I like speedy characters, too, usually. Powerhouses are too slow for my liking (works that way in fighters for me, too). Sometimes I do go with the averaged character, though.