Wii Are Getting Better

Ah yes, the Wii. During the last two years, it was the source of multitude reactions that varied among many players, thereby, affecting the entire gaming nation. Some were thankful for its contribution in flourishing the industry despite the current recession, some faulted the console for killing the industry by making it go astray from its real hardcore ambition, some complained from the dust collected on their unused console and lack of games, and some cherished it as one of best investments they ever made. Now, as the year is coming to a close, many major gaming websites and publication are passing their awards for the best games of this year. Disappointingly, as we inspect the majority of these awards and nominations, we notice the shortcoming of Wii games in making these lists.

Many gamers and critics alike heavily perceive this outcome as a sign of weakness and as a drawback of what the Wii is capable off. Upon scrutinizing the previous two years the Wii has been on the market, there were definitely many great games that easily rivaled those found on HD consoles. This year isn’t bad as many critics and players usually state but it is definitely not good enough to compete with the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 games. Now, the stakes are high for 2009 and many are querying whether they should stick with their Wiis for another year, or sell it for good money. Thus, it is important for us to inspect the upcoming Wii games of 2009 in order to come up with a firm decision.

• MadWorld

Probably one of the most celebrated Wii titles of 2009. MadWorld is highly perceptible of over-the-top violence that according to the game producers should be evaluated in a comical stance despite the dark, bloody tune. However, what makes this game exceptional is the intelligent use of aesthetics to a limited color palette of high contrast black and white ala Sin City, both meld with outburst of red blood. Slighted for a late March release, MadWorld will largely fill the gap of mature titles for the system, and hopefully pave the way for many to come.

• Muramasa: The Demon Blade

In the same fashion of its original inspirer, Muramasa will retain the same hand-drawn 2D style and gameplay of Odin Sphere, but exchanging the Norse mythology for an enthused Japanese mythology and culture. Early impressions praise the compactly refined control and smooth frame rate, hinting the game will be as pleasing as Vanillaware’s Playstation 2 epic and probably more. With the resurgence of 2D platform/action games such as Braid and Bionic Commando Rearmed, the game should foster the genre to a great extent while pleasing the old-fashioned players at the same time.

• Arc Rise Fantasia

With a high-profiled development team of RPG specialists, Arc Rise Fantasia should satisfy the role-playing hunger of numerous Wii gamers. Initial impressions affirmed the traditional feel of both the game battle mechanics and storyline, which might stimulate mixed reactions among RPG enthusiasts. However, the game is still in the early stages, which makes it a bit difficult to assemble a definite statement of the nature of the game. Personally, the return of Yasunori Mitsuda as a composer is enough reason for me to nab the game on day one.

• Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, and utilize the Wii Remote as an aid in exploration in a way of a flashlight, Fragile is surely a promising game. The game premise of searching for survivors while investigating the rationale behind the disappearance of the inabilities of the world might insinuate of another survival horror, but the producers assert the game to be an expression of human drama. The new amazingly-made trailer positively receives my approval and appreciation, making it much harder to wait for a firm North American release date.

• The Conduit

Many Wii gamers sighed relief when the game won a publisher in late October, and were further impressed when the game producers pledged the game’s support for both Wii MotionPlus and Wii Speak. With its ambitious sci-fi single player campaign and presumably free-friend code online multiplayer, The Conduit is already winning both the players and critics’ admiration, and considering the game is utilizing an engine the pushes the Wii’s graphical limitations is a prospect that should please many gamers. It might not be a Halo killer, but the aspirations are definitely impressive to say the least.

• Sin and Punishment 2

Thanks to the popularity and impressive purchases of the N64’s classic on the Wii Virtual Channel, Nintendo once again recruited the masterminds at Treasure to develop a second sequel of Sin and Punishment. Less is known about the game in terms of alternations and story, but if the tight gameplay of the predecessor is inherited to this installment, things are already shaping up for good. Considering on-rail shooters are scarce at the present time, the game is already receiving a heartwarming welcome from its many loyal fans.

• Trace Memory: R

Anyone who played both/either of Cing’s Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk: Room 216 is certainly content with this upcoming release. This dual genre of point-and-click adventure sees Ashley M. Robbins in another installment of the Trace Memory series, and in the guidance of the Wii Remote to point her to solve puzzles, explore the sceneries, and interact with the inhabitants. Hopefully the game will feature a voiced narrative and a refined replayability in this consoled reboot.

• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Not to be confused with the upcoming Wii/DS’s Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, Crystal Bearers promises a much realized action RPG gameplay and a much matured art style. The first trailer definitely looked fantastic but the game then faded to oblivion since then. However, Square-Enix’s swift reaction of the EGM’s cancelled rumor made us add this game to our list once again, despite an unconfirmed release date. Hopefully, the new trailer that will be packaged with Echoes of Time upon release might shade more news about the game, but most importantly a 2009 release date.

• Tenchu 4: Shadow Assassins

Since the first Tenchu game that graced the original Playstation back in 1998, the series didn’t meet great expectations and praises from major critics and loyal fans. However, the fourth main iteration definitely sounds hopeful, taking into account that the original team, Acquire is backing it up this time. With a full integration of the Wiimote and a linear progression (of more than 10 missions and 50 side-quests), the game might surprisingly exceed expectations.

• Little King's Story

It seems waiting for the semi-confirmed Pikim 3 is easier than we thought, thanks to the a little game called Little King’s Story. This part real-time simulation and part adventure game features an alluring promise: you assume the role of a timid boy named Corobo Bred who has found a mysterious crown which gives him the power to charm people and make them follow orders With a proclaimed title of King of the Village, your goal is to grow the village and make its inhabitants happy. With already celebrated game makers banding together such as Yasuhiro Wada (creator of Harvest Moon series), Youichi Kawaguchi (designer of Dragon Quest VIII) and Yoko Shimomura (composer of Legend of Mana series), the game is definitely in good hands.

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Although they are many great upcoming games that didn’t make the list such as Dragon Quest X, Monster Hunter 3, No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle and the new Tales mothership title, we can easily come up with a single firmed conclusion: Japanese 3rd part developers are the only ones utilizing the success of the Wii and its intuitive features more effectively. It seems western developers are still hesitant and reluctant to put great efforts into creating Wii games; although, they have no problem driving the shovelware bandwagon and dumping ports like no tomorrow.

Regardless of this unfortunate exploitation, 2009 seems a promising and a great year for the Wii and Wii gamers, thanks to the talented support from several Japanese developers. Hopefully, you will find great interest in the previously mentioned title, otherwise, I suggest selling your Wii at the nearest opportunity because the Wii isn’t for you and never was in the first place. However, as the so-called hardcore gamers deluded sentiment of betrayal and driving the notion of “Wii has no game”, it won’t be a surprise if these games don’t meet great, commercialized success. This same sentiment isn’t quite foreign to the gaming media as well. In their point of view, if Nintendo-only games are absent or not worthwhile then the whole line-up of games (both 1st and 3rd party) are condemned with the same retaliation. Hopefully, these perceptions get proved wrong for the better in 2009, and we get to witness a surge of great games as a result.

Comments

[Mohammed]

I don't know how I truly feel about my Wii. I love my 360 to death, and god knows how much I hate my PS3, but Wii is a rare case. Sometimes I hate it, while other times I grace it. I'm a person who would do anything in life but not pirate games, so the ability to play Mega Man in its shiniest hour (the trilogy), along with Shining Force 1 and 2, and LOTS of other fantastic games from Hudson and Nintendo and the likes, makes me appreciate the console even more. Some people might say that VC isn't that great, maybe because they pirate games, or maybe because they were born in the days of shiny odd polygons, but VC is truly the best 'marketplace' in the industry, hands-freaking-down. I also love the fact that Wii is the new paving, as you may say, for Dungeon Crawlers such as Chocobo Dungeon and Baroque. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend Chocobo Dungeon to any one, simply because of the steep learning curve (and difficulty) of this sub-genre, but for me, Wii is doing great and I think I'm thankful that it's "different". I couldn't care less about it being "casualized", first because if games like Boom Blox are considered as a "casual games" then I would love to turn into a casual gamer, and second, HD consoles are nothing but a "casualized PCs" in their architecture. "Casualizing" things was never a bad case. Hell, NES was a casualized console for all that matters, and without it, the consoles industry wouldn't be as good as it is nowadays.

And you know what? I'm hyped for the 'Wiimakes' a lot. MP and Echoes to be precise. If Retro re-implements the controls to match what we've seen in Corruption, it would be a great day indeed.

[G]

Ok now hmmm, Should I get a Wii
I think its a better candidate. I like Final Fantasy The only one i havent played is the one on Game Cube they said its bad :P

So I think Bye bye the idea of Xbox :P ahhh I dont know well If you have to choose between Xbox and wii, which will it be?

[Angelo]

@Mohammed

I think all of us are developing/have developed a love/rate relationship with our Wiis, and that's clearly understandable but still less unjustifiable. I think there are really great games on the Wii that has released last year such as Boom Blox, Mushroom Men, Opoona, de Blob, Wario Land: Shake it, Samba de Amigo and so on. It's just they weren't great enough. But just like you, I love what the Wii is doing, and the fact it increased the gaming population alone by 50% is just mind-blowing really

I still refuse to believe that there are "no games on the Wii" or that Nintendo turned its back on the so-called hardcore gamers. It's hard to derive such harsh conclusion from a single holiday lineup. Hell, Super Smash Brawl justifies my purchase of the Wii for this year. Anyway, I still think the year of 2009 is a promising year for the Wii and we should witness a flood of great games from here and on.

@G

Ah, you mean Crystal Chronicles. It's not bad as you long you have some friends around but it is really a fun game.

The only way to choose between the Wii and the Xbox 360 is to ask yourself what you want from your console. Personally, I vote for the Wii since it has different games and different method of playing the games, and the fact you have a PS3 means you will still get the same experience (and probably the same games) found on Xbox 360.