There's something physically and intellectually pleasing about navigating a marble hands-free through a maze studded with treacherous holes and traps. Electronic takes on the tilt-and-roll mechanics of wooden marble labyrinths have been huge hits in arcades and on home consoles, from 1984's Marble Madness to Sega's popular Monkey Ball series. Marble Saga: Kororinpa is another take on marble-rolling madness, with themed stages, plenty of traps, and cute aesthetic touches.
Marble Saga: Kororinpa is a follow-up to Hudson Soft's 2006 Wii title, Kororinpa. The game mechanics are similar, with the basic premise calling on the player to tilt the playing boards with the Wii remote and guide their marble to the goal safely. Along the way, there are hazards aplenty: aside from holes (and strategically-placed bumpers that will send the player's marble careening into said holes), there are missing walls and hazards related to the stage's theme. Themes include stages made of household items, candy and chocolate, and even busy city streets.
It's been a year of revivals, remakes, and revolutions in game control for the Wii, as it closes the decade with a very respectable lineup for 2009. In the course of one year, VGChartz has seen such varied titles as MadWorld, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Wii Sports Resort, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The VGChartz staff have chosen their picks for the cream of the Wii's crop this year, and also got the users to send in their votes. So, did your favourite game win? Read on to find out!
Amazing to see Silent Hill: Shattered Memories so high! New SMB Wii and Wii Sports Resort I expected but those were a bit of a shock...
Lots of people hate on VGC, but I think those awards are spot-on. It's hard to argue with NSMB; Nintendo can make a great 2D platformer in their sleep.
The shooter category is a tough one -- the two best games aren't new. But COD4 was seeing its first release on Wii, while we'd already had Metroid...although not Prime 1 and 2 with pointer controls. I guess I'd have to give it to 'Troid, too (although I really do love COD:MWR).
I'd put TW10 as the top sports game (as it's probably the best golf sim ever made) and add Other M to the most anticipated, but those are minor quibbles.
Good job, VGC.
i don't know why people didn't have faith in it... i always thought the idea of it was great
I disagree with Metroid winning best shooter. It is the best shooter, but it isn't fair to count it in the 2009 category. Maybe an Honorable Mention but not an award. CoD Reflex,though already released in 2007, was never on the Wii while Metroid was. CoD reflex should of had first and The Conduit have second and an honorable mention to Metroid.
It's rare i agree with an end of year awards story. But this one is right on all counts. An article from vgcharts that i like? Who knew?!
BTW, seeing all that reminds me of just how 2009 was for wii owners. To me.. punchout should have been game of the year. Though the impact of NSMB wii is undeniable. Also, shame Trilogy was released this year or reflex would have had the best shooter category and it really would deserve it.
Despite all of the delays, 2009 turned out to be a great year for video games. With the recent rush of AAA titles like Borderlands, Modern Warfare 2, and Assassin's Creed 2, it's easy to forget earlier game of the year contenders like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Resident Evil 5. But what about the games that never got their moment in the spotlight?
Bright Hub writes: "Wii Fit is an unqualified success in the video gaming world. Costing nearly half as much as the console on which it is played, this accessory/game combo has still managed to sell over 20 million copies. That's a lot of balance boards out there in homes, just begging to be used for something other than exercise.
Game developers have recognized the need for software that utilizes the unique control possibilities of the Wii Balance Board and delivered a series of games intended to be used with the accessory. A lot of these games offer only cursory balance board support, but there are a few that stand above the rest as quality uses of this piece of Wii Hardware."