Nintendo Lifeline Top Ten Wii Games

Thanks to everyone who participated in our one-year anniversary celebration! This post is meant to be a gateway to all of the Wii games that made our top ten list, so let's dive right in:

10. Excite Truck
One of the first examples of how motion control could be used in racing games, which seemed a logical fit. Excite Truck still holds up today, even though it was released back in 2006. Little else can offer the satisfaction that Excite Truck has in store for gamers: catching big air, slamming into other trucks, driving through a forest to rack up the "tree run" stars, etc. The control in Excite Truck may seem a little wonky, but it can turn into one of the highlights of the whole thing, if only the player lets it.

9. Rune Factory Frontier
Remains one of the most addictive games in my collection. Rune Factory Frontier sees the player in control of Raguna, who has the typical memory issues, and so is essentially forced to live in the quaint little village of Trampoli to begin a lovely new life. Raguna can spend his days any way he wants: fighting monsters in the dungeons, seeking friendship with the locals, maintaining a farm for profits, or any combination of those things. Though the load times may be quite severe in this game, the graphics will not disappoint.

8. Rhythm Heaven Fever
It didn't take long for me to know that Rhythm Heaven Fever would end up being one of my all-time favorite games. Indeed, it is, at the very least, my absolute favorite rhythm game of all time. With simple, precise control, intelligent rhythms, and an imaginative style, Rhythm Heaven Fever will never grow old for this gamer.

7. Super Mario Galaxy
Mario goes into outer space with totally epic results. Super Mario Galaxy did what no other Super Mario could do: make the weird, quirky world of Mario feel grand and mighty, thanks to the out-of-this-world setting and an orchestral soundtrack.

6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
I love a good side-scrolling platformer, and it doesn't get much better than New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In addition to exhibiting pure platforming genius, New Super Mario Bros. Wii flawlessly added multiplayer to the mix, which would inspire games to come to do the same. None have nailed it quite like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Zelda series finds its dark side. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best adventures I have ever experienced. The minimalistic approach to motion control adds a lot, the graphics and presentation are stunning. Also, the Twilight Realm in this game has got to be one of the coolest locations in the history of video games.

4. Wii Sports
Anyone who has owned a Wii console from the early days undoubtedly has fond memories towards the game Wii Sports. The game was magical back then, and it's still fun to play today. Nintendo orchestrated the release of their motion-controlled gaming console with perfect finesse by including this game as a pack-in.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2
What's even better than the excellent Super Mario Galaxy? Why, Super Mario Galaxy 2, of course! That's not what my expectation was, however. I thought that Galaxy 2 couldn't possibly add anything that Galaxy 1 didn't already have. WRONG! Galaxy 2 is one of the best games I've ever played.

2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The developers of Super Smash Bros. Brawl must've been insistent that the game be nothing less than perfect. After suffering from two set-backs in release date, the game finally fell into eager gamers' hands. Not only is Brawl a superb gameplay experience, it's also got an impossible amount of sheer content. You could get lost in it!


1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword came along just as I was hoping for a Zelda game that stayed true to the spirit of the series while adding something completely different. Wouldn't you know it, Skyward Sword did just that! A fresh graphical style, controls that fans had only dreamed of, and a revamped format to the game world are just a few examples of how Skyward Sword soared.

Favorite Wii games countdown #10: Excite Truck

Christmas morning 2006: there are 3 presents of varying sizes; one for me, one for my brother just below me in age, and one for the brother below him. Mine's the biggest. I have an inkling that it's what I've been clamoring for for months now: a Wii system. I hold it in my lap while I wait for my turn to open. Joe opens something (can't remember what), then Dave opens something. It's finally my turn. I open cautiously, trying not to get my hopes up. My heart does a gleeful somersault: it's a Wii! Best Christmas unwrapping ever! In the next round of opening, Joe and Dave receive the two things that I totally saw coming: a second Wii remote and a game. The game is Excite Truck.

So you see, my earliest Wii memories revolve not only around Wii Sports, but also Excite Truck. It's likely other gamers had the same problem as me with Excite Truck: everything gaming-related up to that point in my life pretty much screamed in my face to use the D-pad to steer. Even after I grasped the motion-controlled nature of the game, it was a while before I grasped the overall feel of the game. Steering in Excite Truck is, shall we say, a little quirky? I hope I'm not turning anyone off to this game, however, because once I got the gameplay down, I loved Excite Truck! Still do, 'smatter of fact. There's little else that offers the thrills and satisfactions that Excite Truck has: catching 5-star air, then landing perfectly on all four wheels for a speed boost; smashing into other racers with bone-crushing force; the list goes on. Try this one out if you get the chance!

Honorable Mention: Link's Crossbow Training

Link's Crossbow Training came packed in with the Wii Zapper accessory. For how cheaply it comes, it's a pretty darn good experience. I still play this one once in a while.

A Game I Should Have Played: Excitebots: Trick Racing
I heard this game was a lot like its predecessor, only better. I've got it on my Gamefly Game Q, but then I've got about 20 other games on there as well. Someday soon...