Summary
- Red Steel 2 refines motion controls for immensely satisfying gameplay with a futuristic art style.
- MadWorld's unique art style and gameplay make it stand out as a gratifying experience worth revisiting.
- Super Mario Galaxy offers fun, joy, emotion, and challenge in whimsical settings with vibrant creativity.
Nintendo is a company known for their ambition and creativity, but they really took this to a whole new level with the Wii. As a system that entirely revolves around the use of motion controls, which everyone has their own opinions on, it was a pretty risky gamble, and while not every game released for the Wii ended up being all that memorable, there are some that have done a pretty admirable job of standing the test of time.
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The Wii was a console that became the home of some of Nintendo's most unique and creative games in the developer's history, which is why it's so easy to return to considering the sheer number of titles that are still fun to jump into and satisfying to play. When boiling it down, though, these are the Wii titles that have aged the most gracefully in retrospect.
8 Red Steel 2
An Immensely Satisfying Shooter That Makes Great Use Of Motion Controls
Red Steel 2
- Released
- March 23, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Beat 'Em Up
While the first Red Steel was already a great game and one that quickly amassed a passionate fanbase, it admittedly felt a little rough around the edges, especially when it came to the combat. Red Steel 2, however, refines the sword and gun gamplay by making the motion controls much more responsive in order to feed into the unnamed protagonist's quick and deadly fighting style.
For example, while large swings of the remote can blow enemies back and break their guard, smaller and more accurate slices can dish out plenty of damage, keeping the players' eyes glued to the screen at all times while they try to outmaneuver their opponents. The chaotic nature of the surprisingly in-depth combat system is an easy reason to return to Red Steel 2, but what has also helped it remain fresh is the art style, which emphasizes the uniqueness of the futuristic setting the game takes place in.
7 MadWorld
MadWorld Boasts A Captivating Art Style And Over-The-Top Action Gameplay
MadWorld
- Released
- March 10, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash, Beat 'Em Up
Video game developers have toyed around with all kinds of weird and wacky art styles over the years, but even fifteen years after its release, there's still nothing that looks quite like MadWorld. The moody white and black aesthetic instantly hooks players into the gruesome world, with the game being a real treat to gawk at in action, especially during combat sections, where things can get messy very quickly.
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While the game plays like a fairly traditional linear hack and slash title, what prevents it from ever feeling repetitive is the challenges sprinkled throughout each area. The Bloodbath missions, for example, give players an opportunity to test out Jack's chainsaw and deadly boomsticks against large swarms of enemies as a nice side-objective to help out the pacing. MadWorld may have been largely overlooked on release, but many gamers have started looking back fondly on this stylish PlatinumGames action title over the years.
6 Mario Party 8
A Simple And Straightforward Party Game That Leaves Gimmicks To The Side
Mario Party 8
- Released
- May 29, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Party Game
Most Mario Party games will feel the need to include some kind of overarching gimmick, and while this isn't inherently a bad thing, it can result in fans having split opinions on how they feel about them being implemented into the gameplay. The reason many fans cite Mario Party 8 as one of the best in the franchise, even with so many games being released after, is because of how simple, straightforward, and accessible it is.
With that being said, thanks to the plentiful board variety, players can still opt to spice things up if they want to try something new, such as on Koopa's Tycoon Town, where each player has the opportunity to invest in a few hotels, so long as they have the Coins to spare. With a staggering 73 mini-games available, including some classics such as Lava Lobbers and Winner Dinner, it's not hard to see why this Mario Party entry has aged as well as it has.
5 No More Heroes
Travis Touchdown's Mission To Become Number One Is Still A Blast To Play Through
No More Heroes
- Released
- January 22, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
In a day and age where gamers are getting a little tired of massive open world games that stretch on for hours on end, many have been finding a newfound appreciation for short and linear single-player experiences instead. This is why No More Heroes, a Wii title developed by Suda 51, continues to be praised as one of the best hack and slash games out there, because it gets players in and out of the action as quickly as possible while also offering a fast and fluid combat system to boot.
By using the Wii remote, players will be able to swing around Travis' Beam Katana to drain enemy health, but in order to score big damage, they'll need to keep an eye out for commands that show up on screen during a kill execution. While grunts may be easy to deal with, it's the assassins Travis faces off against who are the real challenge, and when paired with the absurdity of the story and memorable characters, it's a game that has only become more appreciated as time has gone on.
4 WarioWare: Smooth Moves
The Wii Ended Up Being The Perfect Console For The WarioWare Games
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
- Released
- December 2, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E
- Genre(s)
- Party Game
Though the first WarioWare game was released for the GameBoy Advance, the chaotic style of the gameplay really came to life with Smooth Moves on the Wii. In a typical game of WarioWare, players will be tasked with completing all kinds of obscure mini-games as fast as possible, but thanks to the inclusion of the Wii remote, Smooth Moves can get a lot more experimental with its challenges.
One moment, players will be arching their body to hit a pose alongside a friend, while the next, they'll be shooting down a flock of birds or even busting a quick dance move. WarioWare really does feel like a series that was designed with the Wii in mind, considering how perfectly the system suits the hectic and unpredictable gameplay loop.
3 Wii Sports
Wii Sports Has Become A Timeless Party Game That Will Never Not Be Fun
Wii Sports
- Released
- November 19, 2006
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sports
There's never been (and probably never will be) a launch title quite like Wii Sports. While the game was sold alongside the console itself, what makes Wii Sports so replayable and addictive is its simplicity. Wii Sports doesn't go over the top with its mechanics or systems. In contrast, there are five sports to play, and earning a victory in any of them will rely entirely on the player's skills at using the Wii remote.
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Despite being an early title for the Wii, the motion tracker works surprisingly well, especially because the game only needs to register a handful of movements to execute a command on the screen. Simply put, Wii Sports is timeless, and it's a game that can always be enjoyed with family or friends thanks to its competitive gameplay and accessibility.
2 Resident Evil 4 (Wii Edition)
Despite So Many Ports Being Released, The Wii Version Of Resident Evil 4 Still Stands As The Best For Many People
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Being able to control Leon's aim from an over-the-shoulder perspective in Resident Evil 4 was revolutionary at the time of its release, and while countless games have replicated it since, one version that hasn't been copied as often is the Wii port. On the Wii version of the survival horror classic, players will need to manually move the reticle with the Wii remote, making each combat section feel incredibly intense and engaging as hordes of Ganados slowly walk their way towards Leon with weapons at the ready.
Resident Evil 4 is one of only a few games that use quick-time events to good effect, but they are even more satisfying to complete on the Wii version, where players will need to perform a quick shake or lunge to prevent Leon from being killed in action. There are many ports of Resident Evil 4 out there, but the Wii edition of the game is particularly special due to its unique gameplay mechanics and unrivaled levels of immersion.
1 Super Mario Galaxy
Without A Doubt, Still One Of The Most Fun, Joyous, And Challenging Mario Games Out There
Super Mario Galaxy
- Released
- November 1, 2007
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer
There's a lot to love about Super Mario Galaxy, but while its rock-solid gameplay and creative levels all contribute to the game's fun factor, the primary reason it stands out among other entries in the series is its setting and aesthetic. Based in outer space, the game features a light and whimsical soundtrack that can get big and orchestral when it needs to, and there are also some genuinely emotional moments packed into the story, which can't be said for many Mario games.
Of course, the meat of the game is the Galaxies that Mario will explore, and it's no exaggeration to say these are still some of the most vibrant and creative in the series. Whether it's the bright and beautiful Honey Hive Galaxy or the lush aquatic Loopdeloop Galaxy, there's a staggering amount of level diversity packed into this Wii game, with many fans of the series considering it a must-play, even after all these years.
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