First off, I have a Wii and sort of regret buying it.  Most of the games I have played on it are disappointments.  The only thing that keeps me from selling it back is the hope that the occasional worthwhile game will come out.

After checking out the Wii 2008 holiday line-up I was left feeling disappointed yet again, that was until I discovered 428.

This game due to release on 12/4 in Japan is something totally unexpected.  It is a sound novel created by the Japanese developer Chunsoft. For anyone unfimiliar with sound novels they are like interactive movies where the player can decide the characters actions at key points.  A lot of the time these different decisions can lead to alternate endings as has been the case with Chunsoft's previous sound novels (Machi, Imabikiso).

After looking at the promo videos at 428's official website http://chun.sega.jp/428/mov/ I am quite impressed. It looks like nothing I've ever seen before in the gaming industry.

Anyhow here is the gist of what I gathered/translated from the site.

The Premise:

One major event that could jolt the world has been triggered in the streets of Shibuya (a place in central Tokyo)

The Characters:

Achi Endo, a man who loves Shibuya more than any other

Shinya Kanou, a young detective from the Shibuya Police Department

Kenji Oozawa, a virus expert

Minoru Minorikawa, a hot headed freelance writer

Tama, a mysterious person in a cat suit

The Clencher:

a 10 hour time limit...

five lives spinning out of control...

their aims coming together...

with only one true path...

428

Its something totally different yet awkwardly intruiging. And surprisingly the game was given a perfect score by Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu.  Normally, a good score by them doesnt mean much, but a perfect one, they are very rare. In fact, in it's 22 years of game reviewing history they have only given out nine 40/40 scores each to very solid games.

Incidentally, the game was given a CERO C rating (ESRB T equivalent)

I'm excited about 428 and it will become my first Wii purchase in a long time.  

Good for Sega, they are really trying on the Wii. Good luck to them. Ohh, and the game looks interesting, but probably won't see it in America.

Sega is just the publisher. This is a Chunsoft game. And since it is like a movie I too doubt they will ever make an American localization. If there is any other decent game coming out for Wii this winter it is Capcom Vs Tatsunoko, and that wont ship overseas either due to copyright issues. What can I say? You win some, you lose some.

What does it say on that logo? I see "The World Donut's Change Even So"

Typical "Engrish" from Japan.  Why am I not surprised?