We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
Wii

Wii in 2009

by Nick DiMola - February 3, 2009, 11:30 am EST
Total comments: 44

With just a cursory look, I managed to identify over thirty games that I had interest in with release dates planned for this year. The list in no particular order:

  • House of the Dead: Overkill
  • MADWORLD
  • The Conduit
  • Muramasa: The Demon Blade
  • Wii Sports Resort
  • Sin & Punishment 2
  • New Play Control! Series
  • Little King's Story
  • Boom Blox Blast Party
  • Punch-Out!!
  • TMNT: Smash Up
  • Sonic & the Black Knight
  • Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
  • Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
  • Marble Saga: Kororinpa
  • Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
  • Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
  • Major Minor's Majestic March
  • Ghostbusters: The Video Game
  • Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus
  • Roogoo
  • Mini Ninjas
  • Cursed Mountain
  • Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
  • Arc Rise Fantasia
  • No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle
  • Overlord: Dark Legend
  • Deadly Creatures
  • Let's Tap
  • Spyborgs

Of course, this list doesn't even begin to cover the various WiiWare titles that are en route to the service this year. While I wouldn't expect everyone to be excited about every title on the list, there is undoubtedly a flood of solid titles planned for the year. As the year rolls on, I expect the list will grow immensely, with an equally solid 2010 lineup to follow.

Talkback

PopeRealFebruary 03, 2009

Little Kings Story is my most wanted game on that list.  After that I am looking forward to Punchout, Sin and Punishment 2, and Wii Sports Resort.

Games like House of the Dead and Madworld could end up peaking my interest also.

Certainly lots of games for people to choose from.

Flames_of_chaosLukasz Balicki, Staff AlumnusFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: PopeReal

Little Kings Story is my most wanted game on that list.  After that I am looking forward to Punchout, Sin and Punishment 2, and Wii Sports Resort.

Games like House of the Dead and Madworld could end up peaking my interest also.

Certainly lots of games for people to choose from.

And yet people still find room to bitch and whine, 2009 will be a good year.

nickmitchFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Flames_of_chaos

Quote from: PopeReal

Little Kings Story is my most wanted game on that list.  After that I am looking forward to Punchout, Sin and Punishment 2, and Wii Sports Resort.

Games like House of the Dead and Madworld could end up peaking my interest also.

Certainly lots of games for people to choose from.

And yet people still find room to bitch and whine, 2009 will be a great year.

Fixed.

I'm kinda pumped for the next two months and Sega's output. Although Sega continuously screws up Sonic, HotD:O, MadWorld, Conduit...
Also, Let's Tap FTW!

Me continue to be broke this year

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: nron10

I'm kinda pumped for the next two months and Sega's output. Although Sega continuously screws up Sonic, HotD:O, MadWorld, Conduit...
Also, Let's Tap FTW!

Yes! It was confirmed to be released in the US! I am so happy! :D

King of TwitchFebruary 03, 2009

sonic on this list puts the rest under suspicion

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Zap

sonic on this list puts the rest under suspicion

Hey it may be good! (OK maybe not)

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Flames_of_chaos

Quote from: PopeReal

Little Kings Story is my most wanted game on that list.  After that I am looking forward to Punchout, Sin and Punishment 2, and Wii Sports Resort.

Games like House of the Dead and Madworld could end up peaking my interest also.

Certainly lots of games for people to choose from.

And yet people still find room to bitch and whine, 2009 will be a good year.

For example...

"Yeah, this looks good. But many of these titles don't have a solid release date, meaning that they could be pushed back into 2010 or beyond. Not to mention that Nintendo has yet to announce any titles for the rest of the year, so it could easily be 2008 all over again, with a strong first quarter performance led by a slow and unimpressive last half.

Not to mention that many of these third party titles might not live up to their standards"

*NOTE: I don't personally believe this. Just showing how someone could turn this around and make it a bad thing.

NinGurl69 *hugglesFebruary 03, 2009

Jack-san should put the list into perspective a bit and divide the titles by release month.

TENCHU TOMORROW, BITCHES

KICK ME IN THE NUTS, NINJA LADY.  OH YEAH.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

See a release list like this is what makes me appreciate Wii, even more so then my other consoles. The list is so diverse with a vast array of genres and play experiences. It keeps things fresh with (hopefully) quality UNIQUE titles.

Ian SaneFebruary 03, 2009

I think lists like this tend to have the opposite effect.  When you're including licenced games, Wii-makes and Sonic (heh heh) it gives the impression that you're reaching to think of titles to include on the list.

Now those on pro side are all "hey look at all those games for 2009" but when you're on the con side the questionable items stand out and hurt the credibility of the whole list.  I look at that list and the first thing I think of is "a f*cking Ghostbusters game is one of the top Wii releases for 2009?  2009 is going to be pretty lame if THAT is one of the most anticipated titles."  The list looks like you thought of every Wii game currently scheduled for 2009 that could be competent and included it.

But I think a smaller list of the better titles would be more effective.  5 great-to-good titles looks better than 20 great-to-average titles.  Leave the iffy titles off the list.  Being a little picky gives the list more credibility.  You're trying to win over the people that are being picky, not the guy who buys almost everything.  You don't have to convince him but he's who's going to be impressed with an "every game I can think of" list.

Narrow this down to something like this:

The Conduit
Wii Sports Resort
Sin & Punishment 2
Boom Blox Blast Party
Punch-Out!!
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

And the list has more oomph to it.  I can see myself buying half that list easily. 3/6 looks better than 3/30, right?  And keep in mind that we don't know what's coming up in the second half of the year yet.  E3 will reveal some more stuff.  Now 2009 isn't sounding too bad.  Don't have to rely Ghostbusters. ;)

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

Shush Ian, Ghostbusters looks great. It is EASILY one of my most anticipated games of 2009 (though I'm getting it for 360). Not to mention you didn't even bother including HOTD: O, Madworld, Deadly Creatures, Little Kings Story, and NMH. ALL of which show lots of promise.

KDR_11kFebruary 03, 2009

And you know what? A large part of that list is third party.

Ian, that seems like a baseless claim to me, these games would get hyped up by any publication. And yes, that includes Ghostbusters, after all it's not a fresh license and already generated a lot of attention just from that. Trimming it down to the "great games" is stupid at this point, we don't know which ones will be great and which ones not, no matter how long the list people will use sturgeon's law on it and a shorter list just makes it worse. You don't buy games anyway so cutting it down to the number of games you'd actually buy would leave us with a blank page.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: KDR_11k

And you know what? A large part of that list is third party.

Ian, that seems like a baseless claim to me, these games would get hyped up by any publication. And yes, that includes Ghostbusters, after all it's not a fresh license and already generated a lot of attention just from that. Trimming it down to the "great games" is stupid at this point, we don't know which ones will be great and which ones not, no matter how long the list people will use sturgeon's law on it and a shorter list just makes it worse. You don't buy games anyway so cutting it down to the number of games you'd actually buy would leave us with a blank page.

Not to mention that on the 360 and PS3 side they would include all big releases, including multiplatform releases, in order to hype up the system even more.

The difference here is that despite the wiimakes and some titles many of these games are Wii exclusive and look like overall better efforts than anything released last year.

That's what to me makes it impressive.

Ian SaneFebruary 03, 2009

Quote:

Not to mention you didn't even bother including HOTD: O, Madworld, Deadly Creatures, Little Kings Story, and NMH. ALL of which show lots of promise.

I think having a list where people go "how come you didn't include this?" is better than a list where people go "why is THAT game on the list?"

I saw this on the Gamecube too.  People would bust out huge lists of mediocrity.  Remember that old "quality over quantity"?  Yeah that was marketing BS from Nintendo to cover up the N64's weak third party support.  But back then when you tried to defend the N64 against the PS1 you busted out that handful of GOTY contenders coming out and didn't mention Chameleon Twist or Quest 64.  When you compared top ten to top ten the N64 looked like the better console.

So now instead of trying to argue against Playstation fanboys you're arguing against disillusioned Wii owners.  So focus on the best of the best to try to win the argument.

People like ME are who Mr. Jack is trying to reach with this blog.  A big list preaches to the choir which is pointless.  He's trying to convert someone like me and I think trimming the fat from the list is more effective.  Hell, when I cut the list down I looked at that lineup and thought "well that's not so bad provided we get something good at E3 for the second half".  I was just trying to prove a point and ended up making myself feel better about the Wii lineup for the first half of 2009.  But when I first saw the full list with Sonic in it I was rolling my eyes.

PlugabugzFebruary 03, 2009

I agree with selectively choosing titles to shout about. If consumers hand only a handful of games they can buy, why just give them al ist of 50? Too many cooks (crooks?) spoil the broth, and all that.

There are some really exciting games on this list, and also several of which I'm extremely skeptical.  I do think 2009 will be a much better year than 2008 for the Wii lineup.  As I said on RFN, my most anticipated games haven't even been announced yet (new Retro title, new Zelda or Mario).

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

Well like I said I'm far more excited in the diverse and promising list of the Wii then I am about 360 or PS3.

BeautifulShyFebruary 03, 2009

Johny at E3 2008 Nintendo announced they were working on Zelda and Mario.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Maxi

Johny at E3 2008 Nintendo announced they were working on Zelda and Mario.

I think Jonny means an official announcement of a specific game, not a generality like "We are working on Mario and Zelda". We ALL should know they are working on a core Mario and Zelda title.

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusFebruary 03, 2009

I listed everything that came to mind and that I had even a passing interest in. I have no idea how many will turn out great, nor do I have any idea which titles most people will be interested in. I just wanted to show all you haters just how many games were in line for Wii and just how many new and diverse titles were out there.

Why in the hell would I crimp down the list and just point out 5 titles? ALL of these look interesting for one reason or another.

Also, I wouldn't stretch for games. I own a DS, PSP, Wii, 360, and PS3, so I really don't care what comes out where, just that good things are coming out.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Mr.

I listed everything that came to mind and that I had even a passing interest in. I have no idea how many will turn out great, nor do I have any idea which titles most people will be interested in. I just wanted to show all you haters just how many games were in line for Wii and just how many new and diverse titles were out there.

Why in the hell would I crimp down the list and just point out 5 titles? ALL of these look interesting for one reason or another.

Also, I wouldn't stretch for games. I own a DS, PSP, Wii, 360, and PS3, so I really don't care what comes out where, just that good things are coming out.

I miss Mr. Pants.

EasyCureFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Kairon

Me continue to be broke this year

This. Even when I do have the extra cash laying around to buy these games, I'll never have the time for them! :(

BeautifulShyFebruary 03, 2009

The Majority of games on Mr.Jack's list I am looking forward to.The few that I'm not are just games that I don't have enough info on them like Mini Ninjas,MMMM, and RooGoo.

NotRimmerFebruary 03, 2009

No More Heroes 2 is a 2010 game.  I'm too lazy to check the rest of the list, but I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of those games also didn't make it out this year (and don't even have TBA 2009 release dates)

EasyCureFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: Maxi

The Majority of games on Mr.Jack's list I am looking forward to.The few that I'm not are just games that I don't have enough info on them like Mini Ninjas,MMMM, and RooGoo.

but MMMM sounds SOOoooo good! ;)

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterFebruary 03, 2009

Quote from: NotRimmer

No More Heroes 2 is a 2010 game.  I'm too lazy to check the rest of the list, but I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of those games also didn't make it out this year (and don't even have TBA 2009 release dates)

See? I told you guys someone would come in and turn this around ;) .

But you are right in that any of these titles could get delayed. But many of these titles have already gone gold, with Overkill being reviewed this week, the wiimakes are ready to ship next month, and titles like Deadly Creatures, Black Knight and Madworld set to be released next month.

So even if half of these titles are delayed there's still something to look forward to thanks to the other half.

NinGurl69 *hugglesFebruary 03, 2009

deadly creatures is out next week dude.

tenchu is set to be delayed cuz ubisoft doesn't want to bring attention to non-casual games.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 03, 2009

I think the vast majority of the games on that list will be out this year. Several are already due out within the next couple of months.

Spak-SpangFebruary 04, 2009

On that List I have 7 games I am interested in. 

The Conduit,
Wii Sports Resort
Punch Out
Boom Blox Party
Sin and Punishment 2
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
TMNT: Smash UP


I really want to like Deadly Creatures, the art direction and style is great, the game looks to play great...but I hate spiders and scorpions, and the game just creeps me out.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 04, 2009

Spak can I ask why you don't have Madworld on there?

BTW I am really tempted to get Tenchu, it has been a LONG time since I played one and this game sounds like a lot of fun and does not seem to take itself too seriously.

PopeRealFebruary 04, 2009

You can add Dead Space to that list  ;D  ;D

KDR_11kFebruary 04, 2009

And there we are seeing why Ian's approach of "trim it down and let people complain that games are missing" approach is wrong. 1. Many people don't know about the games that aren't on the list (and sometimes not even the ones that are) so they couldn't complain about missing games as they wouldn't know there are any missing. 2. Everyone would pick a different "best of" list, choosing one over another would alienate all those who find their games missing from the list.

Also the whole point of the list is to say "look, the Wii has games coming out". A list for the HD systems would also include any game with an AAA budget, no matter if it'll turn out good.

EasyCureFebruary 04, 2009

This list put into perspective just how much money I'll be spending this year alone, and its making me mad that I won't be able to enjoy the majority of these games!

There's only a few "possible must-haves" like:

The Conduit (i'm starved for a good FPS after finishing off TS3 and wishing it was on Wii)

Madworld (which, thanks to NMH, I'll be getting due to my rejuvinated interest in zany beat 'em-ups) and...

S&P2 (looooooved the first)

but everything else in between has the potential to be awesome and something i might get. I keep hearing about Deadly Creatures and meaning to get info on it to see if its something I'll like, and just the other day (thanks to Pro for mentioning it a million times) I decided to check out a video review for Tenchu and I think i might buy it! I remember liking the little i played of it on my cousins PSX back in the day, and they say this one is similar (in a good way) so.. yeah, 2009 might just be the year I go bankrupt!

:(

Spak-SpangFebruary 04, 2009

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix

Spak can I ask why you don't have Madworld on there?

BTW I am really tempted to get Tenchu, it has been a LONG time since I played one and this game sounds like a lot of fun and does not seem to take itself too seriously.

I don't have MadWorld, because I have chosen to not my play extremely violent games.  I don't have anything personally against them, but I don't really get that much glee out of creatively killing NPCs in horribly violent ways.  And honestly, I don't find humor in spurting gallons of digital blood on the floor.  (It if for this reason I have only seen the television edit of Kill Bill vol 1.)

UltimatePartyBearFebruary 04, 2009

Quote from: Spak-Spang

I really want to like Deadly Creatures, the art direction and style is great, the game looks to play great...but I hate spiders and scorpions, and the game just creeps me out.

I'm downright phobic when it comes to the things, but what I've seen of the game doesn't even come close to creeping me out.  It probably has something to do with controlling them.

NinGurl69 *hugglesFebruary 04, 2009

*TENCHU TODAY*

Deadly Creatures is awesome in a Discovery Channel bug-cam sort of way.
Tenchu is confirmed to have decent production values and waggle effects.
MadWorld is the next venture into beat'em-up, disembowelling, guts-gurgling arcade gameplay.
The House of the Dead: Overkill needs no intro, cuz it has TERROR, HORROR, FLESH, ICE CREAM, and VIOLENCE.

The above titles are dedicated action/adventure non-casual games that are worth a look:  when you disregard the visuals, you can see they're all about providing interesting uses of the Wii Remote.

This is a landmark phase in Wii game releases because we're looking at the final string of "experimental" "traditional" titles leading up to the release of Wii Lotion Puss.  After which, things will CHANGE. 

This is a tough time for these games though, what with the economy and all.

King of TwitchFebruary 04, 2009

Quote from: UltimatePartyBear

Quote from: Spak-Spang

I really want to like Deadly Creatures, the art direction and style is great, the game looks to play great...but I hate spiders and scorpions, and the game just creeps me out.

I'm downright phobic when it comes to the things, but what I've seen of the game doesn't even come close to creeping me out.  It probably has something to do with controlling them.

"In addition to healing the crippled, Nintendo finds $50 cure for arachnophobia and tarantuphobia; story at 11"

NovaQFebruary 05, 2009

Quote from: Spak-Spang

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix

Spak can I ask why you don't have Madworld on there?

BTW I am really tempted to get Tenchu, it has been a LONG time since I played one and this game sounds like a lot of fun and does not seem to take itself too seriously.

I don't have MadWorld, because I have chosen to not my play extremely violent games.  I don't have anything personally against them, but I don't really get that much glee out of creatively killing NPCs in horribly violent ways.  And honestly, I don't find humor in spurting gallons of digital blood on the floor.  (It if for this reason I have only seen the television edit of Kill Bill vol 1.)

You know, I tend to agree. Back when the first Turok came out for N64, I got it almost exclusively for the gore. But nowadays, extreme violence in my videogame doesn't do much for my interest in it at all. (It almost has a negative effect.) I became interested in No More Heroes not when I heard that it was raunchy style mature, but after I heard that it was a lot of fun to play. After playing and enjoying it myself, I gave the extreme violence and such a chance and saw the humor in it. Aside from the grotesque violence, Madworld has an interesting art style and personality from the videos so far released. But I want to hear (or preferably experience) how it plays before I make a decision on it.

Spak-SpangFebruary 05, 2009

NovaQ:  I agree MadWorld looks like a quality game, and I have recommended it to my friends as well as No More Heroes.

As I said, this was a personal decision that I knew would limit me from playing several games, games that I might be interested in, but knew in the end I would not truly enjoy.  I really hate how mature games now mean violence, instead of just a game that adults can enjoy. 

This is why I believe Nintendo has the right approach Twilight Princess, F-Zero, Excite Truck, Metroid Prime Brain Age ect,  are all mature games in my opinion.

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusFebruary 05, 2009

Quote from: NotRimmer

No More Heroes 2 is a 2010 game.  I'm too lazy to check the rest of the list, but I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of those games also didn't make it out this year (and don't even have TBA 2009 release dates)

Just for you I went through release lists and got the dates for everything. IGN listed NMH: DS for 2009, hence the inclusion on the list. It was my fault that I didn't double check the claim.

Quote:

    * House of the Dead: Overkill - February 10, 2009
    * MADWORLD - March 10, 2009
    * The Conduit - June 2009
    * Muramasa: The Demon Blade - TBA 2009
    * Wii Sports Resort - Q2 2009
    * Sin & Punishment 2 - Q2 2009
    * New Play Control! Series
      - Mario Power Tennis - March 9, 2009
      - Pikmin - March 9, 2009
      - Metroid Prime 1&2 - TBA 2009
    * Little King's Story - May 2009
    * Boom Blox Blast Party - Q2 2009
    * Punch-Out!! - TBA 2009
    * TMNT: Smash Up - TBA 2009
    * Sonic & the Black Knight - March 10, 2009
    * Tenchu: Shadow Assassins - February, 3 2009
    * Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers - February 10, 2009
    * Marble Saga: Kororinpa - March 17, 2009
    * Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers - TBA 2009
    * Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time - March 24, 2009
    * Major Minor's Majestic March - March 24, 2009
    * Ghostbusters: The Video Game - June 16, 2009
    * Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus - Q2 2009
    * Roogoo - Q2 2009
    * Mini Ninjas - Q3 2009
    * Cursed Mountain - June 30, 2009
    * Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings - Q2 2009
    * Arc Rise Fantasia - TBA 2009
    * No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle - Q1 2010 (IGN claims 2009, but I found the Press Release proving this false, sorry...)
    * Overlord: Dark Legend - TBA 2009
    * Deadly Creatures - February 9, 2009
    * Let's Tap - June 2009
    * Spyborgs - TBA 2009

That Nick DiMola, always going above and beyond.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade looks pretty sweet.

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement