Tag: mario

When the Nintendo Wii was first announced, it was quite possibly the most excited the world had ever been for a new console.

The Wii Remote was unlike any controller we had ever seen. Players were no longer going to be maneuvering around with an analog stick, but with motion controls. It truly felt like the wave of the future.

Too bad it really fell flat.

Motion controls have been downplayed a lot since the days of the Wii. The motion controls worked well on maybe a handful of Wii games and were complete garbage on others.

For example: when Donkey Kong Country Returns was released for the Wii, somebody thought it would be a good idea to have players shake the controller in order to get DK to roll. Later on, the game was ported to the Nintendo 3DS and players could use a joystick and buttons. Once we were able to play it that way, it turned out the game was actually a lot of fun. However, it was virtually unplayable on the Wii.

To make matters worse, they were obscenely hard to buy when they first came out. For some reason, Nintendo didn’t supply many consoles to stores making so buyers had to camp out in front of the store before it opened to get one.

Look, the title of this article is “Top 10 Wii games,” so clearly we liked a few of them. When the motion controls worked, games could actually be a lot of fun. However, we’re glad that Nintendo eventually decided to put actual controllers back in our hands.

Top 10 Wii games

10. Kirby’s Epic Yarn

Before Yoshi made his way to the world of wool, Kirby’s Epic Yarn spun a pretty great adventure.

Kirby’s Epic Yarn wasn’t supposed to be a Kirby game at first. However, once developers saw how fun the game was and how beautiful it looked, Kirby was added to help boost sales.

Kirby is known for inhaling his enemies and then gaining their powers. However, Kirby has a new array of tools in this classic. Instead, Kirby spins yarn and morphs himself into whatever he needs to be to overcome challenges.

The platformer isn’t very difficult, and the more adept player can probably knock this out in a day or so. However, for those that have played it, they can assure you that you’re in a for a fun Warp Star ride. 

9. Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Most fans of Smash agree that Super Smash Bros. Brawl was a huge step down from Super Smash Bros. Melee. The game just isn’t as fast-paced as Melee, and the new mechanics that were added were atrocious. It was the first Smash game to have online matchmaking, but the online side lagged so incredibly bad that almost nobody played it.

You can slip and fall over. Who even thought of that?

However, Brawl did give us an epic story mode with Subspace Emissary. Subspace was absolutely incredible. It felt like an Avengers storyline, but with our favorite Nintendo characters. It was an incredible adventure that we, unfortunately, have not seen since in other Smash games.

Brawl also gave us a bunch of cool characters that are staples in the series now including Ike, Snake, Sonic, Meta Knight, Pokémon Trainer, and Zero Suit Samus.

Thankfully, the Wii allowed us to use our old GameCube controllers to play the game, so we weren’t forced to use the Wii Remote. Brawl might just be the worst Smash game, but it’s still a Smash game.

8. New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Much like Kirby’s Epic Yarn, New Super Mario Bros. Wii isn’t going to take you very long to beat. Even if you are casually playing through the game, you can get through the entire main story in just a few hours.

However, those are gonna be some of the most fun hours you’ve had in a while. The game takes Mario back to basics in a classic side-scrolling adventure. No 3D exploration. No maps where you hunt for stars. No bull.

You know what? It really works.

Get up to three other friends with you, and you can turn it this into a party game the likes of which you’ve never seen.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

All things considered, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a far better game. However, the GameCube version is better than the Wii version. On Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is much more fun.

Much like Brawl, this is a weak entry in its franchise as a whole, but it’s still a fun game nonetheless. Skyward Sword revolves around Link on his journey to save Princess Zelda from an evil force blah blah blah, it’s the basic story yet again. The game included a crafting portion to make new gear and upgrade existing weapons. In most other games it would work, but it just seems out of place here in Zelda.

Also, you have a new guide named Fi. If you thought Navi was annoying, wait until you get a load of her. Navi at least had personality; Fi feels like a lifeless zombie who takes away from the adventure.

That said, the game still is a lot of fun and has a lot of great Zelda moments. As far as boss battles in Zelda go, this game has some of the best.

If you’re looking for something on par with Ocarina of Time, this ain’t it, chief. However, if you’re looking for a decent entry in the series to eat up a few hours.

6. Okami

Okami is one of the most beautiful games ever made.

You play as a wolf as you adventure through a painted tapestry. Your means of travel and attacks all coordinate with brush strokes, which make the game sometimes feel more like you’re painting a picture. 

The art style mixes with Japanese culture to make a truly unique experience that you’ll never forget.

With all the characters that people want to see get added to Smash, Amaterasu from Okami is almost never brought up.

Come on, Sakurai. Make it happen!

5. Mario Kart Wii

While we got a below average Smash game and a below average Zelda game, we honestly got one of the best Mario Kart games with Mario Kart Wii. 

Just listen to that music:

The Wii’s motion controls actually worked pretty well for this game. Even if you didn’t like them, the game allowed you to use a slew of other controllers to tickle your fancy.

Like Brawl, this game had online matchmaking, but the lag wasn’t nearly as bad. Sure, it paled in comparison to the online capabilities of the PlayStation 3  and the Xbox 360, but we still got to show some elementary school kids who’s the boss.

4. Xenoblade Chronicles

Xenoblade Chronicles flew passed a lot of peoples’ radar. It was also a pretty rare find in the United States. After the game was discovered to be the absolute gem that it is, you’d have to dish out around $100 IF you could somehow find a copy.

Xenoblade Chronicles is considered to be one of the best RPGs of our time. It simply nails every aspect. The combat is fun. The crafting is addictive. The story is epic. The characters are intoxicating.

From start to finish, Xenoblade Chronicles will have you hooked.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2

To be honest, Super Mario Galaxy 2 does not feel like its own game. It feels like DLC for the first Super Mario Galaxy. 

Guess what? We are totally fine with that!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 brings all the elements that made the first Mario Galaxy great and adds a bunch more awesome mechanics. For instance, you can ride Yoshi in this game!

Sure, blasting through the cosmos is fun, but it’s even more fun on the back of your dino bestie!

With all that being said, it still couldn’t beat its predecessor…

2. Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy was the first Mario game that felt like a true successor to Super Mario 64. Mario didn’t just jump into the next generation of gaming; he launched himself from a star cannon and flew past planets along the way.

The music accompanying the game was extraordinary. Mario moved through the galaxy accompanied by an orchestra every step of the way.

Yeah, Super Mario Galaxy 2 added some more features. However, the developers clearly put their best ideas for bosses and levels into this gem.

As much as we loved this game on the Wii, we have to admit that the title begs for a remake. If Nintendo was able to make Mario work as well as they did on the Switch with Super Mario Odyssey, then they should be able to to do the same with Mario Galaxy.

1. Wii Sports

Hold on, before you go typing an angry comment down below, hear us out.

Wii Sports was the game played most by players and is probably the only Wii game that hasn’t had a suitable replacement made since.

Think about it. All the games on this list are fun, but would you really go through the trouble of hooking up your Wii, Wii Remote, and sensor bar just to play Mario Galaxy? We’re guessing you wouldn’t.

However, if you’re having a group of friends over, wouldn’t it be fun to break out bowling or tennis?

Wii Sports got the motion controls better than any other game on the Switch. It has aged quite well, and, just to cap it all off, it came free with every Nintendo Wii.

Wrapping up

Do you agree with our picks? What ones slipped past our radar, and deserve recognition? Let us know in the comments below!