The Wonderful 101 (Hands-On) (Wii U) Preview

The demo's first mode selection takes what looks to be the first level in the final game and lets the player essentially go crazy with their available abilities. Starting off in the grounds of a school and ending in the middle of a warzone, the group of heroes can be guided with the left analogue stick and shapes created on the screen with the right stick of the GamePad/Pro Controller or the touch screen. It's strictly player preference as to which is chosen, but either way both control schemes work brilliantly (the Pro Controller has the option to bring up a smaller shot of the touch screen display on the main screen), and the action slows down on-screen so as to trace without fear of being overwhelmed by the action.

Also, 'action' is the buzzword here, with waves of foes charging at the team in sealed-off segments of the levels, and vehicles and debris litter the landscape and change the exploration path on what seems like a mere whim of the game engine. Circling enemies and objects via this drawing method allows for either picking up and throw them, or - if any smaller foes are dazed enough - recruit them to the current already bustling ranks. Circling bystanders to recruit them is also the basis for the game, as power density and flexibility depend on higher team numbers, but there are plentiful opportunities to do so.

The Wonderful 101's fighting system is basic to explain but difficult to master, and in that same breath is very satisfying to do so. The aforementioned drawing system brings out the group's strength and lets players switch powers on the fly, as seen in the demo in the form of the Unite Hand - a Red fist attack that also allows for switches to be gripped; Unite Sword - a Blue swiping blade technique that can reflect bullets and cut through chains; and the Unite Gun - a Green pistol that uses team members as ammunition. None of these shapes are much more than a straight line or a circle, so are simple to do in the midst of play.

Drawing the shape and pressing A switches the team setup to any one of these abilities, but pressing X instead opens up the potential of the game's combat system and allows for sending off part of the team to attack with that specific Unite power while the main part of the squad uses another one. With four powers usable at once through this method, the sheer amount of potential lunacy on screen can rival the craziest of Platinum's legacy.

The second selectable mode in this pre-launch demo is a lesser one, but a useful tune-up for the full release; a mission mode. This pits the group against other groups of foes and lets players basically practice combination formations and shape drawing to their heart's content.