Red Steel 2

             Publisher: Ubisoft

             Developer : Ubisoft Paris

             Platform: Wii

             Release: March 23, 2010(EU 26th)

            Genre: Single player FPS

The launch hype around the Wii back in 2006 was quite strong. But not strong enough for me to have purchased Ubisoft’s first FPS attempt, Red Steel, at full price. Eventually it did go on sale and I acquired it. Did it control well? No. Did it look great? No. Was it kind of fun? Yes. Red Steel also had dizziness and vertigo inducing multiplayer. Needless to say, it was not good. It checked the boxes but left many FPS fans unfulfilled.

Ubisoft has returned 3.5 years later to release Red Steel 2. This time the Wii has a new and oft unused peripheral, Wii motion plus. Releasing any (hard)core game on the Wii is a gamble at this point. But a core game requiring a device mostly used with a series that oozes casualness makes me think that Ubisoft is confident, crazy or both. However RS2 does look vastly superior to its predecessor.

Players will take the control of a silent protagonist, (the)Swordsman, as they navigate an environment that seems best described as western-themed with tech. Swordsman is the member of the Kusagari clan. Who is losing a war with rival clan, The Jackals. Being one of the few remaining members of his clan, Swordsman must avenge his fallen brethren. The cel-shaded graphics look quite good and will probably show-off more of the Wii’s strengths than the first title did. The Swordsman will obviously be armed with a gun but he can switch at any time to use his sword. Deflecting bullets, performing combos and finishing moves are just a few examples of what RS2’s  gameplay will offer. Use of the Wii motion plus should make these gameplay mechanics easier to perform in addition to being more precise. Ubisoft will be releasing Red Steel 2 in North America on March 23, 2010.