Topic: Has any game fully utilized the Wii's potential yet?

[Chozo Ghost]

At least 90% of the games out now are crappy rush jobs, ports, or games that started development for the GC and moved over to the Wii (Zelda). That said, many of the graphics of existing games do look last gen, and everyone seems to be saying the full power of the Wii has yet to be realized, and if we just give it time we'll see games that are above and beyond anything the GC or even Xbox could do. My question is, are there any games out there now which have done this? Or are there any which are currently in development?

I understand it won't be possible to get 360 or PS3 level graphics out of the Wii because of the lack of HD support and other hardware limitations, but if the full potential were unlocked, would it really be very far behind?

[ShyGuy]

Obviously Mario Galaxy was impressive on a technical level, and Metroid Prime 3 would probably be #2. Umbrella Chronicles had some nice aspects but the fact that it was rushed out the door showed.

The thing is, if the artistic aspects of the visuals are nice enough, the technical horsepower isn't as important. Look at Okami or Zack and Wiki. They look great because of good art design, visually appealing colors, well done character models and competent textures.

[Kairon]

Mario Galaxy came close to doing everything right on the Wii, from co-op to wiimote utilization to graphical effects. Maybe Metroid Prime 3. Oh wait, Shyguy already said that.

Well, I'm pretty sure that everyone's hoping that Conduit lives up to its potential.

[IceCold]

I understand it won't be possible to get 360 or PS3 level graphics out of the Wii because of the lack of HD support and other hardware limitations, but if the full potential were unlocked, would it really be very far behind?

On a normal TV, the difference isn't big at all.

[Mario]

I agree.

I disagree with Galaxys wiimote use, it controls exactly the same as Sunshine and 64. What happened to that Mario game in the initial Wii trailer where the girl was flicking up the wiimote to jump?

This thread seems just about the graphics though which Galaxy is top tier. Prime 3 does nearly everything. Endless Ocean deserves a mention. I would really like to see a brand new Resident Evil for Wii. Factor 5 should do something great, and I think a new Pikmin could look outstanding.

[KDR_11k]

What happened to that Mario game in the initial Wii trailer where the girl was flicking up the wiimote to jump?

Er, I think that was just a mockup, I doubt they'd really put that into a game, probably not a good method of control (can't affect the jump height as easily).

I think to be considered "using the Wii's potential" a game should have a design that allows the Wiimote to greatly improve the game. On the DS there is for example Super Control Robot MG (Chou Soujuu Mecha MG) which uses both the graphical abilities and the input extensively, it's fully 3d with large areas and lots of objects with physics attached and the controls are a major part of the game that completely changes how it plays.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

MP3 does way more than Galaxy, control wise, and pretty much uses the same graphical foundation.  Galaxy stopped using the Remote after you were done flicking Mario around from sticky trees.

I want to see how well Alone in the Dark implements its Wii actions, which looks like the only attempt at some control-intensive action-adventure before the next whatever RE or Disaster or other failtendo game.

[NWR_pap64]

Heh, Failtendo...

Anyways, I want to answer this topic by using the DS as an example:
Back in 2004 when the DS was released everyone was hyped for it, but the games didn't live up to expectations. MANY of the games were basically GBA ports with either tacked on touch controls or played EXACTLY like the GBA version but had some mini games. Hell, even Nintendo's first game was a PORT of an N64 game!

During the year, we were still getting GBA ports, gimmicky games or games that didn't use the features at all. It wasn't till the end of the year in which titles like Nintendogs, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart and even Brain Age FINALLY slapped people in the face and told them the DS is where its at.

Afterwards, not only was the DS a phenomenon games got more refined. Touch controls were beautifully implemented into games, very few of them were ports and actually convinced people that the DS was more than just a gimmick.

I expect the Wii to go through the same deal, although it might take longer. Right now only a handful of games utilize the Wii greatly in every facet, just like the DS only had a few titles that made great use of the system. But once developers, Nintendo included, realize that they really can't continue supporting the Wii through ports and rush jobs (I think this will NOT last for years) that's when the quality titles will start coming in.

I say we wait till this generation is over in order to look back, since developers will be experiment a whole deal this generation.

[Ian Sane]

At this point I don't think we really want a game that fully uses the Wii's potential.  Games are supposed to push the console further and further as time goes on.  We want to think "man there is no way they can do more than this" a few times before the Wii is done.

Though Nintendo doesn't seem to have much interest in pushing hardware anymore at least in terms of graphics.  On the Gamecube SSB Melee was one of the best looking games and it came out only a few months after launch.  Nintendo's first party approach to graphics was typically good enough and nothing more.  The Mario model in Super Mario Sunshine looked worse than the one HAL made for SSBM and then Nintendo reused that model in all the spin-offs.  Retro pushed graphics with Metroid Prime and Wind Waker obviously had style but Nintendo rarely made games that made you think "how is this done on the Cube?!"  In the end Capcom was the one that did that first with the Resident Evil remake and then pushing things even further with RE4.  Factor 5 also pushed the Cube.  With third parties slacking off right now it looks like Nintendo is going to be pushing the Wii the furthest and they really don't seem to care about that stuff that much anymore.

The Wii is probably capable of more than we'll see any time soon.  But then I think the Cube was probably capable of more as well and Nintendo just didn't choose to push it further.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I would consider Mario Galaxy and MP3 games that Nintendo tried to push the Wii hardware on.

[Mario]

I dunno Ian, Nintendo pushed the GC hardware quite a lot with Twilight Princess.

[IceCold]

And Pikmin.

[Mikintosh]

And for the Mario series, I thought Super Mario Strikers was pretty impressive graphically, and let us not forget the beauty of F-Zero GX.

I think WarioWare fully utilized the Wii's controls, and Mario Galaxy fully utilized the graphics engine as well as did a fantastic job of melding the motion controls to "traditional" controls without having one overpower the other. What kinda high standards are you holding the machine to anyway? I thought Nintendo was remarkably honest about the Wii's limitations before they released it.

[Nick DiMola]

Art Direction > "Graphics"

Look at any game with great art direction, and even without pushing the system to it's boundaries, it looks gorgeous. This becomes evident in games like Okami, Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, etc.

[Stogi]

I have been waiting for a game that used only wiimote controls in a very ingenious way ala Wiisports. I thought that game would be boxing or some horror game, but alas, nothing has come out yet.

[Kairon]

There have been several stabs at greatness that have just fallen short. God someone just needs to improve on Dragon Quest Swords...

[BeautifulShy]

Stogi have you tried Zack and Wiki: quest for Barbaro's Treasure. I think that control wise that is one of the best.Also I agree that the graphics don't have to be ultra realistic to be appealing.

[animecyberrat]

I think Wii games will start looking better in the next couple of years because everyone made their money off the rushed ports and now have the dough needed to fund the big budget stuff. Every new console goes through the same cycle, the first year and a half is usually always just ports, and rightly so because developers need to have something done right away and they need to keep making money to afford putting the extra effort in.

I am one who is fairly content with what GC had to offer and not having an HDTV anyways I don't really care that much at the moment. I agree with Ian in that I don't think Nintendo honestly cares about graphics anymore.


Still I find it odd that Mellee was one of the best games graphically for GC but nobody mentions Brawl, is it not that good in the graphics department?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

spppssshhhhhhhhh

fighting games don't count. ever.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I think Wii games will start looking better in the next couple of years because everyone made their money off the rushed ports and now have the dough needed to fund the big budget stuff. Every new console goes through the same cycle, the first year and a half is usually always just ports, and rightly so because developers need to have something done right away and they need to keep making money to afford putting the extra effort in.

I am one who is fairly content with what GC had to offer and not having an HDTV anyways I don't really care that much at the moment. I agree with Ian in that I don't think Nintendo honestly cares about graphics anymore.


Still I find it odd that Mellee was one of the best games graphically for GC but nobody mentions Brawl, is it not that good in the graphics department?

Brawl looks much better than Melee, so I think you have a point. Personally I don't think fighting games (or sports games) should be examples of a company pushing the visuals since their "scope" is so limited.

[Mario]

I have been waiting for a game that used only wiimote controls in a very ingenious way ala Wiisports. I thought that game would be boxing or some horror game, but alas, nothing has come out yet.

Kororinpa, still the best wiimote usage to date.

[Adrock]

In terms of graphics potential, I'd say Brawl is the best looking game.

In terms of Wii remote potential, I personally thought No More Heroes used it in the most creative way so far.

[Gorgonian]

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is the only game that has utilized the Wii's potential close to the level it should be utilized.

[IceCold]

It's definitely good, but it's not the only game..

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Mortal Kombat