The mongrels on this message board would have every newcomer believe that the console market leading Nintendo Wii is devoid of a solid catalogue of hardcore games and is nothing more than a casual-purpose video game machine. The fact of the matter is, neither of these allegations is true and I will illustrate to some of the more frustrated unknowledgeable gamers on this forum, both members and lurkers alike, that the Wii is possessed with plethora of great hardcore titles.
Now, according to popular legend, a video game console with a traditional price tag is worth its weight in gold if it has at least
10 excellent-to-great games to complement it. At least
10 according to an age-old video game console formula. My responsibility from this point on is to show to you these
10 games, and let you be the judge. By the end of this post, you will be convinced that the Wii is a solid instrument of video game goodness.
Super Mario GalaxyMetacritic Score: 97The number one platformer this generation. Super Mario Galaxy has come to galvanize the entire video game community. Great controls, level design, and art makes this one of the best games of any platform this generation or past ones.
Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessMetacritic Score: 95The haters will claim that the GC port (which was released later, mind you) was the superior version, but don’t listen to them. If you’re not playing this on the Wii, you’re not playing the best Zelda game to come out since OoT.
Metroid Prime 3: CorruptionMetacritic Score: 90A stunning end to an excellent trilogy. Metroid Prime 3 is how FPA (First-Person-Adventure) should be done. If you haven’t played the games, I recommend the trilogy set that is on sale now for a cheap price. All 3 games, the full trilogy, in one package.
New Super Mario Bros. WiiMetacritic Score: 87The idiots here will scoff at the notion of labeling this juggernaut as a hardcore title, but this is what it is: a traditional 2D Mario side-scroller that is every bit as hardcore as classic 2D Marios that came before it.
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' TreasureMetacritic Score: 87One of the earlier Wii titles, Zack & Wiki has developed a cult following by being among the first third party attempts to illustrate the strengths of Wii’s controls.
Little King's StoryMetacritic Score: 87Perhaps the best 3rd party game to be released in 2009, with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories closely following it. If you’re a fan of RTS, then this is the hardcore title to pick up. The only downside is the lack of Wii-mote functionality.
LostWinds: Winter of the MelodiasMetacritic Score: 86Superb and relatively short WiiWare action/adventure game that set the bar for future releases on the service. It is better than the original in almost every conceivable way, including art and gameplay.
Punch-Out!!Metacritic Score: 86In the old days, there were 2 sports games that captivated the video game industry and community: Tecmo Bowl and the original Mike Tyson’s Punchout for the NES. This game is total fan service but it delivers and maintains the hardcore explosion /challenge of its 8-bit predecessor. Don’t be fooled by its appearance. It’s a pretty deep boxing game.
Super Paper MarioMetacritic Score: 85I’ve yet to pick up this title (on my backlog, however), but I’ve heard nothing but positive things with respect to this platformer/RPG. If you love other Mario titles, then you might want to check this baby out.
No More HeroesMetacritic Score: 83Suda 51’s best game this generation. This is THE definition of an over-the-top action game, superbly executed and punctuated with enough violence, gore, and explicit language to make even the most hardcore gamer spine tingle before rupturing altogether.
Now, you’ll notice, while glancing at my list, that I’ve omitted other top-ranked hardcore games, like
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition and
Tiger Woods Golf, along with some multi-console titles. They were left out to discourage the further defamation toward the console on account of it having a few ports here and there. With these awesome game, the excellent games I've not mentioned, and the great hardcore games (e.g., NMH2, RS2, S&P2) soon to be released, I can't imagine any hardcore gamer's appetite being honestly addressed this generation without this console.
