Back when Nintendo changed the gaming landscape forever with the launch of the Nintendo Wii in 2006, the hype wasn’t just about Wii Sports or The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. There was a third pillar of the launch lineup—a new IP from Ubisoft that promised to fulfill every gamer’s dream: The ability to wield a katana and a gun in real-time using motion controls.
That game was Red Steel.
In today’s video, we are revisiting this fascinating franchise. It is a series that started with a gritty, Yakuza-inspired mob story and evolved into a cel-shaded Sci-Fi Western, yet oddly, it has completely vanished from the gaming world. Why have we never seen a Red Steel 3? Why aren’t these games on the Nintendo Switch or the upcoming Switch 2? And most importantly, were the Wii’s pointer controls actually the best way to play First Person Shooters? So in the end it leaves me asking Why Have These Ubisoft 1st Person Shooters Been Left Behind On Wii?
🗡️ Red Steel 1: The Launch Day Promise
I remember picking this up on Day One. The premise was incredible: You are an American thrust into the Japanese criminal underworld, fighting the Yakuza to save your fiancée.
The Style: It aimed for a realistic, cinematic look (for the time).
The Gimmick: It was one of the first games to let you physically gesture to reload and, famously, turn the Wii Remote sideways to hold your gun “gangsta style.”
The Flaw: While the shooting was fun, the sword fighting was… rough. It wasn’t 1:1 movement; it was gesture-based recognition. You swiped, and the game interpreted it as a command. It was cool, but it wasn’t the “Star Wars Kid” fantasy we all wanted.
🤠 Red Steel 2: The Motion Plus Masterpiece
Then came the sequel, and this is where the story gets tragic. Red Steel 2 is legitimately one of the best games on the Wii, period.
The Tech: It required the Wii Motion Plus accessory. This changed everything. Finally, the sword movements were 1:1. If you swung hard, the character swung hard. If you twisted your wrist, the sword twisted. It was incredibly responsive.
The Aesthetic: They ditched the gritty Yakuza vibe for a “Samurai Western” aesthetic that looked like Borderlands meets Afro Samurai.
The Reception: Despite being a vastly superior game, it sold poorly because the Wii’s “hardcore” audience had largely moved on by 2010.
🎯 The “Pointer” Control Debate
Revisiting these games highlights something I have always believed: The Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination was the superior way to play First Person Shooters.
We have been trained to think dual-analog sticks are the gold standard, but the Wii’s IR Pointer was essentially a mouse cursor for your TV. It allowed for snap-aiming and precision that you just cannot get on a standard Xbox or PlayStation controller without heavy aim-assist.
Ergonomics: Being able to separate your hands (Nunchuk in the left, Remote in the right) allowed you to relax your shoulders and play in total comfort.
Immersion: Physically pointing at the enemy you want to eliminate just feels right.
🔒 Why is it Trapped?
So, why no sequel or remaster? The tragedy of Red Steel is that it is mechanically tied to the hardware. Porting Red Steel 2 to a PS5 or Xbox Series X would require mapping the sword swings to buttons or a stick, which completely defeats the purpose of the game. The gameplay was the motion. However, with the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons (and the rumored enhancements of the Switch 2), the technology exists to bring this back. Ubisoft is sitting on a dormant franchise that would thrive in the modern gyro-aiming era.
I am playing through these again, and the aiming still holds up. It is snappy, responsive, and satisfying. It is a shame that for now, if you want to experience this, you have to dig out the old white console and hook up the sensor bar.
🗣️ Join the Discussion!
I want to hear from the Wii veterans out there:
Did you own Red Steel 1 at launch? Be honest, were you disappointed by the sword fighting, or did you love it anyway?
Red Steel 2: Did you ever play the sequel, or did you skip it because of the Motion Plus requirement?
FPS Controls: Do you agree with me that IR Pointers are better than Dual Analog sticks? Or am I blinded by nostalgia?
The Future: Would you buy a Red Steel Collection on the Switch 2?
Let me know your thoughts down below!
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