Rodea: The Sky Soldier

[Nester the Lark]

Official site is online. Interestingly, it lists the regular Wii among the platforms in the product info section, but doesn't have the logo at the bottom of the page. I wonder if it will be packed in as a bonus like the Japanese Wii U version is getting.

Some more details courtesy of GoNintendo:

– Game kicks off with an inventor named Ion reactivating Rodea
– Rodea is a tailed flying humanoid robot
– Rodea was a soldier for Princess Cecilia and the Garuda Kingdom who battled the Naga Empire a thousand years ago
– The Empire suddenly returns to wage war against Garuda, so Rodea again must battle
– Has a NiGHTS vibe
– Wii U/3DS versions are different from the Wii original
– These versions change from an “arcade” play style to a “sky adventure”
– No pointer controls like in the Wii game
– There is a targeting system in the Wii U/3DS versions
– Move a targeting reticle and press A to have Rodea travel in the desired direction
– Press X while on the ground to travel straight upward in the air
– Can perform a spin attack with the B button
– Y button: use equipped weapons to shoot down enemies
– Rodea’s world is made up of many floating islands
– Rodea has a limited flight ability
– Can collect floating crystals in the air
– If you target one while flying in the direction of a several in a row, Rodea will automatically collect them all
– There are rings to fly through and other intermediate targets
– Final game has hidden areas and multiple paths
– There are also obstacles such as zip lines and time trial challenges
– StreetPass support for 3DS version
– This allows players to gain new items
– 2D art on the 3DS’ touch screen
– Ion talks to you while flying around
– Game is full of voice dialogue

So I guess the Wii U and 3DS versions are not straight ports of the original Wii version. I'm disappointed it doesn't seem to support the Remote+Nunchuck since that's what it was originally designed around.

And here's some footage of the 3DS version:

[TV Eye]

This looks like Yuji Naka combined every game he's ever worked on. I see a lot of Nights and Sonic in there...I'm looking forward to playing it.

[Nester the Lark]

Here is some Japanese TV show that shows a whole bunch of gameplay from the Wii U version, including flying, combat and a boss battle.

[Nester the Lark]

According the Gematsu, the North American and European versions of Rodea on Wii U will, in fact, also include the original Wii version of the game! This only applies to the first-print run of the retail version, however, not digital.

Great news, tho!

[TV Eye]

Mar 4, 2015 14:02:11 GMT -5 Nester the Lark said:

According the Gematsu, the North American and European versions of Rodea on Wii U will, in fact, also include the original Wii version of the game! This only applies to the first-print run of the retail version, however, not digital.

Great news, tho!

You just know that's gonna worth something in the future. I'll definitely be picking it up.

[Nester the Lark]

Nintendo Everything has details on the differences between the Wii, Wii U and 3DS versions of the game, based on info from 4Gamer. It's worth looking over, but GoNintendo sums it up as follows:

Wii U

- press “A” button to jump midair
- press again in midair to hover
- use the left stick to move the cursor and fly towards that point by pressing “A”
- use the right stick to move the camera
- Rodea requires Gravity Energy fly
- this energy is represented by a ring shaped meter around the cursor
- replenish this energy by landing or by kicking footholds in the air or walls
- you can also get energy by securing an item called Graviton or by destroying blue minerals
- 100 Gravitons gets you an extra life
- when all energy is used, you can still fly for a short time
- if you fall without ground below you, you die
- if Rodea's Armor Energy reaches zero, you die
- if you fly towards a row of Graviton, you’ll take them all automatically
- this will also boost your speed
- Boost Attack is performed by pressing “B” in midair
- defeat enemies to get machine parts, which make Rodea stronger
- Boost Attack boosts flying speed, which allows players to fly against winds
- more Gravity Energy is used during Boost Attack than in normal flight
- secret items include Legacy Medals, which unlocks various content
- replay cleared stages whenever you want

3DS

- no second stick for camera controls
- C-stick is not supported
- camera movements are done in 90 degree rotations with the “R” and “L” buttons
- cannot look up or down with a direct button
- if you move the cursor over to an edge of the screen, the view shifts in that direction
- movement of the cursor is slow
- use the gyroscope for camera control when in the air, but this doesn’t work on ground
- roughly the same content as Wii U

Wii

- use the Wii Remote without the nunchuck
- Wii Remote Plus is not required
- aim with Wii Remote pointing
- Rodea is launched with the “B” button
- Boost Attack can be performed with the “A” button
- move the cursor to the edge of the screen to move the camera
- Gravity Energy isn’t needed for flying
- flight distance is limited
- flight range is shorter than in the Wii U/3DS versions and thus targets are closer
- no character customization with machine parts
- obtain temporal boosts with items located around stages
- three different power levels at a given time: power up, normal, or power down
- taking damage lowers the power level by one
- getting an item boosts the power level by one
- each stage always begins with the normal power level
- flight distance is shorter in the power down state and you can’t use the Boost Attack
- if you take damage while in the power down state, you lose one life
- flight distance is boosted in power up state and the Boost Attack is stronger
- Rodea’s hair color changes in the power up state

And according to Nintendo Everything:

4Gamer feels that the Wii Remote controls are very comfortable and intuitive. However, your arm may get tired as a Remote is surprisingly heavy.

You gotta be kidding me.

[Nester the Lark]

Here's a new Japanese trailer for the 3DS version:



EDIT: Cool bit of artwork, as well (if I'm allowed to hotlink it):

EDIT 2: Whoops. Guess not. I'll just attach it.

[Nester the Lark]

It seems that the Japanese Wii version actually comes in its own case! I doubt the North America release will get that treatment.

---

EDIT: Release confirmed for September 22 in North America and September 25 in Europe.

[Nester the Lark]

NISA is releasing a limited edition of Rodea that includes a hardcover art book, 10-song soundtrack, a collector's box and a key trinket. You can get it with either the Wii U or 3DS version of the game.

I won't be getting it (although the art book would be cool), but it's interesting they're putting this much effort into it.

[Nester the Lark]

Kotaku has a good video comparison of the Wii and Wii U versions of the game. They also summarize the gameplay differences pretty well:

The Wii version of the game is centered around motion controls. You point at the screen, lock on to a target and launch yourself with a button press for a straight flight—or a flick of the Wiimote for an arching one. This allows you to traverse entire stages without touching the ground as you shoot from point to point.

The Wii U version, on the other hand, has no motion controls. Instead, you lock onto targets by using the thumbsticks and rotating the camera. And as this method of control is more unwieldy, the game feels much slower as you continuously have to stop and re-aim.

However, unlike in the Wii version, you are able to hover in mid-air (to better select your next target) and even fly straight up. The downside is that you only have a limited amount of flight time before you need to touch the ground and recover—flying too long can actually kill your character.

[TV Eye]

The Wii version of the game is centered around motion controls.

Ugh...still? I really wante...wait...

The Wii U version, on the other hand, has no motion controls.

[Nester the Lark]

Here's a promotional interview with Yuji Naka and Zin Hasegawa:



Not sure Rodea will ever be as popular as Sonic, but I hope it's successful enough to get a sequel.

[Nester the Lark]

English gameplay footage:



Also, the release was pushed back a little bit to October 13, I believe.

[Nester the Lark]

Unfortunately, Rodea has been delayed until November (10 in North America, 13 in Europe).

It seems that the discs for the Wii and Wii U versions will come in the same case, but it will have a reversible cover (with different artwork) for each version, which is kinda cool.

[Nester the Lark]

Here's a new trailer specifically showing the unique features of the original Wii version: