Nintendo summer - It’s going to be hot, folks!
Whew, the long, slow first quarter of the year is finally over. Now it’s time to take a look forward at the games we’ll be playing this summer, at least during the times that we’re not at the beach or otherwise enjoying being outside instead of in front of a game machine. Yeah, right.
Today I’m going to look at both the DS and the Wii. I’m not trying to make predictions, here, just giving you a rundown of what I’m looking forward to playing.
For Nintendo and it’s third-party developers, this summer looks to be one of the biggest in history, with additions to storied franchises as well as one new game that looks to rock the entire industry.
Let’s start with the DS…
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Explorers of Time
Publisher: Nintendo
U.S. Release: April 22, 2008
Confession time: I have a soft spot for Pokemon games. While I’d be the first to admit that they have their problems from a technology and innovation perspective, the simple gameplay and deep strategic elements always seem to hook me in. I start out looking at the screen and saying, “Holy crap, these graphics have hardly changed from the GameBoy Color days.” But when I’m still playing six hours later, I realize that doesn’t really matter that much. The Mystery Dungeon series, which first came to the U.S. two years ago, is quite a bit different that the standard games. For one thing, the character you play IS a Pokemon, not a human trainer. You progress in the game by exploring randomly generated dungeons, collecting treasure and ultimately trying to solve the mystery of the game, just as the title suggests. While not as deep, story wise, as Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, this should tide fans over until the next big release in the series.
Myst
Publisher: Empire Interactive
U.S. Release: May 13, 2008
Myst is hardly a new game. It first appeared almost 15 years ago, in fact. But a chance to replay this mind-bending puzzler on DS will be hard to pass up. I’m an old-school adventure gamer at heart and with entries in that genre now being few and far between, I’m looking forward to giving this game another go.
Guitar Hero: On Tour
Publisher: RedOctane
U.S. Release: June 24, 2008
When I first heard about Guitar Hero coming to Nintendo’s handheld I thought, okay, that’s nice, Activision wants to cash in on the gigantic installed base of the DS. Why not? Then I saw that wacky fret attachment and realized that they may actually be putting some effort into this. It seems strange at first, and you’ll certainly look like a dork if you’re seen playing it in public, but it may actually be an enjoyable game. If they can tailor the experience to what DS gamers expect and make it more accessible to younger players, they are sure to add a few million more would-be rock stars to the list.
Gauntlet
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
U.S. Release: July 1, 2008
Here’s another old-school game (did I mention I’m old-school?) making a comeback. This classic from 1985 comes to DS with updated graphics and several new play modes. The basic premise remains the same, however: take your Wizard, Elf, Valkyrie or Warrior and battle through level after unending level of monster-filled mazes collecting treasure, food and potions along the way. Support for multi-player co-op should make this one a favorite of the Nintendo WiFi crowd.
And now the Wii…
Okami
Publisher: Capcom
U.S. Release: April 15, 2008
The first game on my must-have list for Wii isn’t a new game either. It was released last year on PlayStation 2 and was chosen by many publications as adventure game of the year, beating out The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess no less. The Wii version, though, will take advantage of motion control to enhance the experience significantly. The game’s magic system involves using a paint brush on screen to draw symbols for casting spells. This could be clunky at times with the PS2’s analog stick, but seems like a perfect fit for the Wii remote. The extremely unique art and animation style only adds to the appeal.
Mario Kart Wii
Publisher: Nintendo
U.S. Release: April 29, 2008
There probably aren’t many Wii owners out there that don’t have this game on their list. It’s one of the most popular series in Nintendo’s history and seems like one that’s well suited to a motion-control makeover. It’s also one that could prove to be a disaster for the same reason. Early reports on the game have been mixed as far as the controls go, with many Kart veterans tossing the Wii remote and steering wheel shell and using the familiar Game Cube controller instead. This could lead to problems during online play where Wavebird players would have an unfair advantage on gamers trying to use the much-hyped motion steering. Time will tell.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Publisher: LucasArts
U.S. Release: June 3, 2008
Unlike the rest of the games on my list, this is a multi-platform release that will no doubt have fans on every system. But Wii owners could be in for a special treat with unique control methods such as flicking the Wii remote to crack enemies with Indy’s whip. If nothing else, it looks to be a fun family-friendly way to pass a few hours and a chance to relive one of my favorite movie series of all time.
This is the big one…
Wii Fit
Publisher: Nintendo
U.S. Release: May 20, 2008
The hardcore gaming community is in denial right now. They want to shrug Nintendo’s upcoming exercise and fitness title off as a gimmick that will have no impact on the games they like to play. Make no mistake, though, this game will influence the industry as a whole and will certainly force Microsoft and Sony to respond with similar titles. It may even shift the focus of future consoles towards the casual market. This is the title that is going to send Wii over the top this year and make it the dominant platform in the U.S. and everywhere else. Personally, I’m looking forward to this not because of the Wii Fit game itself, but for the balance board peripheral that will be an enhancement for future games that support it.
Okay, now that I’ve spouted off on what I’m looking forward to, how about you? What’s on your must-play list this summer?
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Comments
ThisIsMyUsername I personally can’t wait for Spore Creatures on the DS. Although it only contains the Creature Phase from the PC/Mac version, it still contains hours of gameplay and has its own unique visual style (described by IGN as a cross between Paper Mario and Wind Waker).
It also comes out before the PC/Mac version so those of us who have been waiting since GDC 05 can get a little of our cravings satisfied.
IronPirate Mariokart Wii and Okami pretty much cover my Nintendo fix for the summer. In addition, I’m looking into purchasing Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. I very much enjoyed the first one. But the game I might be playing the most on the Wii all summer will probably be Smash Bros. Brawl. My friends and I can’t get enough of it.
Honestly, the Wii and DS dont have any more exclusive titles than the 360 and PS3. They each have their own interesting games but im not interested at all in the Wii exclusives, but the DS ones look interesting.
Youre going to like Pokemon Diamond/Pearl more than Pokemon Mystery Dungeon