New WildCard details

[02.26.01] » Square releases a slew of new information on its WonderSwan Color installment of the SaGa series.

   Square has revealed new details WildCard, the latest installment in the SaGa series. The WonderSwan Color RPG will feature a non-linear game structure based around the "Card Construction System." Under this system, players add new story segments to their adventure by using Scenario Cards -- a strucutre similar to Legend of Mana's Landmake System. Scenario Cards are obtained by talking to NPCs in towns; each card represents an individual mission. There are over 100 Scenario Cards, though it won't be possible to use them all in one time through the game.

   As previously reported, WildCard will have no world or field map, just cards. Players advance by turning over new cards to create paths; the rate at which players turn over cards sets the tempo of the game. Occasionally, the party will come across obstacles such as locked doors. These must be opened by using Skill Cards.

   Battles will also be card-based. The five-member party fights using weapon, technique, and magic cards. Each card has a power value which is compared to the defending monster card's defense value. A successful attack will decrease the thickness of the enemy stack of cards; when the entire stack is whittled away, that monster is defeated.

   Nine different playable characters will be featured in the game. Similar to Ultima: Quest of the Avatar, the character you start as, and which other four heroes eventually join you, is determined by your answers to a series of questions at the start of the game.

   12 new screenshots of the title are also available.

   WildCard is due out for the WonderSwan Color on March 29th in Japan. A North American release has not been announced.