Ubisoft's Red Steel has become an early title to demonstrate the possibilities and enjoyment possible with the Nintendo Wii. A first-person-shooter that also finds the player wielding katanas and other blades, makes full use of the Wiimote to thrust players in a 'Kill Bill' inspired adventure.

Such is our expectation that any new details are poured over for the slightest possible revelation; admittedly the release of details on the cast of characters isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it does provide one or two hints on the plotline behind the game.

ISAO SATO - Miyu's father, an important Oyabun, saved by the hero in the first sequence.

Isao Sato is the father of Miyu, your fiancé. During a meeting in a Los Angeles restaurant, you help to prevent an attempt to assassinate him.

He is Oyabun to one of the most important Tokyo families and, for the last several years, has attempted to carry out his business dealings in a more legal fashion. His sword, the Katana Giri, is the traditional symbol of Oyabun's power in his family. The attackers fail at their attempt and kidnap Miyu, with hopes of putting pressure on him.

Wounded during the attack, Sato hands his sword to you. Your promise is to return his daughter and your fiancé to him before he dies.

TOKAI - Main enemy.

Tokai is the main villain in Red Steel. A young Yakuza godfather (Oyabun), he is driven by a thirst for power and the desire to tear apart the Yakuza system. He is a brilliant archetype of modern change and wants, above all, to bring about the downfall of traditional constraints, in order to rise to power through illegal activities, in all possible markets. Despite his goals, his official stance is one of respect towards tradition.

His attempt to take power hides a strong personal ambition and an implacable obsessive desire for revenge. To achieve his desires, he must have the Sato sword.

OTORI - Your Japanese mentor.

Your first contact in Japan, Otori will become a veritable mentor. An ex-Yakuza who left the organisation for moral reasons and for his daughter, Mariko's, future, he owns a Dojo, where you will spend a lot of time. Along with other traditional martial arts, he is a sword master and will share his wealth of knowledge with you. For him, the sword is not a weapon, but a necessary tool in learning self-mastery. The reasons for using it must be noble and justified. Having already been involved with the Japanese mafia, he refuses to help you directly, by implicating himself in that world.

HARRY TANNER - Boss of the Club.

Tanner is your first real link with the Japanese underworld. He runs a club in which the Yakuzas spend a lot of time and has quite a few connections with them. Because he is a victim of Tokai's campaign and is friends with Sato, he agrees to help you in your quest. Tanner organises a meeting with the distressed Yakuzas. You will often return to see him in the night club, to obtain information and for weapons training.

His club attracts not only the Yakuzas, but also members of the jet set, who enjoy slumming it in a decor which contrasts modern Japanese design with the by-gone charm of the American gangster era. The main attraction is a private shooting range where VIPs come to have fun and test any weapon they like, with the advice of the revered Kajima.

MOTHER REIKO - Legitimate Geisha Boss

Mother Reiko is one of the Yakuzas who meets in Harry's club. Shocked by the disappearance of Sato, she comes to ask you to free the Geisha neighbourhoods from the clutches of "Mama San" and Tokai's pimps.

MAMA SAN - Tokai's Mistress.

Mama San is Tokai's mistress. Head of the Geisha district, in the chaos following Sato's kidnapping, she elegantly manages to change some of the Geishas' strict esthetic codes, modernising their look and making them sexier. Beautiful, but venomous and fatal, they become the modern "female Yakuzas".

Mama San recruits shibouya girls (bad girls in the Shibouya Street) in the street to work for her.

KENZO - Financial Clan boss.

Kenzo is the boss of the Shiba Financial Group bank. Although he is powerful, he is very cowardly, even paranoid, and easily falls into Tokai's clutches after Sato's disappearance. You will have to get to his office, fending off Tokai's men along the way, to convince him to join in his effort.

As he is powerful but handicapped, Kenzo has a lieutenant and many yakuzas working for him.

Intriguingly the Ubisoft press release makes the bold claim that Red Steel will be available in November, suggesting that this will indeed be the month when Europeans get to enjoy some Wii action.

Look out for more on Red Steel shortly...