Final Fantasy: Chrystal Chronicles: My life as a King (WiiWare, April)
The first major title for Wii's downloadable games channel WiiWare is a massive one. The game appears to be a mix between Sim City and an RPG in the Crystal Chronicles universe. With a rumoured price of $15,- this could well launch WiiWare with massive sales. Now all we need is more storage space...
LostWinds (WiiWare)
LostWinds follows the plucky hero Toku on an adventure to save the world of Mistralis from evil. Little Toku is not much more than a regular boy (despite his destiny to be the world's only savior), but following along on his journey is Enril, the wind spirit -- a mighty and mysterious deity of nature that can use the powers of the air around to accomplish great things. Players control both Toku and Enril at the same time -- one hand with the nunchuk moving Toku, other hand with the Wiimote moving Enril as the spirit of the wind (shown in the first screens as just an icon, although the final game will make sure to pronounce the wind spirit as a real presence.) In simplest terms, you have a platforming game (rendered "2.5D" on an old-school 2D plane, only here rendered here with 3D polygons and particle effects) where you control the character with the joystick and then have a "cursor" to interact with the world. The hero carries objects to and fro and talks to townfolk, while the spirit of the wind whips up tornadoes that sweep away enemies and blows steady jet streams that Enril can ride.
Eternity's Child (WiiWare)
Created by British artist Luc Bernard, Eternity's Child is a dark fairytale following Angel, an orphaned creature, who sets off on an adventure to find the rest of his species and save his planet from being overrun by robots, originally created to repopulate Angel's dangerously polluted world.
According to Alten8, the Wii version is entirely hand drawn, with animations created traditionally, frame-by-frame. What's more, it's being billed as an "interactive fairytale", featuring two player co-operative mode, an orchestral score and songs "like an old Disney film". Meanwhile, the DS version appears to be a more straightforward 3D platform title, with a different story to the Wii version.
World of Goo (WiiWare)
World of Goo is a physics based puzzle / construction game. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo don't know that they are in a game ... or that they are extremely delicious.
Defend your castle (WiiWare)
XGen's upcoming WiiWare title is inspired by an existing cult classic from the studio, and will allow up to 4 simultaneous players while leveraging the unique capabilities of the Wii Remote.
Toki Tori
Toki Tori is a puzzle video game with platform elements originally produced by Capcom in August 2001 for the Game Boy Color. It was developed by Two Tribes and is their first published video game. The game follows a young chick, Toki Tori, and his quest to rescue his younger siblings, still in their eggs. To progress through the game, the player must pick up each egg on a level using a set number of tools, with new tools being introduced as the player progresses through the four worlds. This usually involves careful planning and creative thinking
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People
An episodic series of point-and-click adventure games by Telltale Games based on the universe of the Homestar Runner web cartoon. It will be released this June through Nintendo's WiiWare service and be available for PCs. The game will take advantage of features on the Wii console, such as WiiConnect24.
Dr Mario
The idea of Mario rooting around with his filthy plumber hands in doctorly procedures is quite stomach churning, but the arrival of his NHS persona on WiiWare is anything but. Connecting vitamins and bacteria in a pill-swivelling variant on Tetris, this will also feature the Germ Blast minigame seen in More Brain Training.
Tetris
Everyone's alltime favorite puzzler. Since it was packed in with the GameBoy it reshaped this genre in gaming. Titled simply "Tetris," the Wii Ware version of the original falling blocks puzzler will feature online support, allowing up to six players from around the world to face off. On top of the classic Tetris gameplay, expect Wiimote-based pointer and motion controls and a mode of play where players have to contend with obstacles.
Bomberman
Lunchtime Bomberman tends to end with Kittsy as cruel victor and Kim storming off in a huff. Luckily, Hudson's Wi-Fi-enabled Bomberman arrives to open up the competition to you lot. Now you'll have the pleasure of watching Matthew bomb himself into a corner in the opening second of the game. Pity him.
Plattchen Twist 'n' Paint
A puzzle-shooter," is how Bplus art director Bernd Geiblinger describes the first third-party game ever announced for WiiWare. "In a shooter, fast aiming and pinpoint shooting are required; in a puzzle game you have to put on the thinking cap and make up some good tactics. Combining both of them, Plättchen is a completely new and unseen challenge."
Pokemon Ranch Channel
Typical Poké-fan response to Diamond/Pearl: "Awww gawd, me old peepers can't take the circa 1996 sprite work any longer". Never fear, say we, Pokémon Ranch Channel plucks out those crudely rendered 'Mon, 3D-erises them (technical term) and lets you hang out with the polygonal results, snapping some pics for mementos.
Star Soldier R
The original Star Soldier has been kicking around on VC for so long that it actually plays with a layer of digital dust on the screen. We'd opt instead for this faster, shinier version, though retro heads can rest easy - the traditional five minute caravan hi-score challenge returns, as does a ten-second version that asks for the longest shot combo.
Kirby Wii
No info yet on everyone's favourite alternative to a vacuum cleaner. According to Nintendo, the pink ball will star in one more game besides Super Smash Bros Brawl this year. We wait patiently for more info on this one. If Nintendo puts in as much effort as in Galaxy, Metroid 3 and Brawl this sure is something to look forward to.
Call of Duty 5
After the, very succesfull, 4th iteration didn't come to Wii, developer Treyarch announced the 5th version will. Returning to a WWII setting we can only hope they will implement the fluid controls of Metroid 3 and Medal of Honour: Heroes 2.
Guitar Hero IV
The Wii version of Guitar Hero III sold very well, 1.7 million to date, and it is therefore a sure thing the 4th version will come to Wii as well. Activision said they wanted it to arrive arround November and the song list (including Audioslave - Cochise, Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water, Boston - More than a feeling and Joan Jetts I love Rock n' Roll) was already released. Probably even more people will buy this game, seeing the rapid increase in Wii owners and since a lot of people now only have to buy the game, having the Guitar-peripheral already.
Animal Crossing Wii (TBC)
Animal Crossing as an MMO is as natural a fit as your money in Tom Nook's bulging wallet. Nintendo bigwigs have hinted at a number of exciting WiiConnect propositions for AC using the WiiConnect service, while deftly dodging the wider question as to how they'll actually work. However, knowing that the team behind Animal Crossing: Wild World also sculpted the Mii Channel gives us a clue. Our proposal: a special Animal Crossing channel, that lets you send self-crafted messages and items to your friends, as well as a 24/7 global shop. You know it's happening.
Kid Icarus (TBC)
Will Kid Icarus ever fly again? If rumors prove true, Nintendo is set to revive one of its most beloved and yet forgotten franchises, using the unique control of the Nintendo Wii system to feel the sensation of flight in an all-new way.
With Pit being in SSBB chances of the true successor to one of the hardest NES games could be pretty high.
