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We've seen a fairly tight release of some amazing titles by some amazing developers and publishers this year. We've played games that have given us a thrilling experience, and those which have failed to amaze. Looking ahead to what else awaits us throughout the year, I'd say the Wii still stands strong against it's rivals as the games currently under development would appeal to even the most casual and hardcore gamers around. After reading and following upon the games I list, I want everyone to think "the Wii may finally be attracting that vigorous library it so rightfully deserves", which would mean my objective here would be met with satisfaction.
In the next 30-40 days, I'll be frequently updating this list with a new title everyday (well, almost everyday) until I reach the final top 10. The list will consist of games that I'm really hyped for, and games which look surprisingly dazzling and should be known by everyone if their looking for specific genres, styles or even branched out franchises. Without further ado, let's begin.
And that wraps up my 25 most anticipated Wii games for this year and the next. In the past 40 days, I've continuously updated this list with new info and games that would appeal from the most hardcore to the most casual gamer. I'm certain there's at least ONE game that appeals to anyone of any age. Look forward to my next blog titled, "25 Most Anticipated Wii Games: After Thought". 1. New Untitled Zelda Developer: Nintendo – Publisher: Nintendo – Release date: TBA – Players: TBA Why the excitement? With the recent release of Monster Hunter in Japan, almost all the gamers are claiming it is by far the most groundbreaking game to have embarked on the Wii. The reason for this is because of how next-gen the graphics look despite the Wii graphical limitations. I don’t know how the Monster Hunter team accomplished such an outcome, but they’ve done fantastically. The graphics were so extraordinary that even the Zelda team was impressed and now have their own standard bar to top the creation of Capcom’s masterpiece. To be honest, I’m not much of a Zelda fan. However, Twilight Princess on the Wii converted me into one. Funny, eh? That’s why the new untitled Zelda game is most definitely on my most anticipated game for next year. Twilight Princess had so much fantasy world elements which drew me into the game so well that I was immersed in the Zelda universe. I enjoyed the thrill ride and every minute of what I witnessed throughout the game. The graphics were outstanding, the gameplay was nice and simple with great tutorials, combat was solid… I could go on. Riding a horse through many isolated and breathtaking locations was also fascinating and definitely lived up to the Zelda universe. The Zelda franchise just gets bigger and better so I’m really keen to see what the Zelda team could accomplish with their next title.Official Site: UNAVAILABLE – Official Trailer: UNAVAILABLE 2. Red Steel 2 Developer: Ubisoft - Publisher: Ubisoft - Release date: 2010 - Players: 1 Player Why the excitement? Why shouldn’t I be excited? Look at the trailers and gameplay footage. This looks nothing like a Wii game and I think this looks far from astonishing. It’s magnificent. As you’ll see from my review of Red Steel, you’ll understand that even though I had some problems with the first game, Red Steel was actually spectacular. I loved every minute of the gun fire action and outstanding graphics for being the first, first-person shooter/sword game to embark on the Wii. I still feel the graphics of Red Steel are still unmatched by most of today's games. After watching the walkthrough videos from E3 I was absolutely blown away, to say the least. Since it was announced that the game will have cell-shaded graphics I was slightly disappointed, however, the game looks even more awesome compared to other cell-shaded games on the other consoles and it looks extremely unique in its own style. I also noticed the character, location and style of the game has taken a complete 360 degree change. Players will now take control of a mysterious character that looks really badass, wielding a gun and a flashy sword both with unique designs. The location is desert themed metropolis with tons of detail around each and every corner. What can I say? I’m a fan of Red Steel so no doubly this is on my most wanted list despite the new style. Ubisoft and Retro Studios (developers of Metroid) worked together on some aspects of this game so that makes me even more excited to what Red Steel 2 has to offer. No multiplayer modes (sadly) and a different story to the previous gangster life, but the single player should deliver a solid 8-10 hours of brilliant gameplay with tons of replay value which is all I ask for.Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 3. Need For Speed: Nitro Developer: EA Montreal - Publisher: Electronic Arts - Release date: Nov. 2009 - Players: 4 Players – 2 Player Co-op Why the excitement? Need For Speed: Undercover wasn't great. It wasn't the strongest racer on the Wii either. However, EA Montreal has finally decided to give NFS fans on the Wii (and DS) a hardcore arcade style NFS game, built from the ground up exclusively for the Nintendo consoles. Need For Speed: Nitro is all about driving at break neck speed and painting the city with your graffiti. As you take control of a street racer from Rio, you’ll be travelling between exotic destinations which include Madrid, Singapore, Dubai and several others, in order to become the best street racer as you take control of 25+ licensed vehicles and many tuner upgrades. The game doesn't feature any online components or it’s famous free roaming aspects, but it's offline multiplayer, cop car chases and co-op campaign modes look more than exhilarating than NFS: Undercover. EA Montreal has also introduced some new racing modes which sound more than overwhelming. I’m already sold and EA has surely caught my attention with Nitro. NFS: Most Wanted still stands as one of the best NFS titles out there and I hope EA Montreal has taken a few elements from Most Wanted and incorporated them into Nitro to make it an outstanding product. The game also looks amazing visually from screens I’ve seen and that is a huge accomplishment. Hopefully this could rejuvenate the NFS franchise on the Nintendo consoles, allowing for a welcomed sequel with even more things to look forward to.Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 4. No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture - Publisher: Ubisoft - Release date: 2010 - Players: 1 Player Why the excitement? What kind of a person would I be if No More Heroes wasn’t on my most wanted list? I just finished the review for No More Heroes. You’ll see in the review that No More Heroes was pretty awesome with fantastic ideas which some failed to amuse. The game had hilarious moments, great voice acting and some memorial characters which I loved and adored. The story was very addictive and compelling with a new twist behind each and every door. This is also the only game I know that doesn’t give players the impression it requires an online or offline multiplayer (although it would be awesome). Now that Suda is keen on making one of the greatest sequels ever, I think NMH2 will push the Wii beyond its boundaries and really present players with a brand new feel to NMH. It is a hardcore game and I think it deserves all the attention it can gather. Sadly, Suda recently announced that this would be the second and final instalment on the Wii as he'd like to broaden the game onto other platforms. The new premise is that the city of Santa Destroy has seen a huge investment and more tourists have visited and moved into the city. I’m expecting something awesome from the free roaming world so make us happy Suda. This is the final NMH game on the Wii so I'm hoping it will go out with a massive bang.Official Site: UNAVAILABLE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 5. Super Mario Galaxy 2 Developer: Nintendo – Publisher: Nintendo – Release date: 2010 - Players: N/A Why the excitement? Super Mario Galaxy was a terrific and breathtaking game. The things you can do in Super Mario Galaxy can ONLY be done on the Wii, that’s why it was so successful and managed to grip players into unlocking all the stars and unlockables throughout the game. The levels were really imaginative and very well crafted. Cutscenes were somewhat limited, but overall added a broader experience to the game as the animation cinematic was absolutely fantastic. With Super Mario Galaxy 2, Miyamoto states that the game will be pushed towards the more hardcore gamers as it’s more challenging and adventurous than the first instalment. Miyamoto also claims that almost 90% of the levels are brand new while others are ideas he couldn’t fit into the original game. Sounds good? That’s not all of it. As a brand new addition to galaxy, players can now take control of Yoshi. Normally, sequels to best selling and most intuitive games aren’t always the best move by developers. However, Super Mario Galaxy 2 looks just as promising (if not, more) as the first game with great new features that await players. Has Miyamoto done it again? I say yes with two thumbs up.Official Site: UNAVAILABLE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 6. Monster Hunter 3 (tri) Developer: Capcom - Publisher: Capcom - Release date: 2010 - Players: 2 Player Offline Co-op; 4 Player Online Co-op Why the excitement? Before I start with Monster Hunter 3 (tri) as number 6, I’d like to state that I’ve never played a single Monster Hunter game on any console. I found out about the game for the first time on the Wii a few months ago as well as a footage I saw on the Nintendo Channel. I’m just basing this spot on the videos and screens I’ve seen from the game, including some information I found on the Japanese gaming site, Famitsu. Monster Hunter 3 looks really dynamic with astonishing visuals that plunge players into their own RPG type world. The landscapes are huge and wonderfully developed with seemingly similar elements from Endless Ocean (Wii) and Shadow of the Colossus (PS2). There is a great boast of amazing visuals supported by incredible sound effects that adds a wonderful atmospheric and cinematic feel to the game. The best part is that it features a spectacular 2 player offline and 4 player online co-op mode which is more than just fantastic, it’s brilliant. I think that’s all there is to say. The game is great and it’s due to release some time next year so keep your eyes open for this great title with all it’s awesomeness.Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 7. Rabbids Go Home Developer: Ubisoft - Publisher: Ubisoft - Release date: December 2009 (EU & NA) - Players: N/A Why the excitement? Rayman: Raving Rabbids; Rayman: Raving Rabbids 2; Rayman: Raving Rabbids TV Party. Three great installments for the Rayman franchise which drove the rabbids onto embarking on their own adventure, eventually. Rabbids Go Home began development some time between August and October last year and everything was a rumour up until a few weeks before E3. In their first adventure, the rabbids attempt in building a skyscraper that'll eventually lead them to land on the moon. Or as the rabbids call it, home. As players go through a series of hilarious scenarios and challenges, so will the rabbids and their shopping cart, jet engine and tons more. It seems as though Ubisoft created their own franchise within a franchise. The game looks really vibrant and overall energetic. Hopefully the game will be a success so it could branch out to even more rabbid adventures since I am a fan of these furry little rascals. Just as a thought, what ever happened to Rayman?... As a closing statement, “BAAAAAH!!!”Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 8. Wii Sports Resort Developer: Nintendo – Publisher: Nintendo – Release date: 24th July (EU); 26th July (NA)- Players: 2 Players Why the excitement? Wii Sports Resort has been a smash hit in Japan selling over 500,000 units in its first week alone. Wii Sports was a great game with limited features. It was the regular boxing, tennis, golf, baseball and bowling which is all great family sports games which also shows off what the Wii Remote and Wii itself is capable of achieving with it’s motion sensing controls. Now that Wii Motion Plus is here, Nintendo believe they need to show off what the add-on is capable of. Miyamoto unleashes players onto Wuhu Island (yes, the name is indeed Wuhu Island). As your fire up the game you will be presented with an instruction video that shows you how to connect the Wii Remote to the Motion Plus. After that, you’ll jump off of a jet as you play around with the Wii Remote to test the accuracy of the Motion Plus. After that, you can now begin to enjoy Wuhu Island to the max. Fly a plane, ride a bike, play basketball, go canoeing, how about a water ride? To me, this sounds more than just another Wii mini-game compilation and I am anxious to try out the Wii Motion Plus on Wii Sports Resort. Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 9. Pikmin 3 Developer: Nintendo – Publisher: Nintendo – Release date: 2010 - Players: N/A Why the excitement? Did you forget about Pikmin? I surely haven't. We’ve seen what a next-gen Metroid game looks like, imagine how a next-gen Pikmin game could look like. Captain Olimar has returned, or will return, for a brand new Pikmin adventure. Olimar has travelled the globe with his mighty Pikmin in order to gather his ship parts with the help of some allies along the way. Brining the New Play Control! games was obviously a very smooth move as players noticed how smoothly the Pikmin universe became with the point and move peripherals. Pikmin 2 introduced new Pikmins to the library and who knows what Miyamoto has in-store for us in Pikmin 3. We might have a flying Pikmin, or even one that can deliver the kiss of death on enemies. Whatever the selection, the new adventure will bring a lot more to the Pikmin universe and hopefully Miyamoto will deliver with satisfaction. I was also disappointed that Nintendo had nothing to show at E3 this year. This was mainly due to the fact that they had a small team working on Pikmin 3 which is understandable. So hopefully they'll have something prepared for E3 2010, and I look forward to seeing Captain Olimar once again.Official Site: UNAVAILABLE - Official Trailer: UNAVAILABLE 10. Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics Developer: Sega - Publisher: Sega - Release date: Oct. 16th (EU); Oct. 13th (NA) - Players: 4 Players Why the excitement? I'll be honest, the first game wasn't THAT great. The entertainment was off the roof with friends, but nothing to keep single players hanging and returning for more. The game had an extremely weak campaign mode and no online features to emphasize on the entertainment. I was expecting a hardcore competition between both Mario Team and Sonic Team, sad to say, I was disappointed with the outcome. The sequel looks promising with a new set of entertainingly fun looking winter events and two new playable characters added to the library of Olympic champions. If the game features a slick campaign mode with a robust multiplayer (similar to the first) Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics could hit the top of my most wanted list. Until I see these features with my own two eyes, I'll just say it's worth looking forward to since I had a fantastic time with friends and family on the first instalment to the Mario and Sonic Olympics.Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 11. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage Developer: Ubisoft Montreal – Publisher: Ubisoft – Release date: TBA – Players: TBA Why the excitement? This is the fourth Ubisoft title to look forward to ever since this list begun. Shaun White Snowboarding has been one of the biggest hits Ubisoft has released on the Nintendo Wii. The game entertained and sold thousands, alongside many positive reviews and feedback from the Nintendo audience. Ubisoft have concluded that a sequel to this newly famous franchise is best, and fans won’t be disappointed to see their heroes return. The best part is the sequel will be a Wii exclusive despite the first being released on all current-gen consoles. The graphics have been somewhat refined and Shaun White is prepareing to become a world pro snowboarder. With a variety of locations to visit and explore, Ubisoft have really outdone themselves with Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage and I hope their efforts will pay off with the sequel. Will players have what it takes to become a snowboarding pro? I say, bring it on!Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 12. Muramasa: The Demon Blade Developer: Vanillaware - Publisher: Ignition Entertainment - Release date: TBA (EU); Sept. 1st (NA) - Players: 1 Player Why the excitement? As a starting sentence, I’d like to say that Muramasa looks absolutely fantastic. The 2D artistic nature and style of the game really shines amongst most Wii titles out there. Players will experience the beauty behind all of the well constructed environments, complimented by a side-scrolling gameplay. The main characters in the game are Momohime and Kisuke. Momohime is a young princess who’s been possessed by an evil spirit. Kisuke is an amnesiac ninja on the run. What does that mean? It means, he’s a fugitive on the run for crimes he does not remember committing. Players will need to gather over 100 of the cursed swords before Shogun finds and uses the powers for evil purposes. At the same time, players will also uncover secrets of their own characters along the way. Depending on which character you pick, either of the two will have it’s own set of unique boss fights including multiple game endings and cutscene paths which will most definitely extend replay value. You can also forge your own sword, visit the restaurant to heal your health, purchase accessories from the store and tons more. The action and non-stop combat is balanced out with these relaxing and calm moments. The game will be fully compatible with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, however, the game will also be compatible with the GameCube and classic controller which is fantastic. All in all, Muramasa: The Demon Blade looks like a worthy contender for Wii game of the year amongst many great games due out this year. Vanillaware released Odin Sphere for the PS2 which was a success and it looks like they’ve nailed it again with Muramasa: The Demon Blade.Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 13. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Developer: Climax Studios - Publisher: Konami - Release date: TBA - Players: 1 Player Why the excitement? Silent Hill: Shattered Memories was an unexpected announcement by Konami last year. The more unexpected announcement is that Shattered Memories would be exclusive on the Wii, PS2 and PSP. This means there will be no horrible ports from the 360 or PS3 which also means Climax Studios will have more time to wrap up the Wii version for the better. The game looks terrific so far with enjoyable to watch in-game cutscenes, aided with fantastic graphics and realistic cinematic with lighting effects. The story follows the struggles of a father, Harry Mason, as he searches for his daughter, Cheryl, in the town of Silent Hill. After their car crashes Cheryl goes missing and the story begins. Everything happens in a split second and Climax Studios delivers a very good and original survival horror genre that lives up to the Silent Hill franchise. Climax has also been brave enough to add a few new features to the Wii version. They’re clearly holding nothing back. Shattered Memories will use the Wii Remote as a torch as well as a mobile phone. The mobile phone will function as a real life phone would as you make phone calls, view a digital map, take photo’s, receive text messages and voice mails including tons more. The world of Silent Hill can be seen as two parallel universes. On one hand you have a quiet and hostile town. On the other, there’s these horrifyingly gruesome monster like creatures. Everything changes at unexpected times turning the search into a survival game. This game definitely looks like it has the keys to continue the Silent Hill franchise with an iron fist. Will you be ready to enter Silent Hill?Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 14. Wii Fit Plus Developer: Nintendo – Publisher: Nintendo – Release date: Fall 2009 – Players: N/A Why the excitement? The first Wii Fit DOES work if players are committed in devoting time to the game. Most of the complaints came from the game not working because it was either too slow, too fast, or wasn’t that accurate. Although most of the program was filled with yoga and mini-games, the game managed to show some signs of effort in moving players in a healthy direction. However, the game wasn’t strict at how often, when or how you played the game which was a big disappointment. You could practically open the game and start your exercise at any time. Sounds good? Well, not really. If you want a fitness game to keep up with your schedule, it has to be concise and very adjustable when it comes to performing exercises. If I miss one program, I want it to feel like I’ve missed one massive schedule. With the new Wii Fit Plus, players will be able to take on a sequel with a lot more accuracy, precision and more energetic events. The game also makes use of the Wii Balance Board, once again. Hopefully the exercise routine will be strict and soothing at the same time.Official Site: UNAVAILABLE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 15. Dead Space: Extraction Developer: Visceral Games – Publisher: EA – Release date: Oct. 2nd (EU); Sept. 29th (NA) – Players: 2 Player Co-op Why the excitement? I’m not quiet so sure how Dead Space: Extraction made it all the way to the middle of the list, but I’m surprised even as your reading this. I’m not a major fan of on-rails first-person shooter survival/horror games, however, Dead Space: Extraction looks astonishing and seems to push the on-rail and horror genre in the right direction. As well as boasting a unique set of visual effects throughout the game, Dead Space really gives players the spooky feel and sends chills up their spines. House of the Dead: Overkill had it’s positives and I believe it has definitely set a standard bar for on-rail genres, but also had it’s fair share of negatives. Like House of the Dead, players can grab a friend and go through the single player campaign together. Not too certain if there are any online features (most probably not) but the relentless non-stop action will drive players to the finish line and attached to the game for a while. The game features both core action and mini-game sets in a fairly movie style way. While your partner tries to break the code for the door or elevator, you’ll be shooting off the raging aliens vice versa. Voice acting and character models look great and I like what EA has done with the alien species. There appears to be a mixed variety of enemies and I think it looks great. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 and Grand Slam Tennis received many positive responses, so I hope EA can keep a clean streak with Dead Space: Extraction.Official Site: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up! Developer: Ubisoft - Publisher: Ubisoft - Release date: Sept. 25th 2009 (EU); Sept. 9th 2009 (NA)- Players: 4 Players Why the excitement? This is one of those games that made me say, “oh, wow… really?” Why, you may ask? Well, I found it ever so similar to Super Smash Brothers Brawl that I found it hard not saying it. Don’t get me wrong, the game looks absolutely terrific, just like Brawl. I’m sure Ubisoft and their combined Brawl team will deliver a very solid and dynamic game, however, if they forget to screw legs to the game it’ll tremble across the floor. In other words, the game would be a huge failure. Making a game similar to Brawl is extremely hard, especially since the TMNT library isn’t as large as Nintendo’s army of line-ups. The TMNT series has slowly deprived from our telly over the years and players might have trouble recognising who Raphael or Michelangelo actually looks like. I’d rather see Ubi’s famous characters from Assassins Creed, Splinter Cell and Rabbids featured in TMNT: Smash Up!, Rather than Academy of Champions. The reason is simple, it’ll add more variety to the game. Nonetheless, this is a brawl you wouldn’t want to miss in Septemeber. Official Trailer: CLICK HERE – Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 17. Spyborgs Developer: Bionic Games - Publisher: Capcom - Release date: October 30th 2009 (EU) - Players: 2 Player Co-op Why the excitement? If you aren’t that aware of Bionic Games, you should at least know they’ve worked on top notch games such as Ratchet and Clank, The Sims, Call of Duty and several others. Have you ever wanted a game that gives you the impression your playing Ratchet & Clank, Devil May Cry and God of War, all on one game? If yes, Spyborgs is the game to keep your eyes wide open for. The game has been built from the ground up for the Wii with tons of environments, locations and boss battles to encounter. The game is said to deliver a solid 2 player offline co-op system which seems remarkable and fantastic for those who wish to adventure through the campaign mode with family members or friends (like myself). The premise is that a former Spyborg agent has turned rogue and is now hunting all the other Spyborgs. Your mission is to take out his minions and bring him down. The game features both casual and hardcore elements which players will be happy to hear. A lot of time has been spent on developing the 2 player co-op system and I’m really hoping it delivers above all expectationsOfficial Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 18. Metroid: Other M Developer: Team Ninja – Publisher: Nintendo – Release date: 2010 – Players: N/A Why the excitement? After Metroid Prime: Corruption, some fans believed the Metroid series had finally concluded. Little did they know that Nintendo had teamed up with Team Ninja to deliver a brand new Metroid game. The new Metroid no longer plunges players into the first-person shooter perspective, however, looking at the E3 trailer fans of the Metroid series witnessed a new gameplay style that draws players into the immense action as the camera rotates to give players the thrilling action. Metroid: Other M was yet another unexpected reveal by Nintendo, especially the news that Team Ninja was developing the game instead of Retro Studios. The game looks smooth and descent. I’m just unsure if it’ll be as great without the first-person field and no Retro Studios. As a closing statement, looks can be deceiving. Official Site: UNAVAILABLE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 19. Your Shape Developer: Ubisoft - Publisher: Ubisoft - Release date: 2009 - Players: N/A Why the excitement? Your Shape is the first game developed by a third-party with a third-party accessory bundled with the game that adds a new level of peripheral on the Wii's motion sensing capabilities. Your Shape cleverly scans the players body and focuses work outs on specific areas that players are keen on building and improving. This also eliminated the use of a Wii Balance Board and is completely hands-free which is fantastic news for those with limited space in their room. Although the device may posses some set backs, it appears as though Your Shape will revolutionise fitness training on the Wii by taking it to a whole new level. This may also bring more games forward, taking advantage of Your Shape's camera if it is successful. I’m personally looking forward to how the camera will perform, and how it can be implemented on screen.
20. The Grinder Developer: High Voltage Software – Publisher: N/A – Release date: 2010 – Players: 4 Player Co-op Online/Offline Why the excitement? The Grinder (along with Gladiator A.D.) was revealed a few days before E3 on IGN. High Voltage Software has confirmed that The Grinder will deliver a solid four player online and offline co-op against hordes of werewolves, slashers, zombies, vampires, Frankenstein like characters, and tons more. With up to four playable characters to choose from and 65 enemies on screen at once, the game could get real repetitive real fast. Nonetheless, this can also provide a fluid experience and smarter allies than the A.I to tag along beside you. The Grinder will also fill up yet another open slot in the Wii’s library with enhanced graphics (beyond The Conduit) and even more stylized controls including a brand new survival genre unlike any other that is currently on the system. When speaking about Gladiator A.D. and The Grinder, it’s hard not mentioning The Conduit since that’s the root of both games. So far, the game looks spectacular and there's still months to go before its released in 2010. I can't wait to see how The Grinder changes between now and then. Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 21. Academy of Champions Developer: Ubisoft - Publisher: Ubisoft - Release date: 2009 - Players: 2 Players (Possibly 4) Why the excitement? Academy of Champions is an arcade style five-on-five football game (or as they call it in NA, soccer) with the mighty Pelé as your instructor. Although the information on Academy of Champions is extremely limited at this stage, the game seems similar to Mario Strikers Charged from the E3 trailer with power shots and repetitive gameplay. They’ve also confirmed that the game will be compatible with the Wii Balance Board and Wii Motion Plus add-on. Allowing for a tighter peripheral while playing. Other additions include several characters from other Ubi franchises including Assassins Creed, Splinter Cell and Rayman Raving Rabbids. This would give players the option of playing as their favourite characters from other Ubisoft games which is a mighty plus and a feature I find rather interesting. Nonetheless, Academy of Champions looks like a very firm game to keep your eyes open for.Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 22. Gladiator A.D. Developer: High Voltage Software - Publisher: N/A - Release date: 2010 - Players: N/A
Why the excitement? I really admire the efforts High Voltage Software has put into The Conduit in terms of cutting edge graphics, gameplay mechanics and the robust online multiplayer. They've pushed the Wii beyond all expectations and nobody expected such a result. From the trailers and gameplay footage I've seen recently, Gladiator A.D. looks quiet good and dynamic. The approach in which the game has taken has even given it a violent edge, similar to MadWorld. With that said, I felt the style of play was really a bad choice. The gameplay point of view gives players the impression their playing a far more violent and slow version of Punch-Out!!. The game is still in early stages of development and I can understand how the game can change anytime. However, the game won’t be much of a hit if the gameplay aspects remain the same.Official Site: UNAVAILABLE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE
23. Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo Developer: Namco Bandai Games - Publisher: Namco Bandai Games - Release date: 2009 - Players: N/A
Why the excitement? Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was a true fighting marvel, right until Super Smash Bros. Brawl was released. It's been years since the anime series ended, but still manages to stay alive through video games and the recent movie adaptation, Dragon Ball Evolution. It's been just over a year since a new Dragon Ball Z game has been released and Namco Bandai Games still persist in delivering another set of strong fighters to take on a new Dragon Ball adventure. The story starts from square one of the actual series, when Piccolo was still an enemy of young Goku. Well, that's all I know. I’ve played that chapter many times on previous Dragon Ball games so it isn’t something new to me. As a side step from the previous titles, the game has also changed its fighting style from a third-person fighter, into a side-viewed fighter, similar to that of Viewtiful Joe. The graphics also seem refined from the trailer footages that I’ve seen released before E3 with titbits of gameplay in between. The cell-shaded graphics seemed somewhat more polished. Overall, I hope the new adventure will be just as fun as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3. (That title right there is a mouth full) Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE 24. New Super Mario Bros. Wii Developer: Nintendo - Publisher: Nintendo - Release date: Nov. 27th 2009 (EU); TBA (NA) - Players: 4 Player Co-op
Why the excitement? You may be asking, why is this game near the bottom of the list? Well, I've encountered tons of Mario games similar to this one in the past on Nintendo's handheld systems. To be honest, the game looks extremely similar to the New Super Mario Bros. DS. The only new feature is the four player co-op and a few add-ons in the game which are great, but isn't that big of a leap in the Mario universe. The game looks great, so does the multiplayer components and no doubly it'll be a big winner for Mario fans who want to explore through the Mario universe with friends and family. Nintendo promises to deliver a variety of entertaining game modes and spice up the rivalry between friends and they will deliver. The announcement was unexpected, but was also the least exciting (for me, anyways). 25. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Developer: N-Space - Publisher: Activision - Release date: Sept. 18th 2009 (EU); Sept. 30th 2009 (NA) - Players: 2 Player Co-op
Why the excitement? The first Marvel: Ultimate Alliance instalment made it's way onto the Wii in 2006, but didn't receive as much attention as it's brothers on the PS3 and Xbox 360. The original game received a variety of mixed reviews for the Wii version, leaving the decision up to players to decide whether or not they were prepared for the excitement or disappointment. It was a port which had it's ups and downs. The sequel to the original has been underway since last year and N-Space is currently developing the Wii version. Hopefully the game won't be a port on all aspects and will at least attempt to impress on some fields such as it's clunky gameplay and dimmed down graphics of the original. However, the game featured a great 2 player co-op and I'd like to see them build on this further to deliver a solid game for Marvel fans on the system.Official Site: CLICK HERE - Official Trailer: CLICK HERE
Keep your eyes on this blog if you want to keep aware of games to expect this year and the next, up until we reach number one. I just hope you're all aware of what to expect from the Wii in the coming months and year. Please understand, these are all personal opinions based on viewed video footage, interviews as well as personal favorites - Feel free to e-mail me your own opinions and suggestions at murat@wiiloveit.com |
Monster Hunter team accomplished such an outcome, but they’ve done fantastically. The graphics were so extraordinary that even the Zelda team was impressed and now have their own standard bar to top the creation of Capcom’s masterpiece. To be honest, I’m not much of a Zelda fan. However, Twilight Princess on the Wii converted me into one. Funny, eh? That’s why the new untitled Zelda game is most definitely on my most anticipated game for next year. Twilight Princess had so much fantasy world elements which drew me into the game so well that I was immersed in the Zelda universe. I enjoyed the thrill ride and every minute of what I witnessed throughout the game. The graphics were outstanding, the gameplay was nice and simple with great tutorials, combat was solid… I could go on. Riding a horse through many isolated and breathtaking locations was also fascinating and definitely lived up to the Zelda universe. The Zelda franchise just gets bigger and better so I’m really keen to see what the Zelda team could accomplish with their next title.
away, to say the least. Since it was announced that the game will have cell-shaded graphics I was slightly disappointed, however, the game looks even more awesome compared to other cell-shaded games on the other consoles and it looks extremely unique in its own style. I also noticed the character, location and style of the game has taken a complete 360 degree change. Players will now take control of a mysterious character that looks really badass, wielding a gun and a flashy sword both with unique designs. The location is desert themed metropolis with tons of detail around each and every corner. What can I say? I’m a fan of Red Steel so no doubly this is on my most wanted list despite the new style. Ubisoft and Retro Studios (developers of Metroid) worked together on some aspects of this game so that makes me even more excited to what Red Steel 2 has to offer. No multiplayer modes (sadly) and a different story to the previous gangster life, but the single player should deliver a solid 8-10 hours of brilliant gameplay with tons of replay value which is all I ask for.
control of a street racer from Rio, you’ll be travelling between exotic destinations which include Madrid, Singapore, Dubai and several others, in order to become the best street racer as you take control of 25+ licensed vehicles and many tuner upgrades. The game doesn't feature any online components or it’s famous free roaming aspects, but it's offline multiplayer, cop car chases and co-op campaign modes look more than exhilarating than NFS: Undercover. EA Montreal has also introduced some new racing modes which sound more than overwhelming. I’m already sold and EA has surely caught my attention with Nitro. NFS: Most Wanted still stands as one of the best NFS titles out there and I hope EA Montreal has taken a few elements from Most Wanted and incorporated them into Nitro to make it an outstanding product. The game also looks amazing visually from screens I’ve seen and that is a huge accomplishment. Hopefully this could rejuvenate the NFS franchise on the Nintendo consoles, allowing for a welcomed sequel with even more things to look forward to.
to amuse. The game had hilarious moments, great voice acting and some memorial characters which I loved and adored. The story was very addictive and compelling with a new twist behind each and every door. This is also the only game I know that doesn’t give players the impression it requires an online or offline multiplayer (although it would be awesome). Now that Suda is keen on making one of the greatest sequels ever, I think NMH2 will push the Wii beyond its boundaries and really present players with a brand new feel to NMH. It is a hardcore game and I think it deserves all the attention it can gather. Sadly, Suda recently announced that this would be the second and final instalment on the Wii as he'd like to broaden the game onto other platforms. The new premise is that the city of Santa Destroy has seen a huge investment and more tourists have visited and moved into the city. I’m expecting something awesome from the free roaming world so make us happy Suda. This is the final NMH game on the Wii so I'm hoping it will go out with a massive bang.
well crafted. Cutscenes were somewhat limited, but overall added a broader experience to the game as the animation cinematic was absolutely fantastic. With Super Mario Galaxy 2, Miyamoto states that the game will be pushed towards the more hardcore gamers as it’s more challenging and adventurous than the first instalment. Miyamoto also claims that almost 90% of the levels are brand new while others are ideas he couldn’t fit into the original game. Sounds good? That’s not all of it. As a brand new addition to galaxy, players can now take control of Yoshi. Normally, sequels to best selling and most intuitive games aren’t always the best move by developers. However, Super Mario Galaxy 2 looks just as promising (if not, more) as the first game with great new features that await players. Has Miyamoto done it again? I say yes with two thumbs up.
on the videos and screens I’ve seen from the game, including some information I found on the Japanese gaming site, Famitsu. Monster Hunter 3 looks really dynamic with astonishing visuals that plunge players into their own RPG type world. The landscapes are huge and wonderfully developed with seemingly similar elements from Endless Ocean (Wii) and Shadow of the Colossus (PS2). There is a great boast of amazing visuals supported by incredible sound effects that adds a wonderful atmospheric and cinematic feel to the game. The best part is that it features a spectacular 2 player offline and 4 player online co-op mode which is more than just fantastic, it’s brilliant. I think that’s all there is to say. The game is great and it’s due to release some time next year so keep your eyes open for this great title with all it’s awesomeness.
Rayman franchise which drove the rabbids onto embarking on their own adventure, eventually. Rabbids Go Home began development some time between August and October last year and everything was a rumour up until a few weeks before E3. In their first adventure, the rabbids attempt in building a skyscraper that'll eventually lead them to land on the moon. Or as the rabbids call it, home. As players go through a series of hilarious scenarios and challenges, so will the rabbids and their shopping cart, jet engine and tons more. It seems as though Ubisoft created their own franchise within a franchise. The game looks really vibrant and overall energetic. Hopefully the game will be a success so it could branch out to even more rabbid adventures since I am a fan of these furry little rascals. Just as a thought, what ever happened to Rayman?... As a closing statement, “BAAAAAH!!!”
great game with limited features. It was the regular boxing, tennis, golf, baseball and bowling which is all great family sports games which also shows off what the Wii Remote and Wii itself is capable of achieving with it’s motion sensing controls. Now that Wii Motion Plus is here, Nintendo believe they need to show off what the add-on is capable of. Miyamoto unleashes players onto Wuhu Island (yes, the name is indeed Wuhu Island). As your fire up the game you will be presented with an instruction video that shows you how to connect the Wii Remote to the Motion Plus. After that, you’ll jump off of a jet as you play around with the Wii Remote to test the accuracy of the Motion Plus. After that, you can now begin to enjoy Wuhu Island to the max. Fly a plane, ride a bike, play basketball, go canoeing, how about a water ride? To me, this sounds more than just another Wii mini-game compilation and I am anxious to try out the Wii Motion Plus on Wii Sports Resort.
travelled the globe with his mighty Pikmin in order to gather his ship parts with the help of some allies along the way. Brining the New Play Control! games was obviously a very smooth move as players noticed how smoothly the Pikmin universe became with the point and move peripherals. Pikmin 2 introduced new Pikmins to the library and who knows what Miyamoto has in-store for us in Pikmin 3. We might have a flying Pikmin, or even one that can deliver the kiss of death on enemies. Whatever the selection, the new adventure will bring a lot more to the Pikmin universe and hopefully Miyamoto will deliver with satisfaction. I was also disappointed that Nintendo had nothing to show at E3 this year. This was mainly due to the fact that they had a small team working on Pikmin 3 which is understandable. So hopefully they'll have something prepared for E3 2010, and I look forward to seeing Captain Olimar once again.
had an extremely weak campaign mode and no online features to emphasize on the entertainment. I was expecting a hardcore competition between both Mario Team and Sonic Team, sad to say, I was disappointed with the outcome. The sequel looks promising with a new set of entertainingly fun looking winter events and two new playable characters added to the library of Olympic champions. If the game features a slick campaign mode with a robust multiplayer (similar to the first) Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics could hit the top of my most wanted list. Until I see these features with my own two eyes, I'll just say it's worth looking forward to since I had a fantastic time with friends and family on the first instalment to the Mario and Sonic Olympics.
The game entertained and sold thousands, alongside many positive reviews and feedback from the Nintendo audience. Ubisoft have concluded that a sequel to this newly famous franchise is best, and fans won’t be disappointed to see their heroes return. The best part is the sequel will be a Wii exclusive despite the first being released on all current-gen consoles. The graphics have been somewhat refined and Shaun White is prepareing to become a world pro snowboarder. With a variety of locations to visit and explore, Ubisoft have really outdone themselves with Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage and I hope their efforts will pay off with the sequel. Will players have what it takes to become a snowboarding pro? I say, bring it on!
and Kisuke. Momohime is a young princess who’s been possessed by an evil spirit. Kisuke is an amnesiac ninja on the run. What does that mean? It means, he’s a fugitive on the run for crimes he does not remember committing. Players will need to gather over 100 of the cursed swords before Shogun finds and uses the powers for evil purposes. At the same time, players will also uncover secrets of their own characters along the way. Depending on which character you pick, either of the two will have it’s own set of unique boss fights including multiple game endings and cutscene paths which will most definitely extend replay value. You can also forge your own sword, visit the restaurant to heal your health, purchase accessories from the store and tons more. The action and non-stop combat is balanced out with these relaxing and calm moments. The game will be fully compatible with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, however, the game will also be compatible with the GameCube and classic controller which is fantastic. All in all, Muramasa: The Demon Blade looks like a worthy contender for Wii game of the year amongst many great games due out this year. Vanillaware released Odin Sphere for the PS2 which was a success and it looks like they’ve nailed it again with Muramasa: The Demon Blade.
graphics and realistic cinematic with lighting effects. The story follows the struggles of a father, Harry Mason, as he searches for his daughter, Cheryl, in the town of Silent Hill. After their car crashes Cheryl goes missing and the story begins. Everything happens in a split second and Climax Studios delivers a very good and original survival horror genre that lives up to the Silent Hill franchise. Climax has also been brave enough to add a few new features to the Wii version. They’re clearly holding nothing back. Shattered Memories will use the Wii Remote as a torch as well as a mobile phone. The mobile phone will function as a real life phone would as you make phone calls, view a digital map, take photo’s, receive text messages and voice mails including tons more. The world of Silent Hill can be seen as two parallel universes. On one hand you have a quiet and hostile town. On the other, there’s these horrifyingly gruesome monster like creatures. Everything changes at unexpected times turning the search into a survival game. This game definitely looks like it has the keys to continue the Silent Hill franchise with an iron fist. Will you be ready to enter Silent Hill?
show some signs of effort in moving players in a healthy direction. However, the game wasn’t strict at how often, when or how you played the game which was a big disappointment. You could practically open the game and start your exercise at any time. Sounds good? Well, not really. If you want a fitness game to keep up with your schedule, it has to be concise and very adjustable when it comes to performing exercises. If I miss one program, I want it to feel like I’ve missed one massive schedule. With the new Wii Fit Plus, players will be able to take on a sequel with a lot more accuracy, precision and more energetic events. The game also makes use of the Wii Balance Board, once again. Hopefully the exercise routine will be strict and soothing at the same time.
astonishing and seems to push the on-rail and horror genre in the right direction. As well as boasting a unique set of visual effects throughout the game, Dead Space really gives players the spooky feel and sends chills up their spines. House of the Dead: Overkill had it’s positives and I believe it has definitely set a standard bar for on-rail genres, but also had it’s fair share of negatives. Like House of the Dead, players can grab a friend and go through the single player campaign together. Not too certain if there are any online features (most probably not) but the relentless non-stop action will drive players to the finish line and attached to the game for a while. The game features both core action and mini-game sets in a fairly movie style way. While your partner tries to break the code for the door or elevator, you’ll be shooting off the raging aliens vice versa. Voice acting and character models look great and I like what EA has done with the alien species. There appears to be a mixed variety of enemies and I think it looks great. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 and Grand Slam Tennis received many positive responses, so I hope EA can keep a clean streak with Dead Space: Extraction.
team will deliver a very solid and dynamic game, however, if they forget to screw legs to the game it’ll tremble across the floor. In other words, the game would be a huge failure. Making a game similar to Brawl is extremely hard, especially since the TMNT library isn’t as large as Nintendo’s army of line-ups. The TMNT series has slowly deprived from our telly over the years and players might have trouble recognising who Raphael or Michelangelo actually looks like. I’d rather see Ubi’s famous characters from Assassins Creed, Splinter Cell and Rabbids featured in TMNT: Smash Up!, Rather than Academy of Champions. The reason is simple, it’ll add more variety to the game. Nonetheless, this is a brawl you wouldn’t want to miss in Septemeber.
on one game? If yes, Spyborgs is the game to keep your eyes wide open for. The game has been built from the ground up for the Wii with tons of environments, locations and boss battles to encounter. The game is said to deliver a solid 2 player offline co-op system which seems remarkable and fantastic for those who wish to adventure through the campaign mode with family members or friends (like myself). The premise is that a former Spyborg agent has turned rogue and is now hunting all the other Spyborgs. Your mission is to take out his minions and bring him down. The game features both casual and hardcore elements which players will be happy to hear. A lot of time has been spent on developing the 2 player co-op system and I’m really hoping it delivers above all expectations
Metroid game. The new Metroid no longer plunges players into the first-person shooter perspective, however, looking at the E3 trailer fans of the Metroid series witnessed a new gameplay style that draws players into the immense action as the camera rotates to give players the thrilling action. Metroid: Other M was yet another unexpected reveal by Nintendo, especially the news that Team Ninja was developing the game instead of Retro Studios. The game looks smooth and descent. I’m just unsure if it’ll be as great without the first-person field and no Retro Studios. As a closing statement, looks can be deceiving.
capabilities. Your Shape cleverly scans the players body and focuses work outs on specific areas that players are keen on building and improving. This also eliminated the use of a Wii Balance Board and is completely hands-free which is fantastic news for those with limited space in their room. Although the device may posses some set backs, it appears as though Your Shape will revolutionise fitness training on the Wii by taking it to a whole new level. This may also bring more games forward, taking advantage of Your Shape's camera if it is successful. I’m personally looking forward to how the camera will perform, and how it can be implemented on screen.
offline co-op against hordes of werewolves, slashers, zombies, vampires, Frankenstein like characters, and tons more. With up to four playable characters to choose from and 65 enemies on screen at once, the game could get real repetitive real fast. Nonetheless, this can also provide a fluid experience and smarter allies than the A.I to tag along beside you. The Grinder will also fill up yet another open slot in the Wii’s library with enhanced graphics (beyond The Conduit) and even more stylized controls including a brand new survival genre unlike any other that is currently on the system. When speaking about Gladiator A.D. and The Grinder, it’s hard not mentioning The Conduit since that’s the root of both games. So far, the game looks spectacular and there's still months to go before its released in 2010. I can't wait to see how The Grinder changes between now and then.
Academy of Champions is extremely limited at this stage, the game seems similar to Mario Strikers Charged from the E3 trailer with power shots and repetitive gameplay. They’ve also confirmed that the game will be compatible with the Wii Balance Board and Wii Motion Plus add-on. Allowing for a tighter peripheral while playing. Other additions include several characters from other Ubi franchises including Assassins Creed, Splinter Cell and Rayman Raving Rabbids. This would give players the option of playing as their favourite characters from other Ubisoft games which is a mighty plus and a feature I find rather interesting. Nonetheless, Academy of Champions looks like a very firm game to keep your eyes open for.
beyond all expectations and nobody expected such a result. From the trailers and gameplay footage I've seen recently, Gladiator A.D. looks quiet good and dynamic. The approach in which the game has taken has even given it a violent edge, similar to MadWorld. With that said, I felt the style of play was really a bad choice. The gameplay point of view gives players the impression their playing a far more violent and slow version of Punch-Out!!. The game is still in early stages of development and I can understand how the game can change anytime. However, the game won’t be much of a hit if the gameplay aspects remain the same.
Dragon Ball Evolution. It's been just over a year since a new Dragon Ball Z game has been released and Namco Bandai Games still persist in delivering another set of strong fighters to take on a new Dragon Ball adventure. The story starts from square one of the actual series, when Piccolo was still an enemy of young Goku. Well, that's all I know. I’ve played that chapter many times on previous Dragon Ball games so it isn’t something new to me. As a side step from the previous titles, the game has also changed its fighting style from a third-person fighter, into a side-viewed fighter, similar to that of Viewtiful Joe. The graphics also seem refined from the trailer footages that I’ve seen released before E3 with titbits of gameplay in between. The cell-shaded graphics seemed somewhat more polished. Overall, I hope the new adventure will be just as fun as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3. (That title right there is a mouth full)
honest, the game looks extremely similar to the New Super Mario Bros. DS. The only new feature is the four player co-op and a few add-ons in the game which are great, but isn't that big of a leap in the Mario universe. The game looks great, so does the multiplayer components and no doubly it'll be a big winner for Mario fans who want to explore through the Mario universe with friends and family. Nintendo promises to deliver a variety of entertaining game modes and spice up the rivalry between friends and they will deliver. The announcement was unexpected, but was also the least exciting (for me, anyways).
The first Marvel: Ultimate Alliance instalment made it's way onto the Wii in 2006, but didn't receive as much attention as it's brothers on the PS3 and Xbox 360. The original game received a variety of mixed reviews for the Wii version, leaving the decision up to players to decide whether or not they were prepared for the excitement or disappointment. It was a port which had it's ups and downs. The sequel to the original has been underway since last year and N-Space is currently developing the Wii version. Hopefully the game won't be a port on all aspects and will at least attempt to impress on some fields such as it's clunky gameplay and dimmed down graphics of the original. However, the game featured a great 2 player co-op and I'd like to see them build on this further to deliver a solid game for Marvel fans on the system.

