WiiNintendo

Nintendo’s just thrown a slew of great games your way this holiday season, but we know how you, the gamer, are always thinking ahead to what’s next, leaving little time to savor what’s readily available.

We’re willing to feed that hunger and provide you with a preview of the top 10 most anticipated Wii games of 2008. If this doesn’t whet your appetite, consider yourself insatiable.

10. Endless Ocean (Nintendo)
Release Date: 01/25/08

Japan and PAL land have already received this diving sim/non-game but we in the states are still patiently waiting for this title to…put us to sleep, in a good way. Endless Ocean puts players in control of a diver who is in charge of a bevy of duties, not the least of which is cataloging the entire ocean for an encyclopedia. Though it seems a daunting task, Endless Ocean is all about putting players in control of how much time and effort they put into the (non)game. Simply interested in diving? Go for it. Want to take tourists down to pet clown fish? Pet away. Want to listen to your own MP3’s while exploring? Be my guest. Besides looking like one of the most relaxing games to date on any console, Endless Ocean is coming to the states at the attractive price of $29.99. Take the plunge.

9. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Release Date: Winter 2008

Though, admittedly, not much is known about the title yet, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is a game that means alot to us as Wii gamers. It’s going to be the first (barring Super Paper Mario) true RPG to hit the Wii (in the states at least). It’s a continual sign of the regenerating relationship between Nintendo and Square Enix (Mario RPG sequel anyone?), and its also the sequel to a successful and enjoyable gamecube title. We all know that nearly requiring a GBA and friends to play with was the biggest obstacle with the original CC title, it seems we weren’t the only ones. Square Enix has stated that this next iteration in the series will be more single player focused. Initial reports also hinted that the game would use the nunchuk+wiimote combo for control, possibly hinting at an action based fighting system. In development for over two years now, this game is hopefully shaping up to be one of the Wii’s best in ‘08.

8. Sid Meier’s Civilization: Revolution
Release Date: Fall 2008

Deservedly gracing the list at number eight, Wii owners should embrace Civilization: Revolution (CR) when it comes to the Wii in the fall of 2008. Civilization is one the longest standing, most loved, turn-based strategy/sim titles that’s ever existed. Unfortunately, its never made the jump to consoles (successfully). Most agreed that when the Wii remote was first revealed that Nintendo may have finally found a solution to bringing real-time and turn-based strategy games onto consoles. Additionally, CR is taking the Civilization forumula and tuning it in a way that makes even more sense for console gaming. Expect simpler, more intuitive menus as well as a tweaked difficulty. All of these things may add up to Civilization: Revolution being a runaway hit. Fingers crossed for online functionality and no worries about an immersive and expansive singleplayer experience, get ready to build an empire from the ground up.

7. Samba De Amigo
Release Date: Spring 2008

Move over Guitar Hero, it just got way cooler to shake maraca’s. Originally released for the ill-fated Dreamcast, Samba De Amigo is a classic rhythm game that has you shaking maraca’s to all kinds of crazy songs. For the best comparison, you might look at Nintendo’s bongos peripheral and the Donkey Konga titles, but most would agree that Samba De Amigo trumps the Konga series easily. It looks like it may be a remake of the original, with a few new features coming in, but that shouldn’t be an issue due to the fact that most of you have never played the original. Most gamers anticipating this title are hoping for Maraca peripherals but the game may just use the wiimote and nunchuk. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a Maraca shell akin to the zapper. As with Civilization, the addition of online functionality would put this game over the top. Guitar Hero III has proven (among other things) that rhythm games work well on Wii, and online matches work just as good. The venerable development studio, Gearbox Software, is handling the development of the game and it looks to be shaping up nicely.

6. Wii Fit
Release Date: Spring 2008

Quit rolling your eyes. The same people who scoff at the idea of Wii Fit have also put countless hours into Wii Sports. The concept of Wii Fit is simple. A packed-in Balance Board is able to measure pressure applied by the left and right foot, and puts the player through a series of minigames using the Balance Board. It is also able to measure a player’s Body Mass Index(BMI) and track their progress. While Wii Fit is sure to be a hit with the casual crowd, I’m confident that hardcore gamers will be able to enjoy the majority of the game’s minigames. Put down the cheese puffs, put on your headband, and join in with the fall of traditional gaming! <–That one’s for all the dramatic gamers.

5. Spore
Release Date: Winter 2008 (or two thousand never?)

Wii fans were pleasantly surprised when Sims creator Will Wright confirmed that Spore would be coming to the Wii. Even more affirmation was brought about when Wright denounced next-gen game development and its focus on graphics. Spore is the (overly) ambitious game that Wright has been working on for the past couple years. The game allows players to bring a primordial mess of an animal from the stone age to the space age. In the beginning, you’ll have the ability to completely customize a character that continually evolves with the enviroment. As civilization develops, you then not only control your character but also start controlling city production and overseeing whole towns. The game takes you all the way to the point of interplanetary travel. Innovative design abilities and near complete control over whats happening make Spore one of the most highly anticipated games of 2008. We should caution that Spore has already been delayed several times and it seems there might be an extremely good chance of this game not coming out in 2008, but one can hope, right?

4. King Story (Project O)
Release Date: Winter (?) 2008

We can only hope that King Story comes stateside in 2008 (or at all). A simulation/RPG title that seems to borrow elements of gameplay from Harvest Moon, initial King Story screens have already proven it to be one of the prettiest Wii titles to date. King Story puts players in charge of a King named Corobo Bread. Corobo used to be a normal child until he found a magical crown that allows him to run his own kingdom as players see fit. The king controls groups of villagers and places them in certain places to make them do different jobs that expand and build up the city. The usual tasks crop up like milking cows, harvesting crops, defending your city against fire-breathing dragons, keeping your citizens hap-

Wait what? Dragons or no dragons, this hefty exclusive is shaping up nicely.

3. Mario Kart Wii
Release Date: Spring 2008

There isn’t much to say. Mario Kart is coming to the Wii and Wii owners should be extremely thankful. Looking to build upon the runaway success Mario Kart DS was, Mario Kart Wii will be putting players online in up to 12 (or more) player races and will also be the first time motorbikes have been available to ride on. Players should help that new additions of features like a track editor and online leaderboards make it into the game. It’d be great to be able to download the top ghost for each track, a feature I loved in the 64 version. Official details about riders and courses is still limited but Wii owners owe it to themselves to pick up the sequel to the game that created an entire genre.

2. No More Heroes (Ubisoft)
Release Date: 02/05/2008

The next game from the eccentric Japanese game guru, Goichi Suda (Suda 51), No More Heroes focuses around Travis Touchdown, an assassin in a town full of assassin’s, Santa Destroy. A sandbox style game, Travis is trying to work his way up the assassin’s leaderboard by knocking each one off, one by one. The unique style seen in the game is a signature of Suda 51’s. While the game might look boxy to some, its actually a visually impressive game with stark contrast in environments and character models.Travis earns money to buy the right to fight each assassin, by doing sidejobs like collecting trash and mowing people’s lawns. Oh, you also save your progress by dropping a duece. Day one purchase confirmed.

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo)
Release Date: 02/10/2008

Predictable, right? We can’t help it! Everyone’s insanely hyped for the newest iteration of the Smash Bros. series. If you haven’t been keeping up with the myriad of features packed into this game, you might have issues. This game will feature all the wacky four player free-for-all fighting of the past two titles, with the addition of new characters, new levels, online play, spectator mode, stickers, photo sharing, level building just to name a few of the biggest announcements. If Super Mario Galaxy was the definitive Wii title of 2007, we can say with certainly that Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be the definitive Wii title of 2008.

Honorable mentions: Fragile (Namco RPG), Wii Music, Hoshi no Kirby, Wiiware (in general), Nitrobike, Oboro Muramasa Youtouden (Vanillaware RPG), Monster Hunter 3 Freedom, Animal Crossing Wii

(Bumped 1 time for the new year)

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