Nintendo Wii 2010 Line Up Part 2

Overview: Capcom brought classic 8-bit Mega Man action back with a vengeance in 2008, when Mega Man 9 blazed its way into the Wii Shop and reminded all of us gamers alive back in the ’80s what real challenge was all about. Mega Man 10 is the inevitable follow-up, scheduled to arrive this mark and keep the pain coming — unless you select the new Easy Mode. Yes, if you had trouble finishing 9, 10′s got you covered with a concession that should let you at least see all the new bosses. Like Sheep Man. Gotta love Sheep Man.

Why It’s Hot: After the rebirth of the Mega Man franchise with Mega Man 9 last year I started to wonder where Capcom would take their series next. Well, in typical fashion the company is out to sequel the hell out if its success, and I couldn’t be happier. Mega Man 9 kicked off the world of 8-bit action once again, and Mega Man 10 is following in its footsteps, allowing for three playable characters, a new group of hilariously awesome robot masters, and even more nostalgic old-school action. It’s more of the same, but when that “same” is responsible for many of the top titles in our industry’s past it’s hard not to get hyped for a little more 8-bit action from Capcom.
- Mark Bozon

Overview: Nintendo’s famous fighting femme fatale, Samus Aran, has concluded her adventures in the Metroid Prime trilogy– and now it’s time for something new. The alien-blasting bounty hunter will return this year in Metroid: Other M, an all-new and re-imagined take on her world developed in a new partnership between Nintendo and Tecmo’s Team Ninja. Early looks at the game from last year’s E3 suggest that the gameplay style of this next mission for Samus might be a mix between first-person 3D shooting and more traditional 2D exploration. We’re looking forward to finding that out for sure, later this year.

Why It’s Hot: It’s safe to say that nobody saw Metroid: Other M coming. As an all-new direction for one of Nintendo’s longest-running franchises, M is out to turn the Metroid series on its head. From what I’ve seen so far is already evidence of its evolution, mixing what looks to be sidescrolling action with first person boss fights and intense action. It’ll be tough to beat Retro’s Prime series, but Team Ninja has a rich history of beautiful CG and action, and that’s already evident in Other M’s debut trailer. There’s plenty of reasons to be excited for Other M’s release, but remember: Metroid has a rich history of delayed releases, so being true fans means we’ll be adding this little blurb every year until the game’s real release date surfaces. From the looks of it though, Nintendo’s latest Metroid offering looks to be well worth that wait.
- Mark Bozon

Overview: Very little is known about this upcoming first-party console RPG from Nintendo, but the trailer on display at last year’s E3 was enough to put it high up on our radar. Then, when we learned it’s being developed by Monolith Soft, we got even more excited — the same talented designers responsible for the Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos series, they’re a group that knows how to craft an epic role-playing experience. So keep your eyes peeled for more information as it becomes available on this one — it has all the markings of an under-the-radar sleeper hit from the Big N.

Why It’s Hot: Nobody is going to turn down a new RPG for the Wii, especially one coming from Monolith. Monado looked hot at E3 2009, what with a Cloud-like hero holding a sword that should weigh 400 pounds, slashing through monster after monster in a steampunk universe. Hopefully, as Nintendo localizes this RPG for other territories, the King Arthur-like story is fleshed out not with overly stilted dialogue, but with fast, smart exchanges that keep us interested in the characters. And sensible Wii Remote controls would be nice, too.
- Levi Buchanan

Overview: A major hit that’s been selling like crazy in Japan since last August, Monster Hunter Tri is the all-new, Wii-exclusive sequel to Capcom’s wildly popular action/adventure series. Well, wildly popular in Japan — it’s a franchise that hasn’t quite found its footing here in the States yet. All that could change in April, though, thanks to the incredible graphics, addictive gameplay and epic scope of this latest installment. It’ll help, too, that this new Monster Hunter will be available bundled with the new Classic Controller Pro — a stylish upgrade to Nintendo’s vintage gaming pad — for just 10 bucks more than buying the game disc by itself.

Why It’s Hot: The Monster Hunter franchise is massive… in Japan. Capcom’s action-adventure has a dedicated audience in other territories, but with 70 million Wiis now in households around the world, the developer hopes this is the game that makes it a global phenomenon. Everybody likes killing giant monsters, but we’ll see. Tri’s laundry list of improvements, such as better camera controls (a real frustration with previous chapters) and throttled-back difficulty for greater accessibility, should certainly enhance Monster Hunter’s fortunes. And if you dread going online with your Wii, you’ll be happy to know Capcom has ditched the madness of friend codes for an Xbox Live-like buddy list for easy online meet-ups.
- Levi Buchanan

Overview: Just announced as a Wii exclusive a couple of weeks ago, NBA Jam is an all-new revival of a classic arcade sports design that had nearly every gamer alive in the ’90s screaming “he’s on fire!” while pumping quarter after quarter into its original Midway-developed coin-op cabinet. This reboot is set to offer the same style of over-the-top two-on-two hoops action with real NBA all-stars, along with a new and compellingly absurd visual style that renders the players’ bodies in 3D, but uses comical photographic images for their faces. Sounds just like the sort of wackiness that’ll fit right in with classic NBA Jam gameplay.

Why It’s Hot: Back in the day NBA Jam introduced a new type of sports videogame that was based on fast-paced arcade action instead of realistic simulation. We played the holy heck out of the arcade original and can’t wait to get back on the court. The primary designer and programmer on the classic game, Mark Turmell, is back as a consultant on this Wii edition. Early screenshots give us hope that the team is trying to replicate the look of NBA Jam with a modern twist. Several classic games have found new life on the Wii, so we have high hopes for the return of this one.
- Daemon Hatfield

Overview: Originally intended to be a late 2009 release, Red Steel 2 is now scheduled to arrive and slice your mind in half this March. The MotionPlus-enhanced first-person shooter/slasher gives you control over a mercenary armed with both kinds of steel — gun and sword. Pointing and aiming the pistol is handled by IR while the MotionPlus kicks in to translate your sword swipes to the screen in the closest 1:1 control the Wii’s seen yet. And, if you don’t yet have a MotionPlus for some reason, the game will ship to stores with one in the box — ensuring you’ve got the right equipment to carve up some Jackals in old Caldera.

Why It’s Hot: After the disappointing release of the original game it’s safe to say I was very skeptical about Red Steel 2. Well, all skepticism left after my first playthrough the night before E3 kicked off. I played it, and then I played it again. And then again. And again. Red Steel 2 is an impressive FPS from top to bottom, as Ubisoft’s shooter hits 60 frames per second with smooth controls, has more customization than most Wii games out there (save for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and The Conduit) and blends impressive shooting with MotionPlus swordplay. I’ve seen a few levels from front to back, and already I’m happily convinced. Everything from the new visual look, the pseudo-western theme, and revolutionary controls are priming Ubisoft’s second Red Steel for a successful Cinderella story.
- Mark Bozon

Overview: Just released in Japan this past October, Sin & Punishment 2 is the Wii-exclusive shooter sequel we never thought we’d see. The original Sin & Punishmentwas an incredible experience, an on-rails shooting design that tops the list of best games ever made for the Nintendo 64 — but it never came to America. It was only through the Virtual Console a couple of years ago that we finally got to play it here in the States. But with an appreciative audience now established, we can look forward to a localized release of the new, over-the-top, kill-everything-that-moves adventure coming very, very soon.

Why It’s Hot: What started as a Japan-only import from the N64 has since become one of the biggest fan-influenced moves I’ve seen from Nintendo in years. People begged for more, and the first acknowledgement of the fan support for Sin and Punishment came when Nintendo finally released the game stateside on October 1, 2007; seven years after its original Japan-only release. Momentum continued, with a partnership between Nintendo and Treasure unveiled a year ago with Sin and Punishment 2. Now US-bound, the long-awaited sequel is a nice little reminder that Nintendo still listens to its hardcore fan-base. I played it at E3 last year, and can’t wait to play more.
- Mark Bozon

Overview: Nintendo’s “other” upcoming MotionPlus-required console title (along with the next Zelda), Span Smasher was a surprise reveal on the show floor of last year’s E3. It’s kind of like Arkanoid (or Breakout, or Alleyway) in that you control a bouncing ball and have to bust through walls of bricks — only this time, the ball is a sentient tangerine called “The Smasher” who smiles and laughs as he blasts around the screen, and you control his movements by essentially smacking him around with the Wii Remote. It’s odd, it’s nearly unclassifiable, but it’s Nintendo. So it’s going to be fun.

Why It’s Hot: Wii MotionPlus has been underutilized by Nintendo so far, so we’re excited for more software like this that is designed around the peripheral. A simple little action game, Span Smasher is nonetheless addictive. The levels we’ve played were all pretty snazzy with impressive bosses. It was a fun surprise at E3 last year and a good example of what MotionPlus can do. Nintendo has been very quiet on this one, but whenever it finally surfaces we’re pretty sure it will be a delight.
- Daemon Hatfield

Overview: After the incredible success of Mario’s first trip out to outer space, Nintendo’s designers decided they weren’t quite done with the idea — so the plumber’s going galactic again. Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be a direct sequel to the 2007 original Mario Galaxy, and promises to include even more mind-bending gravity puzzles, brilliantly colorful environments and incredible music than before. New additions to the design, too, will make their debut — like Mario’s new drill item that lets him bore straight through to the other side of spherical planetoids and the highly anticipated return of Yoshi (who’ll have some brand-new tricks of his own).

Why It’s Hot: Super Mario Galaxy headlines our Top 25 Wii Games list, so obviously we’re hecka excited for the sequel. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has told us that part two is being made for the hardcore Nintendo fans and will be a bit more challenging than the first game – which sounds great, considering so many Wii games are designed to be casual friendly. The first game is arguabl the prettiest on the system and the footage we’ve seen so far of Mario Galaxy 2 also looks beautiful. Plus, we haven’t seen Yoshi in a 3D Mario game for a while and we can’t wait to get back in the saddle.
- Daemon Hatfield

Overview: Claiming to be even more challenging than Capcom’s Mega Man revivals, Super Meat Boy is an upcoming WiiWare action/platformer where you’ll direct a living, leaping lump of raw, bleeding meat through environments filled with chainsaws, spikes and all other manner of painful pokey things. Even better than that concept, though, may be the name of the development team — Team Meat. They’re a crack squad of indie crazies who’ve been dedicating themselves to this project for over a year, and have leveraged their underground street cred to gain some fun in-game support — Super Meat Boy will contain cameos from several other indie gaming heroes.

Why It’s Hot: This is the business, folks. Super Meat Boy ignores the Wii’s often goofy motion controls, instead focusing on classic, brilliant, glorious 2D platforming. Every facet of the package, from the music to the hilarious gore to the tricky old school challenge, is being polished to perfection. You will die A LOT in this game, but you won’t be able to stop trying over and over until you finally make it over that buzz saw and complete the level. Unlockable characters from other indie games like Braid and Bit.Trip turn Super Meat Boy into a sort of meta celebration of the refreshing ideas you get from small teams of people. This is the one to watch this year.
- Daemon Hatfield

Overview: On its way exclusively to the Wii this April, Trauma Team is Atlus‘ latest in the line of impressive touch-controlled takes on being an emergency room doctor — only that’s not the only role this time. For Trauma Team, players will step into the shoes of six different medical professionals, each with his or her own unique job, responsibilities and gameplay. You’ll meet a surgeon serving a 250-year prison term, a ex-Special Forces agent looking for justice through orthopedics, a brooding forensic specialist serving as a coroner and more. We can’t wait to dial 911 and have these characters show up to save the day.

Why It’s Hot: The Trauma Center franchise started hot but like many quirky series, it lost its sense of freshness and whimsy after a few chapters. Trauma Team could be the defibrillator on this patient’s heart. You now control an entire team of doctors, each with individual specialties that are needed to address the maladies and life-threatening injuries that rush through the hospital doors. If Atlus can indeed use the Wii Remote to convey the actual use of medical instruments (and keep it fun), Trauma Team stands to jump-start the franchise that once had everybody talking about it.
- Levi Buchanan