Yuji Naka would like to remind that you should not, under any circumstances, call it a comeback. He has been here for years, spending his precious hours rocking his peers and putting various suckers in fear. The creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, producer of Nights and Burning Rangers is going to take this itty bitty world by storm. Have no doubt that he is just getting warm.
Yes, Naka and his new studio Prope (pronounced Pro-pay) are bringing their family-style mini-game collection Let’s Tap to North America. Its wacky little box too. If you haven’t heard of Let’s Tap before, it’s understandable. The game hasn’t gotten too much press since its announcement last September or even after its December release in Japan. Check this trailer for the awesomest theme song in history.
Here’s the score: Let’s Tap is a four-player mini-game collection with five modes. The entire game is played by placing the Wii remote face down on a cardboard box (or any flat surface really) and tapping on the box. The least game-like of the modes is a visualizer; tap on the box and watch fireworks explode over a weird cityscape or see ripples wave across a pool of water. Silent Blocks is similar to Jenga and Rhthym Tap is not unlike Taiko Drum Master. The meatiest modes of the bunch are Tap Runner and Bubble Voyager. Runner is a sprint-race and obstacle course mode that’s far more visually and aurally appealing than it has any right to be. The trailer above really doesn’t do it justice, there’s just something hypnotic about it. Bubble Voyager is a sidescroller. You tap to keep your titular character – a classic little Naka character if there ever was one – afloat and to avoid obstacles.
I sat in on a demo of the fireworks visualizer, Tap Runner, and Bubble Voyager. The visualizer was certainly attractive, almost like a level of Rez you just float above instead of travel through, but it didn’t look like something you would ever try more than once. Both Tap Runner and Bubble Voyager looked fun, but really must be played with a group to get the most out of.
I’m ecstatic they’re bringing it to America but I’m not sure how successful Let’s Tap will be for Sega. The core gamer market will be interested in Let’s Tap based on Naka’s name alone, but the game is very light on content, not to mention devoid of a significant single player mode. Since Prope and Sega haven’t added any additional modes to the North American version, the game will be an even harder sell if it releases above a budget price. The other hurdle is getting it out to casual gamers and families. The games are simple and I can imagine them being addictive in a group setting, but the game’s abstract visuals just aren’t what the mainstream Wii audience looks for. I’ll be picking it up no matter what, but I’m a videogame fanatic. I’m not sure who else will.
Related links:
Creator of Sonic the Hedgehog Returns: Sega and Prope Making Game For Penguins
Tales of The Focus Group: Peter Moore Takes No Guff
On Sega and the Proper Use of the Wii in 2009