OK, Wii is not really seen as a Hardcore Gaming machine. That’s not surprising when you take a look at the shovelware on the shelves of your local game store. Look past the insane popularity of this money-making me-too crap, and you’ll find that Wii still has the fingerprints of one of Videogames’ giants all over it .
5. Mario Kart Wii
There have been many pretenders to Nintendo’s Karting crown – Crash Bandicoot, Donkey Kong, and the upcoming Sonic and Sega Superstars Racing (already being panned by the gaming press).
Nobody has ever come close to the exhilarating frenzy that is a good game of Mario Kart. Solid single-player is backed up by the ever-popular mayhem of multiplayer, where leads are won and lost by the narrowest of margins.
Some say nothing has ever topped the SNES original in pure gameplay terms, but the ever expanding range of wacky power-ups mean there is plenty to love about Mario Kart on Wii.
Except those damned Blue Shells.
4. The Legend Of Zelda : Twilight Princess
Technically a Gamecube game with a couple of Wii remote controls tacked on, Twilight Princess still manages to carry on Zelda’s unblemished record for epic, touching adventures.
Abandoning the cel-shaded cartoon visuals of The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess returns to the visual style of Majora’s Mask and The Ocarina of Time.
The game follows traditional Zelda formulae, exploring dungeons to find new weaponry and the next piece of the puzzle.
Somehow, doing it all again never gets old. Such is Nintendo’s expertise in crafting these games.
3. Metroid Prime Trilogy
Comprising the first two Gamecube Prime games, along with the Wii exclusive Part 3, only The Orange Box from Valve matches the sheer value and amount of game for your money.
3 outstanding adventures which chart Samus Aran’s successful foray into a First-person 3D world, all feature classic Metroid gameplay, transposed to a new viewpoint which breathes life into the franchise.
Arguably, the games get slghtly weaker as you go from 1 to 3, but with such a generous package, you could find a lot worse ways to spend 50 of your hard earned euro coins. Example: 5 copies of Bertie Ahern’s autobiography.
2. Super Mario Galaxy
It’s hard not to put this game in the Number 1 position. A completely original, fantastically playable platformer, Mario Galaxy is proof positive that Nintendo are still top of the pile.
As a follow up to Super Mario Sunshine, an over-criticised classic, galaxy is endlessly inventive with it’s plays on gravity and physics, providing the kind of enjoyment that so few developers seem remotey capable of.
If you have a Wii, you need this game. Otherwise all you have is a white brick with a blue light. What kind of person wants that in their living room?
1. Super Smash Bros Brawl
Insanity. Multiplayer insanity. Lots of shouting.
These are the things you will experience while in the company of this game. Possibly the simplest of fighting games available, you’ll find neither the technical complexity of Guilty Gear, nor the classic button combos of Street Fighter.
What you will find, are dozens of classic Nintendo characters with dozens of ridiculous fight moves, played out in ridiculous environments with often-ridiculous outcomes.
Super Smash Bros is not for everybody; In fact you’re just as likely to hate it than love it. I’m obviously in the latter camp.
You owe it to yourself to sample the multiplayer Brawl; it’s one of gaming’s purest experiences.
Ridiculous.
Other games to look out for: MadWorld, Okami, resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, New Super Mario Brothers Wii
Dying to play some Zelda, every time the young lads’ birthday or xmas comes round I try to convince him that he wants it. It’s not working.
Nah, you gotta get him into stuff subtly. Like, Link has a Boomerang. get the kid a boomerang. Or a Horse. Or a Bow and arrow. Hmmmm….on second thought, maybe not.
That might work, we got him Lego and a lightsaber some time ago then soon after he wanted Lego Star Wars for the Wii. Pity, Lego Star Wars is shite.