I was perusing Nintendo’s new list of “launch window” titles (titles that will be released within 5 weeks of the Wii launch) and found myself quite disappointed. It is chock-full of no-doubt crappy movie/tv licenses like Spongebob Squarepants, Ice Age 2, Cars, The Ant Bully, and ports like Farcry: Vengeance, Need for Speed: Carbon, Call of Duty 3, and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
Games licensed from movies/tv are typically horrid, but I suppose clueless parents need something they recognize to buy for their kids. The ports like Farcry, Need for Speed, and so on are equally useless to me. The Wii is, I think, going to thrive as the “2nd console.” I already have a 360, and I’ll be buying a Wii to play games that I can’t play on my 360. That’s going to be a very common scenario given the Wii’s attractive price point ($250 in the US). With that in mind, there’s no reason whatsoever to play games that attempt ‘realistic’ graphics on the Wii, since it can’t even come close to matching the rendering power of the 360 or PS3, barring, of course, games where the Wii’s unique controller add value - not likely to be the case with ports.
That doesn’t leave me with a lot of games to get excited about on the Wii. Zelda is a no-brainer. I’m excited about the bundled Wii Sports just because I think it’ll be a great living-room game with friends. Other than that, there isn’t a single launch title that has gotten me excited at all. Where are all the games that take advantage of the Wii’s controller? World Series of Poker? What, can I flip my cards over more deftly than my opponent with smooth use of the controller? Sigh.
Had I been in charge at Nintendo, there is one game I would have made absolutely sure was in a launch lineup: A Lucasarts Jedi game, using the motion-sensitive controller to control your lightsaber on-screen. The Wii’s controller is perfect for it (or certainly appears to be), even containing a speaker on the controller to emulate lightsaber sounds. The ‘Guitar Hero’ of lightsaber games would sell the console all by itself.
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November 1st, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Sulka Haro
The Zelda _does_ look like a total must-have though. For me, it’s enough to have one game I really, really want + the cool old classics through the virtual console.
The only thing I’m worried of is whether I’ll get Wii immediately. I had a pre-order going with Lik Sang and since that caved in, I’m not sure the late new reservations will get me one. Now I’m just angry at Sony and not getting a PS3 as a result (instead of queueing up at 6 AM like I did with PS2).
Having practiced swords I do agree a lightsaber game awesome. There’s always hope!
November 1st, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Psychochild
This may surprise you but, some people won’t be buying every console at launch. You know, only us freakish game developers and young people with excessive disposable income really buy multiple consoles. Hell, I think I’m going to be Wii-only for a while; nothing on the 360 has been must-buy yet. And, there’s no way I’m buying a PS3 until the prices come down. So, the ports for the Wii are actually attractive to me, and most people who will only be buying a Wii. I suspect there will be more people doing this than you suspect.
Had I been in charge at Nintendo, there is one game I would have made absolutely sure was in a launch lineup: A Lucasarts Jedi game, using the motion-sensitive controller to control your lightsaber on-screen.
There’s been talks, but both companies are notoriously hard to deal with. I can just imagine that some of the people negotiating any deal between these companies being put on suicide watch. It can’t be fun at all.
But, I will disagree with you. The best time for this type of game would be about 4-6 months after launch. Why? Because that would be enough time for the “ZOMG ITS NEW!” buzz to wear off for the Wii, and enough time for people who paid too much for a PS3 to be looking for something fun to play.
Timing this game a little after launch will get a lot more traction, in my opinion.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Fabian
I was actually thinking the very same thing, regarding the Jedi Knight game for the Wii. It’s been some time since the last Jedi Knight game was out, so they should really do a new one anyway - but if Nintendo managed to get it as a Wii exclusive for a while (and even if they didn’t) it would rock.
I would buy a Wii simply for that game. Or any sword-fighting game using the Wiimote, to be honest.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Matt
Red Steel has sword-fighting in it using the Wiimote, but it hasn’t captured my fancy from what I’ve seen so far.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Acrune
I like my spongebob game
Most tv show and movie games do suck, but the spongebob ones are usually actually playable. Though, for some reason, you don’t strike me as the spongebob type…
November 1st, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Mufasa
You know, I looked at the launch lineup and I must say my interest on the Wii has reached to a point were I wouldn’t mind waiting half a year or so and then purchase one… None of the games really interest me, not even Zelda which I consider a true Zelda game designed for the Cube but which Nintendo just decided to make it Wiiable.
At this point in time, if in six months no games that interest me appear on the Wii, I believe I should just as well purchase a PS3 (gotta sell a kidney, some blood and whatever organ I can spare at the black market first, though).
November 2nd, 2006 at 6:53 am
Pentharian
Originally, Zelda was slated to use one of the trigger buttons for Link’s sword, but after feedback at E3 and general complaints all over the net, it was redone so that it uses motion sensors. However, it’s likely just up and down, left and right, and circular slashes.
What I am guessing you are looking for, and something that I am certainly looking for, is use of the wiimote to capture exact movement in 3d space, rather than having a few set predestined moves you can do with swinging the thing around.
November 5th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Marc/Richter
I’ve not been too impressed with the lineup either. Where’s the, “Oh god, I only have x dollars, and there are so many games I need to buy with it!?” Zelda is the only game I have ordered right now, and Wii sports looks interesting. I’m somewhat excited about Red Steel, especially from reading through lots of articles latelty. The downloadable games are going to be nice, but really, I’ve played through most of them before. The Wii doesn’t seem to have a strong lineup, just like the 360 didn’t, and I’m assuming the PS3 won’t.
Seems that I’ve been disappointed too much recently with games, and the best ones are coming out a year or more into thier life span.