Disaster: Day of Crisis
Encyclopedia
Disaster: Day of Crisis is a video game developed by Monolith Soft
and published by Nintendo
. It is an action-adventure
survival game, where the player must survive through various natural disaster
s, all the while also battling terrorists and rescuing civilians. According to Nintendo, the game features “cutting-edge physics and gripping visuals” to re-create the sheer terror of major catastrophes.
and International Rescue Team member. When Ray and his partner Steve Hewitt were performing a routine rescue mission near the dormant volcano, Mt. Aguilas, tragedy struck when the volcano unexpectedly erupted. During their escape, Steve's life was lost as he fell into the magma below, having let himself go from Ray's grasp as he knew only one of them would be able to escape to safety. During the eruption, Steve passed on an antique compass to Ray, and made him promise to give it to his sister Lisa, just in case Steve didn't make it.
Now a year later, Ray has still not forgiven himself for Steve's death and lacks the courage to confront Lisa over the incident. Having quit the Rescue Team and now living the quiet life of a public servant, Ray is summoned to meet with special agent Olson of the Blue Ridge City FBI division. Olson reveals that a former military organization named SURGE has stolen several nuclear weapons and has kidnapped seismologist Dr. Davis and his assistant, Lisa Hewitt. SURGE has made demands upon the US government and are threatening to detonate the nukes if the White House does not comply within 24 hours. Hesitant at first, Ray then decides to join the mission on the account of Lisa's involvement, and vows to save her since he was not able to save Steve. While Olson only recruited Ray to be a liaison between the FBI and Blue Ridge City officials, Ray finds himself taking on all of SURGE single-handedly, during a day of complete and utter natural chaos...
Steve/ Evans - Reuben Langdon
Gordon/ Colonel - Daniel Southwarth
Lisa/ Iris - Stephanie Cheeva
Banks/ President - Adam D. Clark
to target enemies, as well as a number of Quick Time Event
s and minigame
s based around the motion controls of the Remote and Nunchuk. For example, during the game the player will perform actions such as pressing buttons in rhythm to perform CPR
, moving heavy objects and running from flood waters and lava flows by quickly moving the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and driving a car by holding the Wii Remote on its side and tilting it left or right. During the shooting sequences the player will be able to duck and take cover, and take more accurate shots by using a limited but renewable ability to concentrate.
Players will also have to keep an eye on meters for Ray's stamina, heart and lungs, which can be depleted by strenuous activity and exposure to smoke and poisonous fumes, and replenished by eating food or taking in deep breaths of clean air respectively. Rescuing survivors involves bringing them to safety or completing a first aid minigame before their own stamina meter depletes and they die. During the game players will be able to improve Ray's skills including his strength, accuracy with firearms and mental concentration by collecting "Survival Points" earned by rescuing civilians, while "Battle Points" earned from killing SURGE members can be used to purchase and upgrade Ray's weapons and equipment.
The game covers 23 stages, which can be replayed for a higher score. The game also includes a shooting range, "stamina challenges", unlockable weapons and costumes and a more difficult "Real Disaster Mode".
The April 2008 issue of the Japanese video game magazine Famitsu
later revealed the release date for Japan was to be July 3, 2008, but on May 17, 2008 Monolith announced that the release date for Disaster had been "postponed indefinitely" to “increase the quality of the finished product”. However, on August 13, 2008, the website of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification listed the game with an M rating, suggesting it was nearing completion. Nintendo also stated that the game was "still in development" on August 19, 2008.
Japanese TV spots later confirmed a release date of September 25, 2008 in Japan. The European Nintendo website also confirmed a European release for October 24, 2008.
gave Disaster a score of 31/40. Official Nintendo Magazine praised the presentation and the mix of gameplay styles; though they felt the enemy AI was "woeful", the game was described as "a really enjoyable arcade-style experience." Siliconera likened it to "a vapid, but fun to watch summer action movie". IGN
claimed Disaster delivers fun in "huge, preposterous spades", and believed the mix of genres and gameplay mechanics to be "relentlessly unpredictable and gloriously compulsive". However, they also found problems with the game's pacing, increasingly repetitive combat and adventuring, and unbalanced driving sections, and felt that some players will be put off by the number of "abstract game mechanics wrestled into a single plot-driven narrative". Cubed³ called Disaster "completely mesmerising", despite an inconsistent visual quality and difficulty level
, praising the intentionally cheesy dialogue, high level of interactivity and "rousing" soundtrack. N-Europe said that while the game can be "great fun" and "brilliantly atmospheric", it is held back by poor graphics and lacklustre physics, especially in the driving segments.
In contrast, GameSpot
called the game "unfocused and scatterbrained", with "lackluster" graphics and sound. Eurogamer
also found fault with the unfocused and confusing mix of genres and had control issues with the driving and adventuring sections, though they called the shooter segments "lots of fun" and the plot entertaining and "unwittingly hilarious beyond belief".
In its first week of sales in Japan, Disaster sold more than 13,000 copies. After its first month, it had sold 21,464 copies in Japan.
Monolith Soft
is a Japanese entertainment company that has created video games for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Nintendo DS, and cell phones. The company was founded in 1999 by producer Hirohide Sugiura after he left Square Co. and accepted an investment from Namco...
and published by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
. It is an action-adventure
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
survival game, where the player must survive through various natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s, all the while also battling terrorists and rescuing civilians. According to Nintendo, the game features “cutting-edge physics and gripping visuals” to re-create the sheer terror of major catastrophes.
Plot
The game revolves around Raymond Bryce, a former US MarineUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and International Rescue Team member. When Ray and his partner Steve Hewitt were performing a routine rescue mission near the dormant volcano, Mt. Aguilas, tragedy struck when the volcano unexpectedly erupted. During their escape, Steve's life was lost as he fell into the magma below, having let himself go from Ray's grasp as he knew only one of them would be able to escape to safety. During the eruption, Steve passed on an antique compass to Ray, and made him promise to give it to his sister Lisa, just in case Steve didn't make it.
Now a year later, Ray has still not forgiven himself for Steve's death and lacks the courage to confront Lisa over the incident. Having quit the Rescue Team and now living the quiet life of a public servant, Ray is summoned to meet with special agent Olson of the Blue Ridge City FBI division. Olson reveals that a former military organization named SURGE has stolen several nuclear weapons and has kidnapped seismologist Dr. Davis and his assistant, Lisa Hewitt. SURGE has made demands upon the US government and are threatening to detonate the nukes if the White House does not comply within 24 hours. Hesitant at first, Ray then decides to join the mission on the account of Lisa's involvement, and vows to save her since he was not able to save Steve. While Olson only recruited Ray to be a liaison between the FBI and Blue Ridge City officials, Ray finds himself taking on all of SURGE single-handedly, during a day of complete and utter natural chaos...
Cast of the Characters
Ray - Mike WilsonSteve/ Evans - Reuben Langdon
Gordon/ Colonel - Daniel Southwarth
Lisa/ Iris - Stephanie Cheeva
Banks/ President - Adam D. Clark
Gameplay
In Disaster, players control Ray from a third-person point of view, with the player taking on jumping puzzles and navigating hazards that can hurt or kill Ray. Disaster also features rail shooter segments that use the pointer function of the Wii RemoteWii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
to target enemies, as well as a number of Quick Time Event
Quick Time Event
In video games, a Quick Time Event is a method of context-sensitive gameplay in which the player performs actions on the control device shortly after the appearance of an on-screen prompt. It allows for limited control of the game character during cut scenes or cinematic sequences in the game...
s and minigame
Minigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s based around the motion controls of the Remote and Nunchuk. For example, during the game the player will perform actions such as pressing buttons in rhythm to perform CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
, moving heavy objects and running from flood waters and lava flows by quickly moving the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and driving a car by holding the Wii Remote on its side and tilting it left or right. During the shooting sequences the player will be able to duck and take cover, and take more accurate shots by using a limited but renewable ability to concentrate.
Players will also have to keep an eye on meters for Ray's stamina, heart and lungs, which can be depleted by strenuous activity and exposure to smoke and poisonous fumes, and replenished by eating food or taking in deep breaths of clean air respectively. Rescuing survivors involves bringing them to safety or completing a first aid minigame before their own stamina meter depletes and they die. During the game players will be able to improve Ray's skills including his strength, accuracy with firearms and mental concentration by collecting "Survival Points" earned by rescuing civilians, while "Battle Points" earned from killing SURGE members can be used to purchase and upgrade Ray's weapons and equipment.
The game covers 23 stages, which can be replayed for a higher score. The game also includes a shooting range, "stamina challenges", unlockable weapons and costumes and a more difficult "Real Disaster Mode".
Release
Although initially there was little information about the game after its debut E3 2006 announcement, an interview with then-Nintendo of America marketing director Beth Llewelyn during E3 2007 revealed that Disaster was still in development, and “is looking very good”.The April 2008 issue of the Japanese video game magazine Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
later revealed the release date for Japan was to be July 3, 2008, but on May 17, 2008 Monolith announced that the release date for Disaster had been "postponed indefinitely" to “increase the quality of the finished product”. However, on August 13, 2008, the website of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification listed the game with an M rating, suggesting it was nearing completion. Nintendo also stated that the game was "still in development" on August 19, 2008.
Japanese TV spots later confirmed a release date of September 25, 2008 in Japan. The European Nintendo website also confirmed a European release for October 24, 2008.
Reception
Disaster: Day of Crisis received average to mixed reviews from critics. FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
gave Disaster a score of 31/40. Official Nintendo Magazine praised the presentation and the mix of gameplay styles; though they felt the enemy AI was "woeful", the game was described as "a really enjoyable arcade-style experience." Siliconera likened it to "a vapid, but fun to watch summer action movie". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
claimed Disaster delivers fun in "huge, preposterous spades", and believed the mix of genres and gameplay mechanics to be "relentlessly unpredictable and gloriously compulsive". However, they also found problems with the game's pacing, increasingly repetitive combat and adventuring, and unbalanced driving sections, and felt that some players will be put off by the number of "abstract game mechanics wrestled into a single plot-driven narrative". Cubed³ called Disaster "completely mesmerising", despite an inconsistent visual quality and difficulty level
Difficulty level
In general usage, difficulty level refers to the relative difficulty of completing a task or objective.In computer and video games, the term specifically delineates the ease or difficulty with which an average user may complete a game or a part of a game. Arcade games as well as many early console...
, praising the intentionally cheesy dialogue, high level of interactivity and "rousing" soundtrack. N-Europe said that while the game can be "great fun" and "brilliantly atmospheric", it is held back by poor graphics and lacklustre physics, especially in the driving segments.
In contrast, GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
called the game "unfocused and scatterbrained", with "lackluster" graphics and sound. Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
also found fault with the unfocused and confusing mix of genres and had control issues with the driving and adventuring sections, though they called the shooter segments "lots of fun" and the plot entertaining and "unwittingly hilarious beyond belief".
In its first week of sales in Japan, Disaster sold more than 13,000 copies. After its first month, it had sold 21,464 copies in Japan.