Thursday, December 24, 2009

Fill in the blanks

There's a lot Cary and I know about in terms of gaming. Surely. But there are definitely a lot of things we don't know. In fact, I'll show you one thing I'm relatively clueless about:


Yep. The Nintendo Wii is a console that, admittedly, I have a hard time calling a console. Seriously. When I was just typing that, it felt strange. It's not meant to sound egotistical, but it completely does. Sort of like when my mom asks me how to do something on her PC and I complain about Windows Vista and not knowing what I'm doing, then she gets all up-in-arms and mutters something along the lines of "whatever, Apple dude."

Yes, I have an Apple MacBook. Yes, I'm quite infatuated with it. And, yes, I have a lower tolerance for non-Apple computers. But I wouldn't begin to say that PCs don't offer something to certain people that Apple's don't. I wouldn't begin to say PCs are not computers, because they are. What I will say is: I certainly have a preference. And I certainly have my reasons.

But what this post is really supposed to be is a question. Say someone you know is away on holiday and the only console they have at their disposal is a Nintendo Wii. This person would love to spend some downtime with a good video game on the Wii but has no idea where to begin. She's played all the basics on the system, but what's new? What's absurd? What would impress or interest this person who otherwise spends her time on a 360 or a PS3?

I just, ya know, have a hard time thinking I can devote my attention to an entire blog post reviewing "Calvin Tucker's Redneck Jamboree." I'd love to be able to pay attention to that Wii world of gaming Cary and I miss altogether. At least until my holiday is over.

5 comments:

  1. Here are some I know of or have played:

    I've heard good things about A Boy and His Blob, especially if nostalgia is a factor.
    New Super Mario Bros. Wii is evidently a cooperative gem.
    Personally, I very much enjoyed Metroid Prime Trilogy, which controls very well on the Wii.
    LostWinds and its sequel (on WiiWare) are pretty, cute, and fun.
    Mega Man 9 is evidently hardcore awesome.
    Dead Space: Extraction is a fun light-gun-style shooter with co-op.
    Bit Trip Beat, also on WiiWare, is a simple but really hard Pong-like rhythm game that's more fun played co-op.

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  2. Honestly, and I know this isn't helpful in the least, I haven't bought a new game for my Wii in over a year. The last fun game was "House of the Dead: Overkill" which I still use to aid my anger issues.

    If someone was stranded with a Wii, some short spurts of Mortal Kombat wouldn't be terrible.

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  3. I will second the Lost Winds games. Bit trip Beat is cool as well but I am terrible at it. The Art Style games are well made. As well as World of Goo if you somehow haven't played that. Seriously, if you haven't played World of Goo, do it.

    As far as retail games go, forgive me if you have already played these: No More Heroes (fantastic satire of the American gamer), Boom Blox (block-based puzzle game with good variety throughout), Nintendo first party platformers (Warioland, Mario--all great), Little King's Story (very Pikmin-esque) and Zack and Wiki (somewhat traditional adventure game but easy to get into). Also, I haven't played it but the psychological stuff intrigues me, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. That's all I can think of off the top of my head. The Wii is an interesting platform, you shouldn't overlook it.

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  4. My six year old kicks ass at Wii Bowling and Mario cart... I don't really consider the wii a console for todays gamer.. Its more trying to get a new kind of demographic.. Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess is really good.. I'm getting Wii Punch out eventually but haven't tried it yet.. For an older school gamer, Wii virtual console is awesome.. Mike Tyson's Punchout is an all time favorite of mine (you can get it on Wii as Punch Out feat. Mr. Dream).. There's a lot on there for the retro gamer in you..

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  5. All my potential suggestions have already been mentioned so instead let me just echo the nomination of A Boy And His Blob.

    While I'm still yet to get it myself (*sigh), that's a game that holds a particular nostalgic value for some gamers. For others, the art direction is the lure they need to try it (*raises hand*); for others again, the simple inclusion of a hug button is enough.

    Despite all of those, however, it appears to be a good game as well, just... one that no one will end up playing. :(

    Oh and the Metroid fanboy in me echoes (no pun intended) the Trilogy mention as well.

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