First Look: Protothea on WiiWare
Ubisoft redesigns the overlooked PC shooter for Nintendo's download service.
by Matt Casamassina
US, May 5, 2008 - Third-party publisher Ubisoft is taking a ride on the WiiWare bandwagon with its first title, a remake of the 2005 PC shooter Protothea (technically written as 'Protöthea,' but whatever). The game is a top-down vertical-scrolling shooter which thrusts players into the role of spaceship pilot charged with the considerable challenge of single-handedly taking down a huge, deadly asteroid called Maqno 01 and simultaneously disrupting the evil plans of a political faction called "The Core." The group has plans to manufacture an army of bio-machines from the minerals it extracts from the asteroids. Protothea debuted three years ago for PC users, but Ubisoft and developers Sabarasa and & Digital Builders have made some improvements to the WiiWare update, which is scheduled to sell for 1,000 Wii Points with the debut of the service in May. (Star Soldier R and Gyrostarr are also set to appear on WiiWare at launch so there should be no shortage of shooters.)
The PC original featured seven missions, but 10 are planned for the WiiWare endeavor. Two new power-ups, the destructor and absorb, have been added over the original's phantom and UFO items. An extra ground weapon has been implemented. There are now four worlds instead of two. One of the power-ups slows down time. There are 50 enemies now, 10 more than there used to be. And the title now takes place in full 3D, in contrast to the PC title's mix of 2D and 3D action. "The entire game was redesigned, modeled and textured" with a "100% new 3D engine," according to Ubisoft.
Players control their spaceship through futuristic planets, unloading air and ground projectiles, using both the Wii remote and nunchuk. As viewers will see in the videos (and screens) we've provided, the ship is maneuvered with the nunchuk's analog stick, while all shooting mechanics are relegated to the Wii remote, a choice designed to give players greater precision and speed during the dogfights.
"Ubisoft is excited to bring Protöthea exclusively to the platform and we feel it's a must-have WiiWare title," shared James Regan, vice president of third party operations, Ubisoft. "Protöthea really reminds me of some of the best arcade games, with the Wii Remote as an added dimension. It's just a flurry of fast-paced action that anyone can simply pick up and enjoy."
