The Nintendo Wii has quickly revolutionized the gaming world with its innovative and interactive game play. However it’s the games themselves that make the Wii the most amazing gaming platform available. When you play the best Wii games, you really get a unique experience. One of the things that make the Wii so much better than other consoles out there is its ability to download classic Nintendo games that bring back fond memories. One such game is Mega Man 9.
Many would expect a new Mega Man game to be a completely different look and feel than its predecessors, modernized by the advances in gaming graphic design over the years. With the major advancements that video games have made, it would be completely logical to think that Mega Man would evolve with the times. Once you start to play the new Mega Man 9 game, you’ll see that not only is this not the case but that the old style works perfectly on this style of game, to the point that modernizing it would have ruined the concept.
While most of the best Wii games out there utilize state of the art graphics, Mega Man 9 takes a trip back to the old school. You’ll be thrown back into 8-bit gaming heaven with the latest addition to the Mega Man series. In fact, if you didn’t know any better, you’d think you had out your original Nintendo playing Mega Man 2.
Does this unorthodox thinking work with this new game? Absolutely and unequivocally yes! The decision to take the game back to its roots was a fantastic decision by the game developers. Playing the game is very nostalgic, but it isn’t a walk in the park either. While the look may hark back to the days of your childhood, the challenges are most definitely in keeping with the more mature expectations that gamers have for new games. As with all of the best Wii games, you’ll want to keep playing until you beat it or you have to go to work/school. Even after you beat it, there is more for you to do with the game.
The game has over 50 challenges for you to indulge in. They range from some very easy tasks to extremely difficult ones like getting through the game without any damage whatsoever. You can purchase items for Mega Man at the store by picking up bonuses along the way. There is also downloadable content on the way, like another difficulty setting and extra characters. It’s not great, knowing that you’ll have to purchase more things later, but it could be worse. Sticking with the original feel of the game meant not having too many extras. They even have a global leader board that you could see your name on if you do well enough.
Mega Man 9 will only set you back about $10 to download and it is well worth every penny. This could be the best value in gaming at the moment, and you will not be disappointed. If you liked the original Mega Man series then be prepared to have some good old fashioned nostalgic fun with this entry in the series. This is one of the best Wii games of the year - despite its old school look - and has gained critical acclaim as well as a very enthusiastic public. If you haven’t done so already, you might want to connect and download Mega Man 9 as soon as possible.
A New Platform For An Old Favorite = Gaming Perfection!
While this may be one of the latest best Wii games to hit the market, Okami has actually been around for a couple of years already on the Playstation 2. When it was released by Sony it was hailed by many reviewers as a perfect meld of graphics, storyline, and innovative interface. In a tale told through cinematic cut scenes, you take the role of the ancient Japanese goddess Amaterasu, on a quest to save the world (a hyper-fantasy Japan) from a dark evil. Up to that point, Okami seems much like many other quest-based games. But with its blend of Japanese woodcut-inspired artwork, a fluid palate of environments and cleverly rendered mythological characters, the original Okami elevated what could be simple and unoriginal into a visual treat. The soundtrack was also at the same high level, with its moody yet inspiring flow of traditional Japanese-themed music. But the most outstanding element of Okami was its interface: using an onscreen “celestial brush” to select items, options, and attacks, Okami actually made the act of doing things in a game fun.
With the “celestial brush” interface, Okami allowed you to shape glyphs and kanji-like symbols to change the game world. Power slashing through objects with a single bold stroke, or using the brush to stretch and reshape things brought a feeling of omnipotent power rarely felt in more mundane adventure games. New puzzles on each level enhanced this gameplay— for example; a simple move that shifted water from one place to another would later combine with a clever set of puzzles for moving the water between containers in a certain pattern in a higher level of play. This interplay between puzzle and unique interface is what makes Okami a standout game.
Wii Perfection
But for all of its innovation, there was a problem - it’s hard to be fluid and artistic within the confines of the Playstation thumb stick. This is where Okami for the Wii brings improvement on what is already a nearly perfectly balanced experience and creates one of the best Wii game experiences to date. By using the movement capabilities inherent in the Wii nunchuck/controller interface, the sweeping gestures and flowing brush movements that were only hinted at in the PS2 version can truly come to life. As the challenges mount and require more sophisticated use of the celestial brush—shaping bombs to open sealed doors, cutting down entire forests with a wave of the “brush,” the Wii’s enhanced ability for precise motion enhances what is already an interesting and thoroughly engaging gameplay element. Okami also encourages the player to experiment with their use of the brush and its associated spell powers. Combine wind with some attacks and you can hurl bombs towards your enemies, or raise barriers from nothing but water.
But Wait, There’s More…
Although the combination of Wii controllers and Okami’s unique brush system makes it one of the best Wii games around, this only highlights an outstanding game that retains all of the elements that made its original incarnation stellar. There’s also a large focus on character building and development; Amaterasu’s abilities and powers change and improve as the game progresses, with new power ups and ways to vary already existing powers of movement and attack.
The world of Okami is huge, layered, and complex, with paths leading in all directions. And it’s varied; beaches, mountains, jungles, temples, dungeons, and villages all await your exploration, with a smoother transition between each map than most adventure games provide. This, plus a cast of truly inspiring boss battles and unique creatures from Japanese mythology give the world a sense of grandeur and majesty equal to the godlike role you play. And at a whopping thirty plus hours of gameplay, you’ll find Okami delivers a satisfying experience that feels full and unrushed. Whether you’re an experienced fan of epic adventure games, or a new casual gamer looking to branch out from your Wii Fit experience, you’ll find that Okami is one of the best Wii games to come along in a long while, and a worthy recasting of a unique and exciting original.
Through the Wii console Nintendo has created a range of interactive games that have got gamers off their butts and onto their feet. The stereotypical image of a slack-jawed teen embedded in the couch is changing, as people of all ages take up the fun and involving features of the Wii and its ever-expanding range of games. No more is this the case than with WiiFit; Nintendo’s attempt to produce a comprehensive exercise program that you can do in the comfort of your living room.
In creating WiiFit, Nintendo had the challenge of blending traditional exercises and video game elements in order to appeal to both exercisers and game players. The distinct features of the game are not only enticing to those wanting to play an active part in their game playing, but also show the designers’ creativity in accomplishing what is generally being lauded as one of the best Wii games for 2008.
One of those appealing features, and one that keeps participants coming back for more, is the ability to set goals for losing weight through your profile. The system keeps track of your progress in relation to what goals you set, which can then be changed at any time. This gives the player/exerciser not only something to aim for but allows them to ‘compete’ against themselves in an attempt to beat their previous best. For those who want to keep their information private there is a password feature available for each profile created. There is also a section to add daily activity you do outside of the game, which helps the game keep track of your exercise even if it doesn’t occur using WiiFit!
When you first start the game, you create a profile by entering your height and birth date. This profile helps to personalize the exercise experience. Once your profile is created, you complete a body test to provide a foundation of information. The game assigns your “Fit Age” based on the information entered and your skill at the body test. You can then set a goal for gaining or losing weight over a set period of time, and the game will keep track of your progress as you work toward that goal.
The game encourages you to exercise every day, even if all you have time to accomplish is the body test. Each body test is logged into the memory of the game and on your calendar, and the information is entered into a chart tracking your progress toward your goal.
The flexibility-training and strength-training are probably the most familiar “exercises” in the WiiFit arsenal. The flexibility exercises are yoga poses that not only increase flexibility, but improve body control and balance. The strength exercises include things like lunges and push-ups. The stamina and balance exercises are disguised as games, such as tightrope walking and ski jumping, that get you working up a sweat without even realizing it (and really, if you’re looking to exercise in your own home that’s really what it’s all about!) Most of the stamina and balance games focus more on those gaming elements, offering a nice break from traditional exercises seen in the flexibility and strength categories, while still offering activity that, when taken seriously, can really get the heart rate going.
Unlike traditional games that center around a controller, the WiiFit exercises center on the game’s Balance Board, a unique addition to the system that allows the game to be more interactive than other games available for the Nintendo Wii. Instead of just using the Wii remote and nunchuck for upper body exercises, the Balance Board make use of the lower body characteristics, making it the first game that requires players to get up off the couch to play.
The WiiFit Balance Board senses your position on it, and uses that information to determine your balance, posture, and movements. So when you play a balance game, the game can accurately determine where your balance is as you play. The Balance Board also senses your foot placement, so when you do the step aerobics in WiiFit, the game can tell if you’re keeping in time with the beat and placing your feet properly. Even when an exercise is loading, the Balance Board is assessing your weight and balance.
WiiFit might not convert the die-hard Gym enthusiast to give up lifting free weights and checking his/her biceps in the mirrored walls, but it will appeal to those of us who either don’t have a Gymnasium near our homes, have young children that require supervision and therefore a trip to the Gym is out of the question without a complicated strategy, or are simply uncomfortable with the idea of exercising in the company of people they don’t know (who always seem to be in so much better shape than us!) In saying that, though, WiiFit also makes an excellent bridge for those who do like attending the Gym but also want to be able to keep track of their exercise regime to some extent when they are at home.
WiiFit is unlike any other game available. It takes the physical activity used in other Nintendo Wii games and turns it into productive exercising to lose weight, build muscle, and improve balance and posture. The Nintendo Wii has broken the stereotype of the image of gamers, and WiiFit fits the new mold well, allowing gamers to blend exercise with fun, video game elements for which Nintendo has become famous.
WiiFit is unlike any other game available - and while it may not be the most engaging Wii game out there it is certainly the most energizing. It takes the physical activity used in other Nintendo Wii games and turns it into productive exercising to lose weight, build muscle and improve balance and posture.
If you are looking for one of the best Wii games ever, look no further than Super Smash Bros Brawl. If you’re already familiar with the nine-year-old Smash Bros. franchise, you’ll no doubt have high expectations. If you’ve never played a Super Smash Bros game before then you’re in for one action-packed, fast-paced treat. Both the original Super Smash Bros on Nintendo 64 (released 1999) and its GameCube sequel, Super Smash Bros Melee (2001), are still a hands-down favorite with many gamers, even after all these years.
For Smash Bros newbies, Brawl is a multiplayer series of fast-paced fighting games set in 2D worlds. It features an impressive cast of 35 characters (including 14 hidden characters to unlock), pulled from some of Nintendo’s most popular titles. Choose from such well-known Nintendo icons as Mario, Kirby, Link (Legend of Zelda), Pikachu (Pokemon) and Samus Aran (Metroid), as well as special cross-over appearances by Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake. Each character has its own fighting style and abilities, with customizable signature moves to learn and explore.
As is expected with a game of this nature each character has his or her (or its) own strengths and weaknesses, and players get to strategize how to best protect themselves while taking advantage of their opponents’ flaws. Also, throughout the many and varied fast-paced battles, special items will spontaneously appear on the battlefield, up for grabs for whoever can reach them first. Some of these are weapons you can use against your opponents while others will repair your sustained damage.
Combat can include up to four players at a time. Each brawl takes place on a stage with a different theme taken from somewhere in the Nintendo Universe, a favorite being the classic layout from the original Donkey Kong arcade game, complete with flaming barrels. Each battle takes place at a frenetic pace, keeping even the most serious and battle-hardened players glued to the screen. Brawl also makes a perfect party game because everyone can join in and tournaments are easily set up by team or individual. The built-in tournament mode can keep track of up to 32 players on a single Wii, and it features a rotation mode for up to 16.
Brawl also makes new ground by providing online multiplayer battles. Play your friends or complete strangers halfway across the world. While you do have to tolerate those pesky friend codes, the otherwise unavailable options that open up on account of using them will make it all worthwhile. Usually a major problem with online fighting games, any lag that occurs in Brawl is infrequent and short-lived at best.
Brawl also offers the single player a challenging day of gaming by choosing Classic mode. Pitted against the sinister Master Hand, you must complete specific challenges to move on. Each time you play this mode, the rounds will change in minor ways so you never really play the same game twice. Single player mode also offers you an adventure that combines all the characters as they battle against a mysterious enemy. Hilarious cut scenes blend the challenges together into a fluid story line.
Come Get Some!
One of the best aspects of this game is that it is so engaging and frantically-paced and challenging that seasoned veterans can enjoy it for months or years as they learn all the strategies, while complete newbies can win a battle out of the blue and build their way up to being part of the Smash Bros hall of fame. Brawl is one of those rarities that appeals across the board to everyone. You’ll be impressed with the animation and design of the characters, as well as the magnificent soundtrack that contains over 100 songs. This is, without a doubt, one of the best Wii games of 2008, and will continue to be a well-loved and well-played addition to any Nintendo gamers’ arsenal for years to come.
The Nintendo Wii is a great new system for youngsters and adults alike. The motion sensitive controllers allow for complete 3-D movement which allows the most real game play yet. The Wii, although revolutionary, has had a problem gearing itself towards more adult gamers. With releases like Wii Sports, Mario Party, and All Star Cheer Squad, it is no surprise why the Nintendo Wii has been typecast; leaving the adult gamer wanting more. Suda 51, teaming up with the Grasshopper team attempt to put an end to the stereotype that the Wii is only for children. Combining their powers, they created No More Heroes – a release that is already being touted as one of the best Wii games around.
No More Heroes doesn’t fool around with long intros or messy story set-ups. Rather, it launches you right into the game almost immediately, allowing you to take control of protagonist Travis Touchdown. Travis Touchdown is a horribly nerdy anime/wrestling fan. I must admit at first I didn’t like Mr. Touchdown, but he grew on me quickly and soon I found him an extremely likable character. This makes the game all the more fun. The story shows that Travis buys a “Beam Katana” off of Ebay. With his new Katana (which resembles a light saber in more ways than one) Travis proceeds to kill someone who turns out to be one of the top assassins in the world. This puts him on his way to becoming the top assassin himself and with a little help from a sexy and mysterious French girl named Sylvia, Travis proceeds to hunt down the top 10 assassins and kill them methodically, rising up the ranks of the assassin leaderboard.
The game play is GTA-style, allowing you to fully explore the city of “Santa Destroy” either on foot or on Travis’ souped-up motorcycle. The innovative graphic style is truly eye-catching, with fantastic rendering and shadows giving the game a distinctly graphic-novel look about it. It’s certainly a refreshing change from the regular block-head-style graphics of other games in this format. There are tons of mini games to play and people to fight, the action and characters getting more and more outrageous as you go along – but this is absurdity on a crazy-cool scale and you’ll relish the wildness abandon that the game play story takes you on. The mini games allow you to upgrade Travis’ physical attributes and you can also take on odd jobs to get a little extra cash and buy new weapons and equipment. Where the game really shines is in its combat. No More Heroes has a great blend of using the standard game pad with the Wii motion sensors. Regular hacking and slashing is controlled by the gamepad, while finishing moves and special attacks rely on the motion controllers. If you’re really in the mood for taking someone down with style, stunned enemies can have wrestling moves, along with kicks and flips, performed on them before you put them out of their misery once and for all.
The game really comes alive when you encounter the 10 assassin bosses. Each one has a unique style about them, making each boss significantly different and more challenging. Also, you may notice that each boss represents a societal problem that the world faces, especially the United States. The good game play, matched with the clever satire and zany characters makes this rollicking violent extravaganza all the more worthwhile.
This is truly a fun, albeit strange game. Although it has a few bugs and the object boxes are bigger than the pictures they hold, it really doesn’t affect game play. This game finishes in about 12 hours, but the combat alone would make anyone want to play this game over and over again. One of the best Wii games ever? Let me put it this way. If you are looking for more mature, strangely funny and clever games to play, then this is the game for you.
