A year of crap: the worst Wii games so far

In its first year, the Wii has changed the video game landscape. It's brought people in who never thought they would care about video games. New methods of interacting with onscreen events have been invented. The image of the video game has started swinging away from the nerd-basement stereotype and toward a more family-friendly, even trendy experience.

But the Wii is still a game console, and it can't be completely different from every other console. It's a universal rule that all video game systems must be populated by a bunch of really terrible games, and the Wii has certainly done an admirable job of attracting cheaply-made, ill-conceived, untested, embarrassing garbage. It's really a mark of a system's popularity that so many publishers have come running with their shovels. It's a mark of the Wii's strength as a platform, as well, that it has managed to survive despite the existence of some of these games.

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

Mainstream games are crap. AkA Most Wii games.

[Radiomorph]

What "underground" games do you play then?

[the worst]

wii is a game cube 2.0

[BloodySinner]

Version 2.0? Please. More like, GameCube 1.5.

[unsunghero28]

"Home of the greatest game of this generation."

[ChickeyCantor]

wether its a Gamecube 2.0 or a gamecube 1.5, its irrelevant to the quality of the games.

Are you saying: because of the hardware, Xbox, Ps2, and gamecube never had any good games?

its up to the developers, its plain and simple, GB ~ NDS are nothing compared to home console, but damn they have great games.

[TeaDouble_E]

There only 4 Wii games that I want, all of the other games are REALLY weak.

[ReBurn]

Most of the Wii's first year was full of horrible games. There have been some standouts, though. I'm a big fan of Wii Sports, Trauma Center, Metroid Prime and Super Mario Galaxy.

[Drano]

But all of them are First Party. Like most people said, this is Gamecube all over again, Third Party support is weak and people are going to be pissed playing all the same titles for the next four years like Mario Strikers, Mario Baseball, Mario Laundry, Mario Accountancy, Mario Janitor, Link's Crossbow Training, Zelda Golf, etc.

I'm still expecting that the worse has yet to come.

Jump Beyond.

[brianodom]

mario laundry...lawl

[Bubble Buddy]

only in it for BRAWL

[Genki]

when it's the console with largest install base, most success, satisfied consumers, and best of all, LEAST amount of fanboys, trolls, and extremists.

The grass is always greener, huh? Damn sure is. Too bad we're too arrogant with our elitist mindsets to live and let live. Complaining about someone else's business...a movement championed by human beings since time immemorial.

*EDIT*

Two things. First of all thanks for being a shining example of what I was talking about. Secondly, thanks for letting that go completely over your head.

[BloodySinner]

You forgot to mention, it also happens to be the current console with the biggest amount of crappy games to date.

[Drano]

Absolutely no offense meant but, you're not working in a Videogame Store to say such things. Some people are satisfied I guess, at least 50% of the Customers are, that's for sure and I'd bet my balls that those people were mostly Gamecube owners. But mostly, for those who jumped from the XBox/PS2 to the Wii, many are disappointed... at least for now.

Just like movies, there are movies for hardcore cinema fans and those "family movies". Sometimes, you just need something deeper and better than the casual stuff, something that, at least for now, the Nintendo Wii does not provide.

Well, the bottom line, these are my observations, not facts. If anybody want to share theirs with me, I'll be glad.

Jump Beyond.

[Genki]

When you can come up with enough evidence that shows that a considerable majority of next-gen console owners are satisfied, I might agree with you.

This site is a WELL KEPT catalog of complaints, grievances, and insecurities of PLAYSTATION 3 and XBOX 360 OWNERS. NOBODY is satisfied right now.

This pretentious holier than though bullsh*t about Wii owners being the misguided few, many or whatever you want to call is such a complete bunch of bull. This sort of stuff comes from the very people that are disgruntled themselves, so who the hell are they to throw around declarations about the inadequacies of a product line? The only people who should be saying who is and isn't happy(and even they shouldn't be, because it's STUPID), are those that are happy themselves, but they don't. You know why? Because they're secure and confident enough knowing that they've got enough entertainment at home that they don't need to scour internet forums having pissing contests with other users about why they may or may not be wrong. They couldn't care less about such misery, and why should they?

@ Radiomorph:

And isn't that the best part? What a lovely paradox. The sick telling the healthy that they're the sick ones. The insane from within the loony bin calling everyone crazy. Typical denial, typical insecurity...never fails. Bubble right back at ya.

[Radiomorph]

"...and best of all, LEAST amount of fanboys, trolls, and extremists"

True, yet a crapload of fanboy idiots from other camps swarm around it's thread like flies around $hit and polluting the air. It's sad really. :/
Have a bubble.

[AngryTypingGuy]

"and best of all, LEAST amount of fanboys, trolls, and extremists." -- That's because most passionate, hardcore gamers that would bother arguing for their console of choice prefer either 360 or PS3. A good percentage of Wii owners are casual gamers who probably buy games on a whim without doing any research.

[forum_crawler]

You are incorrect as I myself do plenty of research before buying wii games. Even when it comes to the big heavy hitting first party titles. But since you are insinuating that PS3/360 owners do thorough research before buying games, then I guess people were not disappointed when they bought heavenly sword and found that it only offered about 7 hours of play right? $60 for 7hrs, wow, only a true hardcore gamer would go for that!!!

[Genki]

Why on earth is that a good thing? We've seen how constructive the pissing contests on this site get, so where is the evidence that supports this being a redeeming quality? I don't see it anywhere. Arguing for a console only spells insecurity to me. If you enjoy what you have and you absolutely must let someone know, just state some simple reasons why and leave it at that. Instead, I see people digging up dirt like crooked politicians trying to champion a smear campaign against their rivals, the "bad guys". It's not enough to say "I like console A because of features B, C, and games D and E, for whatever reason.

"A good percentage of Wii owners are casual gamers who probably buy games on a whim without doing any research."

I'll give you that not doing research on a game could be detrimental, but says who? From what I can see, most of them tried the product at either a demo or friends house, and decided to grab one. Nothing like hands on time if you ask me. I think that the mentality that it's ok to submit to arbitrary review scores and the opinions of others is a much worse way to go about selecting your products. Nobody but you can tell you what you like.

Beyond that, what's with the hardcore vs. casual business as of late? More labels to further divide the community. We can't all be gamers anymore, we come in all shapes and sizes these days apparently.

Here's what I see from the hardcore: The purchase and glorification of games like Halo, Madden, Tony Hawk, NBA Live, Need for Speed, Warhawk, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, among others. What's wrong with those games? Not a thing, but they're the same ones that the "lowly casuals" go for.

So where's the difference? The elitism, petty arguments, insecurities, mudslinging, the high and mighty attitude, cherry-picking, fallacious logic, lies, and the hypocrisy among many others, that's where. Take your pick. The so-called hardcore crowd is hardcore alright...a bunch of hardcore, pompous snobs.

[ItsDubC]

Wow, someone on N4G who admits that the Wii currently does not appeal to him or herself and yet is open-minded and level-headed enough to not feel the urge to make denigrating comments about the console? Bubble-up Genki; you are a champion of maturity and a refreshing presence in the Wii news section.

[Fighter]

Even with Mario Galaxy and Metroid out, people would rather play Wii sports than anything new. Nintendo should really focus on those type of games more than others because that's what sells their consoles more. i can already see Wii-fit being a smash hit among the non-gamers, the same demographic that makes up the Wii's identity.

To me the Wii is a kick in the balls as it is to every 360 nd PS3 owner that actually supports the true nature of our industry. When the non-games leave we will still be here.

[Genki]

Non gamers? "True nature" of the industry? Who are you to make such declarations? I'm not trying to be inflammatory here, but really now. Because someone is interested in a different type of game makes them a non gamer? I'm sorry, but I'm failing to see where this adds up here. Guy or girl + Wii game = non gamer? Come again, please? What sort of elitist attitude is that?

Why on earth should ANYONE conform to a certain ideology? It's just video games. We're all so busy telling other people what they should and shouldn't like. Is it so difficult to comprehend that different people like different things?

I don't like the console just yet myself, as I find it a travesty that Nintendo didn't put a bit more under the hood, and I too, like most others here, don't see eye to eye with the software direction, but that doesn't mean we should judge, label, and persecute those who are ENJOYING themselves. The way I look at it, the Wii crowd has something most of us here DON'T have, and that's stability, security in our choices, and most of all FUN.

There's pissing contests on this site every 5 minutes about who's console is better, who's lineup is more "gamer-centric" and things of that nature. Pure rubbish. Then of course, our disgruntled, bitter, INSECURE, elitist community has the gall to tell another, more serene, level-headed, and probably care free group that they're WRONG? If that ain't backwards...

Bottom line...if you don't like the Wii, cool, but don't try to shove your ideologies down the throats of others, particularly when they're enjoying themselves way more than you are at the moment.

@purin

Fox news sucks indeed, and so does their poster boy O'Reilly for that matter. Anyway, congrats on being a satisfied gamer. I'd say I'm mostly satisfied, but still yearning for something here and there, hence, my constant dwelling looking for good news. :D In any case, I try to at least be level-headed about my grievances, as it's pointless to just let your insecurities manifest in flame wars and the like.

[purin]

So true, Genki
I've found this site to be the fox News of Gaming
I own a Wii because of the great games, not merely the console itself
I love my old favorites, new ideas, & RPGs: that is why I chose to purchase the Wii
...and that is why I will purchase the PS3 next year (Tobal should come out on classics, Final Fantasy 13 & MSG4, & Folding @ Home.)

[Drano]

Many are envoying themselves, many aren't. Everything's not black or white. Not every people who bought a Wii is havin fun with the games on it. It's like this on every console, yeah, but advertising, marketing, all that stuff is keeping the sales of the console healthy. I tell you man, it's not rare for me to see people pissed because they made the "wrong" choice (according to their tastes, that is.).

The Wii can be a good console, as soon as Smash Bros Brawl hits the shelves, I'm getting one. But looking at the rest... a lot (I said a lot, not all) of products are botched, you can't deny that.

Jump Beyond.

[Genki]

What you're basically saying is that we're all in the same boat. That's what I'm saying. This little fallacy whereby people conveniently ignore their own misery and try to paint a picture of others being miserable is laughable at best.

Some of us are satisfied, others aren't. Ignoring one group and focusing on one isn't gonna magically make everything all better.

Everything you just said applies to all current gen machines, it just depends upon the INDIVIDUAL. We can't go around labeling one another, that crap is just asinine, and everyone who does it is a being a hypocrite anyway.

The sad thing is that we've got a divided community that can't admit that games on all consoles are good and bad, and everyone is yearning for something here and there. It's as if humility up and disappeared like a fart in the wind. Foolish pride has NO PLACE in videogames, man, none whatsoever. I just find it sad that the community mirrors that of dumb politics. Right vs Left, extremists and radicals EVERYWHERE you turn. It's a regular political circus around here every day.

@ Maddens

Well, what can I say. I guess I haven't gotten tired of screaming my lungs out just yet. Losing the voice is inevitable in that case though, isn't it? I myself wonder how much I've got left.

[H-V-H]

Genki you seem a bit insecure.

[Maddens Raiders]

I've been spouting off that same line of thinking on N4G forever. It got no traction amongst the banal-minded members so I quit commenting on it - just like I did the wii. It turned out that it just became a waste of my time.

[PS3Freak]

zelda, super mario galaxy, resident evil and wow i can't think of another good one.

[CPTN MITCHELL]

wii sucks azz and is a lame sys with dumb a$$ games wii is gc 1.1

[ChickeyCantor]

ill just copy pasta what i said above,

" wether its a Gamecube 2.0 or a gamecube 1.5, its irrelevant to the quality of the games.

Are you saying: because of the hardware, Xbox, Ps2, and gamecube never had any good games?

its up to the developers, its plain and simple, GB ~ NDS are nothing compared to home console, but damn they have great games. "

now shut your phazon generating mouth

[wiizy]

yeah third parties need to step up their game.. but then again sony release a bunch of first party craps....so we'll see next year

[wAtdaFck]

Escape from Bug Island

lol

[xplosneer]

What's funny is that loading this page made my browser crash-no joke.

[Covenant]

The Wii's sudden (and somewhat unexpected) popularity led many 3rd party companies to rush out bad ports and crappy games that barely utilize the system's unique control scheme. Hopefully, Nintendo will put and end to that and demand better quality from its 3rd party supporters.

[toolhead4life]

"Hopefully, Nintendo will put and end to that and demand better quality from its 3rd party supporters."

Apparently, the guys who made Anubis 2 weren't sent back to the drawing board.. if there was one game that sounds like it should have been scrapped, it's that one.

For those of you that missed it, Gamespot's Anubis 2 review was worth the read. One of the funniest game reviews I've seen.

[jinn]

Hahahahaha! There all crap!

[Gahigiddy]

The greatest game (well, games) of this generation are on PC. Bioshock, Orange Box, and both are coming to PS3/already on 360. So no, Wii can keep its Gamecube/PSP/PS2 ports and overrated Mario Galaxy trash.

I hear a common argument: "All popular consoles get shovelware"
True, but those consoles get good games too, and they get those games first before the shovelware piles in. Not so for Wii.

Hell it can't even compete with PS2 for f**k's sake, Wii games are inferior in every way to the last blockbuster released for PS2 (GoW2).
SO YES, it DOES matter how powerful your console is, especially when it's weaker than gamecube a generation later with two HD consoles tearing it apart in software quality.

[forum_crawler]

The wii is weaker than the GC?
Yes you are right, much like the current generation of Intel Core Duo processors are slower than the Pentium 4 processors because they run at lower clock frequencies right?

I can't even believe that I a trying to reason with someone who is so clearly ignorant of the facts about console hardware... Just do yourself a favor and read before you embarrass yourself making such "uninformed" comments.

Oh, one last thing...
Can you prove that every wii game is inferior to GoW? Can you give us a detailed analysis of why are making this claim? Just because you like it better is not a valid answer.

[TruthbeTold]

Is turning into an arrogant, fanboy, holier than thou b!tch-fest. Where are the articles about the the not so small list of garbage games for the other two consoles huh? Why do people feel like they have to talk crap about the Wii to make themselves feel better about their own choice of console? I swear, when a positive article on the Wii, or a Wii game actually makes it on here, it gets trashed by insecure trolls, and losers, (Not to mention it takes at least a half a day to get through such an article) but crap like this shoots right through near instantaneously. Just like all of the hundreds of Uncharted, Halo, COD4, "Blu ray kills HD DVD in Romania", "HD DVD slaughters Blu ray in Afghanistan", "PS3 actually has a decent month of sales in Guatemala" "Microsoft sneezed", and "Sony coughed" articles. If you are really a little kid, then get lost. If you aren't a little kid, and you are a part of this mess then grow up already. This crap is disgusting. N4G is supposed to be a site for all gamers, not for whatever little immature bullcrap clique that worships one company and hates the rest survives "The War".

[ChickeyCantor]

HOLD IT!!!
*DESK SLAM*

............................. ............................... ............................... .............................

you could have stopt after :

" N4G
Is turning into an arrogant, fanboy, holier than thou b!tch-fest."

because thats all we need.
N4G is going to hell alright.!!!

[sumfood4u]

Wii is awesome. Please stop with Wii bashing & gamecube v2 or what ever u call it. Wii is making me an other Wii players enjoy the Holidays. Hate the Wii? Thats yur beef! Don't think yur PS3 or 360 don't have garbage games! Get real, grow-up!

[cooke15]

I have a solution for you haters.. If there is a bad game, dont buy it. No one is making anyone buy crap games. I only buy good games on Wii and i now have my collection up to 15

Zack & Wiki 87% at Gamerankings
Metroid Prime 3 90% at GR
Super Mario Galaxy 97%
Super Paper Mario 85%
Trauma Center 81%
Resident Evil 4 91%
Guitar Hero 3 86%
Fire Emblem 80%
Zelda Twilight Princess 94%
Battalion Wars 2 78%
Madden 07 82%
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles 78%
Excite Truck 75%
Medal of Honor Heroes 84%
Geometry Wars: 83%

[ShadoWulf]

that this list won't change anyone's mind. When ratings are in people's favor they go crazy over them, but when they're not they claim that ratings don't matter.

[cooke15]

very true

[Drano]

Hole in one.

Jump Beyond.

[BrotherNick]

Oh Snap, Cooke15 brought out the goods...hardcore gamers on the wii prolly have all those lol. I'm missing excite truck and GHIII

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Out of that list I own:
Zack and Wiki
Metroid Prime 3
Super Mario Galaxy
Trauma Center
Resident Evil 4
Zelda: Twilight Princess

and I rented Super Paper Mario and beat it

Plenty of awesomely fun games on the Wii if you're not a close-minded """"" "hardcore""" ;""" gamer. Six quotations because you're not really a hardcore gamer if you can't admit that the Wii has some kick-ass games. Furthermore, the Wii has more exclusive excellent games than the PS3 - WAY more. PS3 has three games rated in the 90s on metacritic - but they're all on the 360 as well. The Wii has four games rated in the 90s, and they're all exclusive to the Wii.

[Horny]

I think all 3 consoles have enjoyable games.
The Wii just has a lot of bad ones coming from 3rd parties because they are trying to make a quick buck of its popularity. Its just like 3rd parties messing up playstation ports (now we will see games created on the PS first). The x box had its problems too when it first started, the game library was horrible as where the graphics. As you can tell everybody is starting to do better. Dont limit yourself to one system because they all have good games...
Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, warhawk, resistence, heavenly sword, mario galaxy, zelda tp, metroid, resident evil, bioshock, gears of war, and mass effect are all great first party titles from all 3 consoles.
Just play the good games instead of focusing on the bad ones

and btw, if u really care about ratings look up the average, dont just look at the site that goes in your favor, Uncharted for example scored lower than a lot of games I mentioned, but its actually the only game that truly felt next gen to me, the presentation was just awesome I felt like I was playing the main character in a movie.
I got my own opinion so I dont really give a $h!t about the reviewers

[greenenvy]

i think mario galaxy sucxs so f**** that we wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.......

i watched our buddy's younger brother play it, that was enuff....

F******* had it right there, 'nd was sick and tired.....

there is no buffy the vampire slayer on wii thats on xbox, there is no devil may cry game thats on xbox, there is no real splinter cell, rpgs, metal gear solid or good fighting games....still no game after all this time and what a gimmick of controls.....

let the lazy ass adults & kids enjoy that thing.......

i really didnt think much of heavenly sword but enjoyed it way way more, then mario galaxy.......by far im sorry... and metroid imo was total s#!t and there isn't a single other game I could stand on it besides dragon quest........im sad....

for the nintendo fanboys who put this thing to be market leader...

[Prismo_Fillusion]

"there is no buffy the vampire slayer on wii thats on xbox"
WHAT!? I can't stop laughing at you.

[greenenvy]

Like Fire Emblem, the new Namco RPG, their other games and Adventure titles..........

The Wii has a large variety of games.......

Its just........

these games do not hold a candle to games on the other system(s).....

like,
grand theft auto
halo
splinter cell
the last remnant
gears of war
bioshock
little big planet
banjo 3
fable 2
metal gear solid
kingdom under fire circles of doom
lost odyssey
final fantasy series
resident evil 5
forza motorsport
white gold: war in paradise
dark messiah: elements
killzone 2
warhound
naruto universe
stargate: worlds
huxley
ace combat 6
blue dragon 2
half life orange box
virtua fighter 5
tekken
warhammer: battle charge
far cry: renegade
star wars: battlefront 3
afro samurai
silent hill 5
castlevania chronicle
spectral force 3
odin sphere 2
raiden: stars
trigger heart exelica
dead rising 2
tom clancy's end war

and many others......

like I said......the wii has some very good games like dragon quest: tower of mirrors....

but it can't even compare any day of the week, to the xbox360....

or the playstation 3.....

..........basicaly anywhere....

the xbox360 is definitely my number one choice as is of my friends, but eventually we'll have ps3 too just be honest.......

there is so many good & attractive exclusive games....

and what does the f******* wii still have, mario games, dragon quest, zelda etc..........

NINTENDO is going to ultimately go third party if the DS don't win everywhere in japan.........