Nintendo launches Odama – microphone-controlled Japanese feudal warrior pinball game

Forget Hybrid Cars – Nintendo Introduces A Hybrid Video Game — You’ve Never Played a Game like This Before

Nintendo’s Odama is the finest microphone-controlled Japanese feudal warrior pinball game you’ll ever play. [Unlike all of the feudal warrior pinball games without a mic.] The one-of-a-kind game, which launches today exclusively for Nintendo GameCube, represents just one more way that Nintendo is pushing the boundaries of what constitutes a video game.

"With all these different genres, Odama delivers a unique and compelling game-play experience," said Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo of America’s vice president of marketing & corporate affairs. "Without playing it, it’s not the easiest concept to grasp, but once you play, it’s tremendously fun and easy to get into." [Not unlike a comfy pair of tennis shoes or a warm bubble bath ... Wait, what were we talking about?]

Odama lets users command an army of soldiers who are subject to the sometimes devastating power of the Odama, a massive pinball controlled by giant flippers. The Odama rolls over enemy troops and eliminates obstacles, though it also can crush a player’s own soldiers if not aimed properly. [FYI, this part rocks. The little soldier guys scream when the ball rolls over them. They're all like "It ... hurts ... the horror!"]

Players can issue a variety of commands to soldiers on the battlefield simply by speaking into the included Nintendo GameCube Microphone. For instance, saying "press forward!" will cause your soldiers on the screen to make an aggressive push into enemy territory, while saying "rally!" will send a team of soldiers to gather in a certain location. The longer players play, the more voice commands they learn. [Now if only it had commands for "bring me a pizza" and "do my laundry."]

Odama appeals to a wide variety of gaming fans, from pinball enthusiasts to military gamers and strategy fans. [Not to mention cubicle dwellers who dream of one day mastering the ancient, sacred art of multitasking.] Odama, available now, is Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older.