Random Wii Impressions

[Melbosa]

So I was able to have some fun with Friends and their Wii on the weekend.  We tried a wack of games and thought I would share my impressions of them:

Rayman Raving Rabbids
Ok, first I don't know what crack/meth/E!/wacky tabbacki these guys were on when the made this game, but it must have been some good stuff!  Other than that though the game was fun and funny!  Only problem was that we didn't realize it had a multiplayer side to it until after we were all done playing for the night.  If I owned a Wii I would probably own this one for sure.

Playground
Games on this one are fun, but not enough to the game as a whole I think.  Not sure if you can unlock more games than the default 9, but seems like, after playing other games like above and below, that there should have been more to choose from.  So other than short on content, the games were still fun.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympics
Basically this is a sequel to Wii Sports in my eyes.  Fun and challenging, it sure does capture the olympic events very well.  Harder than Wii sports, but yet just as fun.  Some of the events that really stand out was the swimming - each character has a style of swimming that requires unique usage of the nunchuck and remote - breast stroke, doggy paddle, etc. Worth a purchase if you like Wii Sports.

Mario Party 8
I love the mini-games of these games.  Loved them on the Game Cube, and this one is no different.  Great Party game, lots of hours of fun, and the level differences in this one make it repeat gaming worth while.

Wii Sports
Can't go wrong with this one, only wish the matches in each of the games could be longer ('cept bowling).

[Melbosa]

So next on our lists to try when we have a chance:

• Super Mario Galaxy
• Zelda
• Wario Ware: Smooth Moves - Thorin suggested this one
• Table Tennis

[Thorin]

If you like minigames and a good singleplayer puzzler, try Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz.  50 minigames (including a couple of really fun hovertank ones) as well as eight worlds of eight levels each of trying to roll a giant marble with a monkey in it along a very specific path.

[CowGirl]

Good thing Santa is coming soon.  The wii wishlist is getting longer each day.

[Mr. Analog]

Mario Party 8 I would score a little bit behind 7, only because there is less map strategy, but otherwise it's great!

I highly recommend Super Paper Mario.

[Thorin]

Let me know how you like Table Tennis.  Don't forget that the game's supposed to allow but not require super-tweaking the controls.  So make sure to try and tweak the controls if you have time

[Melbosa]

If you like minigames and a good singleplayer puzzler, try Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz.  50 minigames (including a couple of really fun hovertank ones) as well as eight worlds of eight levels each of trying to roll a giant marble with a monkey in it along a very specific path.

I've played this on the XBox, so have an idea on what to expect.  Might check it out for the Wii if the Friends allow me too

[Melbosa]

I highly recommend Super Paper Mario.

After watching/playing a bit I don't think I am interested in this one.  But I know you guys really like it.

[Mr. Analog]

I highly recommend Super Paper Mario.

After watching/playing a bit I don't think I am interested in this one.  But I know you guys really like it.

It combines platformer with strategy, it's a winner!

[Melbosa]

Super Mario Galaxy
Well what can I say about this one.  Well done for sure.  Good use of everything that is Wii.  Only complaint is that either I'm getting to old, or I've just been too tired, but my mind just can't handle the abundance of things to keep track of, and the amount of ambidexterity you need to play this game.  You control movement of Mario on the screen with the Nunchuck, and have to use the Remote pointed at the screen to shoot star bits or pick up star bits.  Now this isn't too bad cept levels where you need to keep Mario on the move, dodging openings in moving ground, jump with A button while pointing the remote at another part of the screen where Mario isn't, while dealing with a 3D model of a donut with Gravity that pulls you back towards it's surface.  Too much for my brain to handle, making it difficult, frustrating, and giving me a headache after an hour.

Mario Strikers Charged
Now this one we had a lot of fun with.  Only beef is when you get a captain super shot, and the game goes into mini-game mode for saves.  Can be difficult for someone whom isn't very good at aiming the Remote to stop all 6 balls coming at the net at once.  Otherwise good combination of Mario games (turtle shells, special moves) and level design.  Its 4 on 4 + goalies, and a lot of fun.  Skill level would be medium in my mind, as there is a bit of combinations of controls.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
Now I've played the XBox version of these games; infact friends and I have spent hours on the XBox version.  That being said, I can see how this one could be a lot of fun, but would take a bit more working with the Wii controls.  Not a game to just jump into green with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck.  Found this to be a lot more difficult that Mario & Sonic at the Olympics for most of the mini-games.  Wouldn't suggest this for someone who has just bought the Wii or isn't very good with the controls.

Up next for us:

• Table Tennis
• Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
• Zelda

BTW:  Raymen Raving Rabbids 2 was at EB today, so if I can get my hands on a rental of this, want to try it out and see how much more crazy it may be from the original.  Hard though as we are playing these games after a day of renos at my place and starting at like 9:30/10:00 PM at night.

[Thorin]

Hmm, betcha I'll like Super Mario Galaxy based on your review.  Seasoned Wii gamer that I am, I have no problems using the Nunchuk and Wiimote for separate controls (goddamn Blazing Angels, you forced me to learn!).  For the kids, if it takes a lot of fine control, it'll depend on each child whether they like it or not.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz...  What can I say except when we got it last year the youngest one playing it was five and she had no problem with the controls for the minigames?  Did you try the single-player at all?  That's what the kids had problems with, mostly because they hadn't figured out how to tip the remote only a little instead of a lot.

Thanks for the reviews.  Let me know what you think of Table Tennis, and whether you try regular, super, or Control Freak controls...

[Melbosa]

Hmm, betcha I'll like Super Mario Galaxy based on your review.  Seasoned Wii gamer that I am, I have no problems using the Nunchuk and Wiimote for separate controls (goddamn Blazing Angels, you forced me to learn!).  For the kids, if it takes a lot of fine control, it'll depend on each child whether they like it or not.

Oh probably.  Again could be a combination of the work I'm doing during the day, the lateness at which we are playing, etc.  Just my impressions.  Was still fun to play, and very well done IMO.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz...  What can I say except when we got it last year the youngest one playing it was five and she had no problem with the controls for the minigames?  Did you try the single-player at all?  That's what the kids had problems with, mostly because they hadn't figured out how to tip the remote only a little instead of a lot.

Oh wow do I feel like usless person now (5 yearold beats me out).  Again could be combination of things, but didn't have as much difficult with the Mario and Sonic ones.  Just found the controls to touchy or unforgiving in this one.  Again this is also after only about 1+ worth of playing.  Maybe with more time (I always give games more than an hour worth of chance) might be better.  Just wasn't turning out to be fun with those of us so we changed games.

[Darren Dirt]

[joking, mostly]If the admins have the ability, please ban me from any threads that encourage the purchase of The Evil That Is Called The Nintendo Wii[/joking]

After poker nite and the mention of the new Olympics game, plus the above, I really really really am considering caving and adding some more electronics distractions to the Chaos That Is My Home.

:-\


...then again maybe I'll wait a little longer

[Thorin]

Meh, that article points out a few shortcomings, but really, *every* console ever made has had shortcomings.  Since you posted it, though, I'll retort.

Continued supply issues make us say "hmmm"

Nintendo has sold as many consoles in 12 months as Microsoft has in 23 and it's sold, what, three times as many as Sony?  It *might* be that the factory's going as fast as it can, eh?  It makes economic sense not to over-produce a product.  Starting up a second or third or fourth factory costs money; if demand dries up after a year and those extra factories need to be shut down, then it was a waste of money.  And Nintendo is still held accountable by its shareholders for wasting money, just like any other business.

Lack of storage and storage options

Yeah, the internal drive is small.  Then again, there's an SD card slot that, if I recall correctly, can be used as an expansion for the internal drive.  But has the small internal drive actually hampered someone from playing a game yet?  I doubt you'd even notice for the first year, and then only if you download a lot of old games from the Wii online store.

STILL no WiiVD playback

Why is this even important?  It's a game console, not a DVD player.  I've got a DVD player.  It's a good DVD player.  Why would I want to replace it with a game console that's going to have to skimp on playback quality because it also has to house all of the console electronics?  Playstation 2, when it came out, was a cheap DVD player.  It was great for people who didn't have a DVD player yet, because they got two things in one (never mind that the PS2 sometimes refused to read a DVD); but if the PS2 had come with a VHS player built in, would anyone have cared?  Probably not because everyone already had VCRs.

Bring on the rechargeable battery pack

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable AA batteries and a battery charger.  Duh.

Where's the online play?

Finally, a point worth making.  Or is it?  The Wii is lots of fun *without* online play, so maybe it's not as important as they make it out to be.

Too many bad games

Yes.  Absolutely.  Research what games you buy, or rent them first.  Keep in mind that what a reviewer hates and only gives a 3, you might love and give an 8.  I use reviews as a guideline to find out what kind of content to expect from a game, nothing more.  It seems like too many of them consider themselves "hardcore gamers" who balk at the idea of using a more realistic controller (eg Wii Zapper).

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If you don't want to buy it because you already own too much stuff, then don't buy it.  If you're not sure if you want to buy it, visit a friend a few times to find out what it plays like, or even borrow someone's Wii for a while (Mr. A. has one sitting in a box, I think).  Same advice I'd give if you were looking at an Xbox360 or PS3.

[Darren Dirt]

Thanks.

Pretty much what I expected as a response from you or someone else, since you've had it since Day One and have the varied target audience and have shared your experiences.

Maybe I'll have to take Mr. Analog up on your vicarious offer to test it out...