Sept. 27, 2010 12:00 UTC
Legendary Warriors Make Wii Debut in Action-Packed Samurai Warriors 3
Latest Series Installment Offers New Modes, Controller Options, Online Multiplayer

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The timeless characters and sword-swiping action of the Samurai Warriorsâ„¢ video game series just got even better. With today’s launch of Samurai Warriorsâ„¢ 3 – the first installment created exclusively for the Wiiâ„¢ system – players can delve deeper than ever before into the realm of warring Japan with new modes and control options not available in any other Samurai Warriors game. For the first time in the series, players with broadband Internet access can use the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service to connect online with a friend and storm into battle together.

Samurai Warriors 3 features fast-paced action as players fight through a chaotic battlefield against hundreds of enemies. More than 35 playable Samurai are included, each with a distinctive set of upgradeable weapons, attacks and abilities. Players can choose from a variety of controller options, including the Wii Remoteâ„¢ and Nunchukâ„¢ controllers, the Classic Controller Proâ„¢ and the Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ controller. Players can also use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to join forces with another player and battle cooperatively. In the new Historical Mode, they can access interesting facts and untold tales from Japanese history that provide a revealing glimpse into the lives of the Samurai.

“Samurai Warriors 3 is so much more than a fast-paced action game,” said Marc Franklin, Nintendo of America’s director of Public Relations. “Players can not only team up with a friend for intense battles, but they can also immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of Japan. We’re proud to be giving Wii owners exclusive access to the latest Samurai Warriors adventure, whether they’re newcomers or longtime fans.”

In addition to the new Historical Mode, Samurai Warriors 3 includes the mission-based Mystery of Murasame Castle Mode. This mode is based on The Mysterious Murasame Castle, a cult-classic Japanese adventure game created by Nintendo with input from developer Shigeru Miyamoto for the ’80s-era Famicom system. For tactical action game fans and Asian culture enthusiasts alike, both new modes put a unique twist on Samurai battle action. The game also includes legendary figures from real-life Samurai lore, with returning characters such as Nobunaga Oda and Hattori Hanzo joined by new additions, including Kai and Kiyomasa Kato.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com.

For more information about Samurai Warriors 3, visit http://samuraiwarriors3.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.