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Best of the Wii: Our Top 10 First-Party Wii Games

#5 - Metroid Prime 3 / Metroid Prime Trilogy

by Zachary Miller - September 24, 2012, 10:26 am EDT

Can't pick a favorite.

Maybe we’re cheating a little. You can buy Metroid Prime 3: Corruption two different ways: on its own, as an early Wii title, or as part of the far superior Metroid Prime Trilogy, which is hard to find these days. Trilogy comes in a sweet Steelbook case and includes a fold-out concept art poster. It’s the bee’s knees, and you’re getting all three Metroid Prime games—the first two retrofitted with pointer controls for the Wii—in one $50 package. Well, it’s probably more expensive now, but totally worth it.

Corruption is the end of an incredible trilogy by Retro Studios. In it, Samus travels to multiple distinctive worlds in an effort to stop a virus from spreading throughout the Galactic Federation’s integrated Aurora Unit computer system. This is all the work of Dark Samus, of course, a villain introduced in the previous game but who is actually front and center in this one. Corruption may not be the best Metroid Prime game, but it’s certainly the most ambitious. It’s more linear than the previous games, certainly, but also more varied and, in this writer’s opinion, better paced. Each world, including the Space Pirate homeworld (which is never named, oddly) is completely unique in structure and design, and each has its own backstory. Corruption even brings back a bit of the “archaeologist” angle prominent in the original Metroid Prime. It’s a wonderful game.

The floating city of Elesium is a uniquely steampunk.

 

Trilogy, of course, which might also be called “New Play Control! Metroid Prime,” benefits greatly from the addition of Corruption’s Wii controls. Switching visors and beam weapons is initially awkward, but once you get the hang of it, it’s hard to go back, and not having to hold down two shoulder buttons to strafe is also a godsend. Having all three games on one disc also allows you to compare and contrast the games in relation to each other very easily: Metroid Prime, though the team’s maiden voyage, is perhaps the best-built game overall. Echoes, while beautiful and far more challenging, feels too long and has some very frustrating duel-world navigation (going into the Dark World is never fun). Corruption eases up the difficulty but does not feel nearly as cohesive as its predecessors. And if you care, yes, the so-bad-it’s-good Echoes multiplayer is included as a completely separate mode. Go nuts.

The package’s one real downside is that it doesn’t unlock bonus content organically as you complete various aspects of the games. Rather, you unlock “tokens” of different hues in order to purchase bonus material from the main menu. Several of these unlocks require friends to send you special green tokens. This assumes the Wii Friend Request system—which is not reliable—actually works. But if you do have some friends with the game and you DO connect to them, then getting all the items isn’t too much of a problem.

In Metroid Prime 2, Samus discovers the Apple Suit. It's Mike Sklens' favorite.

 

The Metroid Prime Trilogy is probably the best value on the system, and Corruption provided the control scheme blueprint for it. At one time I owned both games, but you really only need the Trilogy. Yes, even if you own the first two Prime games on GameCube, they’re worth experiencing again with Wii controls. Also, full disclosure: if Nintendo brought the Trilogy to Wii U with HD graphics, I’d buy it AGAIN, because I’m THAT GUY.

Check out the podcast segment with Zach and Jonny!

Images

Talkback

Evan_BSeptember 06, 2012

Ouch. Wii Sports is number ten? I could think of ten games over that more worthy...

ejamerSeptember 06, 2012

Quote from: Evan_B

Ouch. Wii Sports is number ten? I could think of ten games over that more worthy...

Do tell. What would your 10 better picks be. List them now and we can compare as the NWR list shakes out.


I've only heard good things about Wii Sports Resort, but never had quite enough interest in finding out how the game plays myself (despite buying the game earlier this year). Someday I'll give it a shot... but probably not until Xenoblade is finally completed. Don't hold your breath.

Yea, I'm with ejamer. Go list out your 10 Nintendo-published games on Wii. And keep in mind this was a staff-wide vote.

TJ SpykeSeptember 06, 2012

Evan, this is just first party. I think Wii Sports Resort more than deserves to be in the top 10, and I would put it higher than #10.

Nintendo has released 68 games on Wii that they own (I don't count something like Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility, which they published). Take out the New Play Control! games and Metroid Prime: Trilogy (since it's not really a new game) and Super Mario All-Stars re-release and Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition, and that drops to 59. I would love to see Evan's top 10.

ejamerSeptember 06, 2012

Quote from: NWR_Neal

Yea, I'm with ejamer. Go list out your 10 Nintendo-published games on Wii. And keep in mind this was a staff-wide vote.

Actually, I'd like to see a lot of people throw their lists out here before the full NWR results are made public. It would be fun to see what people do/don't agree on, and who comes closest to the site results. My off-the-cuff first party list would be something like this:


10. Mario Strikers Charged -- huh, surprisingly silly fun and online that actually works!
09. Wii Sports -- still great fun; changed the playing field when it came to games
08. Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn -- quality over quantity for strategy games
07. Donkey Kong Country Returns -- possibly the best first-party 2D platformer?
06. Mario Kart Wii -- even though I don't like Mario Kart, it's been played for many dozens of hours; hard to argue against
05. Wario Land Shake It! -- actually the best first-party 2D platformer
04. Endless Ocean Blue World -- highly underrated gem for people who like to explore
03. Super Mario Galaxy -- stupendous
02. Metroid Prime Trilogy -- Metroid Prime 3 would've been here, but the Trilogy makes it obsolete


#1. Xenoblade -- this is first-party, right? possibly the best game of the generation on any console




I'd like to reserve judgement for Project Zero 2 as that game is right up my alley but hasn't been played yet. Might bump Strikers Charged off the list.


Notable misses? Smash Bros is loved by many, but not by me. Sin & Punishment 2 is great but not really my niche. Skyward Sword is buried behind a glut of unplayed Zelda games and probably won't get played for another year (or more). Fortune Street is my niche, but far and away too niche to really put on a "best of" list. Pandora's Tower really enjoyed what I've played so far... import only hurts though. Fluidity.

CericSeptember 06, 2012

I've only played 3 and a 1/3 of those games on that list.  Which is probably why I'm the only non-platinum person on NFR.

I look forward to seeing lists, but I will dole out some of our "Nintendo-published" guidelines, which were established before voting took place.

Metroid Prime Trilogy counts, as it contains Metroid Prime 3, and is the superior version of that game for all intents and purposes.
The Last Story counted as first-party (same with Xenoblade, though there's even less to dispute there)
No New Play Control games.
Since we're largely North American, Project Zero 2 and Pandora's Tower never stood a chance.

I think that's about it. I personally don't think our list is that surprising. I'd be curious to see if anyone is able to come close to it with their picks. The third-party list, to me, was more exciting to see break down.

TJ SpykeSeptember 06, 2012

How is the Trilogy version of MP3 any better than the stand-alone version? It looks the same and I can't find any info on differences.

ejamer, I wouldn't count Fortune Street. Nintendo did publish it, but it's part of a Square Enix franchise and this particular entry features Nintendo characters, but the IP still belongs to Square Enix.

It includes two other full games.

TJ SpykeSeptember 06, 2012

Which are also already out on Wii. How is it any different than something like Mario All-Star? Trilogy contains no new games and is just a compilation disc. Under your logic, why not count the New Play Control games? Those are just as valid.

The New Play Control Metroid Primes only came out separate from Corruption in Japan. In North America, where the list is based, they only exist in the Trilogy form.

Also, taking bets on Trauma Team making the 3rd party list (probably in the 6-9 range).

TJ SpykeSeptember 06, 2012

Even under that logic, the New Play Control games would qualify too because those are just as new. I just don't see how Trilogy should count when it is just a compilation of 1 Wii game and 2 New Play Control games, but other New Play Control games don't count. Don't get me wrong, I love Trilogy; there just seems to be no reason the other NPC games don't count when this does.

ejamerSeptember 06, 2012

Quote from: TJ

Even under that logic, the New Play Control games would qualify too because those are just as new. I just don't see how Trilogy should count when it is just a compilation of 1 Wii game and 2 New Play Control games, but other New Play Control games don't count. Don't get me wrong, I love Trilogy; there just seems to be no reason the other NPC games don't count when this does.

True, only 1/3 of Metroid Prime Trilogy was exclusive to Wii while the other two games are GameCube remakes.  Yet that is still better than other NPC games, which contain 0% content that was exclusively released on Wii. On that logic, I can entertain the argument that they should be treated differently.

TJ SpykeSeptember 06, 2012

Trilogy just takes one game that was already released on Wii and adds in 2 NPC games. So Trilogy has nothing new either (well, nothing significant). The other NPC games do add new stuff too. I just want to know the reasoning the staff had for counting Trilogy but not the other NPC games. If Nintendo decided to release a disc containing the two Pikmin games and Kirby's Epic Yarn (random pairing, I know), that would qualify for this list then?

I don't speak for the whole staff but it wasn't that we specifically upgraded Trilogy to the exclusion of the NPC games. People were voting for Metroid Prime 3, and in order not to split the vote between two significant SKUs of the game I think we settled on saying that in this special case it would be represented by Trilogy.

Even if we hadn't disallowed the other NPC games, I seriously doubt that there would've been enough staff making it a priority to vote for them that it'd matter.

@_@ Is it really that big a deal?

TJ SpykeSeptember 06, 2012

Not really, I just found it odd the reasoning for Trilogy to be eligible but not other NPC games.

LudicrousDa3veSeptember 06, 2012

Super Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Mario Kart Wii
Punch Out!!
Excitebots
The Legend of Zelda:Skyward Sword
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Fire Emblem:Radiant Dawn
Wario Ware:Smooth Moves


That'll be my unranked top ten for today. Nintendo did such a stellar job this gen, you could swap in almost every other game they released on a random day, depending on mood.
  If they do anywhere near as good a job with their Wii U releases, the next several years will be very bright. So bright, we'll need shades.  :cool;

Metroid Prime 3 is a Wii exclusive game. Metroid Prime 3 is in Metroid Prime Trilogy, which, for most of our staff, is the only version of MP3 they own now. Still, Metroid Prime Trilogy contains a Wii-exclusive first-party game, which more to say of the NPC games (which contain GCN/Wii first-party games). I see your point, but I also see mine.

Also, Shaymin's good. Real good.

KhushrenadaSeptember 06, 2012

Quote from: Ceric

I've only played 3 and a 1/3 of those games on that list.  Which is probably why I'm the only non-platinum person on NFR.

Not quite. I haven't even signed up for Club Nintendo. I could make Platinum easy if I ever got around to it but, technically, I'm non-platinum also.

Anth0nySeptember 06, 2012

My top 10, not including New Play Controls:

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2
2. Super Mario Galaxy
3. Super Smash Bros Brawl
4. Xenoblade
5. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
6. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
7. Donkey Kong Country Returns
8. New Super Mario Bros Wii
9. Metroid Prime 3
10. Super Paper Mario

Runner Ups: Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Sports Resort, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, Kirby''s Epic Yarn.

Looking forward to the final staff list.

Fatty The HuttSeptember 07, 2012


Skyward Sword
Mario Kart Wii
Twilight Princess
Endless Ocean
Excitebots
Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Punch Out
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
Wii Sports Resort
Next ones on the list (in no order): Warioland Shake It, Xenoblade, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Endless Ocean Blue World, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid Other M, Wii Sports, Banzai Barber, Super Paper Mario.

Gotta say, on any given day nearly every “next one on the list” could easily replace one of the ones “on the list.’ Very hard to rank.

Evan_BSeptember 07, 2012

Okay.

10 ) Kirby's Epic Yarn
9 ) Super Mario Galaxy 2
8 ) Donkey Kong Country Returns
7 ) New Super Mario Bros. Wii
6 ) The Last Story
5 ) Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
4 ) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
3 ) Mario Kart Wii
2 ) Xenoblade Chronicles
1 ) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Unfortunately, games like Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Endless Ocean: Blue World, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, Metroid: Other M, and Super Paper Mario did not make the list, seeing how some of them couldn't hold a candle to their predecessors and others were a bit too niche, but these seven I listed are far more deserving of an eleventh spot over Wii Sports Resort, in my opinion.

Oh, and I didn't particularly enjoy Super Mario Galaxy, but its sequel offered many more interesting gameplay options and better level design, so it does deserve a spot on the list. I can't deny that it's a well made game, but I don't really like it.

ejamerSeptember 07, 2012

Quote from: Evan_B

...  Oh, and I didn't particularly enjoy Super Mario Galaxy, but its sequel offered many more interesting gameplay options and better level design, so it does deserve a spot on the list. I can't deny that it's a well made game, but I don't really like it.

I had a hard time with this decision. Still not sure which I like better, as I feel they kind of served different purposes. The first game was a revelation and hardly got put down until I had collected all of the stars with Mario. (Luigi can go suck it.) But I never felt compelled to buy the sequel and only played casually - despite it having tight level design and some really fun ideas.


In the end I picked the first game simply because it was first, and couldn't justify putting both on my top 10 list. It would be hard to fault someone who picks differently (or who decides they both deserve to be listed).

Mop it upSeptember 07, 2012

Quote from: ejamer

Yet that is still better than other NPC games, which contain 0% content that was exclusively released on Wii.

That isn't exactly true. NPC Donkey Kong Jungle Beat has remixed levels to make up for the easier control, NPC Pikmin has a new feature that allows you to restart a day or revert to a previous day, and Mario Power Tennis has new picture-in-picture close-up camera shots and other added displays. I still don't think any of the NPC games (including MPTrilogy) should be on a best-of-Wii list, but most of the NPC games do have more than a new control scheme that can make them more worthwhile for some people.

Glad0sSeptember 11, 2012

Oh, how I love making lists. Here goes:




10) Wii Sports (the importance vote)
9) Mario Kart Wii
8: Donkey Kong Country Returns
7) Punch Out!
6) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
5) Twilight Princess
4) Super Mario Galaxy
3) Metroid Prime 3
2) Skyward Sword
1) Super Mario Galaxy 2

PogueSquadronSeptember 11, 2012

I think DKCR might be my number one. I feel like it was one of the few console platformers (going back to Yoshi's Island) that truly took advantage of the hardware it was on. It was a retro platformer, but transformed using modern sensibilities and techniques.  Things falling in from the background. Platforms building from materials in the environment. Diddy and DK can get blasted to different planes of the background (making the world feel even more alive). And THEN you had world map events that changed how levels worked, not unlike in Wario Land or even Super Mario World (I would've loved more of that by the way).


My only problems with the game were
- the waggle (obviously)
- the brutal difficulty (it was TOO hard)
- the amount of auto-scrolling levels
- the lack of HD - this isn't Retro's fault, obviously, but sometimes the camera zoomed out to the point where I wished there was more clarity. I feel like Smash Bros. suffers from this as well.


Other than that, there are few things I'd change about this gem. I would've loved to see a small group at Retro devoted to doing another one.

Ian SaneSeptember 11, 2012

DKC Returns is probably, for better or worse, the best representation of the Wii experience.  It's a great game trapped behind terrible waggle controls with no alternative control options.  That perfectly encapsulates what it was like to own a Wii.  It's everything right and wrong about Wii-era Nintendo is one game.

Mop it upSeptember 12, 2012

It's tough for me to narrow down ten games since I've enjoyed many, and if you asked me again tomorrow then I'd likely give a slightly different answer. But for now, here's what I'm thinking for my top ten:

10. Endless Ocean Blue World
9. Battalion Wars II
8. Metroid Prime Trilogy
7. Mario Super Sluggers
6. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
5. Mario Party 8
4. Super Mario Galaxy
3. New Super Mario Brothers Wii
2. Animal Crossing City Folk
1. Mario Kart Wii

I definitely don't expect to see some of these on NWR's list...

I can't wait until this feature concludes because I want to share my own personal list at that point and review all the ways it differs from the official website's results!

Luigi DudeSeptember 12, 2012

Might as well post mine if everyone else is.

1.  Super Smash Bros Brawl
2.  Super Mario Galaxy 2
3.  Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
4.  Xenoblade
5.  Wario Land Shake
6.  Super Mario Galaxy
7.  Metroid Prime 3
8.  Sin and Punishment 2
9.  New Super Mario Bros Wii
10.  Donkey Kong Country Returns

I should note that I bought Twilight Princess for the Gamecube so it's not a Wii game to me.  If we were to do a Gamecube top 10 list it'd be my second favorite Gamecube game, but since I never bought the Wii version, it doesn't make my Wii list.

Pixelated PixiesSeptember 18, 2012

Mine would be something akin to this.

1 - Metroid Prime Trilogy
2 - Super Mario Galaxy 2
3 - Super Mario Galaxy
4 - Xenoblade Chronicles
5 - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
6 - DKCR
7 - Punch Out!!
8 - Hydroventure
9 - Wii Sports Resort
10 - Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise

My top list pretty much changes on a daily basis. Trilogy, however, has remained by favourite Wii game.

Without going into my list: I would have put Xenoblade Chronicles higher, but alas, I am in the minority.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfhom1H77Vo


THAT IS THE TITLE SCREEN FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Pixelated PixiesSeptember 24, 2012

I just thought I'd point out a little mistake. You guys seem to have accidentally included Metroid Prime Trilogy at number 5 instead of number 1. No biggie. It's an easy mistake to make, but you might want to rectify that soon. You know, just in case people start thinking that you guys have poor judgement.  :P:

Quote from: Pixelated

I just thought I'd point out a little mistake. You guys seem to have accidentally included Metroid Prime Trilogy at number 5 instead of number 1. No biggie. It's an easy mistake to make, but you might want to rectify that soon. You know, just in case people start thinking that you guys have poor judgement.  :P:

Haha!

Not everyone loses their shit over Metroid Prime games. :P I've always enjoyed them, but I don't hold them in nearly the same high esteem that everyone else does. From our staff, we have a pretty fair split of lovers, haters, and people like me.

Ian SaneSeptember 24, 2012

For me Metroid Prime 3 is the black sheep of the trilogy.  I'm probably in the minority but I liked the original control scheme.  Metroid isn't an FPS so it doesn't need to control like one.  Classic Metroid is essentially side-scrolling Space Zelda.  Metroid Prime is essentially first person Ocarina of Space.  The lock-on targetting makes sense for the adventure game Metroid is, just like how it made sense for Zelda when it went 3D.  I also feel that by switching to those controls Nintendo was effectively "giving in" to people that wrote off Metroid Prime without giving it a fair shake because they instinctively felt that any game with a first person view must be a Doom clone.  I'm of the attitude that if something has enough of an audience to be profitable, it should cater to that audience and everyone else can fuck off.  It it was it is; like it or ignore it.  If you ignored the Cube games because they didn't control like Halo, then Nintendo owes you nothing and shouldn't bend over backwards to accomodate you.  Unfortunately "compromising for people that aren't your customer" is the Wii mantra.  MP3 is still a great game, though, just my least favourite in the trilogy.

As for Xenoblade, that game is everything I love about Nintendo and it even bucks some of Nintendo's less favourable trends in that it actually has an okay story and isn't all cutesy to appear family-friendly.  Nintendo goes on about accessibility.  There are those that claim that Nintendo's "casual" approach is nothing new for they have always strived to be accessible.  Those people are right in that Nintendo has always been accessible and Xenoblade is accessible in all the right ways.  It is incredibly user friendly for letting you save at any time.  The battles are not random and most enemies can be easily avoided.  But that doesn't even matter because your health is largely restricted only to the current fight so you don't have to worry about getting killed by some mook enemy because you were near death and couldn't quite make it to the save point.  And dying hardly matters anyway because you are not punished that severly for it.  You can also teleport at will to areas you have already visited.  You can look through your tutorial at any time.

What Nintendo typically gets right that a lot of companies get wrong is that a crappy dev will assign every function to it's own button while Nintendo will realize that all of them can be assigned to one button without handcuffing the player.  Nintendo typically doesn't let you get into unwinnable situations.  They typically don't make things convoluted or needlessly complicated.  The idea is that you have a game like Xenoblade where it is quite complex and huge and ambitious and complicated with a million things to do and yet you can just load that up without any context and figure out how to play it.  The accessibility is in learning to play the game and then it can be the most hardcore game ever.  With something like the Wii Series "accessibility" seems come at the cost of complexity.  Those games are just plain dumbed down.  Nintendo didn't used to make dumbed down games.  They used to make great ambitious games that were intuitive and accessible enough that anyone could learn how to play them.  Easy to learn, hard to master.  That is the true essence of Nintendo.

Nintendo's pre-Wii games were only inaccessible for close minded boobs that were not willing to give them a fair shake.  My parents didn't play Nintendo games prior to the Wii entirely because they were never ever willing to even try.  I highly doubt they would have been incapable of getting anywhere if they put more than five minutes of effort into it.

Pixelated PixiesSeptember 24, 2012

Quote from: Ian

For me Metroid Prime 3 is the black sheep of the trilogy.  I'm probably in the minority but I liked the original control scheme.  Metroid isn't an FPS so it doesn't need to control like one.  Classic Metroid is essentially side-scrolling Space Zelda.  Metroid Prime is essentially first person Ocarina of Space.  The lock-on targetting makes sense for the adventure game Metroid is, just like how it made sense for Zelda when it went 3D.


I liked the original control scheme too. You could tell that the game was really designed with the Gamecube controller in mind. You can imagine my surprise then when I played Metroid Prime Trilogy only to find that pointer controls actually made the original two games better.

I would never have been able to express it at the time, but looking back, it seems clear to me that a lock on system for a first person game just isn't all that intuitive. It works great for third person games, particularly those in which you have a wider field of vision and which involves close-up encounters with enemies. By contrast, from a first person perspective there's something very natural about moving a reticule with a pointer and having your point of view turn with that motion, rather than the more jerky lock on system, which could be a little jarring.

I guess it's a matter of preference, but I vastly prefer the pointer controls. For me they feel more precise and engaging than the old system. That, coupled with the graphical flourishes and general polish given to the overall package makes Trilogy the definitive versions of those games for me.

Quote from: Ian

Nintendo's pre-Wii games were only inaccessible for close minded boobs that were not willing to give them a fair shake.  My parents didn't play Nintendo games prior to the Wii entirely because they were never ever willing to even try.  I highly doubt they would have been incapable of getting anywhere if they put more than five minutes of effort into it.

I absolutely do not subscribe to this. My Dad played Tecmo Bowl on the NES and my Mom taught me how to play Zelda 1. Neither of them played the N64 or the GameCube. Mario Kart Wii was the first time in years that I was able to play a videogame with my father, and thanks to Brain Age my Mom stole my DS Phat.

HeyItsMeSeptember 25, 2012

Metroid Prime 3 was only game of the Prime games I have finished. Luckily, I bought the Trilogy at Toys R Us in a buy 2 get one free. I hope to get to both of the Prime games once I finish a lot of game on my Wii that I haven't beat yet.

CyrianSeptember 25, 2012

God I hate the friend tokens.  I hope whoever came up with that idea ended up flipping burgers for a living.  I've cobbled together some from people I know and from a couple of forums over the past few years, but I'll never be able to get enough to unlock everything.
Thanks Retro!

Pixelated PixiesSeptember 25, 2012

Quote from: Cyrian

God I hate the friend tokens.  I hope whoever came up with that idea ended up flipping burgers for a living.  I've cobbled together some from people I know and from a couple of forums over the past few years, but I'll never be able to get enough to unlock everything.
Thanks Retro!


lol, Yeah that really did suck, huh? It was such weird requirement for a game which is ostensibly a single player experience.

ejamerSeptember 25, 2012

Quote from: Cyrian

God I hate the friend tokens.  I hope whoever came up with that idea ended up flipping burgers for a living.  I've cobbled together some from people I know and from a couple of forums over the past few years, but I'll never be able to get enough to unlock everything.
Thanks Retro!

Made worse by the fact that it was a limited edition in North America.


(Kind of like when Zelda Four Swords Anniversary edition was pulled off the eShop, because you don't want more people to be able to buy and play a multiplayer-focused game based on one of Nintendo's most famous franchises. Whose idea was that? Nice that I get a bonus for owning my 3DS early, but it'd be nicer if I could find someone to play the game with...)

Ian SaneSeptember 25, 2012

Quote from: Kairon

Quote from: Ian

Nintendo's pre-Wii games were only inaccessible for close minded boobs that were not willing to give them a fair shake.  My parents didn't play Nintendo games prior to the Wii entirely because they were never ever willing to even try.  I highly doubt they would have been incapable of getting anywhere if they put more than five minutes of effort into it.

I absolutely do not subscribe to this. My Dad played Tecmo Bowl on the NES and my Mom taught me how to play Zelda 1. Neither of them played the N64 or the GameCube. Mario Kart Wii was the first time in years that I was able to play a videogame with my father, and thanks to Brain Age my Mom stole my DS Phat.

Zelda 1 practically gives the player no indication of what to do and is a much less accessible game than the 3D Zeldas which have all sorts of tutorials and "HEY! LISTEN!" to help you figure things out.  Did your mom even TRY OoT or just wrote it off because it looked hard like my parents always do?

Quote from: Ian

Quote from: Kairon

Quote from: Ian

Nintendo's pre-Wii games were only inaccessible for close minded boobs that were not willing to give them a fair shake.  My parents didn't play Nintendo games prior to the Wii entirely because they were never ever willing to even try.  I highly doubt they would have been incapable of getting anywhere if they put more than five minutes of effort into it.

I absolutely do not subscribe to this. My Dad played Tecmo Bowl on the NES and my Mom taught me how to play Zelda 1. Neither of them played the N64 or the GameCube. Mario Kart Wii was the first time in years that I was able to play a videogame with my father, and thanks to Brain Age my Mom stole my DS Phat.

Zelda 1 practically gives the player no indication of what to do and is a much less accessible game than the 3D Zeldas which have all sorts of tutorials and "HEY! LISTEN!" to help you figure things out.  Did your mom even TRY OoT or just wrote it off because it looked hard like my parents always do?

She tried Zelda: OoT for about an hour. After that experiment, I am not at all surprised that 2D Mario sells better than 3D Mario.

I think you're underestimating the number of verbs/actions/choices that players face in a modern 3D game. The first Zelda may not have pointed you in any direction ever, but on any single screen you had an extremely limited number of easily recognized goals and a very clearly defined gamespace within which you acted to achieve those goals.

Fiendlord_TimmaySeptember 29, 2012

When I was looking over my Wii collection, I realized I've barely played enough first party Wii games to even make this list. And a few of those I actually really dislike, so that narrows it down even further. Despite all that, I can STILL find 10 games I'd put higher than Wii Sports. Screw the "importance vote," it's not a very fun game. Anyway, here's my best attempt at a top 10:

1. Metroid Prime Trilogy
2. Super Mario Galaxy
3. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
4. Super Mario Galaxy 2
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
6. Mario Kart Wii
7. Super Paper Mario
8. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
9. Metroid: Other M
10. Punch Out!!


Honorable Mention: Kirby's Return to Dreamland

If only Metroid Prime 3 counted, rather than all 3 Metroid Prime games, it would fall all the way behind Super Paper Mario. The first two games (Particularly MP1) with Wii controls vault it all the way up to #1.

Played Twilight Princess on Gamecube, so I don't really count that. Wario Land Shake It, Kirby's Epic Yarn and Fluidity are all overrated as hell. Did not like any of them. Animal Crossing: City Folk was too much like the DS game, which I had already played to death. Pokemon Battle Revolution was the biggest waste of money I made this gen.


My wishlist/list of shame: Xenoblade, Skyward Sword, Last Story, Sin & Punishment 2, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Rhythm Heaven Fever, Excitebots, Excite Truck

ejamerSeptember 29, 2012

Quote from: Fiendlord_Timmay

...
Wario Land Shake It, Kirby's Epic Yarn and Fluidity are all overrated as hell. Did not like any of them.
...

Overated? No, definitely not. Not to your liking? Entirely possible.

Pixelated PixiesSeptember 29, 2012

Quote from: Fiendlord_Timmay

Wario Land Shake It, Kirby's Epic Yarn and Fluidity are all overrated as hell.


I disagree with everything you stand for, but I'll fight to the death to ensure you're right to self-determination  (p.s. you're crazy).  :P:

Luigi DudeSeptember 29, 2012

Quote from: Fiendlord_Timmay

Wario Land Shake It, Kirby's Epic Yarn and Fluidity are all overrated as hell. Did not like any of them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/luigidude/shang_movie_you_fools.jpg

SarailSeptember 30, 2012

Oh, you're in quite a bit of trouble now, Timmay. What would you like written on your tombstone?

Fiendlord_TimmayOctober 02, 2012

I REGRET NOTHING!

Lol but seriously, I should issue the caveat that Wario Land: Shake It and Fluidity were too overlooked to be overrated by the majority of the industry, and I was thinking more along the lines of the general opinon on NWR (which is the only site where I trust people to know anything about Nintendo anyway).

As for Kirby's Epic Yarn, that game got PLENTY of love from damn near everyone. I found the game to be irredeemably boring. It was way too slow, had next to no challenge, and lacked everything that makes me love the Kirby series.

Quote:

Overated? No, definitely not. Not to your liking? Entirely possible.



Yeah, but the term overrated is inherently subjective. It's the disparity between my opinion (subjective) and my perception of the popular opinion (subjective). To ME, those games are overrated. To you, they may not be. I just find it a waste of time saying "In my opinion" because if I say something then obviously it is my opinion, unless I explicitly state otherwise.

Quote:

I disagree with everything you stand for

Whoa, hey there! I'm a big Nintendo fan too, but that doesn't mean I'm obligated to enjoy everything they make. At least I PLAY the games I hate on, unlike most gamer trolls these days. >_>

I also disagree with the popular opinion in the other direction too. I loved Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn despite all the hate for it, and I even enjoyed Metroid: Other M! *gasp*

Pixelated PixiesOctober 02, 2012

Quote from: Fiendlord_Timmay


I also disagree with the popular opinion in the other direction too. I loved Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn despite all the hate for it, and I even enjoyed Metroid: Other M! *gasp*


I guess I don't hate everything you stand for. I really enjoyed Metroid: Other M (almost inspite of itself) and In the last few weeks I've been making my way through Radiant Dawn and am digging it.

Still though, Fluidity and Warioland were great titles.

As for going against popular opinion. Try this on for size. Skyward Sword is my least favourite polygonal Zelda. Now, that was an overrated game.

Evan_BOctober 02, 2012

So Animal Crossing: City Folk is number one, right?

I honestly don't know what could top Skyward Sword.

xcwarriorOctober 02, 2012

Skyward Sword is for sure one of the best games on the Wii, certainly first party. I'd have to dwell on things a bit before creating my top 10 list, and well I have to finish Last Story and start Xenoblade, which I'm sure would have an affect on my list as I am a big RPG guy.

KhushrenadaOctober 02, 2012

Quote from: Evan_B

So Animal Crossing: City Folk is number one, right?

I honestly don't know what could top Skyward Sword.

It's Mario Galaxy. In Mario Galaxy 2's write-up, they mention that Mario Galaxy 1 also appears on the list so therefore with one spot left, that's the spot it must be appearing in.

The only mystery left is what they will call the top third party game. That list has been more interesting because a lot of the choices have been unexpected. To me at least.

Pixelated PixiesOctober 02, 2012

I'm ok with Galaxy winning. I personally think Galaxy 2 is the superior game but the original has the edge in terms of innovation, so I can see why that would give it the top spot.

StogiOctober 02, 2012

EXCITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE TRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKKKS

Pixelated PixiesOctober 02, 2012

Quote from: Stogi

EXCITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE TRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKKKS


If I'm understanding you correctly, you want a Ridge Racer / Excite Truck cross over. Right?

Riiiiidge Raaaceerrrr

Versus.

Exciiiiiite Truuucckk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11tzGbuK-ls

Fiendlord_TimmayOctober 02, 2012

Quote:

I personally think Galaxy 2 is the superior game but the original has the edge in terms of innovation, so I can see why that would give it the top spot.

That's pretty much how I feel. Galaxy 2's refinements make it a slightly better game, but it didn't "wow" me as much as Galaxy 1 did. I have fonder memories of Galaxy 1, and I got really addicted to it (242 stars). Galaxy 2 I just remember as a really good game, but I never bothered to do the green star quest.

Fatty The HuttOctober 02, 2012

So Twilight Princess won't be on the top 10 list for best first party games on the Wii? You are shitting me.
The ret-con, backlash B.S. that this game has gotten is garbage. Folks really need to revisit this game if they truly think it doesn't count as top ten material.

Ah, lists and video game nerds. Raging is fun!

TJ SpykeOctober 02, 2012

I agree, Twilight Princes really is a good game and deserves to be in the top 10. People just like to hate on it/

Well, I can speak for myself that I have tried to replay it, and it's not engaging to me. I do not like that game as much as I did in 2006. It's the only Zelda game I feel that way about.

I also know that some of our staff feel Twilight Princess is a GameCube game, and do not rate it as highly as a Wii game (if they rate it as a Wii game at all). If memory serves me correctly, it would have made the top 20, maybe even the top 15.

Fatty The HuttOctober 02, 2012

@Neal
yeah, well, you're entitled to your wrong opinion  :P:

Like I said: nerds, lists, raging, etc.

Pixelated PixiesOctober 02, 2012

Quote from: Fatty_The_Hutt

So Twilight Princess won't be on the top 10 list for best first party games on the Wii? You are shitting me.
The ret-con, backlash B.S. that this game has gotten is garbage. Folks really need to revisit this game if they truly think it doesn't count as top ten material.

Ah, lists and video game nerds. Raging is fun!


Well I can't speak for others, but Twilight Princess is in my top 10 Wii games. Personally, I vastly prefered it to Skyward Sword. The tone, overworld, dungeons, music, items and puzzles were way more engaging to me.

Fiendlord_TimmayOctober 02, 2012

Quote:

I also know that some of our staff feel Twilight Princess is a GameCube game, and do not rate it as highly as a Wii game (if they rate it as a Wii game at all).

This is EXACTLY how I feel. I owned the Gamecube version, so I always think of it as a Gamecube game. I've played the Wii version, and the controls were kinda awkward. Also, the whole mirrored world thing is really stupid, and it's really a pet peeve of mine for some reason.

With Gamecube controls, TP would have made my Top 10. With Wii controls, it doesn't.

I consider Twilight Princess a GameCube game, since that's what it was for most of its development and the tacked on Wii controls were a mixed bag. To be perfectly honest, though, I didn't put either Wii Zelda on my list.

TJ SpykeOctober 02, 2012

Nintendo chose Wii as the primary platform to present it on, and iti s still a good Wii game.

Nintendo chose the Wii as the primary platform because the GameCube was dead and it sounded good to say there was a Zelda game at launch. It was entirely a PR move.

Luigi DudeOctober 02, 2012

The main team at EAD 3 views the Gamecube version as the canon one so Twilight Princess should be considered a Gamecube game.  Gerudo Desert on the Gamecube version is located on the very left of Hyrule, where it also was in Ocarina of Time.  This area of Hyrule is the same spot Lanayru Desert is located in Skyward Sword which the game hints heavily at being the same place that will eventually become Gerudo Desert.

The Wii version sold more and Nintendo advertised it primarily as a Wii game, but internally Skyward Sword makes it clear the Gamecube version is meant to be the original and true version of the game.

TJ SpykeOctober 02, 2012

Luuigi, where do you see them considering the GameCube version a canon? It seems to be the other way around.

And the Hyrule's are not the same, so that is irrelevent.

John E GOctober 02, 2012


Mario Kart WiiDonkey Kong Country Returns
Xenoblade Chronicles
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Mario Bros. Wii
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword


I'm a Zelda fanatic, I can't help favoring those games.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, October 03, 2012

I don't have an order for my list, but I would go with first-party-wise:

Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Kirby's Return to Dream Land
Metroid Prime Trilogy
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Excitebots: Trick Racing (greatest racer this gen, imo)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Wario Land: Shake It!


I have not completed Xenoblade Chronicles yet. A lot of other games on my plate.

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