17777
« on: July 26, 2007, 12:33:09 AM »
1. Super Mario Galaxy
I don't care if it makes me a commie, Galaxy is shaping up to be Game of the Year. The more I see the more I love, the return of costume powerups is great (fingers crossed for at least a cameo for the Tanooki suit). The gravity mechanic is interesting and fresh, they seem to have implemented one of the best parts of Sunshine: the straightforward get-to-the-goal warp zone levels, and to top it off looks spectacular and hopefully will shut up some people saying the Wii can't do good graphics (I know it won't, but I can dream).
2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
While I don't think it's possible for the game to live up to the endless supply of hype, I do think it's going to be amazingly good and significantly better than the greatness that was Melee. The daily updates may not all be good, but the ones that are (like today's, I was just thinking the other day that it would be cool if you could damage someone by jumping on them like in the Mario games and here it is in a way that makes gameplay sense. I suppose I should make another wish and see if it comes true. How about a Mushroom Kingdom III in the vein of Mushroom Kingdom II in Brawl; desgined after Super Mario 3 with various enemies from that game).
3. Battalion Wars II
I had always meant to pick up the original, but before I did I saw the announcement for a Wii sequel and decided to wait. Several key improvements, such as naval units, the Wii remote controls being naturally better for certain strategy elements, and, here's the big one, online multiplayer. Being the second (and hopefully not last) first-party Wii game this year with Wi-Fi play (we shall never speak of Pokemon Battle Revolution again, and Strikers isn't on my list because it comes out in less than a week, I already have it pre-ordered and paid for).
4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
The controls seem perfect in every preview I've read. That, along with what sounds like an epic and immersive story has me sold (literally, I just put down a preorder last night).
5. Guitar Hero III
I played the first two at a friend's house and knew immediately I needed the game. I would have bought it for the PS2, but then they announced this for the Wii so I put it off.
6. Geometry Wars: Galaxies
I've heard so much about how great the XBLA game is, and this heavily expanded version and it's Wii-specific controls excite me.
7. Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
I just got RE4 and I absolutely love it. I almost passed it up completely as I wasn't a fan of the series, then everyone constantly calling it one of the best games ever made me try it. I'm glad I did, the game is amazing. I did not expect to like it anywhere close to how much I like it. I couldn't possibly play it on the GC, my first experience was with the Wii version and it has spoiled me in a way that I don't think I could aim with an analog stick again. Umbrella Chronicles will let me learn the backstory, and I've been itching for a light gun game. I don't know if it will work well with the Zapper, but I'll definitely shell out the $20 for the thing as long as the bundled game is a new Duck Hunt, preferably with the original included.
8. MySims
I am not ashamed to admit that I enjoy the PC Sims games, but most console offerings so far haven't been very good (though I really enjoyed The Urbz on the DS). This game is being built for the Wii, and looks good. Yeah, it's an Animal Crossing ripoff, but they chose a good game to ripoff, and Nintendo isn't giving us AC til next year, and it does one important (at least to me) thing that Animal Crossing doesn't: it lets the player actually build buildings. In fact it encourages and sometimes requires this, and the interface for it seems really interesting, something Nintendo should return the favor and rip off from EA for the Wii AC.
Honorable Mentions:
Fire Emblem, which would be on the list if I didn't have the GBA ones that I want to beat at least one of before I get the Wii one
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which could be really good if Sega doesn't screw it up like they always do (at least we know Miyamoto has some role in it, overseeing and the like), motion controls can make these kinds of things more fun than button mashing ever could and if they do the hinted-at 1:1 fencing and it works its an instant must-buy
The Simpsons Game, I'm a huge fan of the series, and what I've read about the game suggests that it is genuinely funny with good writing; they didn't let the press play it at E3 so I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much
Space Station Tycoon, I love the genre, and the quirky sense of humor seems like it would make a fun game
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, I always meant to play these the first time around, and this looks to save me some money by putting them both in one
Madden NFL 08, Madden 07 was in my opinion the best example of Wii Controls at launch. EA seems to actually be trying with this, and has promised to tighten up the controls even more, add some Wii-specific modes, and it will be the first third-party online game for the Wii