digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Top_6_in_6_The_Best_Six_Wii_games_of_the_first_half_of_2007';Well the first 6 months of the year are gone and although we have had some dry patches there are plenty of good Wii games out there that have arrived...
Please Note, These are Australian releases, your country may differ so tell us what you think here!
Continued Inside
Why is it good?
Strikers is good because it offers a fast paced, insane take on the popular game of football/soccer. With a large cast of characters to choose from and a good selection of levels and play modes, Strikers has a lot to offer content wise. The game itself is incredibly fun, especially with friends to play with. Though the game is quite simplistic in regards to the traditional game of soccer, the addition of items, power moves, and mega strikes make the game enormous fun, if not maybe a little overbearing at times. The game is also a good challenge for the lone player, with the higher difficulty levels sure to test your skill and patience. The graphics are quite pretty too, besting the Gamecube installment of the game. Sound wise, Strikers has an immensely entertaining soundtrack, with music that covers multiple genres.
Why should you own it?
Not only is the game good, it is also the first Wii title that is available for play over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. Jumping online is a lot of fun, and on offer is the ability to play with friends or random people. Playing random people (ranked match) allows you to earn points and ultimately compare yourself to other players within Australia and New Zealand. The online mode increases the replay value of the game substantially, and it works pretty well too. The Wiimote/Nunchuk have only been implemented minimally in the game, though what has been included works really well. Strikers is also the first Wii game with Mario in it, so there really is little argument not to own this title.
Second Opinion: Why is it good? (because the guys wrote about twice by accident – VOOK)
Its good because I say it is okay? But seriously, Mario Strikers is by no means the best game to grace a Nintendo console, what it ends up being is mindless fun that can, if the time is put into it, have a lot of depth. Everything that was in the original has returned and then some, with the product being multiplied to such levels of awesomeness that the world should have long since imploded. Theres a single player mode that is by no means an easy feat to undertake. There is also a multiplayer mode where you can go against three friends in a series of matches, set up as you so desire. And as a Nintendo home console first (In Australia) the game is online.
Second Opinion: Why should you own it?
The online mode is a huge draw-card. With leaderboards, Friend matches and Random ranked matches there is plenty to do for a first time online title. The visuals are crisp; in fact they are gorgeous and would impress even the Wiis toughest critics. The formula has been expanded since the original Gamecube version, including sidekicks with special attributes and a single player mode worth looking at. While the choice has been limited the last six months Strikers will end the year as one of the top five games to own on your Wii and thats saying something.
Why is it good?
Excitetruck is a game that demonstrates how Wii controls can make a game with a relatively simple base concept some of the best fun availiable. Steering with the Wii remote feels as natural as can be and the simple concept of the game allows casual and more experienced gamers alike to pull off insane jumps, drifts and midair tricks with relative ease a short time after picking up the controller. Excitetruck successfully caters for players of all levels as below the simple exterior lie a large number of tough challenges to complete. Generally speaking though, the game provides one of the most fun experiences availiable on the Wii console and that alone is reason enough as to why it is good.
Why should you own it?
It was a terrible pity that Excitetruck didn’t make the PAL launch of the Wii last year. This is one of the must own titles on the Wii because of the simple fact that you’ll be hard pressed to come across anyone who doesn’t have a damn good time with the game. To this end, both single player and multiplayer will give you plenty of arcade style replay value and you can be sure that Excitetruck will be a title that you will pull out of your storage cabinet again and again. In the end you should own it just because it’s just that damn good. You play games to have fun, and this is one of the most enjoyable titles around. Simple.
Why is it good?
In a time where most third party titles revert to nothing more than remote waggle gimmicks, DBZ is a game that surprises you with some actual decent usage of Wii controls. Invariably long button sequences are kept out of the loop as special attacks are instead performed by motions of the Wii remote and Nunchuck that mirror that of character actions in the television series and manga comic. For many verterans of beat-em-ups from past years this is a welcome change and ends up being far more rewarding for a player to pull off in a tight spot, likely due to the skill being in the execution rather than just remembering the sequence.
Why should you own it?
Wii-specific control scheme aside, DBZ also has a huge amount of content packed into it. The main game takes the player on a journey right through from the beginning of Dragonball Z to the end of Dragonball GT. With a number of different modes of play and a character count spanning well over the 100 mark, the game is good value for money if nothing else. It is certainly one of the more solid and polished titles out on the Wii today, achieving balance in gameplay between simplicity and extra depth. Regardless of exactly how much of a fan of the show you are, anyone who enjoys a good fighting game should not hesitate to pick this up.
Why is it good?
Every independent publication about The Godfather by EA Games has hinted or explicitly said that the game is a GTA clone. While it has some elements in common such as a large city with multiple islands, vehicles you can hijack and gratuitous violence, there is certainly enough to set The Godfather apart. Plus no version sets itself apart from the pack more than the Wiis Blackhand Edition. The intuitive Blackhand controls, making use of the Wii remote and nunchuks individual motion sensing capabilities, are the biggest twist to the Godfather formula already seen on countless other platforms.
You see, holding the Wii remote in your right hand, nunchuk in the left, youre able to throw punches simply by holding a button, then moving your arm in a punching motion. Punch with right arm or left, and the on screen character will do the same. To grab someone you hold a button with each hand, simulating the feeling of actually grabbing, plus you can move your hands any way you like to elicit a similar response from your game character. When firing projectile weapons you have one of two choices; the GTA style lock on and fire feature, or the option to free aim, using the Wii remotes pointing function to aim your shots at a head for an instant kill, a kneecap for maiming your enemy, or maybe the explosive next to them to take out a large group.
Another element setting this game apart from GTA is the business extortion system. To gain money, you can offer protection to businesses. For this protection, businesses will donate a cut of their profits to the family. Business owners who dont think they need protection wont pay up with a simple ask though. Youll need to show them exactly why they need protection. You can choose to threaten the business owner by pointing a gun at their face, go around breaking stuff, injure innocent customers, attack the business owner, and eventually theyll be suitably convinced that they need your protection.
Why should you own it?
Its one of those games that seem rare on Wii, one that offer a deep single player experience that will last for weeks and has the mature theme that seems to be void from many Wii games that some gamers yearn for. That said, its not for kids, with violence, language and general adult themes aplenty.
The games not perfect though. Graphics arent much to write home about and while character models are nice, the environments leave a little to be desired. Driving controls arent nearly as interesting, just a standard accelerate, brake and steer with the analog stick affair.
Overall though, The Godfather: Blackhand Editon is a game well worth adding to your collection, especially for those of you looking for a little substance in your experience.
Why is it good?
EA Montreal designed SSX Blur with the Wii in mind. The game was entirely built around the Wiimote and nunchuk if I remember rightly and this really does show when you play the game. The controls are by far the best use of the Wiimote to date in a game that isnt full of mini games. I loved nothing more than carving up the mountain with snow spraying everywhere. Thats probably another good point about it; the graphics are some of the best Ive seen on the Wii so far. The visuals are nice, a bit on the cartoonish side, but thats beside the point because they look good while doing it. Youve got all your familiar characters from the old games with the additions of some brand new ones. There are so many collectables in the game its not funny and if youre the sort of person who needs to finish a game 100%, the game should provide many hours worth of play.
Why you should own it
EA are usually looked upon as a money grubbing giant who dont actually care about video games but it would seem that they have actually tried to make something original in SSX Blur and for that they should be applauded. If youre a fan of any of the previous SSX incarnations this should be right up your alley. There are so many things to collect in this game its not funny and the challenges are varied with several tracks you can send you boarder flying down. The soundtrack is also pretty cool too, but unless you buy games based on their soundtrack that probably wont worry you too much. Basically, SSX Blur is a very solid offering from EA with a variety of things to do, good graphics and what I consider to be one of the best uses of Wiimote controls so far.
Why is it good?
As far as the mini game titles go it is the only one to get it right. It isnt a single player centric game that dumps mini games into the mix and it isnt some silly game with rabbits where the mini-games make you want to projectile vomit. Warioware Smooth Moves is presented brilliantly with a art style you would be familiar with from previous Warioware titles. It is pretty lengthy if you intend of achieving all the awards and the min-games (actually they are called micro-games) are quick, fun and easy for anyone to pick up.
Why should you own it?
It is the premier mini game title on the Wii, even out classing the soon to be released Mario Party 8. While multiplayer falls flat from what could have been it is still a thoroughly enjoyable experience that will have your family in fits of laughter. From picking apples off a tree to picking someones nose, giving a man a shave or battling giant robots with fly swats this game near has everything. At a bargain price as well you could not possibly go wrong with this investment, unless of course you hate Nintendo for some sick and twisted evil past like having to play Marios Time Machine.
Eledees
Eledees provides a fresh experience with a heavy focus on utilising Wii-specific controls to enhance the play experience. It proves to be a very unique game that, while very enjoyable and fresh, becomes a little bit repetitive as time passes by.
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Sonic and the Secret Rings initially makes you think ‘Wow, Sega have saved Sonic’. While this notion doesn’t exactly persist through the 10 hours you’ll play this game, it’s still a decent Wii title and the Party games are good with a few friends.
Metal Slug Anthology
Super Paper Mario
Yeah we know it didnt come out in the last six months, but it should have. For shame!
Please Note, These are Australian releases, your country may differ so tell us what you think here!
Written by: Sean Jones, Dale Neville, Daniel Vuckovic, Stuart Garsed, Toby Mizzi and Ninja Catfish.
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