“It’s incredibly satisfying, really exciting. I’ve been working in games for 12 years and this is the first time that I feel we’re going to give the fans something really cool that they’ve never seen before. And I genuinely mean that. It’s not just marketing bullshit, this is something new that you’ve never done before and it’s really fun. It’s a great feeling to be able to say that” - Creative Director, Jason Vandenberghe
ABOUT
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.
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 Spring 2010 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.
Release Dates
USA
March 23rd
Europe
March 26th
TRULY BEAUTIFUL 60 FPS VIDEOS AND GAMERSYDE PREVIEW:
http://www.gamersyde.com/news_gamers...2-9004_en.html
REVIEWS
Official Nintendo magazine
"This is probably the best third party wii game we've played in recent memory. A great deal of thought has gone into every aspect of Red Steel 2. The visual design is stellar, but most importantly its evident that ubisoft has put the necessary amount of time into making sure the controls and the balance are (almost) pitch perfect. It's been a long time coming but finally we have it. After watching Shiggy waggle the wii remote on stage at E3 2006 and having our ballooning expectations deflated, we now have the sword game we all wanted. It's taken new technology and the best part of three and a half years to get it, but precious few will argue that it hasn't been worth the wait. Red Steel 2 is finally here and it's awesome."
93%
Kotaku review
http://kotaku.com/5500030/red-steel-2-review-if-only-2006-was-this-good
"In the same month that Red Steel 2 reaches Wii owners, Sony has loudly proclaimed that its Wii-style Move controller is the device that will enable the best motion-controlled gaming experiences that appeal to fans of so-called hardcore games. But you don't need a Move to feel just how impressive and involved an action game can be when controlled by your motions. Red Steel 2, a game any PS3 owner ought to hope comes to the Move, shows that Sony's console wasn't essential to make this happen. Ubisoft is on a streak of sequels-as-atonement that began with Assassin's Creed II. It has now built not just one of the Wii's best games and not just one of the most radically improved sequels in many years but a motion-controlled game with previously unfelt depth of control and excitement of action. To understand how well motion-gaming can feel, Red Steel 2 is a must play. This is a 2006 Wii promise delivered."
Examiner Red Steel 2 review
http://www.examiner.com/x-12218-Video-Game-Examiner
"If Red Steel 2 was what Red Steel was back in 2006, then this series would be the top Wii third-party franchise. You have to disregard the existence of Red Steel and go into this series with untainted eyes because Red Steel 2 is everything Ubisoft promised and plenty more. It's one of the best video game sequels ever made and not playing this groundbreaking Wii game would be an injustice. Ubisoft has finally shown us what kind of games can be made for Wii and has set a new benchmark for Wii FPS titles and any Wii game that may use a sword. Red Steel 2 is the top Wii game of 2010 right now."
Gamesradar review Red Steel 2
"The first let so many down, while part two succeeds in just about everything it set out to do. Maybe it’s the bundled MotionPlus, maybe it’s just better programming, but we left Red Steel 2 thinking it could be the most improved sequel of all time. If you’ve given up on Wii shooters, here’s a reason to rethink your stance."
9/10
MSNBC Red Steel 2 video review
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30501433/vp/35989744#35989744
9/10
Red Steel 2 NWR review "Plain and simple, this is one of the finest games to grace the Wii console."
Red Steel 2 Gameinformer review 8/10
Gaming Nexus reviews Red Steel 2 "Are you a gamer? Do you own a Wii? Then you need Red Steel 2. In fact, this game is a reason to own a Wii all by itself."
EUROGAMER ITALY
http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/red-steel-2-wii-recensione
"After years of vain promises and long before Move, Natal and who knows whatever else, Red Steel 2 finally delivers. Swordfighting has never been so fun and intense: don't skip this amazing Wii exclusive, this is the game we've all been waiting for... Now get ready to fight!"
9/10
Aussie Nintendo review
http://aussie-nintendo.com/reviews/21947/
"Quite possibly the most enjoyable, adrenaline-charged combat system I've ever experienced. Fans of the genre really need to check this one out, it's fantastic."
9/10
ONM Red Steel 2 review
http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=16114
"Red Steel 2 looks superb and after a wobbly first section settles into a very enjoyable first person action romp. It's a gameplay experience unlike any other, and that needs to be applauded."
86%
IGN
http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/107/1079106p2.html
"While the gameplay's impressively done, the overall presentation is freakin' top notch. Red Steel 2 is easily one of the best looking and sounding games on Wii to date. The visual style is incredibly sharp with a graphic novel influence, and its look is reinforced with a game engine that runs at a silky smooth 60 frames per second. The awesome background music matches the visuals extremely well – it's been a long time since I've fallen in love with a game's soundtrack, and Red Steel 2's atmospheric melodies are incredibly good. Red Steel 2 is absolutely an "A product." It's clear that the development team wanted to right the wrongs of the original game and produced an all new design with controls that actually work. There are still some issues, both in game balance as well as wishy-washy motion sensing control, but the awesome style and energetic gameplay are enough to make this one of the top titles on Wii."
8.6
Gametrailers
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-red-steel-2/63525
8.6
IGN UK REVIEW
http://wii.ign.com/articles/107/1079264p1.html
"There's no doubt that designing Red Steel 2 around Wii MotionPlus controls was an inspired decision, and Ubisoft deserves enormous credit for demonstrating just how much potential resides in Nintendo's woefully underused tech. As a template for how to combine shooting and swordplay within one intuitive, fluid control system, Red Steel 2 is an incredible achievement. But the bottom line is that the game takes a little too long to get going, and when it does it's all over way too soon." - they say its 8 hrs, others have said 10-12
8.5
IGN AU REVIEW
http://wii.ign.com/articles/107/1078690p1.html
"In the end, Red Steel 2 is well worth playing, especially if you bought Wii Sports Resort and want to give MotionPlus another whirl. Just think of it as a fighting game, as opposed to an action adventure."
8.4
Digital Chumps
http://www.digitalchumps.com/game-reviews/36-wii/4732-red-steel-2.html
"Few other Wii games provide a comparable sense of hard-hitting action fused with the gritty and rugged nature of a true action title. You really do feel like a sword-swinging, gun-toting badass in the heart of the Wild West, and you hold no remorse for your shameful adversaries. You can truly “feel” the impact of your actions on your enemies, and this sensation is only accentuated by the application of the Wii motion controls."
8.6
NGamer Holland
"MotionPlus's first test, and it passes with flying colours"
Score: 8.5/10
Eurogamer review:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/red-steel-2-wii-review
In the end, you'll likely forgive Ubisoft's game its shortcomings on the strength of its energy, obvious good will, and deep sense of craft. There are some thrilling set-pieces in here, along with moments that rank amongst the Wii's most beautiful, including a midnight rooftop race to catch a train which plays out under a huge cream-coloured moon. It's a lovely sequence.
As with any good Western - or any good samurai film - Red Steel 2 is ultimately about character: it's flawed, certainly, but entirely honourable with it.
7/10
G4 review:
http://g4tv.com/games/wii/43463/red-steel-2/review/
"Red Steel 2 is definitely a big step forward when compared to the original. It’s not perfect, and you will find yourself rolling your eyes at the tedious training sessions, groaning while yet another door stands in your way, and wishing the game was just a little bit more responsive to your every move. However, there’s still plenty of fun to be had and the eight to ten hours you'll spend working your way through the campaign will deliver many smiles."
3.5 out of 5.0
LATEST UPDATES:
Red Steel 2 Enemies Trailer
http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/r...nemies-trailer
Super Powers trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xJnA...layer_embedded
Studio Interview VIDEO from IGN
http://uk.media.wii.ign.com/media/86...31/vids_1.html
WEAPONS TRAILER
http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=237706
GAMESPOT TRAIN RIDE VIDEOS
http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/r...gameplay-movie
Red Steel 2: The Last Kusagari footage
http://www.officialnintendomagazine....e.php?id=15382
First 20 minutes
http://www.viddler.com/explore/ContraNetwork/videos/34/
LATEST PREVIEWS
GAMETRAILERS VIDEO PREVIEW
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pr...-steel-2/62644
VOOKS
http://www.vooks.net/story-18978-Red...pressions.html
"The first time I played Red Steel 2 I came away impressed but not astounded. This time I was blown away. It was genuinely fun to play and I just wanted to keep going and going with it. The swordplay/gunplay mashup is awesome fun and you’ll find different combos and moves that work better."
IGN
http://wii.ign.com/articles/107/1070807p1.html
"I was only allowed to plow through the first few missions, but these at least show the variety of levels and the balance and variety they have. In some you'll just have to take down waves of bad guys from the other clan, while in others you'll have to seek out their trucks and blast them out of commission. Along the way you'll find crates, barrels, bottles and other items that can be opened and smashed for cash, and you'll turn this extra money into additional moves and weapon upgrades. There are even hidden treasures like Sheriff Stars tucked away that'll earn you even more money. "
G4
http://g4tv.com/games/wii/43463/red-...eel-2-Preview/
"Fantastic swordplay would have been enough, but judging from the couple hours I spent putting the game through its paces, Red Steel 2 fixes and awesome-ups everything about the original. It's just pure, drool-inducing video game fun. Red Steel 2 looks amazing; The shooting game is spot-on, the Wii MotionPlus-exclusive controls are as tight as a rich guy’s fist, the action is frenetic and non-stop, and while there's nothing heavy and "important" here, it's all-out, kickass jaw-dropping action fun... and isn't that what's really important?"
Eurogamer
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/re...ds-on_4?page=1
"The main difference between Red Steel 2 and the original, however, may not be the improved controls so much as the fact that you'll genuinely want to put in the time to master them in the first place. With a sugary rush of missions, dungeons, and upgrades riddled with collectable Sheriff's badges and oddball unlocks, 2010 might just be the year that face buckles finally go mainstream"
Kotaku
http://kotaku.com/5476604/hands+on-s...th-red-steel-2
"Its combination of broad and precise motion, its colorful aesthetic, come together to deliver an experience far more fun than the original Red Steel. Being only about half-way through the title, it's too early to tell if there will be enough of those complex fights and blending of motions to make the game the sort of deep experience I want, or whether the end result will be a game that feels too light, too easy to be satisfying."
Joystiq
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/red-steel-2-preview/
"Red Steel 2 may have received a cosmetic makeover from its predecessor, but it's still lacking a key element: fun. Perhaps 2010 will change all that, and I'll be able to enjoy an inspired version of Red Steel 2 ... on my space ship, with my robot buddies "Chuck" and "Max." I can't wait for 2010!
Best of luck,
2009 "
NGamer preview
http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=236506
Consider our expectations slashed. Red Steel 2 takes what you thought you knew and carves it up.
Travelling to Paris to stink up Ubisoft's offices with a MotionPlus-enabled sweat, our three-hour playtest reveals a game quite unlike its forebear.
CUBED 3
http://www.cubed3.com/preview/329/
"Red Steel 2 has come along nicely since it was first shown off at E3 last year . The swordplay mechanics have been refined to the point that - with minor exceptions when performing very broad motions - the game responds perfectly to your actions, resulting in a satisfying and immersive experience. The coalescence of Japanese, Western and modern inspirations into a cohesive visual style is also a treat for the eyes, and especially impressive at a consistent 60 FPS. Worth a look from any self-respecting Wii owner."
Red Steel 2 screens and interview From Wii Italia - yet its in English
http://www.wiitalia.it/2010/03/04/re...erghe/lang/en/
(Red Steel 2 Interview With Roman Campos Oriola GS
Red Steel 2 Video Preview IGN
Three more interviews
"Now, Red Steel 2 is a Wii exclusive and we're not going anywhere with it. This is going to stay Wii exclusive."
Red Steel 2 CVG interview)
All here: http://thevgpress.com/forumtopics/re...0#comment58039
Dev diary video: Taking controls to the next level
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=208tA...er_profilepage
This is really worth watching. 
"We actually shifted to the Lyn Engine, which is internal Ubisoft tech. It's being used for a lot of projects and being developed across multiple platforms, but was originally developed specifically for Wii. We were able to start over with an engine that from the beginning gave us a real head start," said Vandenberghe.
Massive Q and A here with the producer.
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/t...7/m/7461098867
Badass Mega interview here with lead designer and creative lead
http://www.livewii.fr/article/123537...eel-2.html?c=0
Interview with Lead game designer
http://wii.nintendolife.com/news/200..._campos_oriola
Red Steel 2 Caldera trailer
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/ca...-steel-2/61235
Bad Day trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyEmaIhG8fw
Payne trailer
http://media.wii.ign.com/media/867/867131/vids_1.html
Exclusive Red Steel 2 video interview
http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/excl...el-2-interview
E3 2009: Red Steel 2 Hands-on - June 1, 2009, Previews
http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/988/988473p1.html
We shoot 'em down and cut 'em up in Ubisoft's gorgeously stylized first-person shooter / sword-fighter sequel.
E3 2009: Red Steel 2 Interview - June 1, 2009, Features
http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/989/989002p1.html
The game's creative director explains the story, setting, art style, MotionPlus, and why it all took so long.
Cancelled version pics
http://www.unseen64.net/2009/03/05/r...el-2-wii-beta/
Okay I am calling you guys out right now!
If you are going to use guns you will be forever branded a pussy! Real men fight with a katana. Can you block a bullet with a sword, Marchii? Well, can you?
Why can't I block a bullet with a bullet?
I am Neo.
Badass Mega interview here with lead designer and creative lead
Snippets:
Roman: We started thinking about Red Steel 2 shortly after having finished Red Steel 1. We didn't want to make a Red Steel 2 just to make a second game, but really to have something new. We spent almost a year and a half doing prototypes, trying things out. And then, about 9 months ago, Nintendo unveiled Wii MotionPlus, and that's when we told ourselves we could really make a true 2. And the cool thing about a sword game with Wii is the movements you do. And when Wii MotionPlus came out, it was like a light that got turned on.
Blayrow: What can you tell us about the world? Will Caldera be the only place we can visit ?
Jason: The game begins in Caldera, then the story takes place in and around this place, so yes, you will visit other places. You won't just be in this town. But this is the zone that the hero's clan protected and he's back home. That's his connection with this place.
Blayrow: Will there be safe havens ?
Jason: Yes there will. I don't know if I can really talk about that now. Let's just say: a hero has to save people, and the plot isn't just about coming into the town to exterminate the bad guys, it's a ghost town. It's also about how the inhabitants help him and how he teaches them to defend themselves. You'll see more about this in the upcoming months.
Asky: The first Red Steel had many qualities (the soundtrack, atmosphere, direction, the gunfights, etc.) but also had a lot defects concerning finishing touches (irregular graphics, lots of bugs.) Are you able to reassure Wii players who appreciated the first Red Steel and convince those who are hesitating that this time the game will meet their expectations ?
Jason: That's a good question. I'm going to say that the heart of the Red Steel 1 team is still here, and has learned a lot. Everything that made Red Steel 1 is still present. If you liked Red Steel 1, chances are that you'll like the second one too. If you didn't like the first one, we realize that most negative comments concerned controls and graphics, and we worked hard on those for Red Steel 2. I think we fixed the controls. I knew we couldn't talk about Red Steel 2 before we had something concrete, because of the frustration caused by the first Red Steel. And for the graphics, you were able to see what they were like. I hope you'll like the game and that people will come or come back to try Red Steel 2. I think that people were frustrated by Red Steel 1, that it didn't fulfil its promises.
Interview with Lead game designer
Sounds like Metroid Prime 3 had a big influence. I will truncate all this greatly for the sake of reading, but the full thing is better folks.
NL: How do you keep the variety in settings, or do you leave the desert later on?
RCO: We wanted a lot less travelling, to keep it more focused. There's still very different visual settings for each level, but they all fit together. There isn't any snow!
NL: I loved the safe-cracking minigame. Are there more elements like this later on?
RCO:There's more varied games like this throughout the game, but you'll have to wait to see them!
NL: I asked Jason whether he saw Red Steel 2 as the console's flagship FPS, like Halo or Killzone.
RCO: We were more influenced by Metroid Prime 3, but with our close combat gameplay and in a semi-realistic world.
NL: The game's pleasingly physical, even for a Wii game. How did things like cutting the doors and bamboo come about?
RCO: We really wanted to reinforce the game's core mechanic, and use the same movements in different ways. Metroid Prime does this too - when you see a door, you know what to do because of the way it gets you to recognise and repeat,.
NL: I noticed there's no "bullet time" in the demo. Is it going to be in the game?
RCO: (Smiling) It's in but it's different. That's all I'm saying!
NL: How far would you say Red Steel 2 is pushing the hardware?
RCO: I could say "this game is pushing the Wii to its limits!", but it wouldn't necessarily be true! I'll say that the first game was barely 30 frames per second, but this one is almost always running at 60fps.
NL: What would you say to our readers to get them even more excited about Red Steel 2?
RCO: Well, today you saw the lift move. If you get that within ten minutes of play, imagine what you get after five hours... (smiles)
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6421073957/m/7461098867
Massive Q and A here with the producer.
Q: How does Red Steel 2 handle loading?
A:
One of the advantages of using the Lyn engine is that there is support in there for a certain amount of data streaming. We are using this to our advantage to create much larger spaces than the Wii could normally support. We still load from time to time for specific transitions (and these load times are quite manageable), but we intend for the majority of the experience to be largely load-free.
Of course, this means a certain amount of ‘portaling’ of the environment, but we think that’s a pretty fair trade.
http://kotaku.com/5308822/red-steel-2-preview-whack+tastic-fun
Tight Shooting Controls and Authentic Sword Swings: This is the first game I've played that makes the Wii Motion Plus feel like a godsend. The targeting reticule for the revolver barely wobbled even when I was wheeling sharply right or left to shoot at enemies or glass bottles. It also seems like the game can tell the difference between an actual horizontal slash and a lazy sort-of-horizontal slash that's actually more like an upward diagonal slash. Best of all, the game can read the strength of a slash, which feels so satisfying when you're delivering a strong vertical slash to the head of an armored enemy. Just be sure to actually wear your wrist strap.
It Looks Fabulous: The character designs and animations were smooth and the colors popped. I know there's not a lot of visual intensity to a dusty desert town, but the sky, sand and occasional fiery explosions looked really good.
Safe-cracking mini game: You can find safes in a level and crack them open for money to upgrade or buy weapons. The way it works is you hold the Wiimote to your ear to listen for the tumblers clicking as you turn the dial of the safe in the game with the Nunchuck. Sure, it might look a little silly – but I'm pleased to see the Wiimote's speakers being put to good use. And what kind of Western would it be if you couldn't crack safes?
You Can Deflect Bullets With Your Sword: Win.
Final Thoughts
I thought my bias against Red Steel 2 from not liking Red Steel would be canceled out by my bias in favor of Westerns and that I could pretend to be objective about this game. But truthfully, my love of Westerns and the sheer amount to which Red Steel 2 appeals to it overpowers any memories of Red Steel, so I have to admit I'm biased in favor of Red Steel 2.
Tons of new stuff today:
"The game has actually been worked on in one way or another pretty much since the end of Red Steel 1. The core team for Red Steel 2 is made up of largely the same people that did Red Steel 1. So there’s a lot of continuity there.
There was a lot of work being done in terms of research [and] about gameplay. What are we going to do? How can we make it great? The team wanted to make the next one really killer, really awesome. So we spent a lot of time really looking at the core mechanics, looking at the technologies, rebuilding that from the ground up. Making sure we can get the absolute most we could out of the Wii. There was a lot of questions amongst the team about can we really make this work with the basic Wiimote.
We tried a lot of things and certainly we got a long way. But when the Wii MotionPlus showed up, it was like “Oh okay. Well, [laughs] this is how this game should work!” was pretty much our response. When we plugged it in and tried that, wham! What happened it that [Red Steel 2] went from a shooter with a sword in it, to a sword game with guns in it. We really shifted the focus and that let us sort of go down and take our setting apart and look at it again. We created this new hero from the inside out based on that gameplay. "
"One of the core features [of Red Steel 2] is that the harder you swing, the more damage you do. It’s really cool. We know how hard you swing. So you can’t just play the game like this (demonstrates by shaking his hands really quickly).
This does not function for Red Steel 2. You’ve got to do this (swings out arms hard). Now you don’t have to throw your damn arm out [laughs]! You don’t have to, (swings arms out hard and grunting loudly). But you have to actually get your arms in the throw. We think we’ve defeated the waggle.
… this is the coolest Wii feature ever, for me … This is always what I wanted to do with the Wii … I think this is what the Wii is for, personally. Bam! Just that feeling. When I saw it, I thought “Dude, this is the coolest thing I have ever seen on the Wii.” I want to get this out to the fans and to myself. I want to play it! "