DoFuss’s 2008 Wii Game of the Year

I am not here to pass a qualitative judgment on any platform. Platform exclusives, while less common than they used to be, still set the bar for what a system can do. This year saw Fable 2 and Gears of War 2 going up against Metal Gear Solid 4 and Little Big Planet while Smash Brothers Brawl and Animal Crossing laughed and counted their money from the sideline. Every system has its merits.

I could pontificate for hours on the topic of this years games and still not feel that that I have addressed enough of the issues to really do this topic justice. But to start this series of posts I will be taking a look at the Wii. Nintendo have achieved something incredible with their latest console. Appealing to gamers and none gamers has allowed unprecedented growth out of what is still a niche industry.

Due to the nature of the machine it is the one system awash with console exclusives. While I am willing to accept, neigh embrace the saccharin sweet world of Nintendo this year’s first party offerings failed to impress me. Thus the game fall to the only Wii game I bought this year which was not first party, though perhaps it is not representative of the majority of Wii player’s preferences. Suda 51’s No More Heroes. A nod to the hardcore gaming audience it was a celebration of all things otaku. It is one of the few third party games which make good use of the Wii controls. It doesn’t force constants whirling of the remote but instead focuses on occasional motions to unleash power attacks while relying on standard button mashing for the rest of the action.

The game feels fresh and stylish. Though at times the side missions and open world aspects become repetitive it remains amusing throughout due a typically incomprehensible plot from Suda 51. A title to recommend to any of the more mature gamers who own Nintendo’s little white waggle machine.