The Nintendo Wii has had quite a beating from the so-called core gamer crowd. Not least from me. But actually, it begs the question which needs asking, is the system a poor buy for the hardcore masses?
On the surface you can see why its been getting a kicking – compared to the HD formats, it's pretty feature-lite, it sinks deeper into a mire of shovelware by the day and publishers have struggled to sell gamer-focused games in meaningful numbers.
But should gamers be ignoring the Wii? Well it's fair to say that you won't be getting the full-on super-cinematic experience of the typical AAA hi-def title on Nintendo's system. If you look at the Wii expecting to find a rival to Uncharted or Gears of War then sure, I can see why we're so dismissive.
However on the other hand, the Wii is also packed with super-cheap, utterly charming games and has a number of magnificent looking games due out this year.
With the following quick round-up of games to try, I implore you to blow the (probably quite thick) dust off your Wii... You may be pleasantly surprised.
Endless Ocean: Blue World – A super-relaxing ocean exploring game and one which pushes the technical boundaries of the Wii. Visually it shames every other Wii game – swimming over an enormous whale shark and watching the sun glimmer on its back is quite breathtaking. This game has a steady pace which forms a refreshing change from the more gung-ho titles you may be used to. An acquired taste maybe, but one which can easily take 50-60 hours to finish.
Little King's Story – Harvest Moon crossed with a town building sim. You control the titular King on a quest to turn a tiny hamlet into a thriving kingdom. What's surprising about this game is that it is much more than the animal crossing clone the screenshots may suggest – you develop a real sense of responsibility for the wellfare of your town and its people as it grows over the course of the game. Utterly engrossing and, at a cost of less than £9 on Amazon UK , you really can't go wrong!
Muramasa: The Demon Blade – A real gem, this game would've got all kinds of accolades had it been released on PS2 in its heyday. Essentially this is a 2D hack and slash game, and in a weird way it made me think of Castle Crashers – however the art is simply stunning throughout. Definitely worth your time, and it's fairly cheap too.
What's more, in the near future the Wii is playing host to Monster Hunter Tri (4 player co-op and friend-list action), Red Steel 2, Super Mario Galaxy 2, a new Zelda, the spiritual sequel to Xenosaga titled Xenoblade, Mistwalker's The Last Story, and a sequel to N64 fan-favourite Sin and Punishment.
I ask you, as a gamer, is there really anything not to be excited about there?
