Priced at $199, the bundle includes both Wii Sports and its MotionPlus-touting sequel Wii Sports Resort. That’s not one, but two games for the same price. Nintendo says the offer will apply to both black and white Wii unit configurations going forward.

Look for the black Wii and its new bundle by association to hit shelves on May 9, as previously foretold by retail leaks.

Offering a eccentric mix of gunblazing and sword-swinging gameplay, Ubisoft’s MotionPlus-powered sequel Red Steel 2 makes its ascent onto store shelves this week in North America. In commemoration of the occasion, the publisher has sent over a high-octane launch trailer that covers all bases. From up-close-and-personal swordplay to pursing a pack of bandits on motorcycles in a riveting chase, the katana-brandishing protagonist is a busy fellow.

Clocking in at a meager two minutes, we’re of the opinion that the clip nicely sums up why you should shell out the cash for this exceptional Wii title. But hey, don’t take our word for it. See for yourself.

With Wii exclusive Red Steel 2 only a mere five days away, the countdown to its March 23 release in North America is on. The wait can be antagonizing and publisher Ubisoft feels your pain, being so kind as to offer up yet another gameplay trailer. This clip introduces several of the game’s nefarious baddies, including psychopath Payne and warlord Shinjiro.

Ubisoft offers up yet another speed art drawing clip guaranteed to evoke feelings of awe and amazement at a blistering pace. This one highlights the lone ninja Shinjiro, donned in a sleek armor suit. Looks stealthy, not to mention imposing.

Red Steel 2 is slated for a March 23 release on Wii.

Ubisoft offers up yet another spiffy Red Steed 2 speed drawing clip, this time highlighting graceful female lead Tamiko. Feels like someone turned up the heat, yeah?

Exclusive to Wii, Red Steel 2 hits store shelves March 23 as one of the first titles in its genre to take full advantage of the MotionPlus attachment. In case you missed it, our extended impressions of the title can be found through this link.

With the March 23 release of MotionPlus-exclusive Red Steel 2 inching closer, Ubisoft has released a speed art video that depicts the main protagonist being drawn in meticulous detail, from sketch to a vibrant illustration rich with color. If you have a couple minutes to spare, check it out.

In a related tidbit, those who become a fan of the official Red Steel 2 Facebook page will be automatically entered into a drawing to win one of five signed copies of the Hero artwork print.

Producer Eiji Aonuma, however, now feels that MotionPlus has made its way into enough households to confirm that its use will be made mandatory in the next Zelda. Speaking to Famitsu, Aonuma shed light on Nintendo’s reasoning behind this prerequisite, noting that the gameplay “feels so natural [with MotionPlus].” He added, “Link’s sword and the controller that you’re holding become one.”

While Aonuma is refraining to make any promises, he hopes to “show something playable” of Link’s next outing in time for E3 2010 in June.

Wii Motion Plus Exclusive Zelda Playable at E3 [Andriasang]

Shoppers are looking for value as we head into the holiday season, and this Wii Sports Resort bundle is a gift that players of all ages and experience levels can enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Best of all, it instantly gets multiple members of the household engaged in playing as soon as the package is opened.

Nintendo says the bundle will be available “while supplies last” at most major retail outlets in North America. No word on if a similar promotion is planned for other regions.

Featuring mini-games and gameplay mechanics that take advantage of the Wii Balance Board and MotionPlus attachment, Academy of Champions is scheduled for a September release exclusively on Wii.

Academy of Champions Screenshots

In a podcast interview on Radio-Blodec, producer Joshua Olsen explicitly stated that a sequel was not in the works at this time but on a more positive note, further mentioned that the company would like to expand on the ideas and storyline presented in The Conduit. Naturally, the prospect of a sequel is resting on sales and general interest among fans.

It all depends on the fans and sales but it’s a little early for now to assume anything. Anyway, we are very interested to make a sequel to The Conduit, it’s quite a robust world and there are more stories we want to tell. The Conduit is the first part for our hero and we want to make more parts to tell more things about him. We have not started to work on a sequel.

In other words, those lauding for a sequel should show their support. If it does happen, we’d sure like to see MotionPlus support for part deux.

High Voltage wants to make a sequel to The Conduit [GoNintendo]

Controls

In terms of pure mechanics, Red Steel 2 plays completely different than its predecessor. This particular attribute is perhaps one of its most redeeming qualities and is what drew even cynical types to the sequel in the first place. The enhanced motion-sensing precision offered by the MotionPlus attachment is used to accurately gauge the sheer amount of force that a player puts into their sword swing, determining the final impact and damage dealt by a blow.

Suffice to say, it works well: the combat is incredibly satisfying, requiring players to put in a considerable amount of force to pull off a hard-hitting blow that can damage foes donning steel armor suits. If I had to pick a single title to show off the potential of MotionPlus to core gamers, Red Steel 2 would be it.

Beyond slicing and dicing foes, the control setup is rather simplistic, with the Wiimote handling crosshair movement, allowing players to simply aim and shoot at surrounding enemies. The Nunchuck analog is used to move your character in a specific direction. I personally found aiming to be overly sensitive, especially if standing in close proximity to the TV being played on. Granted, this is more of a subjective matter, so including options to adjust sensitivity in the final product would be an elegant way of appeasing all preferences.

The inclusion of MotionPlus also adds a blocking mechanic to combat situations. By holding the Wiimote in a defensive stance, it is possible to deflect bullets and enemy sword strikes at will. This is a neat little addition that further elevates the sheer intensity of combat situations.

While the controls in Red Steel 2 are admittedly great, that’s not to say everything is without quirks. In the level we tested, when met with a sliding closed steel door, players were forced to go straight up to the door and press Z to enter a brief sequence in which an on-screen indicator instructs you to hit the door handle with your sword, as shown above. I found this to serve as an unnecessary break in the flow of action. The doors can stay, but having to press Z seems to be an unneeded extra step. Just being able to walk up to these doors and start whacking at the handle to open them would suffice. Again, it’s a minor nuisance, one that I would like to see rectified, but if not, no biggie.

Graphics

Taking place in an arid desert setting, graphics in Red Steel 2 are equally as impressive. Sporting cel-shaded environments, it forgoes the industrialized look of the original. At the same time, however, it balances the line between cartoony and realistic. This type of art style lends well to the graphical capabilities of Wii.

Pacing

My time with Red Steel 2 was limited, with only the E3 demo level being available, which clocks in at around 20 minutes on a initial play-through. On a second run, this same level can be completed in around half that time. While this particular level was linear in scope, creative director Jason Vandenberghe assured that the actual game will offer more in the way of freedom. Rather than being forced to play level by level in a sequential manner, the aim is to let players select between missions at various points in the story. He likened the world outside of missions as a sort of hub, in which players are given the choice of choosing their next move.

Final Thoughts

Due out this fall, Red Steel 2 is shaping up to be one of Ubi’s star titles, next to Splinter Cell: Conviction and Assassin’s Creed 2. It takes the ultra cool but not-very-well executed premise of the original and molds it into satisfying and highly stylized experience. For those that walked away disappointed from the original, it’s recommended to play Red Steel 2 in a fresh mindset, as for all intents and purposes, the sequel has no real connection to its predecessor apart from copious amounts of sword and gunplay.

From an interactive standpoint, I feel as if Red Steel 2 redefines the genre of traditional hack n’ slash samurai titles. The level of interaction and player-character connection that it brings to the table is an attribute that no other title in the action space can match at this point. If what I experienced in the first 20 or so minutes of this demo is an indicator of how the rest of the game will play out, Wii owners are in for a real treat come later this fall.

Miyamoto elaborated on his previous statement in a recent interview with Wired, revealing that he is making a concerted push with the development team on utilizing the extra possibilities offered by MotionPlus in Link’s next adventure.

The bigger hurdle for us is not really whether people have a Wii MotionPlus or don’t have it, it’s whether or not the experience is one where people will think they want to have a Wii Motion Plus in order to experience it.

Although Miyamoto is refraining from making any assurances just yet, it’s safe to assume that the next Zelda title will require MotionPlus, as Nintendo seems to be spending a considerable amount of time with incorporating it. Taking the optional route is an unlikely scenario, especially when considering that they could always bundle the attachment with every copy of the game at retail. Judging from our hands-on time with Red Steel 2 at E3, a Zelda title would greatly benefit from a 1:1 control scheme.

Miyamoto Wants New Zelda Exclusive to MotionPlus [Wired]

It’s a huge risk. We have no idea what the penetration rate for Wii MotionPlus will be. We assume high. We would like it to be high. I would love to say to you that it’ll be compatible with just a regular controller, but the gameplay simply isn’t there without MotionPlus. That core experience just isn’t there without it.

There is a risk, of course, but will is it really worth worrying over? My opinion sways towards no, mostly because of the peripheral will be sold as a pack-in Wii Sports Resort. That game, without a doubt, will sell a million copies over. By the time Red Steel 2 hits the market, penetration should be high enough so as to ensure ample sales.

Ubisoft officially announced today that Red Steel 2, the second installment in its katana-brandishing first person shooter hybrid, will hit the Nintendo Wii later this holiday season.

Set on a high-tech metropolis surrounded by an arid desert, Red Steel 2 utilizes the soon-to-be-released MotionPlus attachment for 1:1 precision and mapping of movements on-screen. For instance, the game will take into account how much force players put into a katana swing and deal damage accordingly, based on the impact and strength of the blow.

“Red Steel was a unique opportunity for Ubisoft to work in tandem with Nintendo to create a title exclusively for the launch of the Wii console,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing US at Ubisoft. “Red Steel 2 is another milestone for the company as it is the first Ubisoft title with full Wii MotionPlus integration.”

Red Steel 2 is due out exclusively on Nintendo Wii this coming holiday season. While the presser below was fairly light on details, more concrete information is promised for the June issue of Nintendo Power.

UBISOFT® UNSHEATHES RED STEEL® 2
Sword-and-Gun Action Fighting Title to Return at Holiday 2009

SAN FRANCISCO – April 29, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced Red Steel 2, exclusively for the Wii(TM) system from Nintendo. Red Steel remains one of the most successful Wii titles and the only brand created specifically for the launch of the platform. Red Steel 2 is being developed by Ubisoft Paris and will be available for the 2009 holiday season.

Red Steel 2 returns with an artistic style and flair created just for Wii. Set in a desert-bound, high-tech metropolis, Red Steel 2 is a revolution in the action-fighting genre, taking full advantage of the capabilities of the Wii MotionPlus(TM) accessory. Your movements are faithfully replicated on-screen, putting the emphasis on swinging, shooting and fun! With the ability of the Wii MotionPlus to sense the strength of a swing, you will literally be able to make an impact on your adversaries through power and precision.

“Red Steel was a unique opportunity for Ubisoft to work in tandem with Nintendo to create a title exclusively for the launch of the Wii console,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing US at Ubisoft. “Red Steel 2 is another milestone for the company as it is the first Ubisoft title with full Wii MotionPlus integration.”

Just as Red Steel broke ground as the only third-party brand created for the launch of the Wii, Red Steel 2 will be the must-have game of Holiday 2009 for those who wish to stretch their own capacities and fully experience a game that was built from the ground up to take advantage of the Wii MotionPlus.

More details on Red Steel 2 will be revealed in the June issue of Nintendo Power magazine. For more information on Red Steel 2, please visit www.redsteel2.com.

Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers.

Wii Sports Resort will be the first proper title to take advantage of the MotionPlus enhancements, which is scheduled to hit retailers July 26. The device and game will reach Europe on June 12 and July 24, respectively.

We want to support [the MotionPlus]. Probably for this version of the game there’s not going to be a whole ton of really extensive use of the Wii MotionPlus. For the sequel to the game, we definitely do want to incorporate more melee and things like that. We want to support it.

Additionally, the title will include support WiiSpeak for voice chat in multiplayer. Nofsinger was quick to note, however, that the peripherals are not required to fully enjoy The Conduit. HVS is making sure, through periods of extensive playtesting, that the game is still fun with only the the standard Wii Remote and Nunchuck combo in hand.

The Conduit is slated to hit Wii in the first quarter of 2009. A publisher has not yet been named.

‘The Conduit’ Already Has ‘MotionPlus’ Support, WiiSpeak Too [MTV Multiplayer]

I can’t get into details about other folks that are interested in this technology, but as you might imagine of course there is more interest out there.

Considering Sony and Microsoft are both heavily rumored to be testing the waters in motion control, we have little doubt that they are interested in MotionPlus tech. Whether they’ll actually end up using it or not is an entirely different matter.

MotionPlus tech not exclusive to Nintendo [Eurogamer]

Red Steel 2 has been in development for many months now, and this new device will help us be even more precise in what we do with the product.

Nintendo demoed the accessory, which delivers 1:1 motion sensing, at its annual E3 media conference earlier this month with Wii Sports Resort, the successor to Wii’s highly regarded bundled launch title. Specifically, one of the activities shown taking advantage of the enhanced motion precision was Sword Play, a fencing mini-game. Needless to say, it worked well, and should be a perfect fit for Red Steel 2.

A release date for Red Steel 2 has yet to be announced.

Ubisoft embraces Wii MotionPlus for Red Steel sequel [GI.biz]

The game will ship bundled with the recently announced Wii MotionPlus accessory, which adds 1:1 motion-sensing precision to the standard Wii Remote controller.

During the conference, Nintendo execs Reggie Fils-Aime and Cammie Dunaway demoed the game, participating in a number of outdoor activities, including Frisbee, Jet Skiing, and Fencing.

Wii Sports Resort Screenshots