Namco Bandai have released some new screenshots of their upcoming flight simulator; on the Nintendo Wii.

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces is the upcoming flight game developed by Project Aces for the Nintendo Wii. Based on a Japanese novel series written by Hiroshi Mori and illustrated by Kenji Tsuruta. First published in June 2001, the series was then adapted into an anime feature-film under the direction of Mamoru Oshii. The film got its theatrical release across Japan in 2008. During the 65th Venice International Film Festival, the film won the Future Film Festival Digital Award.

The game is set in a world where war no longer exists. In order to fill this void that’s developed in the human psyche, corporations stage fictional war “shows” on a massive scale. Gamers take on the role of a top ranked pilot that’s been recently transferred into the Rostock corporation. This enterprise of war has mysteriously been recruiting fighter pilots both old and young; with some being mere children. One child, Maumi Orishina stands out from the rest. What is it about this girl?

Click on the thumbnails for larger views.

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces will feature…

• 3 main modes – Campaign, free modes, and tutorials
• 17 missions developed by the Ace Combat Team
• More than 30 minutes of animation movies never seen before included in the game
• Multiplayer mode – up to 2
• Control the plane with the nunchuk as a joystick
• Variety of planes and weapons

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces is developed by Project Aces, and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Nintendo Wii. It is currently scheduled for release in February 2010.

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces (announcement trailer)

Press release [Namco Bandai]