Music has become an important part of our lives, radio stations are etched into our memory choices on our presets for the car radio, certain songs hold more meaning than others, and everybody wants to be a rock n roll star. This is why we play drums in the air and guitar on our steering wheel. We sing in the shower and when a tune gets stuck in our head, we’d love nothing better than to grab a guitar and rip out the feeling. But what happens if you don’t have a guitar or don’t know how to play one. Don’t get discouraged, one of the best Wii games from Nintendo has arrived in the form of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Even if you don’t fancy the axe, it’s still fun to try to see just how good you’ll do with a backing band. Today’s game technology allows everybody to at least attempt to find out what it’s like to hold a rock guitar in their hands.
If you didn’t take piano lessons as a kid because you wanted to avoid being called names on the playground or if you elected to not take the elective of choir because the same fate would be bestowed on you, then you’re not alone. Most kids didn’t get the chance to turn down guitar lessons in grade school because they were never offered. The great thing about Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is that you don’t need to know how to play guitar to really have a blast playing the game. You just need a urge to want to play and a hunger to find out what all the fuss is about. As soon as you see the song list, you’ll be transported back to the days of air guitar and a confidence will build in you that says you can have your shot now.
Many people shy away from music games because they think you have to be some kind of expert to play them – well that’s not the case here. Wii allows you to start on whatever level that you feel comfortable with. Once you get better, you can move that level up and up. It’s your choice where you want to go, the Wii is just your instrument. The game is very simple to play; instead of the nunchuck and wiimote, you have a device that looks like a guitar. Next, you have colored buttons on your guitar and a pull down lever. This feature allows you to strum while hitting the notes according to the colors on the screen. It takes a few times for your brain to figure out what you need to do, and after that, it’s your sheer joy of playing that will have you hooked.
You Wanted The Best - You Got The Best!
Kids love it because it gives them a sense of being a guitar player; it’s a smaller sized instrument than a regular guitar, plus it’s much lighter while still having the shape of a rock guitar. Wii designs their products for kids and adults too so parents will be able to play with the same intensity that they see their kids using. Some of the songs listed might not be recognized by the younger generation but that really doesn’t matter. Wii has chosen songs that are fun to play and practically beg for parents to try their hand at. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is really a multi-generational game.
If you compare other types of guitar games, you’ll find that one feature lacking with this Wii release is that you can’t download songs for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. You won’t complain because you’ll be having too much fun trying to master a song just to raise your bar of talent, and there are plenty of songs to choose from. There are also a few hidden things to know, such as some songs that can only be unlocked if you have another guitar playing along - if you’re just a one man band then those songs probably won’t see the light of day – which encourages you to get your friends over, who will most likely have their own Wii-tar anyway.
Kick Out The Jams On The Nintendo Wii
One of the advantages to playing a game like this is that you’ll learn hand-eye coordination and possibly improve your reaction time. But be warned, this game is addictive, much like learning a new instrument you want to play until you get it right, and since each song is about three minutes long you can just keep playing over and over without getting too exhausted. Your score is recorded and you can challenge yourself each time to beat it.
If you never took a guitar lesson, it doesn’t matter; you can learn which buttons to push and when to strum after just a few songs. Keep your skill level low to start out with so you can feel comfortable when playing. Like any game practice makes perfect and the best part is you won’t have mangled fingertips after playing this best Wii game to prove you’re the guitar hero in your family.
Be sure and watch the video trailer below as it shows this game as it should be seen - being ROCKED!!
Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock Video Game Trailer
I could just tell you in a single sentence that if you’re a Harry Potter fan and have a Nintendo Wii then this game is for you. Personally, I think this is one of the best games currently available for the Wii and I know that anyone who is into Harry Potter will simply love it – but since that would make for a pretty short review, I’ll go into a little more detail about it and why it is one of the best Wii games on offer.
The Wii adaptation of the fifth Harry Potter book and movie offers up the best Harry Potter adventure yet. You play as Harry, but Hermione and Ron are always close by. The game really does Hogwarts justice – the castle is enormous and it would take hours just to explore all of it. This is really a joy for those gamers (like me) who love exploring – as long as getting a bit lost doesn’t frustrate you too much. If you find yourself unsure where you are, you can simply pull out the Marauder’s Map at any time, select a person or place and a path will be marked out for you on the map (with a set of footprints) to get you headed in the right direction. I was stunned by the attention to detail in this game; it’s quite unlike any move-based game I’ve ever seen. There is a huge world to explore and the game sticks to the look and feel of the film closely – Hogwarts castle in the game is modeled on the same blueprints used to build the sets for the film and some of the stars of the film have provided their voices for the characters in the game; and even had their heads scanned for a more realistic rendition of their characters!
Introducing The Wii Wand!
The game is visually stunning, but how is game play? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes through for players in this department as well. You can use the Wii controller as Harry’s wand – a dream come true for Potter fans. You can use your controller to cast spells like “Wingardium Leviosa” (levitate objects), “Reparo”(fix broken objects), “Depulso”(move objects forward), “Accio”(pull objects towards you), “Incendio”(burn objects) and “Reducto”(smash objects). You cast these spells through using the correct movements with the controllers and in no time, you’ll swear your Wii controller really is a magic wand!
An Abundance of Extras Now, this is not a shoot-em-up; instead, there are a lot of different tasks which you must perform to advance through the game. There is puzzle solving, attending classes, dueling, recruiting for Dumbledore’s Army and running errands for your teachers. There are different risks and challenges posed by each set of tasks and each lets you use the spells you are learning as you progress. You can also earn O.W.L. grades, which let you enter secret areas of the castle. There are also a variety of mini-games like Exploding Snap and Wizard Chess! There are many extras in the game which you won’t find in the movie or the book – but fear not, all of the important plot lines from the book and film are rendered in the game. Later in the game, you’ll get to play as Fred and George Weasley, Sirius Black and even Dumbledore as he takes on Voldemort in the final battle!
Nobody’s Perfect
While Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is visually stunning and offers countless hours of fun and engrossing game play, it’s not all pumpkin juice. The biggest flaw is the controls; Harry seems to be a little clumsy at times. Another problem is that the POV will switch on occasion to angles which make it hard to see the people or objects you need to interact with. There are workarounds, but it would be nice if the player didn’t have to deal with this issue in the first place. Smaller complaints I had were that there is no way to easily tell which people and objects you can interact with or which people you can duel with; the only way to find out is to try to duel with them. However, these flaws are minor and do not seriously detract from the game - there is a lot more fun than fault to find with the Nintendo Wii version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, making this game a must for any aspiring Wii witch or wizard. And for those of us just looking for an entertaining gaming experience, this is a great choice. In terms of entertainment value for the money, I’d have to again say that this is definitely one of the best Wii games out there.
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix Video Trailer
When it comes to the best of the best you certainly can’t discuss the best Wii games without discussing Madden NFL. The game has been a mainstay of gaming systems since its introduction and this 2008 edition is no exception to the legacy. Let’s face it; if your favorite gamer is at all into sports, you can buy this one without fear of the dreaded “You got me what?” look when they open it. They, as well as you, can rest assured that if it says Madden NFL on it then it will play realistically and give thrill and spills that rival a real game.
What is great about this game on the Wii is that the Wii remote allows you more control and more realistic control of what you do. A stiff-arm block given to a player will work like the real thing.
If you have followed Madden NFL then you will not notice a huge cosmetic difference when you kick it off. The main variations are going to come into play when you start looking into the in depth options that are there for you. You can now get the game more like you want it in more areas than was ever possible before.
While the time and space limitations here do not afford the ability to go into great depth with the changes. Things like the addition of what is called Player Weapons where you can press and hold the C button while you are there and before the snap and the camera pans back to show you icons above each player so you know the strengths and such of each one so you can make an informed decision as to what strategy to deploy for this play.
There is also greatly improved mode for the Hall Of Fame where you can create rookies and the best from the 07 teams and just overall make it more fun and realistic and challenging from every aspect. From the Franchise mode to the Superstar Challenge mode to the Party mode to the EA Nation mode there are optimizations and customizations that allow you more control over the experience than ever has been available in the past.
As with most of the Wii offerings, the multi-player mode is one area that the unit and game shine on. The Local Party mode is great and will prove that this game is definitely one for a house full of multi-players.
Overall the 08 Version makes exceptional use of motion to give the realism needed for this type of game; it is much friendlier to those in the multi-player mode and offers playability that is great. You will find that passing and ground defense game will be secondary to the effect and intensity of your running game. It is completely worth the money and will be a great addition to any gamers Wii arsenal and one that you will return and play over and over again both alone and with friends.
If you’re a Nintendo devotee, or if you’ve come to the Wii via PlayStation 2 you may have already heard of and possibly played Resident Evil 4 on one or both of those consoles. Both previous releases had their own individual advantages and disadvantages but the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 has the best of both of them, making it not only one of the best Wii games on the market, but also THE best edition of RE4 available on any console. If you haven’t experienced this game on either consoles before then you’re in for a wild time - an all-encompassing suspense-filled thrill ride!
Resident Evil 4 reunites us with Leon S. Kennedy (from Resident Evil 2), now a highly trained government agent sent on a mission to rescue the President’s daughter. You know those days when you think you really shouldn’t have bothered getting out of bed? Well Leon is about to have one of those x 1000. His search takes him to a small Spanish village where he soon finds that all is not as it should be. For one, the villagers don’t appear to be all together human - and for two, they are trying their hardest to kill him without so much as an explanation! No sooner does the opening sequence get you up to speed on where you are and why you’re there, than you are set upon by a crazy, axe-wielding maniac (as opposed to a sane axe-wielding maniac?) - followed by a horde of villagers (you’ll find no slow-moving zombies in this town) who trap you inside a cabin in an effort to finish you off - and this is all within the first 5 minutes! There’s no time for pondering, you gotta think fast - there’s no time to panic but that’s all you can think to do at this point. You’re disorientated, you’re confused, you have menacing locals bearing down on you from all sides…and this is just a taste of things to come. There is definitely a heightened sense of adrenaline-pumping fear in Resident Evil 4 that is a step up from previous Resident Evil releases, which makes this game truly frightening. It’s less a case of something suddenly smashing through the window as you make your way down a creepy, dimly-lit corridor and more a case of frantically trying to escape the relentless pursuit of increasingly stranger, vicious and more difficult-to-defeat attackers. As you may have gathered the pace of this game is frantic and it really doesn’t let up. You’ll literally be wiping away the sweat in the rare moments you do get to catch your breath. The frenzied nature of the game adds a whole new level of terror, something previous releases in the franchise lacked. However those who like their scares the old-fashioned way will not be disappointed, as there are still plenty of sudden jumps and scares when you least expect it, to keep you on your toes. No more is this exemplified than when you play as the President’s daughter, Ashley who, with only a flashlight at her disposal, must silently creep past all manner of crazed weirdos, and act fast in her tasks to avoid detection, capture and death.
Monsters Galore!
So let’s talk about the beasties you’re up against then. Gone are the dim-witted zombies that trundle towards you at such a pace you’re able to have a shower, shave, shoe-shine and a shag before loading your gun, taking aiming and blowing them away. In this town you have the smart and quick footed villagers (complete with burning torches and pitchforks), creepy cultists, giant ogres-like creatures and a jaw-droppingly impressive (and scary) lake monster. Not to mention other increasingly difficult, weird and imaginative-in-their-appearance bosses you come across as you advance your way through the storyline (you get the idea without me having to give too much away). All the characters in this heart-pounding blood-fest have been created with an attention to detail never before seen on the Wii, which only adds to your ability to get fully immersed (and therefore fully frightened) in this white-knuckled, suspense-filled tale.
Point And Shoot - More Than Just A Wii Bit Better
Where the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 stands out against the other console releases of the game is in its use of the unique Wii controllers for aiming and shooting the huge variety of nasties that mean to do you harm. Using the Wii remote, you can simply and effectively point at the target on screen with a speed and accuracy unmatched on other consoles. Here you can aim at the various body parts of your attackers with ease. Shooting at the legs of insane villagers is a cinch - and something you may find necessary when you’re low on bullets. Making a head-shot will be a walk in the park - albeit a gory one. When you are out of bullets (or any time you feel like getting “up close and personal”) your Wii remote becomes Leon’s knife, and you can slash away in the comfort of your living room, watching Leon on screen slice up some local nasties. A cool little feature is the addition of sound effects from your Wii remote speaker - so that the slashing of your knife or the reloading of your gun takes on an all more “realistic” feel.
Amazing Attention To Detail
Another major standout are the graphics. Everything from the buildings and landscapes to the towns “citizens” and the increasingly imaginative monsters has been created with blood-drenched attention to detail, giving this game the most consuming feeling of atmospheric suspense ever encountered in a survival horror game. Capcom, who is really the Godfather of the survival horror genre, have outdone even themselves with the look and feel of this epic horror action-fest. When this game was first released on GCN and PS2 a couple of years ago it really was breathtaking in it’s rendered beauty. By far the best looking game on the market. Sure, there haven’t been any improvements to the look of the game in the last two years, despite the Wii’s increased memory and processing speed, but that doesn’t detract from the game itself in the slightest. It is still stunning to look at, with some of the creatures you come up against simply mesmerizing in their brilliance. If you’ve played this game before on another console you’ll be so impressed with the fantastic use of the controllers and the other enhancements that it will almost be like playing it for the first time again (and even more so if you’ve only played this on GameCube, as the Wii edition contains the Ada Wong “Separate Ways” storyline that was only released on the PS2). If you haven’t played this before then you’ll just be impressed all round. Period.
No Bones To Pick, But Plenty Of Flesh
I really couldn’t find anything to pick at with this game. I’ve already mentioned above the lack of graphic improvements from the 2005 releases, but I never felt it in any way detracted from the overall experience the game presents, as the graphics from 2005 are still well above that of other games in this genre and certainly above any other Wii games. The sound is brilliant - creepy, atmospheric music and head-explodingly real special effects add even more depth to this already abyss-like release. The game play is an amazing 15-20 hours long (not counting the great replay value), and at the reduced retail price for the Wii that makes it tremendous value for money. All that being said, this game is certainly not for the squeamish - and if the sight of copious amounts of animated gore and violence is off-putting to you then you should definitely steer clear of this release. However if those things don’t bother you - or indeed if you find them an exciting prospect - then Resident Evil 4 is a must have, still managing to be one of the best Wii games after two years.
Anyone familiar with Nintendo Game Cube’s Super Mario Strikers will instantly feel at home when they first strap in to this screwball sequel. Anyone who has not first had a taste of “Soccer, Mario-style” will probably not know what hit them. In both cases, however, you’re in for a wildly entertaining, deliriously crazy, action-packed fun fest. It’s the sort of enjoyment you almost feel guilty having, simply because you know not everyone out there is willing or able to partake in this sort of riotous romp…but you’ll notice I did say you’ll ‘almost feel guilty’. The fact is you’ll be so caught up in the non-stop insanity of Mario and his pals you won’t be thinking of much else except dodging tackles while attempting to perform Mega-strikes, and thrashing your opponents. It’s safe to say that Mario Strikers Charged is one of the best Wii games released in the (so far) short life of this exciting game console, and if you don’t get immense pleasure from playing this game then you really shouldn’t own a Nintendo Wii at all.
The best part of Mario’s version of soccer is that it barely passes as soccer at all! Sure, you play on a field and you kick a ball around, but that’s pretty much where the familiarity ends. You can start by throwing realism out the door - as turtles and toadstools chase you around the field looking to constantly knock you off the ball. Then you can throw the rule book out the window - there are no referees or red cards to be found here, just plenty of weapons, power-ups, tackles and other random acts of arcade-game absurdity. It comes as almost a surprise then, perhaps, to find an underlying depth to the game, as it uses more strategies and tactics than we’re used to in the Mario universe. You ‘kick things off’ by selecting your team captain, and there are 12 to choose from such as Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Wario, etc. Each character has his or her own strengths and weaknesses - so while one may be a fast runner, they may not be so good at passing the ball. It’s up to you to determine which captain is right for the game strategy you’re planning. Mario, of course, is the best all-rounder. Then you choose 3 team mates from a second line-up of characters including Toad, Boo, Monty Mole, Shy Guy, Birdo and more. These too have their own individual strengths and weaknesses, and you can get many varying results based on the combined team you choose. Each Captain also comes with their own Mega-Strike shot - a unique power shot that the goalie usually has a tough time dealing with. Your team mates also have their own individual skill shots - which can send anything from a swarm of hammers to a giant ball of electricity at an opposing goalie to throw them off.
Mega-Meaty-Mario Action!
When it comes to scoring goals, it’s the Mega-Strike that matters most. When pulled off, a Mega-Strike will send anything from 3 to 6 balls at the opposition’s Keeper, with the number of balls and speed of delivery determined by how well timed your button pressing is. If you happen to be on the receiving end of a Mega-Strike, the point of view will change to that of the Keeper, and you’ll use your Wii remote to point at the screen as the balls come flying at you, with good aim and well-timed button pressing the key to making saves. It’s a frantic little mini-game that comes as a clever addition to the hectic hi-jinx of the rest of the match. Be warned though, creating a Mega-Strike shot is not as easy as it sounds when you have multiple opponents, not to mention giant red shells and chain chomps bearing down on you from every angle looking to rearrange your intestines! On top of that you’ve got the pitch to deal with, with 17 different stadiums to choose from, many with their own unique hazard to add to the complexity and difficulty. Hazards such as raging winds, lightning bolts, Thwomps and giant balls that destroy everything in their path are just some of the obstacles that await you should you dare to play one of the booby-trapped playing fields. If it feels like man and God are against your team then you could well be right - all these factors make for a very challenging game of Mario soccer.
Multi-Player Is Where It’s At
Mario Strikers Charged really comes into its own, however, in multi-player mode. Single player is still definitely fun to play, with standard “versus” mode, challenge mode (players have 12 tricky challenges to overcome) and Road To Striker mode (round-robin tournaments to obtain various victory cups), but there’s nothing like playing against real people and having up to 4 players competing at once is a wild blast. Here you have the choice of offline or online modes, and for most people the online mode is the deal-clincher for Mario Strikers Charged. While you still have to deal with the controversial Friend Codes when it comes to playing against specific people, you can choose to skip that and just launch into ranked matches against random opponents from all over the world through the power of WiFi (Wireless networking). Here you get a roster keeping track of your friend’s online status and game progress, a leader-board with daily and amassed stats and easy to use notifications for match requests with other online players.
Not All That Glitters Is Goal!
While there isn’t much to fault at all with this fast-paced thrill ride, I would be neglect in my duties if I didn’t say it isn’t all gravy. The most notable is the Single player mode. While the single player modes are indeed fun to play, there are simply too few of them to create lasting appeal in this area. Also, the computer opponents tend to either be way too easy or way too difficult - a change that can come at the drop of a hat and can get a little frustrating after a while. Maybe the makers are trying to push everyone to use the multi-player/online features by offering sub-standard single player modes. To some degree I see the single player modes as being a tack-on, nothing more, as the majority of people who play this game won’t be interested in single player mode at all, other than to perhaps get accustomed with the game before trekking off to play online gamers from around the globe. The only thing that may sadden some people with the online gaming is there is no voice chat available. Depending on who you are this may be a good or bad thing, as I’m sure some of you wouldn’t have minded a little on-field sledging during play to help thwart your opponents attempts at scoring.
But that’s it really, nothing more I could see to pick at - and believe me I looked. The sound effects and music are great, the graphics are what you’d expect by now from anything Mario. No huge advances here, but then they certainly haven’t slacked off in this department either. All in all Mario Strikers Charged is a fast-paced, action-packed feast of entertainment, which will no doubt have you wondering where all the hours have gone (especially in online mode), and is well deserving of the title of one of the best Wii games on the market.
Super Paper Mario has successfully brought Nintendo’s idiosyncratic role-playing series to the Wii platform with brilliant results. The exclusive game is an amalgam of platforming and role-playing that feels both familiar and new at the same time. This may not be the expected features usually found in a single game, however Super Paper Mario has successfully managed to make it work. After having made its grand entry in the Wii world, Paper Mario has begun working on the Wiimoto with the intension of giving another dimension of playing these games to its enthusiasts. The superb combination of control elements and gameplay has made Super Paper Mario one of the best Wii games produced to date.
Originally slated for release in 2006, Super Paper Mario eventually came out in April ‘07, the postponement due to some last minute fixes and improvements to enhance the gaming experience. Initially, the game was planned for the Nintendo GameCube, but it was later changed to the Wii to make the most of the motion sensing in order to control the mini-games. The idea being to capture the nostalgic feel of the original Mario side-scrolling games while incorporating a jazzed-up visual style that brings a whole new depth to a familiar style of favorite.
This particular version of the Paper Mario franchise not only has a look and feel of its older games but also features unconventional characters, imaginative story, solid and interesting game play and funny dialogues. The entire package is a nicely polished affair that is sure to enter the realm of “classic game” as time goes on, having already been embraced as one of the best Wii games of 2007 by regular gamer and critic alike.
Super Paper Mario is the newest chapter in the Paper Mario series. Not content to just be a 2D or 3D side-scrolling game, Super Paper Mario combines both 2D and 3D game play elements, shifting back and forth between the dimensions. The Nintendo Power magazine describes Super Paper Mario as the first 5D side-scrolling game released. Not sure what that means, exactly, but it sounds cool and feels like an apt description of this multi-dimensional game. The action of the game is spread across eight worlds filled with strange mysteries, puzzles, traps, etc. One of the cool features of Super Paper Mario is that it allows more than one player to play at the same time against one other. Although Mario is the hero of the game, he isn’t the only star; players also get to play such characters as Browser, Luigi and Princess Peach. Each game has you starting as Mario, but as you progress you are able to incorporate other players into the game as other characters.
Super Paper Mario is the first Wii game starring everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber who has finally landed on the Nintendo Wii world. The story revolves round Mario who is the main character, with his machismo and power of love, once again trying to stop the destruction of the world and save Princess Peach.
So, to sum it up, Super Paper Mario’s accessible game play, humorous story, cool visual style, inventive design, and remarkable amount of content gives the game an undeniable charm. I suggest all those Wii users out there who haven’t tried out what is undoubtedly one of the best Wii games so far, to go ahead and give it a shot and I’m quite sure you won’t be disappointed with your experience.
Rev up your engine, and get ready to roll! You’re behind the wheel of Nintendo Wii’s Excite Truck, and guess what’s up? This time, it’s not about a princess. It’s not about conquering some baddie. It’s not even about coming in first place to win the race. It’s about two words: Excite. Truck. You’re roaring down the road, doing tricks and spectacular leaps, and whether you’re alone or with a pal, you’re doing what you need to win. It might not sound like much on paper, but this ranks among the best Wii games available for 2006/2007!
All right, let’s take a deep breath and look at what Excite Truck offers. For starters, it’s basically a racecourse game, the inevitable follow-up to the popular Excitebike, but this time with all terrain vehicles. There is no character to pick. It’s you and your truck—other options become available such as 4×4s, buggies, and SUVs—and you can choose any color of the rainbow for your new beast to come in. This game uses the standard Wii controller, but you hold it sideways.
There are four playing options: Excite Race, if you’re playing alone; Challenge, which features some mini-games; Versus, for two-player racing; and Tutorials, which is where beginners learn to drive, go turbo, jump, short-jump, do air spins, and more. You also need to get the hang of “drifting,” which is kind of a power-skid turbo thing, and you will be loving that turbo! Players should do the tutorial so they get the hang of holding the controller sideways as it does take a little getting used to. To play this game well you really need to understand the effects of tilts, from side to side and back and forth, and elbow action.
After the tutorials, you pick a Cup to challenge for and then a Country to race in, which determine the courses you’ll travel during the game. They range from fantastically easy to really difficult, and they include some terrific terrain such as the Atoll Hop, Scotland’s sylvan glen, Fiji’s beaches, Finland’s snowy mountains, all the way to the Great Wall of China! Each course offers its own challenges, whether it’s lava pouring toward you or huge boulders you have to crash through. Like all of the best Wii games, the scenery is quite beautiful in lots of places, although you’ll be going so fast you won’t really get to appreciate it.
What you will appreciate is the soaring in your soul when you master tricks like double and triple turns in mid-air or stretching out your hang time during a leap. This game isn’t about winning a cup—although you can. This is about getting the stars you need to win even if you come in last. Your goal is to unlock more and more options if you’re playing solo, or beat you’re buddy if you’re playing together. For example, you’re running behind your buddy, but you put your style and daring into action and crash through rocks and trees—that gets you more stars. If you’re going for speed, and you overheat, you splash into water to cool it down and then turbo back up. You won’t win this by being shy and polite! POW icons cause the scenery to morph into mountains for great jumps or drop down into the water, which you just might need for more of that turbo. Other icons give you bursts of speed that let you crash through forests.
The game offers some cool rock sounds for background music, but you can also download an MP3 player to an SD card if you have one for your own tunes. In the grand tradition of arcade-style racing games, this stands among the best Wii games ever. Nintendo recommends it for ages seven and older, and while kids love it, grandfathers will have a great time competing, too.
Not since the Atari has a game system so caught the attention of the world as the Nintendo Wii – and while past systems have had varying levels of interactivity, the Wii takes this to a completely new level with the introduction of the Wii remote. The Wii remote is the main controller for the Nintendo Wii game system. The controller moves from the button mashing technique of the standard gaming platform to a system that actually allows you to control the game with every move of the controller. This is made possible by the accelerometer and optical sensor technology. Now instead of using your thumbs to move the character across the screen you actually move the controller! Where else can you play awesome games and get a workout at the same time?
The World According To Rabbids One of the first in the ever growing list of best Wii games to appear on the market would have to be Rayman Raving Rabbids. Released in late 2006 this latest installment in the Rayman series however is also a departure from the run of the mill, run and jump levels with mini games throughout. Rabbids is built around a fun and often hilarious storyline. The introduction begins with Rayman minding his own business having a lovely picnic with the Globoxes. Enter the mindless staring Rabbids that have long lived underground. Unbeknownst to our fearless hero they have been plotting to take over the world for years. Rayman is then abducted and finally lands in prison where he must compete in a series of games to entertain the Rabbids – with each game taking him one step closer to his freedom. This frenetic jumble of increasingly insane activities quickly makes you understand why Rayman Raving Rabbids was and still is one of the best Wii games.
Rabbids Must Die! Fun seems to be the word of the day in Rayman Raving Rabbids. Throughout the silly levels, you will have many opportunities to experience all this crazy world has to offer as you work to free Rayman from his confines. The mini games are both wickedly fun and out and out laughable, with Rayman able to torture the Rabbids in increasingly inventive ways, with the Wii remote being fully utilized as you progress. In one game you have a “whack-a-mole” scenario and you much use the Wii remote to bash the Rabbids – in another you shake the Wii remote and nunchuck to get Rayman to run, delivering a bomb to a “poor” unsuspecting Rabbid before it explodes. Other games involve Rayman abusing out-of-tune Rabbid choir singers, or taking aim in first-person shooter-style fair that involves shooting toilet plungers at Rabbid faces. It is a laugh-a-minute playing through the minis games and one that will get players of all ages and interest levels keen to outdo themselves and each other.
Instant Crazy Fun! Just Add YOU! With a sick and twisted sense of fun at the core of this game, with examples peppered throughout, there’s no end to the hilarity of watching Rayman take his vengeance on this cute and crazy critters. See how Rayman must go to work in the diseased mouth of one Rabbid, or lasso a cow and hurl it in the great blue yonder for seemingly no reason. The games might not make much sense but that’s what makes this game so unbelievably enjoyable even after repeated plays. Even the most hardened of gameplayer will find it hard not to sit back and enjoy the zany momentum this game has to offer. Others will already be drawn in by the colorful settings and promise of rib-tickling action. I mean, what other game has it’s hero scrambling to close out-house doors as the occupants try to relieve themselves, all to the disgusting tune of grunts and groans? Nothing is spared or sacred in this finely crafted best Wii game for 2006, that continues to reward even now.
Every past release of The Legend of Zelda game series has always stood out as a must play fantasy adventure game that all ages can enjoy. Now with the 13th installment in the franchise, The Legend of Zelda – Twilight Princess, Nintendo take things one step further by making this not only the first Zelda game for the Wii but also (thankfully) one of the best Wii games ever made. Ten years after the last Zelda outing, Oceania, and taking four years to development by one of the best gaming teams in the biz, Twilight Princess stands out above so many games of its ilk as more beautifully designed, exciting and epic than anything you have ever seen before, and will likely see again for a good long while.
Graphics From the box art down to the gameplay itself, Zelda takes a serious and darker turn instead of the cartoony and colorful approach of previous entries. The end result, thanks to the graphics enhancements of the Wii, gives Twilight Princess huge merits for having some of the best technically designed graphics on the Wii system to date. This isn’t only noticeable in many of the great cut scenes but you’ll also enjoy the good graphics that Twilight Princess has to offer when you start exploring the land of Hyrule and many of the detailed environments throughout. For one thing the water effects are amazing, and the frame rate plays it smooth at 30 frames.
Sound Zelda fans who love all the classic tunes will enjoy the musical pieces that Twilight Princess offers. What really stands out is the epic score that build on the atmosphere of what is currently taking place in the game, making this a much more cinematic affair than previous Zelda releases. Also sharp and clear are the games many sound effects, especially during the fighting scenes that inspire you to keep hacking away at your enemies, creating a full-bodied surround sound experience second to none at this time.
Gameplay Twilight Princess is the perfect example on how games should really be made for the Wii Remote. GameCube players of Zelda will be encouraged to play Twilight Princess on the Wii as it creates a whole new gaming experience, making it almost seem like a completely new game! Gamers who played the previous Zelda titles will be pleased to have the same combat system from Wind Waker and other older Zelda games. Now with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, you can run around a lot more freely and swing your sword by doing a gesture instead of pressing a button, adding to the realistic interactive effect the game has overall. While this may seem like too much effort, the winning part of it is that gestures can be minimal or long depending on preference without disrupting the whole gameplay experience. Anyone can pick this game up and start hacking and slashing for hours without getting tired.
Those who love to play with Link’s projectile weapons will be addicted in accurately aiming for shots just by pointing the remote to your target. This beats out the old analog aiming by a huge margin and you’ll never go back to those controls again once you try it.
Twilight Princess is an incredible world to explore with tons of side quests as expected with a Zelda release. You’ll spend hours in familiarizing yourself with all of the beautifully rendered lush areas that Twilight Princess offers.
Overall The Legend of Zelda – Twilight Princess clearly stands out as one of the best Wii games ever. It has a captivating storyline that exceeds any other Zelda game. It is a lot more real than its predecessors and the darker, more serious setting serves as a refreshing change, a first for the series. The Wii functionality seals the deal and won’t let you put down the controller once you’ve got your hands on it. Anyone looking for a breathtaking adventure of epic proportions with hours of gameplay and truly eye-catching design should try this game right away.
