Update: February 28, 2008
«©NCSX» The gaming genre that we affectionately know as "run and gun" has been around since the early years of the video game trade. One favorite that we remember fondly is Ikari Warriors and another is Commando. As the years passed and technology evolved, gamers were treated to ever more elaborate run and gun games such as Castle Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. D3 Publisher's track record with the genre hasn't been good. Case in point: The Fuhyou from 2006 was an acceptable game but it just wasn't very good. With this in mind, NCS booted up Wai Wai Combat with a tinge of trepidation.
Newsflash: the Wai Wai Combat won't sell any Japanese Wii consoles. It will however cement D3 Publisher's mediocre record in the run and gun category. Players take control of an agent who explores three expansive stages and shoots at the enemies within. A gun is regulation issue equipment but different weapons may be picked up including a hammer, bombs, a laser rifle, and even a bazooka. In the first level of the game, a space station serves as the setting where ten enemies must be blasted away before you're able to proceed to the sea platform.
View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.
NCS Game Notes
» The camera gets dodgy at times but Wai Wai Combat is a an engaging run 'n gun action game. The perspective is from behind the main character where you see his back, shoulders, and head at all times but the screen also takes in the corridors and areas in front of the hero where enemies lurk and wander around. Many of the adversaries are clueless and it's only when you draw closer with artillery blazing that they take notice. You start the game off with a pistol that shoots green blobs but other weapons may be picked up including a green spiky rock that explodes when it hits the ground. Other weapons include:
* Golden hammer for those times when you want to get medieval
* Spiky red rock that explodes when it hits the ground
* High caliber handgun that shoots a bullet that's the size of an orange
* Yellow gun that shoots out scattershot which is sprayed in an arc
* Bazooka that takes a while to reload but has a bombastic effect on targets
» If you've ever watched the Power Rangers television show, there are times when a huge explosion sends a Ranger flying while his arms and legs are flailing. The bazooka causes an effect that's like that.
» One of the better weapons is the purple laser rifle. It has range and packs a wallop - one shot is all that's required to eliminate an enemy.
» To pick up a weapon, walk over it and press the "Z" button.
» When throwing bombs, you'll have to be wary since the blast radius of the explosive will knock you back if you're too close.
» Movement is handled through the Nunchuk while the Wii Remote controls the targeting cursor as well as the shooting action. The firing radius is pretty much 180° since you can point the cursor anywhere on screen and fire a shot. This is useful for hitting enemies who are standing on platforms that are above your position. To jump, press the C button and duck by pressing the Z button.
» Power-ups in the game include special boots, a protective vest, health kits, and pills for partial HP recovery.
» There are only three stages to run 'n gun upon in the game which seems small but there are different variations of each level which adds fog, more enemies, and challenges within. The three stages are a floating platform in the middle of the ocean, the interior of a space cruiser, and a research installation that's built between mountains.
» The one-player mode can get routine after a few games but there's a Wi-Fi mode which allows multiple players to battle it out. When four players are hooked up, the screen splits into four quadrants with each player located within one of the screen quarters.
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