Spyborgs

Things have pretty much been kept under wraps concerning Capcom’s Wii game Spyborgs. When development started, the idea was to present a very kid-friendly cartoon-style action game with emphasis on minigames, like on-rails shooting segments and such. However, around halfway through development, Capcom decided on an entirely new focus for the game, resulting in something of an overhaul. Now Spyborgs is a stylish motionbased brawler, and perhaps the better for it.

So, just what is the game about, you might ask? Well…Spyborgs? Again, it’s all under wraps, but as you may have caught, “Spyborg” is a combination of “Spy” and “Cyborg”, meaning the main characters are probably some kind of cyborg that work for a secret organization. And then, I guess, something happens within the organization that has the Spyborg’s on the run. But again, that is something of a guess. You get the idea.

Recently, Capcom unveiled their progress in a hands-on demo. Originally, the idea is that there would be a five-character roster. Now, it’s been reduced to a distinct three, which is probably a better choice. The first is an agile she-ninja by the name of Clandestine, the second is a gigantic tank of a gorilla-looking robot named Bouncer, and the third is Stinger, who is best suited for ranged combat. Did I mention the game features co-op play? So it’s kind of the idea to experiment with the characters with another player, and figure out which combination of characters works best and for what levels. The gameplay itself itself mostly involves motions, and pulling off well-timed combos and special abilities.

The visuals have changed dramatically since the game’s overhaul. While the original graphical style could well have been compared with that of the kids-geared platformer Sly Cooper, it’s now more comparable of Ratchet & Clank. While cartoony in a way, it’s also very detailed and textured, and very cool. While the characters look like sophisticated robots they also have a lot of personality. Bouncer is very visually appealing for a tank-like character in a brawling game.

Capcom hasn’t exactly announced just when the final game will be released, but the idea is to get out before the year 2009 ends. From what we have seen, it’s a tough and intense co-op fighting game that is supposed to appeal to more than just the casual crowd that the Wii is so often known for.