What is the best game out for the Wii right now?
– Allen P, Boston MA
A lot of people joke about that. They point to the Nintendo Wii and its phenomenal success and then ask where the games are.
Like others, I also believe that Wii Sports is the reason the Wii is selling so well. Aside from that one game there are not a lot of good games for the system. You can get some great older games via the Virtual Console but those are a bit pricy to me.
I can’t tell you what the best game for the Wii is right now because people who play video games often like different things so instead I’ll list five games I consider to be good and tell you a little bit about them.
- 1. Wii Sports - This is the best family game for the Wii. I have read countless stories in the newspaper about families gathering around the Wii to play this game. It’s not just families either, even retirement homes are getting into the action and using the Wii Sports game as a recreation program.
- 2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - This game appeals to the long time Nintendo fans. The character of Link has been a staple of Nintendo for over 20 years now. I still remember cutting my teeth on the original Legend of Zelda in the gold cartridge on my NES. You can get a good 50+ hours of enjoyment out of this one.
Not only does the game provide many hours of enjoyment but it also has a number of optional side quests. Couple this with the “the Wii-Remote is your sword” immersive quality of the game and you will quickly realize what makes this game so much fun.
- 3. Mario Party - The essential party game from Nintendo has a new version for the Wii. Sadly it is not much better than earlier versions. In fact you would be better served to pick up an older copy of the game for the GameCube on the discount or used rack. It’s not so much that the Wii version is bad but the GameCube versions are just as good.
Mario Party is also a game best enjoyed with the full four players. In fact, playing Mario Party is not even about the game, it’s about socializing with your friends. Think of Mario Party more as a catalyst for fun than fun itself. Oh yes, stay away from Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.
- 4. Mario Kart 64 - Yes, I know Mario Kart 64 is a Virtual Console title but it is also a great game. Yes, you could go out and buy the GameCube Double Dash version but Mario Kart 64 is great for its simplicity. Because it is a Virtual Console game you need to either purchase the over priced Classic Controller or have some GameCube controllers handy. I suggest you go with the GameCube controllers, they can be had for cheap from many used video game stores.
Unlike Mario Party, Mario Kart 64 is not a catalyst, it’s a great game. It is somewhat pricy to get it on the Virtual Console but you are also paying for the convenience factor of having it on the Wii. I almost picked Excite Truck for the multi-player racing category of games but the multi-player in Excite Truck is terrible. Besides, you can’t shoot Koopa shells at your opponents in Excite Truck!
- 5. Rayman Raving Rabbids - There is no mini-game game that is more fun than this one. Once you complete the single player mode and unlock all of the mini-games you can make an afternoon out of challenging your friends to all manner of silly games. From the fine art of cow throwing to the insanity of shooting rabbids with your plunger gun this game just shines. The only downside to this game is that each player has to have a Wii-Remote and a nunchuk to play. Yes, it can be expensive to get the full four-player fun out of this one.
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