Wii Launch Guide - Genre Breakdown

By: Andrew Joy & Jared Black

No genre on Nintendo's new system has come out swinging harder than action games. From wholly original games such as Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, to old favorites like Splinter Cell: Double Agent, to the licensed filler like Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action, all of it seems to be offering a new and interesting way to play. When we first looked at the massive list of games coming out, it was hard to pick just one, and that alone should prove why this genre earned its grade.

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When many heard that Rayman Raving Rabbids wasn't going to be a platformer, they were understandably disappointed. However, when we heard that development had been switched to focus solely on the Wii version (with most others put off until next year), things started to look up. And, even though this game won't exactly bring Rayman back to his roots, it is being developed by series creator Michael Ancel, so the promise here is strong. In this game, Rayman has been imprisoned by the Rabbids, insane rabbits that have lived underground for centuries, bidding their time until they emerged to take over the world. In order to free himself, Rayman will have to partake in a variety of bizarre mini-games and earn the popularity of his captors. Be sure to read our full preview for more information on what you can expect.

The Rest

	Generally speaking, the Monkey Ball games have been treading a thin line between being very enjoyable games and being the same old game with a new coat of paint. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz looks to change this when it debuts on the Wii. In addition to a new method of control, the game also introduces bosses, making the main game more robust. However, most of your playtime with this title is going to come from the some 50 mini-games that are included in the game. They range from simple sports to more bizarre challenges, like shooting aliens, but they all use the controller in a unique way, and they all look to be great fun. Anyone looking for a energetic family game at launch should definitely consider this game.
	Elebits at first seemed a sort of tech demo for the Wii than an actual game, but like most seemingly tech demos for the system - and the DS before it - they are becoming full-fledged products. You use the Wii-remote similar to an FPS, lifting up objects with a sort of gravity gun to find little creatures called Elebits. Capturing them gives your gun more power so you can lift bigger objects and find more Elebits. The concept is simple, to be sure, but with a four-person multiplayer aspect, it also looks to be a lot of fun. For more information, be sure to check out our preview.
	Perhaps one of the surprising titles in this launch, Chicken Little: Ace in Action isn't based on the Disney movie so much as it is the movie inside of the movie. An exaggerated account of Chicken Little's encounter with the aliens, players will guide the burly Ace and his friends (the fish, goose, and pig from the movie) across four planets. The mission types include on-foot, ground-based vehicles and aerial combat, with different Wii-mote controls for each. Like a lot of Wii-games, this title could appeal to a wider audience than most licensed games.
	In Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Sam Fisher takes on his biggest challenge yet: the Wii. Already released on multiple platforms, Double Agent appears to be another solid entry in the series, though it is really uncertain how well the gameplay will be adapted for the Wii controller. As a result, even fans of the series may want to tread lightly and see what gets said before running right out and picking this one up.
	Perhaps one of the better deals at launch, Rampage: Total Destruction is the same game that was recently released (and fairly well received) on the GameCube. Now, however, the game has a budget price, new monsters, new locations, and, best of all, some new Wii-specific controls. Those details and more are discussed further in our preview.
	In Avatar: the Last Airbender, you play as the element-bending Aang and his young friends who are helping him realize his destiny as the next Airbender, a symbol of unity that could help end the Fire Nation's war. The Wii controls have players flipping between various characters and flicking the controller in different directions to use a variety of moves. You can read more about the game in our preview.
	Metal Slug Anthology is a compilation of seven games from the beloved side-scrolling shooter, including Metal Slug 1-6 and Metal Slug X. For the most part, the games will be the same as they were when they were originally released, though a variety of Wii-mote controls have been added to the game for its re-release. You can read more about it in our preview.
	To kids, the idea of playing as a bull with udders might not matter one way or the other when it comes to Barnyard, a game based of the animated flick, and filled with all sorts of whacky mini-games and missions found within. For the rest of the sane world, and probably everyone over the age of 12, we malign the game more in our full preview.

The adventure genre might seem poorly represented on the Wii, at least right now, but a lot of action titles (the two usually go hand-in-hand) should help soften the blow. As for the singular title that it is included there, well, it is Zelda. Enough said.

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Really, for any gamer who hasn't been living under a rock for the past two decades, The Legend of Zelda is a household name. Likewise, for the past few years no title has been talked about more. Oh, sure you have titles like Halo that pop up from year to year and get a lot of buzz, but they pale in comparison to the legacy and promise of this game. Originally intended as a GameCube only game (where it will still arrive sometime in December, as a sort of last hurrah for the system), development switched midway through to adapt it to Nintendo's new console. While we have no doubt that a title built ground up for the Wii would rock even more, Twilight Princess is making good use of the system, from the motion-sensing controls to the enhanced graphics. In the end, though, what may make this title so great is its compelling story, which has Link fighting evil in two worlds...and in two forms. Keep an eye out for our full preview!

At one time, Nintendo's legendary Super Smash Bros. series was promised for launch. Now, the game is planned for an unspecified date next year. That was a considerable blow to the genre, but still, two games are better than one (the number the Xbox 360 launched with).

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Truly slim pickings in this category, but The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy made an impression when it hit the GameCube and PlayStation 2, so it makes our top pick here. Based off of the Cartoon Network cartoon, this game could very well help pass the time until Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The game makes use of the nunchuk and Wii-mote, but for the traditionalist among you, you can always use the classic controller, just like SSBB. Be on the look out for our full preview.

The Rest

Even though the game doesnt look all that spectacular (barely better than the PS2 version) and the gameplay is varied but nothing too special, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 was originally noteworthy because of the planned controls, which had players acting out their attacks. Some changes have been made since then, with developers toning down the motion quite a bit (apparently it was too tiring otherwise), now using them only for the most famous of moves. Support for the GameCube controller has been added as well. For fans of the series though, this one may still be worth picking up.

The relocation of Metroid Prime 3 to sometime early next year really puts first-person shooters at a loss on the Wii. Unfortunately, while that may mean Corruption will net some online play, there may not be a title that properly shows off how perfect FPS games are for Nintendo's new system. For one reason or another, each title here has been subject to scrutiny, but we're still holding out hope.

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Easily the most promising game of the bunch, Ubisoft's Red Steel gives players a gun and a sword and thrusts them into the seedy underworld of the Japanese Yakuza. Visually, the game gets better and better each time we see it, and the gameplay has also seen several changes, though it is still unknown how the final package will turn out. There were some questions about in-game turning with the Wii-mote, and it stills seems to be an issue today, and the offline multiplayer (through no fault of Ubisoft's) seems almost a step back for the genre. However, on the whole we think the promise far outweighs the potential pitfalls. We have more information on Red Steel in our preview.

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Another fine example of a game that doesn't look as good as its other next-gen counterparts, Call of Duty 3 is actually lacking by comparison in a variety of ways, apart from the just the graphics (which are a far cry from those on the Xbox 360), including multiplayer - CoD3 won't include it online or off! However, the controls are much more realistic, with players pointing and shooting using the Wii-mote instead of an analog stick. For those of you looking to pick up a version, the question here will be what is more important: graphics or gameplay...but perhaps our preview can help you answer that question.

Featuring new storylines and maps from the recent Xbox version, Far Cry: Vengeance also tosses in some unique Wii-mote controls. Unfortunately, though we want to believe in Nintendo's new philosophy, Vengeance is "fugly," and no amount of gameplay is going to change that. On the other hand, online play is rumored, but is as of yet unconfirmed (we doubt it if the game indeed makes it out this year).

Since the more anticipated platformers, such as Super Mario Galaxy and Sonic and the Secret Rings (which really would have pumped up this category), won't be there in time for launch, the "kiddie" games will really get a chance to shine. While there really aren't any standouts, it will be interesting to see if all these movie-licensed, children-targeted games are more fun to play on Nintendo's new system.

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The bizarre phenomenon that is SpongeBob Squarepants comes to the Wii in the form of SpongeBob Squarepants: Creature from the Krusty Krab. Though the game, which features a slew of different vehicles and objectives, is also on other systems, this version makes use of the Wii-mote in a variety of clever ways that make it worthy of our top pick...especially considering the competition.

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	The recently released animated children's movie Open Season has already been adapted into a game a few times now, and we likely won't see much new when it heads over to the Wii, apart from the obligatory control modifications. It is still the same fish-out-of-water story...except, you know, with a bear...in the woods...so expect to ride an outhouse, scare hunters and even viciously wave about the controller to shake porcupines from the bear's butt. Like most movies of this nature, don't expect a whole lot of excitement for the older crowd, but the kids are bound to enjoy it.
	Based on the upcoming cartoon about a penguin that can't sing, but can tap dance, Happy Feet will use the Wii-remote to perform a variety of movie-related tasks. These include waggling the controller to on-screen directional cues in a DDR-like mini-game, and flipping the controller on its side to steer when you are sledding or swimming. While the older crowd probably won't get a lot of time out of this, it seems perfect for the youngsters. For more information, be sure to read our full preview.
	Based off the animated flick from this past summer, the young boy in The Ant Bully gets shrunk to the size of the ants he used to torment and now must try and save them. The gameplay actually seems a bit interesting, with players swinging the Wii-mote to attack, so this game could reach out to an older audience, too. Be on the look out for our upcoming preview.

The racing genre has always been a sort of hallowed grounds for launch day. The games are almost guaranteed to sell for one reason or another, so publishers are usually quite eager to get 'em out there as soon as possible. With the Wii, though, the new controls just beg for racing games, and game makers aren't disappointing...or are they? While there are a good number of titles out there on day one, a lot of them really fail to impress. I mean, when a skateboard game can be our top pick, come on!

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In most scenarios, Tony Hawk would easily fit under the sports category (typically extreme sports, at that), but Downhill Jam is different. Though you can still perform tricks and that sort of thing, the game's main focus is really racing...downhill racing. From the ruins of Machu Pichu to the mean streets of San Francisco, this game takes you all over the world and drops you down some wicked slopes in a race to the finish SSX-style. Tricks will earn you speed boosts, a little bit of dirty melee fighting has been tossed in, and a variety of (predominantly fictional) skaters and boards have various stats that will all play into the outcome. The game isn't online, but it does support four-person split-screen multiplayer, so for that it really earns our vote. Plus, from what we've seen, the game seems to be shaping up rather nicely, despite not being as flashy as its other next-gen counterparts. You can read more about it in our Downhill Jam preview.

The Rest

	One of only three first party titles making it out at launch (two if you don't count the Wii Sports pack-in), Excite Truck is a sort of spiritual successor to the NES (and N64) classic Excitebike. Twisting and turning the controller during a racing game will at last mean something, and that seems to be the core principal behind this game, where you not only have to steer your massive trucks around various tracks, but also align the wheels when you get air in order to get a perfect landing and a speed boost. Sadly, for all it has going for it, the title just doesn't seem to impress like you'd expect from a Nintendo title, and the two player multiplayer limit, not to mention lack of online play, really knocked this one down from the top spot. Still for a little launch day fun, this one is worth looking into, if only as a rental.
	Another fine example of a Wii game that doesn't impress like its next-gen cousins, Need for Speed: Carbon just isn't as shiny or smooth on Nintendo's console as it is elsewhere. On the other hand, it is certain to be a quality racing title one way or another, and for those of you looking to see how racing games actually play on the Wii, this title uses the controller in ways you'd never imagine. Again, there is a deplorable lack of online multiplayer, but at this point we are pretty much beating a dead horse discussing that...
	One of two racers coming from Ubisoft this season, this one puts you behind the wheel of a monster truck. As you hit the jumps for massive air, twisting and turning the controller will perform tricks that can be used for a boost. The game has a variety of modes, including some multiplayer mini-games like monster truck soccer, so it should be a blast to play with friends. And, like GT Pro Series, it comes packaged with a steering wheel accessory that your Wii-mote can be snapped into and used for most any normal racing game. You can read more about the game in our preview.
	The second of Ubisoft's racing titles, GT Pro Series is a drift racer with the look of Auto Modellista but without the sense of style. While it likely won't be as popular, this game has a variety of modes that mirror games like Gran Turismo and Project Gotham Racing. For someone looking for something more traditional, albeit cartoon-like in appearance (the game is cel-shaded), this may be the way to go. And, again, like Monster 4x4 World Circuit, it comes with the steering wheel accessory.
	Based on the recent CGI-animated Pixar movie, Cars plays out over a series of mini-games and racing challenges taken from the film. While production values are certainly up from the GameCube version (the cars actually seem less cartoon-like and more shiny, like their theatrical counterparts), the game likely won't be worth looking into for any serious, grown-up racing fans...however, for the kids, it is likely to be perfect. Expect lots of cheesy Wii-mote functionality to be thrown in, but you can read more about what to expect in our preview.

While the future may be looking better for the RPG genre, the Wii launch is left hanging. There is only one RPG at launch, the Action RPG Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and while it does seem like a decent enough game, its success is so far proven. This is the sort of wild card the thin genre can't afford.

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Stretched thin across multiple platforms (almost every platform really, including GBA), this action RPG puts you in the Marvel universe and charges you with saving it. While there are hundreds of characters in the game, most are merely NPCs - with dozens of playable ones though, players should have no trouble fulfilling their dream team fantasies. Plus, the next-gen versions have exclusive characters and system-specific controls! You can read our full preview here.

An oft-overlooked genre in years past, a resurgence has been seen in this genre in recent years...in large part due to Nintendo's DS handheld system. In fact, the only game in this genre at launch is a port of a popular Nintendo DS game. Still, even though there is only one game, and even that is a port, it is more than most systems get on day one.

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Trauma Center: Second Opinion is a port, or "Wii-make" if you prefer, of the Nintendo DS game Trauma Center: Under the Knife, a popular (and often hard to find) medical simulator for the DS. However, as much as the DS opened up new ways to play, it was often too constricting for the style of play. Switching back and forth between surgical implements was of particular problem - but all that, and more, has been fixed for the Wii version. New characters and subplots have been added, and the graphics and sounds have been improved, but the controls are easily where this game is looking to shine. In addition to using the Wii-mote as a pointer for simpler jobs, such as slicing with a scalpel, you can also use it with the nunchuk to use new tools like the defibulator, but most of the time the analog stick will be used to pick tools. Original or not, the new controls could make Trauma Center: Second Opinion more immersive than ever, and that's really what the genre is all about.

Sports games are getting a new lease on life with the Nintendo Wii. With the system's purposely understated graphics and experimental controller, the games won't be able to sell version after version on just looks alone, and innovation will almost be forced. While some staple sports are missing, like basketball, the ones that have made it are looking to reinvent their respective genres, and for that they have earned their genre score.

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Even though this game is a pack-in for the system, Wii Sports still gets our pick because it is not only an introduction to the system, but an introduction to how sports games could be played on the Wii. Upped from the measly three games first shown at E3, Wii Sports now includes not only golf, baseball, and tennis, but also bowling and boxing. Using the system's motion-sensitive controllers, players will not be using complex button combinations to compete in these games, but actual, true-to-life movements. If the title is received well, it could open the door for many other sports and experimental titles, so its true impact should last long after you shelve it.

The Rest

	For sports series, sadly, they generally continue to flow with a bare minimum of changes and the appropriate boosts in graphics. While Madden NFL 07 on the Wii doesn't look as realistic as what you'd find on the Xbox 360 or PS3, there is a noticeable difference from the GameCube. However, for once, EA Sports is offering something more...something different. The controls in this game were built ground-up for the system, and they could revolutionize the way we play the game forever. Check out our full preview for more information.
	Ever since it was announced, Rapala Tournament Fishing sort of flew under the radar, with details being relatively nonexistent until recently. The fact that the game was kept so quiet is of concern, but at the very least, we have an idea of how it will play (very interesting) and how it will look (somewhat disappointing). To find out whether you'll want to pick-up this game up or just stick with the fishing mini-game in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, we suggest you check out our full preview.
	A popular game overseas, the Super Swing Golf series mostly made a name for itself on PC as an online title. Unfortunately, that had to be abandoned if the game was to become a launch title for Nintendo's new system. However, the controls look much more realistic then they ever have, the graphics are quite spectacular, and the loss of online play likely means we won't be as subject to death by micropayments as some of these games often result in.
	It's, um, poker...on the Wii.

Posted: 11/13/2006