Favorite Wii games countdown #6: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

If you've been keeping track of my list of favorite Wii games, perhaps you've realized that today's game, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, has officially trumped another great Super Mario game from yesterday, Super Mario Galaxy. I have to say that I do love NSMBW just a smidgeon more than SMG. You see, the classic, side-scrolling Mario style holds a special place in my heart. Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo is one of my childhood (and all-time) favorites. NSMBW is everything great about that classic formula all rolled into one.

And dare I forget to mention the multiplayer! Up to four people can gather for local multiplayer in NSMBW. You wouldn't think it could work, but it does in this game! Players can interact with each other any way they want. You can help your friends by picking them up or giving them jump boosts. Or you can hinder your friends by throwing them at enemies or into lava pits. New Super Mario Bros. Wii has served as a great little social tool for me and my friends on countless occasions. Simply put, it is a must-have for any Wii owner.

Honorable Mention: Wii Sports Resort
This game turned out to be a superb showcase of what Wii MotionPlus could do. Personally, I grew to love sword play and archery as great examples. After playing this game, I feel it's a shame that Wii MotionPlus has gone largely unused since.

A Game I Should Have Played: Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
I gotta tell you the story of my first go at a Wario Ware game. I had this friend in Junior High who had Wario Ware on her GameCube. Well, we played it one day. She let me go through a series of what are called "micro games", and I was phenomenal! I wasn't making any mistakes at all. I kept glancing back at her in between games, hoping to see that she was awestruck at my incredible gaming skills. Before long, however, I began to get suspicious. Something wasn't right about this. Finally I found out that this friend of mine had swapped the controllers while I wasn't looking: she had been controlling the game the whole time.

That and about fifteen minutes of Wario Ware on GBA have been my sole experience with the Wario Ware series. I would love to try out Smooth Moves for Wii some time.

GameBoy Advance Ambassador games: First Impressions (part 1)

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Yikes! Ya know, many of the racing games of yesteryear just didn't age well. I believe this is one of them. I think that can be attributed partially to the D-pad based control scheme...and the 2-D graphics. Yeah, racers are probably better off in 3-D. All I know is I wouldn't pay for this game.

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
How did I miss out on the original Yoshi's Island in my youth?! It's a flippin' sweet game! Stay tuned on this one for sure!

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
I actually have this game in GBA cartridge format! To be brief, I've never liked it...at all...in the slightest. If the original Mario Kart on Super Nintendo is anything like this one, I'll stay far away.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
I haven't played this one much, but what I've seen, I've liked...a lot. It's kind of a combination of platforming and puzzle-solving. I can't wait to have time to play more of this little gem!

Metroid Fusion
Another title I have an actual cartridge of! I love playing this game on my GBA SP. But the D-pad and face buttons on the Nintendo 3DS system are, to be quite frank, a pain to use. They're too stiff or something. That aside, Metroid Fusion is an excellent game.

Warioware, Inc. Mega Microgame$
Apparently this title introduced the brilliant concept of microgames. It works, and works well. Obviously there isn't going to be a lot of meat to this kind of game, but it's a much-appreciated diversion.

Six down, four to go! Look forward to part 2 in this series in a couple of days!