One more bump for this post as it seems people are still sharing those codes. Keep it up guys and enjoy the sharing!

We picked up Metroid Prime 3 yesterday after a quick trip to town and I got to spend about 2 hours with the game running it through it’s paces. After smelling the game manual like a freak to ensure it had that Nintendo freshness to it, I popped the game into the Wii and fired it up. I’m going to try very hard to keep important spoilers to a minimum here.

You start off in Metroid Prime 3 on your ship as it’s docking with a much, much larger carrier/battleship to meet with some folks about a job they need you to do. While you are inside your cockpit, you can look around and push on various buttons that actually serve various purposes. Some open up communications, others adjust the windshield to close and open it, and some buttons give you status reports on enemies killed and more. Once you get docked with the big ship, you start getting familiar with the controls as you make your way to the captain. Everyone is expecting you so if you press A to speak with folks you’ll get their full cooperation in helping you find your way.

You’re not alone this time in the overall mission as you will have a few of the Hunters from the DS game on your side and they show up fairly early on in the game. There’s a humorous moment when you meet everyone as you see another Samus Aran standing there. I won’t say anything more about that but my initial surprise turned into laughter very quickly. The captain explains everything to you all and to give you the gist of the mission at hand without spoiling it, here’s the bottom line for the intro:

Bad guys are on the way, help us out by getting to your ship and making it down to the planet they are after.

You make your way to your ship, head on down to the first planet and assist them in other missions I don’t want to spoil but make for a GREAT opening to a game. You get a sense of the enemies and how to fight them, how to use the controls and the maps and such, and you also get a feel for how big the game is going to be as you come across doors and areas that can’t be reached until you find a few upgrades.

The graphics, while not in high definition, look fantastic; the best I’ve seen from any Wii game so far. The art direction has gone a long way in this game to make it a beautiful experience. I played the game for about 1.5 hours before realizing I didn’t have my Wii setup for 480p or Widescreen and I was still in awe at how great it looked. Of course it looked even better once I setup the Wii to match our HDTV setup.

The controls felt very natural immediately after getting started and you continually get better at controlling Samus until it feels so good you can’t imagine going back to play Metroid Prime 1 with the thumbsticks again. As great of a game as MP1 is, I just can’t bring myself to give up the superior control scheme the Wii offers in aiming. You don’t only use the Wii motion controls for aiming though as you’ll be opening doors and pressing buttons, pulling pieces of metal and other debris away, and other non-combat moves that work very well with the controllers.

You’ve perhaps heard how the game was made specifically for the Wii and wonder exactly what that means. In certain places, there are puzzles so early on and integral to the level design that require the precise and quick aiming the Wii controls offer. There are also enemies that once you fight them you’ll understand that they could have only been fought using the quick aiming of the Wii Remote. Little things like this are all over the place making sure you get the point that this is not a reworked GameCube game, nor would this game work with traditional controls. The controls never feel cumbersome, laggy, or anything but spot on for the game.

I’ve spent plenty of time scanning various things and while it’s not necessary to scan everything in the game, you get some cool bonus’ to unlock when you scan the right things. Scanning lifeforms, lore relics, and other important objects from the game will grant you achievements points that can be saved up and then used to unlock things like a Mii Bobble Head or even a Screenshot feature that allows you to take in-game screenshots and send them to friends. You also earn Friend Vouchers by accomplishing certain goals like 100 Kills that you can send to your friends. By doing this, you earn Friend Points that can also be used to open certain bonus features.

Here is my friend code for anyone that wants to trade Friend Vouchers:
8516 7232 6417 5966

Leave a comment in this article if you add me and I will add you back promptly.

I’m about to jump back in for some more action as I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’ve made it through the initial training stuff that the Metroid Prime games have used to familiarize you with the game and world. If you have any questions about the title or anything I might have forgot to mention, ask away and I’ll try to answer it the best I can.

I’ve played a few variations of the Call of Duty series, starting with CoD 1 for the PC and a few of it’s sequels on the console systems and was interested in seeing how the game held up on the Nintendo Wii. The controls were also something I wanted to check out as I’ve heard mixed reactions and have played Far Cry and Red Steel for the Wii and came away from both of those fairly under-whelmed in this department. Of those two games, I would have to say Red Steel performed a bit better, but I had heard with some tweaking, you could get the Call of Duty controls spot on. The graphics I knew wouldn’t be competing on the level of the XBOX 360 or the PS3, but as long as the game was fun and kept me playing a variety of situations, I knew the graphics would take a backseat to the possible gameplay. Set in 1944 World War II during the Normandy Breakout, Call of Duty 3 offers a full game of single player military action, but don’t come into it hoping for multiplayer as there isn’t any. No split screen, no online, nothing in the department of playing with your friends so hunker down and get ready to take aim solo in these missions, soldier.

Graphics
Overall, the graphics in Call of Duty 3 do a very fine job of conveying a sense of being in a war zone. There are fantastic explosions, fire effects, and smoke billowing from blown out buildings and carcasses of bullet riddled tanks and other vehicles that really help add to the atmosphere. I have to admit I went into the game expecting worse graphics than what is presented so it was refreshing to see how well the game was pulled off on the Wii system when compared to other platforms. The intermissions seem to use a mix of in-game graphics mixed with realistic maps of the areas and descriptions to help set the mood of the situation you are facing before you start the next level. I even noticed some smaller, but equally impressive effects that add to the experience as a whole like the motion blur effect that occurs when firing the mounted weapons or the attention to detail in not only the events going on right in front of your face, but also the things going on in the background.

I saw nothing in the game that detracted from the fun you have when playing so long as you are going in with realistic expectations and not looking for graphics along the lines of what a PS3 can produce. Better than GameCube and PS2, perhaps on the level of an XBOX 1.

Sound
The sounds fit perfectly into making you feel like you are in the middle of a battle zone including the whizzing of bullets that just missed your head to explosions that occur when a plane crashes into a building. You can sometimes even use audio positioning by listening to where shots are coming from to place where the enemies are. There is little that is more frightening than being a foot soldier and hearing a tank rumbling down the street outside as you are trying to keep low inside a burned out building.

Music is also worked in quite nicely offering your typical orchestrated military fanfare which adds to the tension and helps build up the more exciting parts. You will also notice other minor sound effects that occur when you are struck by bullets or grenades that explode near you; things like the sound the tank turrets make as they take aim, or the distinct sound each weapon makes.

Everything about the sound and music is on par with what is needed to help immerse the player in the environments that are being conveyed in the game.

Gameplay
Playing Call of Duty 3 is quite easy given the control scheme the game uses, especially if you have played other first person shooters in any fashion. You start off in base camp with a tutorial meant to help familiarize you with the controls. After you get handhold on the controls, the display, and how to work the rifles and grenades, the game whisks you off into a slew of missions offering a nice variety of situations with more than simple run and gun type shooting. Sometimes you will be on the ground fighting shoulder to shoulder with your fellow soldiers, other times you will be helping a tank spot targets, basic up close fighting with your rifles, using mounted guns to take out multiple enemies, and holding positions until reinforcements arrive. Most of the game does rely on the tried and true formula for the Call of Duty series which can be compared to a haunted house of sorts as you make your way from area to area taking out the enemy in one spot before moving as a group to the next. There are checkpoints along the way to ensure you don’t have to start a mission all the way over in case you die during battle. The AI in the game is more than substantial as you’ll notice bad guys taking cover and flanking you at times, constantly making you think and rethink your position. When the missions first start, you are often tossed into a nightmare situation for any soldier, thrust straight into a battle full of gunfire, grenades, tanks, explosions, smoke, fire, and death possibly right around every corner.

The variety of gameplay compiled with the multiple scenarios you come across make for a fun time playing a soldier during World War II.

Controls
For CoD3, you will be using the Wii Remote to aim, look around, switch weapons, and other actions while the Nunchuk allows you to move your character around in the 3d areas. Played from a first person perspective, it can take a moment to become acquainted with the controls, but it’s nothing that takes too long. You can also fine tune the controls in the options, which is highly recommended, as in the beginning, the controls felt a bit “loosy-goosy” for my tastes and needed to be tightened up. You can also use the Nunchuk to lob grenades and switch weapons if you wish along with a few other abilities available in the options you can customize to your preference. The controls in the game handle well and feel more intuitive and natural than any other FPS I have played for the Wii to date and served the game justice.

Last Word
I enjoyed my time as a soldier fighting the Germans in World War II era battles while playing Call of Duty 3. It provides a great way to see a first person shooter that maximizes the unique Wii controls. The graphics and sound were more than ample for the experience and in the end, I would recommend the game as a weekend rental just to see what it’s all about. The lack of multiplayer limits the game from having any kind of long lasting allure and is sorely missed, especially when balanced against its other console counterparts. If you’re looking to see how a FPS works on the Wii, or enjoy military or WWII shooters in any fashion, definitely check out Call of Duty 3.

Video game rental provided by NumbThumb.com.

Seeing that Microsoft has launched their 360 “Elite” system, it got me wondering what folks would want from a Nintendo Wii “Elite” system. I would assume most folks would want better graphics, more storage, and better high definition support, but what else can you guys come up with? Here’s a few features I came up with off the top of my head just for fun, feel free to comment and add you own:

• Support for playing Nintendo DS games - Ok this one is a long shot as it would have a few technical limitations in place as far how the dual screens and touch screen action would be handled. There is also no Mic on the Wii (yet!) so this one would take a bit of work.
• Ports or an official converter allowing for NES, SNES, N64, and other official VC system controllers - This one could be handled by simple converters, some of which are already being made by 3rd party companies. How cool would it be being able to play the Virtual Console games with the original controllers legitimately supported by Nintendo?
• Wireless Nunchuk and Classic Controller - I’m not sure if this would require a whole console conversion hardware wise or if a software update could allow the Wireless Nunchuks to talk to the system, but it would be great to not have to deal with the cable between the Wii Remote and the ‘Chuk. While they are at it, make the Classic Controller wireless as well.
• Wireless Sensor Bar - This is another option that is available through third parties, but could possibly be improved up if designed by Nintendo themselves. Improvements could include a way to recharge the bar using the next item on the list.
• Recharge Station - A recharge station could be used to recharge your Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, Classic Controllers, and the Sensor bar. How it would all fit together and work properly, I would leave up to the guys in the lab, I’m just the idea guy! It would be great to have it built into the base of the system somehow and not have to bother with recharging batteries.
• More Internal Storage - Downloading those N64 games can really suck the current storage dry and having more could never hurt. By way of an internal hard drive would be optimal, but I wouldn’t want to see the price of the system sky rocket nor would it be a good thing to split the user base by having games come out that then depend on it. I am sure it could be worked out in some fashion and one day we may see a USB capable hard drive peripheral so let’s just make it internal for this “Elite” system.
• More High Definition Options - HDMI support, 1080i support, the whole rigmarole. For the sake of argument, we could say that there’s not enough people to warrant the “Base” model having these add ons, but it would be a nice addition for the “Elite” model.
• DVD Support - This is actually something that has been talked about coming to the Japanese markets and while most folks probably already own another DVD player of some sort, it would be nice to have the player thrown in.
• Include that Kickass Lightgun Accessory.. Maybe Even a Robot - Much like the original NES packages back in the day, bring back that idea offering the “Base” Wii system that is currently in production, but also this version which would include the Wii, a Wii Remote and Nunchuk, toss in a Classic Controller, the Lightgun accessory as seen at E3, and heck, why not a R.O.B. II.

Alright, that’s all I got. I have no idea how much this would cost but if I had to guess, I’d say around $500-$600. Would it appeal to many folks, I’m not even sure. The point of this is to just brainstorm what Nintendo could do with an “Elite” model of their system and what it would bring to the current model. Some of this stuff some folks would use more than others and some of the ideas perhaps only I would use. What do you think would be a good addition to the current model Wii?

Digg This!

I finally got the time to sit down and enjoy out Wii Play last night at a pals house and I know I’m a little late to the party, but if you haven’t checked it out and are wondering what the minigames are all about, read my thoughts below. We played all nine minigames and overall I would have to say they were quite fun with none of them standing out as being overly bad. I’ve played all of the current minigame titles out including Monkey Ball, Wario Ware, and Raving Rabbids, and in the case of Monkey Ball and Raving Rabbids, they both had a couple of minigames that just didn’t work or were flat out no fun. Read along for my take on all of the minigames and overall thoughts on Wii Play:

Table Tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping pong to some, is similar to Wii Sports Tennis, only this time you are doing more than just swinging the racket to volley the ball back. You have to actually line up your paddle with the ball as it’s coming at you then volley it back. After playing both, Wii Sports Tennis and Table Tennis, I have to say I appreciate the more simple mechanics of Wii Sports Tennis a bit more. While the Table Tennis game was overall enjoyable, some of the fun was taken away trying to lineup the paddle with the ball. Where I thought I had the paddle ready to swing was sometimes just out of reach of the ball. Given the fast paced nature of the game, this turned out to be a fatal error based on perhaps a learning curve of where to hold the Remote to correspond with the on-screen paddle. We did have a couple of heated volley exchanges going on during the game and it’s not bad or boring by any means, I just enjoy Wii Sports Tennis a bit more.

Laser Hockey
Laser Hockey is like everyone’s favorite game of air hockey, only on a TV screen from a top down perspective with glowing laser graphics. The controls handled a tad easier than Table Tennis perhaps due to the fact you are only dealing with a 2D plane and didn’t have to deal with the 3rd dimension. Twisting the remote causes your paddle to change it’s angle, allowing for some very tricky shots. We never really felt like the paddles didn’t respond as we had intended, the connection between our in-air Wii Remote movements and the on-screen paddles were spot on with no lag whatsoever. The graphics were very clean and added to the experience with their futuristic looking “lasery” feel. We played a few rounds of this and agreed it would be in our top three favorite games on the disk.

Fishing
Fishing in Wii Play is much like the first fishing mission in Zelda: Twilight Princess. Nothing fancy, it’s actually quite basic, just drop the lure into the pond and as a fish bites, whip the Wii Remote up to catch it. When playing this against a friend, you will want to attempt to catch larger fish than your opponent to add to your overall score. There are various types of fish swimming around and eventually, the game throws in some rather comically large fish for you to attempt to catch. Catching a small fish detracts from your score so just let them bite and move on. You can move the lure to a better spot in the pond at any time if you see a bigger fish you’d like to catch. While a fun little minigame overall that did a great job of handling the fishing controls for the system, it wasn’t one we spent too much time playing. There were just other games that brought more fun to us than this one, but it is a great addition to the title.

Find Mii
This minigame is very “Where’s Waldo”-y having you search groups of Mii’s for a certain type according to the current level’s rules. Playing against an opponent can get frantic as you are scanning through the on-screen Mii’s looking for the matching pair or for the one who is running faster than the other. To pick out the Mii’s the game is asking for, you simply aim your Wii Remote at the TV and the corresponding target reticule will hover over them, then you push the A button to select that Mii as your choice. It’s a very simple game that is fun for everyone and very easy to pick up and play. It also uses your collection of Mii’s so it’s fun to find the matching Chewbaccas or Uncle Earls or whatever other crazy creations you might have in your Mii collection. Overall, very fun and I can see us playing this one as a way to introduce new people to the Wii system along with a few other titles on the disk.

Pose Mii
Pose Mii is similar to the Find Mii game in the sense that it’s easy to pick up and uses the recognizable Mii’s as the main characters in the game. It actually uses the Mii you chose to play as and the object in the game is rotating the Mii and getting them into various poses to match the silhouettes in bubbles floating down the screen. To rotate your Mii, you rotate the Wii Remote. To put them into the positions shown in the bubbles, you will need to use a combination of A+B button presses. As the levels go on, the poses will rotate and change calling for you to constantly alter the position of the twisting Wii Remote as it challenges you to remember which button combos equate into the poses shown. You can imagine how complicated the game can get after a few levels of it changing so much. This was a great 2 player game that emitted laughter from everyone watching as we frantically tried to keep up with the falling bubbles and match the poses inside them. The game caused both of us players to get quite animated throughout as we played and overall, it was a fun time.

Shooting Range
This minigame could be called Duck Hunt 2 as it features the players shooting at on-screen ducks and targets in efforts to increase their scores. As the targets show up, you both aim your reticules at them and fire, hopefully faster than the other player to rack up points. The position of the targets constantly change and there are sometimes surprise targets that will popup offering more points than the others. Another simple game that anyone could pick up and enjoy, we found this game to also be in our top 3 from the title.

Billiards
Billiards, or pool as some would call it, is a simplified on-screen game of 9 ball. This game really helps show off the versatility of the Wii Remote by giving players the ability to lineup and take shots using the Remote as the in-game cue stick. You play from a behind the cue ball perspective and once you line up your shot, draw back the Remote and then quickly press forward to strike as if you were playing a real game of pool. Graphics wise, the game is very sharp with a basic pool table and balls rendered on-screen. There is a helpful marker that will let you know which ball you need to strike with the cue ball next. The controls for me were spot on as after my opponent fouled by sinking his cue ball, I ran the table and won the game by knocking in each of the remaining balls needed. I now consider myself the Wii Play Billiards King and if anyone wants to challenge me, you let me know! The game is a good interpretation of billiards and further, how the Wii Remote could be used by a developer to flesh out a more feature filled game that had various types of billiards available.

Charge!
Charge is a fun little racing game that has you holding the Wii Remote sideways to navigate your player who is riding on a cow down the racetrack. Along the way, you will want to run into scarecrows for more points and twist the controller forward to go faster. You can bounce the Wii Remote up to make your cow jump over obstacles that would otherwise slow him down. He who makes it to the end of the race fastest with the most scarecrows ran over wins! Charge! is a fun game that makes use of the sideways controller racing style very well.

Tanks!
If you’ve ever played Combat! from the Atari 2600 days, then you have the basics of Tanks!. In Tanks!, you and your buddy take on computer controlled enemy tanks on various levels in attempts to reach the next level. The levels are laid out with various obstacles you must navigate your tank around and one or more enemy tanks which you must destroy. Be careful though as the enemy tanks are also out to get you and are sometimes equipped with fast launching rockets, exploding mines, and other tricks. You control your tank with the nunchuk and Wii remote for best results, driving the tank with the nunchuk and aiming and firing with the Remote pointed at the screen. While rather simplistic for hardcore gamers, out of all the games on the disk, this one is about the most complex but at the same time, the most fun. We had a blast working through the levels as a team trying to destroy the enemy tanks in the simple maze type levels presented. When you both die on a level, the game is over and you start all over again. After getting a gold and finishing the first 20 levels, you can unlock a massive 100 new levels which present new enemies and maps for you to enjoy. Overall, our favorite game on the disk that never got old for either of us.

In the end, I found Wii Play to be a very fun title that would make a great addition to anyone’s collection of Wii games. Throw in the complimentary Wii Remote that the game comes with and it’s really a no brainer to pick up this title if you are already looking for an extra Wii Remote. It’s got something for everyone and will be a hit if you have friends over for parties or even bringing your Wii and this game to holiday gatherings and showing it off to folks that perhaps aren’t into games as much as we are. We all had fun with the title and already can’t wait to play it again when we visit our pal next time.

We recently received the latest issue of Nintendo Power and it’s got some rather interesting news, articles, pictures, a review and more Nintendo Wii stuff inside. I’ve got some pics I took of certain areas which I hope doesn’t get me in trouble with Big N or anything, but I just had to share. On the cover this month, we are shown various characters fro The Sims coming from EA for the Wii and they look cool, especially the guy with the pirate hat. The cover also teases Super Paper Mario, some revelations from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the DS, and previews for The Godfather: Blackhand Edition, Alien Syndrome, and Cooking Mama: Cook Off for the Wii.

Let’s hop inside and see what’s going on this month!

Nintendo Wii Top Sellers
1. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2. Madden NFL 07
3. Rayman Raving Rabbids
4. Red Steel
5. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
6. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
7. Call of Duty 3
8. Excite Truck
9. Trauma Center: Second Opinion
10. Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam

Top 5 Most Wanted (As voted by the readers)
1. Super Smash Bros Brawl
2. Super Mario Galaxy
3. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
4. Super Paper Mario
5. Fire Emblem

From the News Section:
- If you’re a DDR fan, you’ve got some good times coming in the form of Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party coming from Konami. Designed specially for the Wii, this version will have you moving your hands around in sync with the music as well as stomping your feet. It’s also going to feature some of the hottest dance tracks from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s and offer multiplayer coop and competitive modes for up to 4 people. Look for it in the second half of 2007 for the Wii.

- Samurai Slash is the working title for the Romance of Three Kingdoms based game coming to the Wii from Koei. Parry and stab your enemies with eight different weapons including a mallet and the classic samurai sword. The game takes place from a first person perspective and puts you directly in the field fighting off ninjas and samurai. No release date has been determined.

- The makers of Elebits have a new game coming and it looks to be very fun based on screenshots and from reading descriptions. In Dewy’s Adventure, you play the role of a droplet of water named “Dewy” who is on an adventure to help rid the forest of the evil scourge. Using the motion sensing abilities of the Wii controls, you will move Dewy through many levels, using gesture based controls to unleash his special powers on the enemies. There is also a thermometer thrown into the mix which you will use to help freeze or steam up Dewy to figure out certain puzzles. You will also be able to build your own levels with a built in editor ala Elebits then share those custom level with friends. Dewy’s Adventure is expected to launch later this year from Konami on the Nintendo Wii.

- Naruto:Clash of Ninja is coming to the Nintendo Wii from Tomy and Eighting this fall and will make great use of the Wii control scheme. There will be much Wii remote ninja fighting as well as a few mini-games that were designed specifically for the Wii. The Wii version will also include some new faces from the anime series including Itachi, Sasuke’s older brother. There will be many varied environments and gameplay modes for the game when it arrives, look for it later this year.

- Hudson is bringing Wing Island and Kororinpa: Marble Mania to the Wii very soon in North America, Wing Island being a lighthearted flight sim and Kororinpa being a Monkey Ball/Marble Madness type game where you manipulate the environments to get your marble to the goals. Look for these two titles this month.

Newly Added Games to the Game Watch Forecast
- Cosmic Family
- Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
- Dewy’s Adventure
- Driver: Parallel Lines
- Kororinpa: Marble Mania
- Naruto: Clash of Ninja Wii
- Samurai Slash
- Wing Island

From the Previews Section:
- Get ready for the second course when Cooking Mama: Cook Off comes to the Nintendo Wii this Spring. Sticking with many of the same formulas that made the DS version an excellent game, in Cook Off you will participate in a variety of mini games that revolve around cooking. The game has been spiced up since it’s DS inception with new modes, recipes, and of course controls that make use of the Wii remote and Nunchuk. Chop vegetables and crab legs with the Wii Remote by making chopping movements, turn up the heat by twisting the controls, and stir stews by holding the remote vertically and making stirring motions. The game will use the controls in a variety of ways similarly to Wario Ware, but it does give you more time to play each mini-game than Smooth Moves. The Delicacies this time cover dishes from 10 countries including fettuccine, fish n chips, sushi, borscht, curry, brochette, and many more. Even hot dogs and hamburgers make an appearance rounding out the list to 55 total recipes including some rather tasty looking desserts. Cooking Mama for the Wii also offers split screen multiplayer modes so you and your pals can see who is the top chef. Look for the game to release sometime Spring 2007.

- Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is punching and kicking it’s way onto the Wii and this time around there isn’t any of that green blood mess. It’s going to be very brutal and very p close and personal as you use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to pull off your fighters moves. Scorpions chain attack is in as are many other special moves, combos, and fatalities from your favorite fighters. Along with the expected fighting game also comes a kart-racing game that makes use of the Wii controls as well. Exclusive to the Wii version will be an Endurance mode in which you will be fighting a string of enemies with no refills on the health. Over 60 playable fighters with more to unlock, look for Mortal Kombat to hit the Wii in April of 2007.

- Also due this Spring is TMNT for the Wii. The turtles are back and all out of bubble gum in this version of the game coming from Ubisoft. Using the Prince of Persia engine to ensure the visuals are top notch, the game gets rid of the puzzle factor and instead opts for a full on fighting levels. Fight in the sewers, over rooftops, and even in the South American jungles as you tilt and swing the Wii controls to attack your foes. Keep an eye out for TMNT coming very soon for the Nintendo Wii.

- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 looks to be taking what was started with Wii Sports Golf and moving it to the next level with added realism and improved graphics. Known for it’s realism, Tiger Woods is going to be a must play for those that enjoy golf and maybe found Wii Sports Golf and Super Swing Golf a bit too arcade-y for their tastes. Using real life courses and real life players from the sport of golf, you will be using the Wii remote to swing your game into action. Twisting the remote during your swing will send the ball into a draw or a fade, affecting your game that much more. To help you immerse you even further, the games sound effects of the ball being struck and your club swooshing towards it are handled by the speaker on the Wii remote. The Wii version will offer various tweaks and enhancements to the Tiger Woods formula overall including a new aiming cursor to help you determine where the ball is going to land based on your swing. The Tiger Challenge mode allows you to take on pro golfers on 18 different championship courses in a mix of arcade style games as well as more traditional golf rounds. The PGA Tour Season mode allows you to play a five year span of golf, increasing your golfers stats along the way and earning cash that can be used for various upgrades. Tiger Woods is scheduled to appear this month on the Nintendo Wii.

- If you’re afraid of bugs at all, Escape from Bug Island might give you the chills. Coming from Eidos in the Spring of 2007, this B-movie inspired game puts you in the role of a character named Ray who has found himself alone on a creepy island with mutant bugs running rampant. Fight the creepy-crawlies with sticks, swords, guns, rocks, or whatever else you can find around the island. All of the moves are mapped to the Wii controls with the Nunchuk moving Ray around his environments. Check the screen below for look at the creepy visuals for the game:

- Mercury Meltdown Revolution is another game with gameplay in the same vein as Monkey Ball, Marble Madness, and the upcoming Kororinpa in which you manipulate the environment to get your marble, monkey, or in this case blob of mercury to the exit. In Mercury Meltdown, you will deal with color coded gates, various ramps, and other mechanical devices while making your way through each level. Magnets will tug you around the map and spikes will break your blob into two pieces while heating and cooling devices may alter your blob’s movement. Collect the bonus icons and reach the exits on over 150 maze-like levels as you race against the clock or join up with some friends to play five unlockable party games. Mercury Meltdown Revolution is going to be on the Wii in April of 2007.

Also in the mag:
This issue also has some rather detailed sections covering MySims, Godfather: Blackhand Edition, and Super Paper Mario. I took some random shots from the write ups as seen below:

From the Reviews Section:
Sonic and the Secret Rings - 8.5/10

That should just about cover most of the Wii news from this month’s Nintendo Power. There’s always lots of other fun sections in the magazines like the letters sent in, this one had a cool Mii section showing you how to design a few famous Mii’s, an artwork section, and other areas Nintendo fans would enjoy. I highly encourage you to check out Nintendo Power and get a subscription or even the 3 free issues they send when you register your Nintendo Products. Till next time, thanks for reading and thanks to Nintendo for such a great magazine!

We just got our latest issue of Nintendo Power in the mail covering March of 2007 and it’s chock full of Nintendo related goodness I am sure. The cover features Sonic and his Wii debut with a menacing looking character behind him. You are also teased with The Looney Tunes game, Super Paper Mario, SSX Blur, and Dragon Quest IX before you even open the mag. A Final Fantasy VI miniguide is also included as noted on the bottom left.

Read below to see what is covered in Volume 213 of Nintendo Power for the Nintendo Wii:

Nintendo Wii Top Sellers
1. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2. Red Steel
3. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
4. Rayman Raving Rabbids
5. Call of Duty 3
6. Madden NFL 07
7. Trama Center: Second Opinion
8. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
9. Excite Truck
10. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

Top 5 Most Wanted (As voted by the readers)
1. Super Smash Bros
2. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
3. Super Mario Galaxy
4. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
5. Fire Emblem

From the News Section:
- Scheduled to arrive on March 26th 2007 is EA’s Medal of Honor: Vanguard which will put you in the boots of a para trooping soldier in World War II. You play a fictional character in the 82nd Airborne Division dropping into battles across Europe as the game allows you to use the Wii’s unique controls to make your way through various war torn areas. Some great screens are shown which include scenes of soldiers taking cover and nicely lit city scenes. This should be a great follow up shooter to Call of Duty 3 for the Wii system and WWII buffs.

- If you are scared of bugs, you might be given a scare when playing the upcoming Escape from Bug Island from Eidos. Released as “Necro-Nasia” in Japan, this game features a “camping trip gone horribly wrong” and has you fighting off hordes of giant sized insects in order to survive. Escaping from Beezlebub Island will be the goal here while using the nunchuk and Wii remote to mimic actions during fights. Throw rocks, use sticks you find, and other weapons as you beat up any insects in your way while avoiding traps and pitfalls during your journey. Escape from Bug Island is scheduled to appear sometime this Spring on the Nintendo Wii system.

- Lastly, the Looney Tunes game which is coming from Warner Bros. Interactive has a blurb with a nice looking screenshot describing what will be an adventure game featuring many of the Warner Brothers cartoon cast. Play single player or co-op as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Taz, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, and more as you play through various highly detailed and exotic levels in search of an evil scientist wreaking havoc. The game will make use of the Wii controls to allow you to swing mallets, drive vehicles, use special attacks and more when the game hits the Wii in the Fall of 2007. The screenshot included shows Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck teamed up and fighting off robots and other baddies in a very Egyptian looking level, the graphics leaning towards a very unsurprising cartoon style that looks great so far. No name has been given to the title as of yet.

Newly Added Games to the Game Watch Forecast
- Bionicle Heroes
- Escape from Bug Island
- Legend of the Dragon
- Line Rider
- Looney Tunes
- Mercury Meltdown Revolution
- Super Paper Mario

From the Previews Section:
- Good writeup of Super Paper Mario with a few screenshots that look familiar talking about what we can expect from the game which is coming to the Wii in April of 2007. Bowser is back to his old Princess kidnapping antics and it’s up to Mario and Luigi to rescue her once again. Starting in the 2D world of Flipside, Mario soon ventures into a 3D version of the levels allowing for some very unique action and puzzles. You control the action with the Wii Remote held sideways, the “A” button allowing you to switch between 2D and 3D views at your leisure. Along the way, Mario will run into what are known as “Pixls” that will grant him new abilities like being able to search areas for secrets with Tippy the butterfly. Point the remote at the screen to reveal hidden doors and more after you gain this ability. Other uses for the Wii Remote are mentioned as well such as shaking the controller after landing on an enemies head to rack up some extra points. Overall, the game looks fantastic and a great follow up to the previous Paper Mario games.

- The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back with a new adventure and they will be showing up on the Nintendo Wii, the GameCube, the DS, and the GameBoy Advance according to Nintendo Power. Coming from Ubisoft in March of 2007, this time around the game will be following the upcoming CG movie based on the turtles. The GameCube and Wii versions will use the same engine as the Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones game and based on screenshots included in the preview, it’s looking good. Each turtle has their own weapons and signature moves and although the game is single player only, you can combine the turtles powers to unlock special areas and find secrets hidden in the levels. No word yet as to how the Wii controls will be used in the game.

After the Previews section, there is a whole feature on Sonic and the Secret Rings with tons of beautiful screenshots and lots of information pertaining to the title. The game makes full use of the Wii controls and the graphical capabilities and even features a four player party mode for some fun looking multiplayer action. Judging from the screenshots, this mode will be similar to Mario Party-esque minigames you and your friends can compete against each other in as your favorite Sonic characters.

Also included in the issue is a writeup talking about Mario Party 8 for the Wii with screenshots as well. The screens show various minigames and board areas, complete with graphics showing how the Wii Remote will be used in the various games. Hammering nails, shaking soda cans, and even boxing Bowser statues are shown along with some very interesting pictures of the maps the game will include.

SSX Blur is looking better and better with more screenshots shown in a special feature covering the upcoming snowboarding title. It definitely has a look that oozes style and creativity and the controls shown seem to make great use of the Wii Remote and nunchuk. EA Montreal has given the SSX franchise a nice reworking to cater to the Wii’s graphical and controller capabilities and I can’t wait to see it.

From the Reviews Section:
- Wii Play: 7.0/10

And that about covers it for this issue of Nintendo Power, but don’t be mistaken, there’s lots more inside that I didn’t cover including Nintendo DS news, fanmail, past corrections, a community spotlight, and much much more. If you’d like to get a Nintendo Power subscription, which I highly encourage, you can do so here at NintendoPower.com. Thanks for reading and thanks to Nintendo Power for such a great issue and magazine overall!

The Wii is out and doing spectacularly well, but let’s not forget about the fact it can also play some great GameCube games! The best thing about some of the GameCube games is that you can get some of the better titles for only $5-$15 making for some great gaming for much, much less than the price of some of the newer Wii titles. Playing through Metroid Prime again, I was amazed at how well the game held up in the sound and graphics department and when compared to some of the Wii titles that are out, you might have more fun buying these five games from the GameCube days than one $50 Wii title. Here’s my picks for five games that rocked on the GameCube; all of which can be had for under $50 combined and links to all of their ratings from GameRankings.com and where to buy them from GameStop.

1) Metroid Prime - $5.99 (used) at GameStop - 96% from GameRankings.com
While we’re waiting for Metroid Prime 3 to arrive, there is no reason why you shouldn’t check out the original Metroid Prime from the GameCube on your shiny new Wii systems. Even if you’ve played it to death on the GC, it’s still a great addition to your collection and you may want to play through it again before Prime 3 hits. Under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto, this version of Metroid was the first to venture into the 3D realm and made the crossover gracefully with great graphics, sound, and that keen attention to classic Metroid game play. Starting with the graphics, Metroid Prime surpasses a few of the Wii launch titles I can name in many ways including giving a great sense of atmosphere and throwing all kinds of little things into the mix that make you say, “Wow!”. The way the inside of the mask steams up when you pass through fog, the effects that occur when coming out of the water, the landscapes and atmosphere itself - the game has style and is jaw dropping at times. The sound is also top notch with the very familiar “Metroid item collection noise” that is sure to bring back memories as you play and other very well produced sounds and music that compliments the game nicely.

Gameplay revolves around the same concept of exploring and finding items that help power up your suit while you work your way through various levels and baddies, many of which make a return in 3D glory from the 2D days. Fight huge bosses and work your way through levels that vary from looking natural and leafy with rain falling to the snowy Phendrana Drifts and into lava filled depths or even underwater. The controls do take a bit to get used to, but a nice intro level helps acquaint you with the 3D movement and control scheme. Once you pick them up, you’ll be on your way to blasting, jumping, and yes, rolling your way through the spectacular title. I highly recommend this title for anyone that has a Nintendo Wii and at $6, you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t played the game.

2) Viewtiful Joe - $6.99 (used) at GameStop - 91% from GameRankings.com
Let it first be said that Viewtiful Joe is a very challenging game that is relentless with it’s lack of a decent save system, but at the same time, very rewarding with lots of cool game play elements tossed in and a graphical style all it’s own. Done in a very comic book fashion, Viewtiful Joe from Capcom provides you with level after level of beating up bad guys while using special abilities and transforming Joe into a superhero with even more power to get the job done. Slow time down, speed it up, and zoom in close to the action to see every “BIFF!”, “BOFF!”, and “SMACK!” as you whip the enemies into shape along the way.

It’s definitely got great visual effects and the game is done in a cell shaded style that really makes the game even more original and fun. Bonus items and minigames are also a plenty in the game which help add to the crazy variety of the nature of the title. If you are a fan of side scrolling beat ‘em ups or just want to have fun with something fresh and different, I highly recommend you try your hand at Viewtiful Joe, especially for $7 and especially the GameCube version which works perfectly with the GC controller. It’s a highly satisfying game and I recommend it to all Wii owners that haven’t given this game a shot.

3) Pikmin - $9.99 (used) at GameStop - 87% from GameRankings.com
Another game from the brain of Shigeru Miyamoto, Pikmin is a very.. interesting real time strategy/adventure type game where you control tiny creatures named Pikmin through larger than life sized stages featuring some very cool game play elements. It has a whole backstory concerning a spaceship that was hit by an asteroid and forced to land on a very odd planet inhabited with the Pikmin. The spaceship is damaged beyond immediate repair and it’s up to you, the player, to send in the Pikmin to help find the pieces needed to repair the ship. Another twist in the game that was fairly controversial for some players was the inclusion of an in-game timer which pushes you to finish the game under said time limit. You only have a certain amount of time (30 days in game) to complete the tasks at hand and escape the planet.

In the game, you control and put the Pikmin creatures to work, each of them differently colored and able to perform different tasks. Blue Pikmin can help you in the levels where you need a Pikmin to cross the water as they are the only ones that can survive the stuff. Red Pikmin can withstand any fire in the way and are great land fighters. The yellow ones can be thrown much farther than the others and they can also take out rock walls with their ability to use bombing rocks. Using a combination of these roles and by upgrading your Pikmin, you make your way through the levels to complete the tasks at hand. It’s a very strange and at the same time completely original game concept that worked well enough to provide a sequel that was even better than the original in a few ways. That’s not to put this first effort in bad light in any way as you would truly be missing out if you never played the game. It cannot come recommended highly enough and at $10, it’s nearly a steal. Definitely check out Pikmin from the GameCube for your Nintendo Wii.

4) Zelda: The Wind Waker - $14.99 (used) at GameStop - 95% from GameRankings.com
This version of Zelda is one of the best and was panned by some when it came out for it’s choice in art direction. There are plenty of gamers that perhaps missed out on a wonderful Zelda game that made great use of the chosen style of graphics. While you are playing the game, it’s almost hard to forget you’re not watching a cartoon and you are in fact control of a much younger Link. It has a stunning level of presentation from graphics to sound and the controls are tight and top notch. Coming after the Ocarina or Time, this version retains game play elements that helped make the 3D versions of Zelda so much fun to play like the Z-targeting system. Classic Zelda game play is abound in this version, as you take on the role of Link who is set for adventure on his birthday no less after a local is kidnapped by a strange looking bird.

Set sail for the seas as you control Link on water and on land through his adventures across many islands and into various dungeons. Item collecting is again the name of the game as you build your inventory, using each new item to explore new areas and sometimes discover hidden secrets. Find new towns, caves, fortresses and more to explore as Link in this version; it’s classic Zelda with some new twists and will keep you busy for dozens of hours. Grab this one and play it before or after the Twilight Princess as the story lines are completely separate. It’s packed full of exciting and beautiful gaming experiences that shouldn’t be missed. Zelda: The Wind Waker was a hit game for the GameCube and a perfect addition to your Wii collection at only $15.

5) Soul Caliber II - $9.99 (used) at GameStop - 93% from GameRankings.com
Is that Link from The Legend of Zelda we see on the front cover? Why yes, it is. Super Smash Bros Melee isn’t the only game to feature Link as a fighter, Soul Caliber II from Namco also featured Link in the GameCube version of the game. Featuring over 15 fighters, each with their own abilities and moves, Soul Caliber II didn’t take too many risks this time around and is a great sequel to the original Dreamcast version. The presentation, graphics, and sound are top notch as are the controls; fans of fighters will feel right at home with the familiar play style and the game is easy enough for new folks to the fighting genre to get into.

Fight with low, medium, and high attacks on various stages with each character capable of dozens of various moves. You can fight the computer or go toe to toe against your pals; there’s even a weapon master mode which is a mission mode of sorts that pits you against enemies in challenges you must complete with certain conditions needing to be met. Make your way through the mission mode to unlock bonus characters, play modes, and even earn Gold you can spend on buying special weapons and other content for the characters. The graphics are top notch and the game runs at a very smooth 60 frames per second. At $10, it’s hard to pass up this great fighter for the original GameCube that plays very well on your Nintendo Wii system.

And there we have it, 5 fantastic titles from the Nintendo GameCube that work flawlessly on the Nintendo Wii and promise to deliver more than their monies worth, all combined right at the price of one new Wii game. Sure, there’s better games from the GameCube and we could go on and on with other titles, but the point here is that you can have a ton of fun on the Wii with these titles for the same price as a perhaps less than stellar Wii game. These titles are especially recommended to those that haven’t played them, if you have any tips on other cheap GC games, pass them along to me here at The Wii Experience email address and I might just have another round of great, affordable games in the future. Here’s to the Wii and killer GameCube games on the cheap!

Just a small blurb here, but wow, talk about an underrated game! I’ll have a video coming soon I made from the first course in the game and showing you how it controls, but I’ve totally underestimated how much pure fun the game is. The sense of speed is amazing at times and the jumps can reach to incredible heights while you race your truck against the computer or another player through wild and fairly open tracks. You don’t have to stay on the road, in fact the game encourages you to find alternate routes to take, gaining stars along the way for “Tree Runs” and more. You then unlock more trucks and tracks depending on your race. It’s got dirt tracks, tracks with water, and of course icy/snowy courses to race on, each presenting their own sets of difficulties and challenges throughout the level.

There are minor interactive elements to the races as well allowing for even more fun to be had sometimes at your opponents expense. Add to this package an SD card full of your favorite upbeat driving tunes in MP3 format and you’ve got many hours of fun on your hands as the game will randomly (or in order) play through your music. I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a wild ride on the Wii! I happened to trade in Elebits for the game as Elebits just wasn’t my thing and am very glad I did. Video coming soon showing what’s up with ExciteTruck!

Here’s that video of the game in action I made showing some hands-on:

The wife here recently got me a subscription to Nintendo Power as part of my Christmas present. I’ve always been a fan of the mag as it’s not *too* fanboyish (they actually are pretty good with the reviews) and it’s not cluttered with 1,000,000 ads. It’s also fun to read compared to other reading material given the amount of “little things” they toss into the magazine. Here’s something new I’m going to start doing, posting about what’s inside the magazine as far as news and previews goes each month as I check out the magazine. Here’s what’s in this month’s Nintendo Power magazine for the February 2007 issue:

From the News Section:
- Mario Party 8 news with some screens. Looks great and better than any GC version I’ve seen. Not by leaps and bounds, but the graphics aren’t the reason the game is fun. Shows a bit of a game map itself, a mini-game that features Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Wario crossing a HUGE canyon over tightropes, and another mini-game showing what appears to be a 4 player split screen, each player cleaning off a Chomp-Chomp with a sponge bath. Coming this Spring to the US, Mario Party 8 will feature 6 game boards and 14 different Mushroom Kingdom characters including the new additions of Blooper and Hammer Bro. Earn coins and battle for Stars as you make your way around the interactive boards chock full of mini-games. The Wii remote is used heavily with it’s motion sensing abilities and the speaker will announce when it’s your turn. No mention of the Nunchuck attachment. We’ve been fans of Mario Party since the N64, so much fun contained for multiple players.

- Alien Syndrome from Sega and Totally Games is coming to the Wii and will offer around 30 levels of play in which you control a new heroine, Aileen. She will be able to use an assortment of weapons that you can upgrade to battle the baddies while you play. You can also purchase items from shops and learn new abilities, adding a slight RPG twist to the game. The single player game sounds fun enough but there is also a four player co-op mode that will allow you and your buddies to go through the game together. A screenshot is also present and shows our heroine in a darkened hallway from 3rd person perspective. Organic growth appears to meld with the metallic hallways and glows in the blue light shining through various openings.

- Small, tiny blurb on how Activision is planning on making a Transformers Wii (and DS) game that will coincide with the movie. Play as the Autobots or the Decepticons, “each bot comes equipped with different weapons, moves, and transformations.”

- h.a.n.d Inc. has announced Tamagotchi: Party On! for the Wii which will attempt to get it’s share of the multiplayer party game pie. Up to four players compete to become the mayor of Tamagotchi City on game boards that allow you to play for popularity or for more funds you can use to buy items that will help you in your run for mayor. An interesting twist on the multiplayer party game adding in a bit of political gameplay.

From the Previews Section:
- Wii Play is coming to the US and will offer more minigames you can enjoy by yourself or with others. Shooting Range, Find Mii, Table Tennis, Pose Mii, Laser Hockey, Billiards, Fishing, Charge!, and Tanks are easy to pick up and play and just as addicting. Some games are more in depth than others with Wii Billiards offering more complexity than first thought. Looks to be something for everyone in the package, can’t wait till it hits US stores! The game also comes with a Wii remote. Bonus!

After the previews, there’s a nice 7 page article covering Wario Ware: Smooth Moves showing screens from many of the minigames and pictures of various people having fun playing. Featuring a single player and multiplayer mode, Wario Ware for the Wii is going to be a hit for anyone that enjoyed the GC version or anyone looking for some multiplayer goodness. I remember spending what amounts to hours playing the multiplayer jump rope game of all things on the GC version with pals, never mind the hours we spent playing the more involved games. The Wii rendition looks to extend the fun even farther offering not only the same gameplay but a new way to get into the game itself with the unique controls.

Also included in the magazine as a special feature is a 4 page tips and tricks article showing some helpful hints on making it through what is called the “Cave of Ordeals” in Zelda: TP for the Wii. It describes all 50 floors, what you should bring, and how to use various tactics to your benefit while journeying through the caves. This will definitely prove handy for those playing the game.

Next up you will find a 5 page Channels guide focusing mainly on the Virtual Console games, showing screens for each one available now, what the game is and why you should give the game a go. The “Staff Picks” from the current offerings were Gunstar Heroes from the Genesis, Zelda for NES, and SimCity from the SNES. This portion of the magazine also shows how you can get into the shop, add points, find a game you’d like and then how to go about downloading it, and how to apply parental controls if needed.

There is also a guide on Wii Sports covering the games included in the package and how they play. There are also tips included for each game as well as safety pointers to help you not poke your sisters eyeballs out with the Wii Remote while playing.

A couple of pages later, we get to see some of the first screenshots from Prince of Persia that is coming to the Wii complete with illustrations showing how you can use the remote and nunchuk to play the game. Dagger plants, speed kills, and free form fighting is covered as well as how you can use the Daggertail to manipulate various objects to help make your way through the levels. Some great looking shots here and unique controls should make this a very fun game of Prince of Persia.

Codemasters has a nice 4 page article showing off their upcoming offering which features jets, missiles, and lots of explosions named Heatseeker which promises to be the “greatest air combat game since Afterburner”. Some great looking screens show off the various jet fighters in the air on different missions throughout the game. F-22 Raptors and SR-71 Blackbirds are included as available aircraft and the game appears to make great use of the remote and nunchuk. 18 missions will take you from the Carribean to the Antartic carrying out orders to protect carrier fleets or bombing targets. Set to be released in March, we’ll keep an eye on this one.

From the Reviews Section:
Here’s a list of the games they reviews along with the scores.

- Wario Ware: Smooth Moves - 9/10
- Far Cry: Vengeance - 4/10
- Elebits - 7.5/10
- Super Swing Golf - 7.5/10
- Chicken Little: Ace in Action - 7/10
- Tony Hawk’s Downhill Ham - 7.5/10
- Not a Wii game, but Zelda:TP for GC - 9/5/10
- Need for Speed: Carbon - 6/10

And that should cover it for this issue of Nintendo Power, I hope you found a bit of that interesting! There’s more in the mag of course, tons of DS news, fan art and screens, letters, and more so be sure to get your subscription if you enjoyed it so far. A cool thing you can do is go to Nintendo.com, register three Nintendo games and as far as we know, you can get a *free* 3 month subscription to Nintendo Power. Register more and you will soon qualify for a 12 month subscription for only $12. That’s a steal! See you next issue with more coverage of what’s “In This Month’s Nintendo Power”!

BrokenControllers has a nice editorial up talking of the how the Wii deserves a chance. This echoes our sentiment as well and are often times tired of reading overly derogatory articles concerning Nintendo. We’re not asking for glorious praise of Nintendo in every article we read and we try to keep things very even keel not slipping into fanboyism ourselves while keeping the news related to the Wii and just keeping it fair.

Fair means realizing Nintendo’s successes and trials as a video game company against some harsh competitors willing to take losses on hardware even to compete. And time and time again, Nintendo has been more than successful profiting more and more off of their handhelds and consoles. Hardly a failure of a company and hardly deserving of the constant articles talking of “Will Nintendo Fail This Time Around?” or “Why Can’t Nintendo Get It Right?” that we have been reading for years now. It seems no matter what Nintendo does, if they don’t appeal to the crowd that enjoys nothing but racing games and “games with guys with guns” then they don’t get a fair shake.

It’s time for a change which will come by either outlets reporting things a bit differently on their own or suffer as the gaming base changes and in turn expects more positive or even neutral articles when it comes to Nintendo and their progress in the gaming world. It’s the overall negative outlooks on a company so successful that has brought so much fun to a great deal of gamers (and now, non-gamers turned gamers) that we find dismaying. From their article:

As I watched my friend play his PSP I was awed by a bigger screen and the most impressive graphics I had ever seen on a handheld console. My DS paled in comparison. Not to mention the fact that Nintendo had released less than impressive games over the past several months. I had grown impatient awaiting the titles that I had dreamt about in the winter. A sleek design and attractive features clouded my logic, and I made a decision that I would soon regret. I cashed in my treasured DS for the (supposed) top-of-the-line PSP.

By the end of that summer I found myself at the counter of my local game retailer with my PSP and sole game in hand. Without a word I handed over my handheld and motioned at the Electric Blue DS and Advance Wars: Dual Strike.

My brother did the exact same thing and eventually traded his PSP that he never played to me for a level 60 WoW character. I’m not sure who got the bad end of the deal there and I’m now looking to sell the PSP. And no, it doesn’t mean that simply because the DS was and still is very successful the Wii will be, it’s a bit deeper than that.

It’s more of the fact that so many folks underestimated the DS, were dead wrong on it’s and Nintendo’s future, and still haven’t seemed to learn the lesson that gamers are looking for more than technical specs and minor graphical upgrades. It’s these articles and outlooks from the “major players” that disgusted me into doing what I had heard from many people that would enjoy the debate, “If you don’t like how the news is being reported, start your own site with it’s own take then..”

Welcome to The Wii Experience.

GoNintendo.com has a great impressions write up for Super Swing Golf addressing not only what they think of the game but almost questions if GameSpot was playing the same game. The impressions themselves are a very good read, but the bigger message seems to echo what has been going around for weeks now, wondering what GameSpot is thinking with some of the recent Wii reviews.

GameSpot has been giving Nintendo Wii games some strange and highly debated reviews for the Nintendo Wii and I agree with GoNintendo’s “WTF” sentiment regarding their recent scores. The reviews often times come off as someone who is jaded with the gaming industry as a whole, someone who has worked in the same job for so long, they have grown weary and grumpy against it. They also come off very shallow, seemingly still focusing on the graphical power over whatever game they are reviewing and not putting quite enough weight into things like how much fun you are having while playing it. Nintendo went a different route this generation and deserves to be looked at in a more fair light that gives them credit for trying to take gaming into a new direction that gets it out of the rut of rehashes with simply upgraded graphics and little to no gameplay enhancements. The fact Perfect Dark 0 has a 9.0 and Zelda:TP gets a lower score is a glaring example that something isn’t right in GameSpot-land.

Our recent post concerning the GameSpot GC and Wii reviews for Zelda:TP also touches on this subject wondering what GameSpot’s agenda may be or what methodology they use when it comes to rating games. Frankly, I think it’s time for a change when the people working there are looking for nothing but graphical overhauls in their games and not truly looking at what the gaming base is interested in: A fun game. Gone are the days when you could simply add lens flares and bump maps and you could wow gamers into thinking they are having fun until the next graphical trick comes out. That doesn’t bring in new gamers and only caters to the niche market that does enjoy graphical enhancements over new gameplay ideas and methods.

The Wii does not simply offer a shallow increase of enjoyment when playing video games with graphical tricks, it’s a new and improved method for playing video games and having fun that many people from old school gamers to those that haven’t played a single video game can recognize. The base of gamers is a changin’ and it’s a shame a major outlet like GameSpot is not recognizing this and seeing the impact the new control schemes are having on people. They are seemingly still rating games based on 3-5 year old mentalities of what makes a game a great game.

We’re not asking for full 10’s on every Wii game - not even 9’s - we’re asking for gaming outlets to take a step back, realize things are different now and you might just have to re-evaluate not only how you review and look at video games, but the market you are reviewing games for. It’s not the same market as it was 3 years ago and some outlets are going to have to realize this in a painful way if they don’t wakeup in the form of dropped readership as more gamers gravitate towards smaller outlets that might not be so jaded and can give a more honest answer as to if a game is fun in ways they are looking for that doesn’t revolve solely around graphics. We are in a new gaming era, one which Nintendo cannot get enough positive press from everyone. Everyone except GameSpot. Why?

So you’ve been poking and prodding around the Virtual Console looking at the various games wondering which ones to buy. We’ve put together five games you should own right now from the Virtual Console and why just in case you needed some pointers! These are in no particular order, we think you should own them for various reasons. Check out our list of which five games we recommend below:

The Legend of Zelda - NES
The Legend of Zelda is a timeless classic from the NES days with gameplay that still holds up today. It’s fun for children, adults, men and women offering a great deal of adventure packed into one game. It’s replicated in all it’s glory on the VC so if you’ve played it before, it will be immediately recognized and if you haven’t, then you’ve missed out on one of the cornerstones of video gaming history and it’s about time you get around to playing it!

Bomberman 93 - TG16
Over the years, the Bomberman series has grown to include tons of powerups, fancier graphics, and more addons to an original winning gameplay idea. Bomberman 93 for the TG16 happens to be one of the classic Bomberman games that stuck true to it’s roots and keeps things simple and fun. Playing single player, you make your way around the screens bombing away blocks and baddies through various levels, even fighting bosses at some points. Multiplayer is where the game really shines though, offering up to five player support using the Wii controllers, GC controllers, or the Classic controllers mixed and matched if you need. You and four of your friends frantically trying to bomb each other while avoiding your own blasts is very fun and sure to cause an uproar and laughter many times when playing. The best Multiplayer experience on the Virtual Console in our books at the current time, you really shouldn’t miss out on the fun that is Bomberman 93!

SimCity - SNES
SimCity originally appeared on PC’s and through the years has become very popular to those that enjoy the sim genre of gaming, micromanaging your city until it becomes big and successful. The SNES version features many of the same original gameplay ideas with a simpler interface and control than some of it’s PC counterparts. This version also features cameos by the likes of Bowser and Mario and is deemed one of the best versions of the SimCity game ever by some due to it’s simple yet overall very fun design. It’s a game you can play at your own pace as it allows you to alter the game’s speed while you play so you don’t become too overwhelmed. Advisors also let you in on the low down around town at times to help you make decisions in-game so it’s never too complicated. If you’re looking for a nice sim type game for the Wii, you really can’t go wrong with the SNES VC game of SimCity!

Bonk’s Adventure - TG16
The cool thing about the TG16 games is that they haven’t been released that much since their original inceptions. You probably haven’t played this game (or many other TG16 games) since the system came out; no GameBoy versions or compilation disks by Hudson compiling their greatest hits. Bonk’s Adventure was a fun and original little side scroller for the TG16 that put you in the shoes of a caveman with a temper. As you make your way through various levels, which are very colorful and creative btw, you will “bonk” your head on the ground and into enemies as an attack. Finding fruits scattered around the level increases any health you may have lost while finding meats powers up Bonk himself eventually sending him into an invincible rage! It sounds zany and it is for sure. A great classic from the TG16 available now on the Virtual Console.

Super Mario 64 - N64
Super Mario 64 was one of the games of it’s time to help define a new genre. It was the first time Mario and crew had ventured into a 3D world and did so very successfully with great controls and graphics (for it’s time). Capture every hidden star as you make it through the various worlds in Mario 64, this time the Virtual Console even gives the graphics a minor upgrade by way of smoothing out some of the jaggies in the original by upscaling things a bit. Using moves such as the butt stomp, the double jump, even flying around after being shot out of cannons, Mario 64 is still a great game available on the Virtual Console and a must have for anyone with a Wii!

Hope these suggestions help, there’s plenty of games already and coming for the Virtual Console so if none of these fit your fancy there’s others out there and even more to come. We’d personally like more TG16 and SNES/N64 games and can’t wait for them. We’ll take whatever we can get though! Keep your eyes on the site here and we’ll keep you up to date with what the word is in the Virtual Console world.

The launch of the Wii has been a great success, and the system is winning awards, and topping kids Chrismahanquanzika lists all over the world. Nintendo, and the third party software developers that have supported the Wii, have given us a lot this year…but I want more.

Originally, stronger wrist straps were on this list…but Nintendo has already solved that problem…so…without further adieu…here is my Wii Wishlist for 2007.

5) Fight Night - The boxing in Wii Sports is one of my favorite games on the system thus far. It makes me froth at the mouth at the idea of playing EA’s Fight Night series in a similar way, and with as much as EA seems to love the Wii…I’m sure we’ll see it soon.

4) Star Wars Wii Games - We’ve heard rumblings from LucasArts…and with the Wii selling out everywhere, and receiving praise from virtually everyone the studio behind the Star Wars games would be foolish not to produce a game (or two) for the new console.

I know everyone wants a game where they use the Wiimote as a lightsaber, and I’m all for that…but I’d also be interested in playing a Podracer game where the Wiimote and the Nunchuck are the left and right engines…

Ah, there is so much that can be done…

3) Power Glove Accessory - Yes, I know…I know…I’m an idiot. I don’t care. Back when “The Wizard” came out in the 80s, they pushed the Power Glove on the youth of America like it was going to control your NES games the way the Wiimote controls games now. It’s taken them almost 20 years to fulfill the promise of the Power Glove…and by golly, I want a Power Glove Accessory for the Wii that works like I was promised in my youth!!!

2) Wireless Nunchuck/Sensor bar - I love the fact that the Wiimote is wireless, but I am getting tired of the wire connecting the Nunchuck and the Wiimote getting in the way. The Nunchuck feels a little light anyway, and a wireless version with a battery in it would help weight it down a bit.

The sensor bar seems to be unnecessary wire as well. Hopefully we’ll have the option of buying a watch-battery powered sensor bar in the near future.

1) Online Multiplayer - Of all the “wants” in regards to the Wii, this one, I’m sure, is at the top of everyone’s list. I’m still puzzled as to why there are no online games with the launch of the system. Everything seems to be in place…so why can’t I play Call of Duty online? I hope this changes ASAP…because it’s really the only major thing (with the exception of graphics, of course) separating the Wii from the other next Gen consoles.