How The Revolution Controller Might Work – Part 1: Swords
This past weekend I was in a local arcade with my friend who was visiting from Wisconsin. We found the game Mazan: Flash of the Blade. I had seen this game before and hadn’t taken much notice of it, but as I watched some kid play it I was instantly reminded of that revolution video. And then it struck me. This is how the Revolution controller could work for sword games!
This game is played with a short “Katana Controller”. The motions of the controller perfectly match that of an on-screen katana. Sensors placed around the machine detect this sword. When an enemy is near enough, slash that area of the screen to kill him. If an enemy is attacking you, you must use your virtual sword to block the attack.
It should be noted that this game is very linear and mostly “on rails”, although slashing at certain items changes the path you travel on, much like the House of the Dead series of games. When a sword game is actually played on the Revolution I would expect that the “analog dongle” would be used for movement.
The game play is rather intuitive. At first my friend was just swinging the sword around madly and doing a fair bit of damage in the process. As he continued to play he found out how to block and make better attacks, but he still preferred to swing around “berserker style”. And it seemed to work ok.
In other words, this is a game that can be figured out the first time you pick up the controller. This goes along with Nintendo’s strategy for how to capture the non-gamer. This game also has another level of skillful attacks and blocks for the players who take time to master it. It is really a game anyone can play.
Here are 2 videos of the game in (unskillful) play:
The katana controller was light as a feather in the same way I expect the Revolution controller to be. We only played one game of Mazan, but we had been playing other gun and music games for a while that day and the only game that made our arms tired at all was the Taiko Drum game and that is due the amount of force you have to use when hitting the drum. I think all the moaning about how “It’s going to hurt your arms to use the controller” is a bit unfounded.
I am becoming more and more excited of the possibilities of the Revolution controller. Of course, some will look at this and say the sword slashing is just a gimmick. Yeah, it probably is. So are gun games. So are music games. But when these “gimmick” games are made well, they are very, very fun. So if they made a game like this, I wouldn’t care how gimmicky it is. I’ll buy it and I’ll love it. There will be plenty of more traditional games available as well if that’s not you’re thing, but for me it is ideas like this that really make me excited for the next Nintendo system.
Vinnk - December 6th, 2005 - 
Heltron on December 6, 2005 at 10:29 am
Yeah, that game is fun. I thought about this game as soon as I saw the Revolution controller video too.
One of the best parts about Marzan is watching someone else play it. Everyone I’ve seen, as soon as they get that katana in their hands, it’s on! They instantly feel like they are in the game, they are a samurai, and they play it like a samurai. They get a stance going and swing like they’ve seen in movies a million times before. And it seems to just come naturally.
This is exactly why the Revolution is going to be a huge success. The gameplay will be instantly accessable. I can’t wait!
Jamie on December 6, 2005 at 10:33 am
wonder how many people are going to put a hole in the back of their trench coat and store their Revolution controller, Blade (wesley snipes films) style.
boon on December 6, 2005 at 11:32 am
“gimmicks” usually prove to be innovative almost 100% of the time
Seriously though, this looks like a great step in the right direction. Makes me want to dig out my Sambas…
Vinnk on December 6, 2005 at 11:40 am
Amigo! Samba is great. Owned to pairs of the maracas.
As for this game. Even if they just ported it as is to the revolution, I would buy it. The fact that I wouldn’t have to buy any extra, special controllers is a big draw for me.
Powter on December 6, 2005 at 12:09 pm
Crazy uncoordinated hip motion aside, the block and slash mechanics of this game are very interesting. There’s a lot of potential for skill and technique. The inclusion of the analog dongle would make it possible to move about freely or use a shield, but my only concern is that the cord between the remote and dongle is long enough and doesn’t get in the way. If only the dongle portion were also wireless.
Luke314pi on December 6, 2005 at 12:28 pm
I want this same type of game… but in the Star Wars universe with a lightsaber!
boon on December 6, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Powter: You brought up a very good point, and maybe we will see a wireless variant of the revolution controller. Here’s for hoping.
MaCrAmaN on December 6, 2005 at 1:59 pm
A true Samurai showdowns 3D adaptation will be awesome in the revolution ,the controller will make the special moves and attacks really easy and fun and add more deapth and realism, unlike the old samurai showdown attacks based on joystiq and series of butttons pushing ,that you have to learn by heart to be the best, and by the way the Samurai showdown series IMo is by far the best fighting game ever, it reminds of good old time with my Neo-Geo ” the futur is now “, :’)
Rynen10K on December 6, 2005 at 2:10 pm
As soon as I saw the revolution controller, it reminded me of a similar game that Konami made. i dunno what it’s called, since its all in kanji and I can’t read for crap, but, yeah.
I don’t really want to see a million sword or first person shooters, though. We need some more bizarre, outside the box ideas. I can’t wait to see how Smash Bros revolution will work. Am I going to swing Link’s sword or Ness’s bat with the controller to smack my friends around? Cool.
Rynen10K on December 6, 2005 at 2:13 pm
Sorry for double posting, but I just thought of another arcade game. Did anyone play Panic Park? It’s a minigame-based game (like WarioWare) using only two sticks that run on a track. It’s meant for 2 players, and you’re supposed to fight for the position on the screen. I wonder if that can be made into a Revolution game… Maybe the next WarioWare game will be similar.
boon on December 6, 2005 at 4:28 pm
Now that I think about it, I’d love to see a Revolution adaptation of Kuru Kuru Kururin…that would just be so sweet to manually manuever through the mazes in true 3d.
Mana Beholder on December 6, 2005 at 5:16 pm
That game doesnt look that challengin. If the revolution is like that then it will be an upset for me. i guess its the whole fact that your supposed to be “in the game”. If i could play that game maybe it will change my mind
Dillon on December 6, 2005 at 8:10 pm
thats the first game i thought of with the controller, your friends from Wisconsin?….what city? Kenosha perhaps?
Poo on December 6, 2005 at 9:56 pm
Mazan has shitty sensors.
Vinnk on December 6, 2005 at 11:10 pm
I agree this game is too simple for a full revo game. Mazan was meant to be a quick quarter-muncher for the arcade. But if this type of battle system could be applied to a deeper game it would allow people to get into it quickly even non-gamers. Yeah the sensors can be a bit funny at times but I assume (and hope) the revo won’t have these issues.
DeAngelo Guillory on December 7, 2005 at 1:54 am
Konami’s game is called “Tsurugi”
Mars on December 7, 2005 at 1:14 pm
This looks like it could be pretty cool if implemented correctly on ‘Revolution’. I wish there was a video of someone playing that knew what he or she was doing though, because this guy is horrible. He’s practically dancing with his sword and it looks ridiculous. Where’s the quick slashes and parries that I’d expect a swordsmen to us? Either way, good stuff.
vakerorokero on December 7, 2005 at 1:28 pm
I rather get crazy games like this thatn continue playing World War II games and those gangsta games. As long as they release new concepts like this I would get them. I just bought about 9 xbox games and the one I like are Gun & Karaoke Party. the rest are more of the same shelf filler. Hey get Animal Crossing Ds!
CoffeeMan on December 7, 2005 at 1:35 pm
We’ve been joystiq’d on this
Joseph on December 7, 2005 at 1:51 pm
I wonder if they would make some “weight” add-ons for the rev controller (satellite :P) so that I could build up some beefy arms while I play some videogames. Pump it up fo’ realz!
Adam Carrico on December 7, 2005 at 11:02 pm
I played that in a arcade once, and I liked it alright, but I got some bad collision detection in it.
Tim E on December 8, 2005 at 2:27 am
It looks like that big octagon thing is what detects the movement, if that’s so then the revolution movement detection is much much more advanced.
Man if that guy really fought like that he’d be in 15 pieces by now. I hope he buys a swordplay manual if he wants to compete on the revolution.
If the revolution promo video is to be believed the nunchaku cord is a bit longer than arm lengths and you are supposed to hold the analog near the breast when making full swings.
Someone on December 14, 2005 at 11:31 pm
I think Nintendo is going in the right direction. They are taking a bold approach. But I think it will flow smoothly. I just hope this will be the ‘only’ system to do this, then they should go back to the normal controller like GameCube, Nintendo 64, etc. But that’s just me…