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Eww, Cool! Deadly Creatures Impressions
Posted by Leigh Alexander at 9:40 AM on June 6, 2008
I didn't know very much about THQ's Wii-exclusive Deadly Creatures until now, but after seeing a fairly early build of the game at the publisher's spring and holiday preview event today, I'm looking forward to learning more - and tickled gleefully squeamish, too.
THQ's Rainbow Studios, known for the Cars game and the MX vs. ATV series, developed Deadly Creatures as a "labour of love," according to the rep, since the studio's based in Arizona, where its team was inspired by the desert crawlies native to the warm region.
As such, in Deadly Creatures, you can play the action-adventure game either as a venomous scorpion or fabulously gross tarantula, and the different strengths and weaknesses of each animal mean that navigating the game's areas and defeating its bosses, which include a rattlesnake, a gila monster and a horned lizard, among others.
After watching the rep demo it for me, here's what stood out:
First of all, if the title didn't clue you in, you play as - and against - dangerous creatures.The tarantula's animation was spot-on and cringe-inducing, as spooky as a real big, hairy spider can be. The tarantula, it was shown to me, is more agile than the scorpion, who can climb walls, leap gaps, and wrap hostile creatures in its webbing. I didn't get to see the scorpion, but the rep told me that the scorpion is more of a "tank" character, able to do damage with his venomous stinger and burrow underground.
Your creature of choice navigates the level in its own unique way, gradually opening more areas of the forbidding landscape as it defeats bosses and accomplishes objectives - gameplay blends action with problem-solving and exploration. The rep told me that gameplay would gradually expose a backstory leading up to the creature's confrontation with its ultimate predator (drumroll), mankind.
Getting up close and personal with the more dangerous aspects of Mother Nature by controlling fiends we normally find repellent is a really cool idea - I was actually reminded of how much I loved to play as the hive-devouring spider in Sim Ant back when I was young.
The graphics look good, too, in full 3D with a 360-degree camera, letting you see all the creepy crevices, gross bugs and spider leg hairs you can stomach. The rep told me that Deadly Creatures is aimed at Wii users who have been waiting for something a little more mature to play than the usual brightly-coloured fare, and this sure looks like a fun choice - especially if you're as vaguely sadistic as I am and love watching things eat each other on National Geographic.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
PippinZ
Posted June 6, 2008 5:31 PM
Have been waiting for a game like this since Bad Mojo. Nuff' said.
WarlordPayne
Posted 10:17 AM 6/6/08
That's gorgeous for a Wii game.
WarlordPayne
sir_carrot
Posted 10:16 AM 6/6/08
Haha. Watch the press get all angry when 'players assume the role of a scorpion or tarantula with the intent of KILLING HUMANS.'
That would just be missing the point altogether.
Let us hope that does not happen.
sir_carrot
bobdisgea
Posted 10:09 AM 6/6/08
this is an intresting thing...hadnt seen this before cool
bobdisgea
Plan303e
Posted 10:08 AM 6/6/08
I'm really looking forward to this, I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Plan303e
Green-clad Gamer Dude
Posted 10:07 AM 6/6/08
Heck yeah! Pikmin 3: Deadly Creatures.
@Alex_Mexico: Check out her website. [sexyvideogameland.blogspot.com]
Green-clad Gamer Dude
Komrade_Kayce
Posted 10:04 AM 6/6/08
Graphically, this game looks better than any other Wii game out there. So much so it puts some 360 and PS3 games to shame.
Ill be getting this one for sure if it rates high enough in Kotakus eyes.
Komrade_Kayce
mmx
Posted 10:00 AM 6/6/08
I'd kinda like to see an online component to this -- spiders versus scorpions!
On a somewhat related note, Sim Ant needs to show up again, one way or another. DS remake, perhaps?
mmx
hk458
Posted 9:57 AM 6/6/08
@mrdietsoda:
Actualy that was quite whitty...
Kudos.
hk458
mrdietsoda
Posted 9:54 AM 6/6/08
Hope they work all the bugs out.
*COLLECTIVE GROAN*
mrdietsoda
mizzle
Posted 9:53 AM 6/6/08
@Alex_Mexico: Click the name and find out.
mizzle
mizzle
Posted 9:53 AM 6/6/08
wanted since i first heard of it.
mizzle
Absent Blue
Posted 9:52 AM 6/6/08
I have high hopes for the quality of this game. Any other console and I'd easily predict it as a sleeper hit-- widely appreciated by anyone who plays it but not well known enough to make a big impact.
But this is the Wii, who knows? I know it's a family console, but all things considered would a parent get Red Steel for their little boy? Or a game about creepy-crawlies? Depending on how dark and visceral it ends up being, I'd guess the creepy-crawlies.
Absent Blue
Alex_Mexico
Posted 9:52 AM 6/6/08
Hmm sorry for asking but I always have this doubt when I see Leigh Alexander's name on Kotaku. Is him/her a guy or a gal? English isn't my native tongue and in this language Ive found many a times that a name I could've sworn it was guys only was for a girl and viceversa (case in point "Joey" from old soap opera style series Dawson's Creek... never got why would they called this chick JOEY!). But with Leigh Im pretty much torn 50-50. No offense meant in any way.
Alex_Mexico
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
Posted 9:51 AM 6/6/08
this game caught my attention when it was first announced. I like the screens for it and the premise sounds good. I'd buy it provided it's quality throughout. Keep up the good work guys and you have a guaranteed sale.
Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.
D-Sovereignty
Posted 9:50 AM 6/6/08
that's freaking cool, tarantula is going to own.
D-Sovereignty
kcorbo
Posted 9:48 AM 6/6/08
I want to play as a dung beetle.
kcorbo
(俗・ ) Grey Gecko
Posted 9:47 AM 6/6/08
Wow, that actually sounds worth getting.
(俗・ ) Grey Gecko
pikachumariachi
Posted 9:47 AM 6/6/08
I've been looking forward for this game ever since I read the concept
pikachumariachi
tnx3
Posted 9:47 AM 6/6/08
Looks interesting... but the better part of me is screaming that it won't do well. Kinda hope I'm wrong.
tnx3
frostcircus
Posted 9:45 AM 6/6/08
@hk458: I see your awsome and raise you another e
frostcircus
hk458
Posted 9:44 AM 6/6/08
Also, I hope man is a playable caracter.
I would imagine the game would last about 2 seconds because of the humans special, "destroy everything" power.
hk458
hk458
Posted 9:42 AM 6/6/08
All I can say is...awsome!!!!
hk458
Krimmson
Posted 10:37 AM 6/6/08
This and MadWorld is what's saving me from selling my Wii.
Krimmson
Mustakrakish
Posted 10:32 AM 6/6/08
I'm really interested in this. Especially since you get to choose between the two different creatures. I mean, it goes beyond 2 different characters for some reason. Plus, living life as a creature's gotta be awesome.
Mustakrakish
Toasticus
Posted 10:26 AM 6/6/08
Intriguing! I'll be keeping an eye out for this one.
Toasticus
-itis
Posted 10:55 AM 6/6/08
From the sound of this little review and the look of those screenshots, this a must buy. An amazingly orignal and kick ass cool idea for a game!
My wii might actually get used for something other than the news channe. If they can pull it off well.
-itis
CockroachMan
Posted 10:51 AM 6/6/08
I would never expect to see THQ bringing so many interesting things to the Wii.. hope they don't disappoint me
CockroachMan
Murmaider
Posted 10:48 AM 6/6/08
DO WANT!
Murmaider
EmeraldDragon
Posted 10:41 AM 6/6/08
Still want this game so very badly!
EmeraldDragon
GwennBlackfeather
Posted 11:19 AM 6/6/08
Wow, this looks really freakin' good. Please don't suck.
Hell, even if it does, I may still get it.
GwennBlackfeather
Yetanotheruninspiredscreename
Posted 11:13 AM 6/6/08
@-itis:
So you don't play wiiware or vc games then? Seriously there are quite a few retail releases that are fantastic and should be bought asap.
Yetanotheruninspiredscreename
Yetanotheruninspiredscreename
Posted 11:11 AM 6/6/08
@Alex_Mexico:
Numerous names in English are both for girls and boys depending upon how it is perceived at the moment. Numerous online sites lists names and wheter they are traditional boy or girl or both.
Yetanotheruninspiredscreename
dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased
Posted 11:48 AM 6/6/08
Funny that this got posted today. I was just watching those bug fights (no, I won't link it here 'cause it's kinda mean) earlier today.
dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased
MaiAriSquee
Posted 11:45 AM 6/6/08
Hell to the yes. I wonder if that's supposed to be the scorpion's mate in the gila monster's mouth. :P
MaiAriSquee
RidleyTJN
Posted 11:42 AM 6/6/08
@mrdietsoda:
That was actually worthy of an LOL, good one.
RidleyTJN
spite_nihilo
Posted 11:38 AM 6/6/08
@frostcircus:
I see your snarky-ass comment and raise you proper punctuation.
spite_nihilo
justhesh
Posted 12:13 PM 6/6/08
Why do I have the urge to unleash Fire Storm and Bane Signet on that screenshot?
justhesh
Jagzthebest
Posted 12:09 PM 6/6/08
Althpugh I don't own a Wii I would like to own a game like this someday as I have always wanted to play as an animal of sorts and just survive. Pretty awesome stuff. Which is why Afrika annoyed me because not only do you play as a photojournalist and not the animals, but that it may not be published in Europe. Ugh.
Jagzthebest
KM91
Posted 12:02 PM 6/6/08
Nice, but I can't stop cringing at the thought of tarantula leg hairs.
KM91
Pezdispenser
Posted 12:43 PM 6/6/08
I thought Tarantula's didn't produce webs, so I looked it up. Turns out that they can. You learn something new everyday. :)
Pezdispenser
GlassAdam
Posted 12:38 PM 6/6/08
Wow.. I need it!!!
GlassAdam
marmidukestank
Posted 12:37 PM 6/6/08
Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that a dead human in that first screen shot?
This could be AWESOME.
marmidukestank
ZinkO: zetta fast
Posted 12:31 PM 6/6/08
@sir_carrot:
Yeah, you get to assume the role of a SCORPION or TARANTULA with the intent of killing humans.
ZinkO: zetta fast
bigman88zz
Posted 12:58 PM 6/6/08
i like this concept. the chance to take down man while in the form of a tarantula? sign me up!
also, semi related, does anyone remember the william shatner movie "Kingdom of the Spiders"?
bigman88zz
Herabec
Posted 2:02 PM 6/6/08
@Pezdispenser: They don't make traditional webs, to my knowledge, but tubes. I hope the one you get to play as is a goliath bird-eater (usually about a foot legspan), and the females live up to 25 years, pluse they can shoot their "hair" out, like fiberglass. Nice.
[en.wikipedia.org]
Herabec
frank0127
Posted 1:44 PM 6/6/08
playing as an insect in a final boss fight of which is against a human. DO WANT.
frank0127
NighTrekr
Posted 2:38 PM 6/6/08
I have a bad feeling this game won't sell well, but it looks like it deserves to sell well. Definitely on my radar.
NighTrekr
Pammeh
Posted 3:16 PM 6/6/08
Disgusting...amazing...I freaked out when I found that giant centipede in my dorm room, but somehow, THIS COMPELS ME.
Pammeh
JokesJokes
Posted 3:53 PM 6/6/08
@justhesh: Ha ha! Awesome!
JokesJokes
sxp151, the happy-headed nose
Posted 4:07 PM 6/6/08
@Yetanotheruninspiredscreename: I think I've known more female 'Alex's than male.
sxp151, the happy-headed nose
kouhotaru
Posted 4:39 PM 6/6/08
Call it a bias based on location, but I am so happy that Rainbow Studios is the group behind this game. Go Rainbow! Make Phoenix proud!
kouhotaru
ThisCharmingMan
Posted 5:37 PM 6/6/08
I'd love to play a game as a human, squishing spiders. They scare me.
ThisCharmingMan
Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.
Posted 5:59 PM 6/6/08
I get to play as a scorpion? Fuck yeah!
What we need now is a RTS about bees, and another about ants.
Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.
DragonSphere
Posted 6:34 PM 6/6/08
@Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.: Haha that reminds me of a fantastic idea that a buddy of mine and I came up with:
While watching some kind of special on deadly predators on the Discovery Channel - which aired a couple of years ago I think - we must have talked for an hour or so describing a "Bees vs. Wasp/Hornet" game (the subject of the show) as a kind of flight squad thing where, as the bees, the player could control a "main" bee while giving "orders" to the other 4 or so following it, and execute special squad-based attacks which would have included "kamikaze" type of stuff (since it took like a bunch of bees to take down just one Wasp).
The Wasp would be much more powerful, and while you only could control one at a time because of its larger size, its special ability would be (again, as in the show) an attack that could literally split bees in half, complete with dramatic slow-down effects and everything - seriously, that's what it looked like on TV. The whole "conflict" of the game would be Wasps invading the honeycomb with the bees trying to defend it.
Here...I think this is a clip from the show (kinda grainy though):
+ Watch video
I could go more in-depth to what we came up with, but that's the core of it. There are some obvious balancing issues to figure out, but the concept could potentially be awesome to play... you hear that devs? Make it so!
DragonSphere
_Hayko
Posted 6:34 PM 6/6/08
Right, who stole my 't'?
_Hayko
_Hayko
Posted 6:31 PM 6/6/08
Hmm, I wonder if this game will ge rid of Arachnophobia?
_Hayko
Ghede
Posted 6:16 PM 6/6/08
@hk458: Witty, and no. No it wasn't. It was an obvious pun. Why do you think he added the groan?
Ghede
DragonSphere
Posted 6:40 PM 6/6/08
Ack sorry for the double post, but that video doesn't do it justice. Here's a better one:
+ Watch video
DragonSphere
Shiryu
Posted 7:16 PM 6/6/08
I must have this game! MUST!
Shiryu
Rhys
Posted 9:01 PM 6/6/08
DragonSphere:
Nostalgia alert. Mmmmm bug games.
+ Watch video
Rhys
justhesh
Posted 10:53 PM 6/6/08
@JokesJokes: Finally, hehe. There's always a guildy peppered somewhere in the crowd. Too bad this isn't Korea, I would've probably had about a hundred responses by now.
And look, right there beside him...is that a Fetid Carapace?
justhesh
sweetie55
Posted 10:52 PM 6/6/08
I can't stand bugs. They creep me out. My husband can't wait to get this game. Goody. >_<
sweetie55
Slatz_Grobnik
Posted 10:49 PM 6/6/08
Someone get on the all insect RTS NOW!
You don't even need to come up with the special units. Nature's already done it for you.
Slatz_Grobnik
JohnnyLA
Posted 2:56 AM 7/6/08
Wasn't there a rumor where Rainbow is going to be closed down?
Game looks neat though..
JohnnyLA
liquid_kore
Posted 2:45 AM 7/6/08
Actually looking forward to this game since I saw the first trailer. I just hope that the insects don't talk, that would be lame.
liquid_kore
-itis
Posted 8:33 AM 7/6/08
@Yetanotheruninspiredscreename: @Yetanotheruninspiredscreename:
Ive already played most vc games I was interested in as well as a few retail titles. But nothing has been out lately that ive wanted to play. Though No more heroes and endless ocean are both tempting. Unfortunately none of the rental outlets around here have either.
-itis
Placentasaurus
Posted 10:36 AM 7/6/08
I hope my childish fear of spiders won't stop me from playing this game, cause it sounds freakin' sweet.
Placentasaurus
AtomixIGN
Posted 2:49 PM 7/6/08
I want to kill every possible kind of bug in this game. i want to eat Fire Ants. Palmetto Bugs. Fend off Killer Bees. And the idea of jumping on the back of a rat 5 times my size and killing him with one shot is alluring to me. They have to allow one hit stealth kills.
AtomixIGN
EternalStar
Posted 9:08 PM 7/6/08
Looks cool but I hope that they put more effort into this than Cars or Atv series seeing how this is a fairly original idea (not brand new but not done well / realistically / recently)
EternalStar
alfredofroylan
Posted 1:59 PM 6/6/08
@frank0127:
They aren't insects. You're going to play with arachnids, a scorpion and a tarantula
alfredofroylan