Ubuntu Tips n Tricks

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 02:23 AM PST

Nintendo Wii is without doubt the most popular video game console at the moment. As of December 31, more than 67 million units have been sold worldwide, outselling its rival Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3. Wii's popularity can be credited to its affordable price, innovative features, and all-around fun factor. However, a gaming console won't be successful if the games available are not as good. So what are the games that helped made Wii a smash hit?

I have here a list of top 10 Nintendo Wii games based on sales figures, rave reviews, ratings, and of course, based on my own experience playing these games:

1. Wii Sports
Wii Sports is a game developed by Nintendo that was released together with the launching of Wii console. It is a collection of 5 sport simulation games, which are designed to demonstrate the motion-sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote. The five sports included in Wii Sports are tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing. It also features training and fitness modes that monitor player progress in the sports. Wii Sports is currently the best-selling video game of all time (eclipsing Super Mario Bros.) with more than 50 million copies sold worldwide. Its sequel entitled Wii Sports Resort is also very popular right now.

2. The Beatles: Rock Band
As a huge Beatle fan (like probably most of you out there, I put this game high up on the list. The Beatles: Rock Band allows players to perform simulated rock music by providing up to six players with the ability to play three different controllers modeled after music instruments (a guitar controller for lead guitar and bass guitar gameplay, a drum controller and up to three microphones for vocals). The game includes 45 songs from twelve of The Beatles albums recorded during their 1962–1969 tenure with EMI Records. Additional songs and albums by The Beatles were made available for the game as downloadable content.

3. Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii is a racing game for all ages with online capability and large number of tracks (32 tracks), characters (up to 24 characters) and karts (36 vehicles). To top it all, each copy of the game comes with the wheel accessory that is designed to house the Wii Remote to allow more intuitive and conventional steering. Mario Kart Wii allows racing against other players from around the world via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which features online racing and battle modes, supporting up to twelve simultaneous competitors.

4. Wii Fit
Wii Fit is another best selling game developed by Nintendo. It uses a unique platform accessory called the Wii Balance Board, allowing the software to, among other uses, calculate body mass index (BMI) when told the user's height. The game has about 50 different activities, and the training is divided into four categories: yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games. Wii Fit really provides a challenging, effective, and entertaining way to workout.

5. New Super Mario Bros Wii
A Nintendo game console is never complete without a Super Mario Bros game. The Wii version of New Super Mario Bros. is the first game in the Mario main series since the Mario Bros. arcade game to feature simultaneous multiplayer gameplay, and the first title to include Nintendo's new 'Super Guide' feature. While the game is seen in 2D, some of the characters and objects are 3D polygonal renderings on 2D backgrounds, resulting in a 2.5D effect that visually simulates 3D computer graphics.

6. Wii Play
Wii Play is the counterpart to the games Wii Sports, Wii Music and Wii Fit, which features minigames (9 games) that use characters from the Mii Channel. All games are designed for 2 players, but can also be played by a single player, with a computer-controlled second player in games where it is necessary. Wii Play is considered as the best-selling console game of all time with over 24 million copies sold.

7. Toy Story Mania!
For those of you who have enjoyed watching the movie, you will be entertained more when you play the game on Wii. Toy Story Mania! features single-player and multi-player shooting-gallery style gameplay. Included in each game, are two pairs of 3D glasses that can be used in six 3D shooting galleries. Toy Story Mania! can be a great family pastime.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an action-adventure game that is hailed by numerous publications as the greatest Zelda game ever made, and has won plenty Game of the Year awards. The game features nine dungeons --large contained areas where Link battles enemies, collects items, and solves puzzles. The Wii version of the game makes use of the motion sensors and built-in speaker of the Wii Remote.

9. Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is a 3D platform game that has been hailed by several gaming websites as one of the best video games of all time. The game is set in outer space, where Mario travels from galaxy to galaxy in order to collect Power Stars, which are earned by completing quests or defeating enemies. The character is controlled via the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. While most of Mario's abilities are taken directly from Super Mario 64, such as the long jump, wall jumps, and a variety of somersaults, Mario is given new moves that take advantage of the Wii Remote's pointer and motion sensing.

10. Resident Evil 4
I've always been a big fan of the Resident Evil ever since its first release on PlayStation. The Wii version of the game is more realistic as it features new controls involving the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The Wii Remote is able to aim and shoot anywhere on the screen with a reticle that replaces the laser sight found in the other versions. It can also be flicked to use the knife to instantly target an enemy. Resident Evil is an extremely graphic game so you may have to keep it away from kids.