StevenNevets
WiiChat Member
- Oct 22, 2006
- 1,659
- 14
Just like the weather, the Wii lineup is heating up this summer with a wealth of promising games. Third parties are coming stronger than ever before with such potential hits as the new online-enabled Madden and the DDR-style karaoke-enhanced effort Boogie. Nintendo is no slouch, either, delivering some of its biggest hits, from Pokemon Battle Revolution to Mario Strikers Charged. We think Wii fans will agree, however, that this summer belongs to Samus. That's right -- the return of the Big N's bad-ass heroine bounter hunter in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. With all of these games, there's no reason to go outside.
_______
The Bigs
Developer: Blue Castle Games/Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Release Date: June 25, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect:Being the first 2K Sports offering for WIi, The Bigs is a mix of both innovative controls and standard multi-console elements. The Bigs is all about delivering an arcade baseball feel, as players take to the field with MLB-licensed players and teams, and uses the Wii remote for pitching, batting, and fielding. The game isn't specifically designed for Wii, so some aspects work better than others - with pitching being a huge high point - but this motion-enabled version of America's favorite pastime delivers some serious intensity, speed, and over-the-top MLB action. With the Wii remote, simply swing your arms when batting, flick your wrist to pitch, or use Wii motion to jump and dive in the field. It's a new take on baseball, and the first MLB offering on Wii.
_________
Madden NFL 08
Developer: Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: As the next installment of Madden goodness on Wii, Madden NFL 08 promises more arcade/sim football, and more ease and entertainment through the Wii remote. With the core gameplay being retained from last year's extremely successful outing, players can pass, juke, spin, stiff arm, and dive their way to the end zone with engaging Wii motion control, all the while experiencing the same amazing Madden gameplay the franchise is famous for. Added to this year are over 20 multiplayer mini-games, online play, and a unique, Wii-exclusive "Telestrator" that lets you humiliate your friends by drawing on the screen during instant replays just like Madden himself.
__________
Mario Strikers Charged
Developer: Next Level Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: July 30, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: As the Wii successor to the popular GameCube game Super Mario Strikers, Mario Strikers Charged brings arcade four-on-four soccer to Nintendo Wii, including a ton of intensity, and chaotic "living" soccer stadiums, all wrapped in the world of Mario. Players will select their favorite Mario franchise heroes, three "sidekicks" for their team, and take to the field in fast-paced, high scoring soccer. Simple gestures are used for defensive tackles or intense goalie blocking, and a full-fledged online mode complete with vs battle and worldwide tournaments will keep players coming back for more.
___________
Transformers: The Game
Developer: Traveller's Tales
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Continuing this summer's movie madness, Transformers The Game is an epic struggle between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons. In this movie-to-game action title based on Michel Bay's film, players can chose to take the role of either side in the epic struggle to either save or destroy humanity. The game features open-world exploration, tons of action, and of course a lot of transforming between vehicle and robot. You are, after all, robots in disguise. Specific to the Wii version is the ability to aim and blast away your enemies with Wii remote IR cursor control.
___________
Manhunt 2
Developer: Rocstar Toronto/London
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: July 10, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Simply put, you should expect the most gruesome, violent, mature game in videogame history. As the sequel to the astonishingly violent PS2 Manhunt, Manhunt 2 comes to the Wii to deliver more brutal violence, stalking, and killing with the Wii-mote as your weapon. Taking the role of an escaped mental patient, players will uncover their own brutal past and take revenge, stabbing, strangling, choking, cutting, and mangling enemies with specific Wii gestures. The longer you stalk your victim, the more brutal the attacks, and any object you find in the world - be it knife, pen, plastic bag, baseball bat, axe, or electric saw - can be used to dispatch victims in the most brutal fashion ever experienced in gaming. Parents beware: Manhunt 2 is currently rated AO (adults only), and is being delayed due to its overly-violent nature. Major outlets such as Wal Mart and Target have policies against selling AO-rated titles. The game is meant for adults only, and for good reason.
________
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
Developer: Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: The release date is set, but publisher EA has yet to divulge significant information on Tiger Woods 08. As a sequel to last year's golf sim outing, seasoned Wii players should already know what to expect, as Tiger Woods has virtual golfers using the Wii remote for precise swinging, chipping, and putting on the course. As expected with all EA Wii titles this year, Tiger Woods should have online integration, as well as more emphasis on multiplayer gaming. As with last year's release, players can create their own pro golfer, upgrade their stats as they "drive" through a complex career mode, and hit the fairway on virtual representations of real-world courses.
_________
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Developer: Retro Studios, Inc.
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: August 20, 2007
Genre: Adventure
What to Expect: As the exciting third part of Nintendo's Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption looks to take all the first-person adventure aspects of its GameCube predecessors, and team it with the speed, precision, and comfort of the Wii controller. As Samus Aran, female bounty hunter for the Galactic Federation, players will explore new worlds, battle space pirates, and upgrade their suit with new weapons, visors, and abilities. The experience is deepened on Wii, with use of an IR cursor and gesture-based control, as players will explore alien landscapes in an attempt to destroy Phazon seeds that are corrupting the system's planets. It's part shooter, part adventure, pure entertainment.
Mercury Meltdown Revolution
_______
Developer: Ignition Banbury
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Puzzle Action
What to Expect: A continuation from the Mercury Meltdown franchise on PSP, "Revolution" looks to bring the same action/puzzle feel of Ignition's groovy world to the Wii. Using just the Wii remote held on its side, players will control a tiny pearl of mercury with a tilt of the controller, slipping and sliding through mind-bending puzzles in a race against time. In order to smash through over 150 levels players will need to navigate traps, tubes, spikes, conveyer belts, and more, gaining access to different areas by spray painting the blob of mercury. Achieve different colors by splitting your blob of goo into multiple pieces, and then combine them after spraying each with its own glossy coat of paint. Mercury Meltdown Revolution is about speed, precision, and mind-numbing puzzles, all at the budget price of $29.99.
________
Pokemon Battle Revolution
Developer: Genius Sonority
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: June 25, 2007
Genre: Battle
What to Expect: The Wii goes online for the first time in America with this 3D Pokemon battling interface, Pokemon Battle Revolution. Gamers who've mastered the world of the portable Pokemon adventures Diamond and Pearl will be able to use this Wii title to transfer their captured creatures onto the console and into full 3D for visually impressive, worldwide battles, even using the Nintendo DS as a controller to send commands to their on-screen monsters. And players who know nothing of Pokemon can still play, using "rented" monsters as their allies, so no one's disqualified from experiencing the first Wi-Fi Connection game on the Wii.
__________
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Developer: EA UK
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: June 25, 2007
Genre: Adventure
What to Expect: The Boy Who Lived is back for his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and this time there's a notable upgrade in the feel and control of Harry's magical abilities courtesy of the Wii Remote. The wand-shaped controller takes on the natural role of substituting for Mr. Potter's wooden wand, as spells are activated through unique gestural commands with the Wiimote. The explorable world in and around the Hogwarts castle is also more vast than ever before, and is presented consistently without load times. If you're a fan of the wizarding franchise, read on about this latest adventure in our full review, or grab a visual glimpse with our video review.
________
Ratatouille
Developer: Heavy Iron Studios/Asobo Studios
Publisher: THQ
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Disney and PIXAR's latest animated feature gets the gaming tie-in treatment with Ratatouille, a traditional action/platformer with a few unique garnishes – Remy the rat wants to be a chef, after all, so there'll be more than a few cooking-focused mini-games mixing up the running and jumping action in this adventure. The Wii version of Ratatouille is also its own unique animal, featuring environments and controls not shared with the editions appearing on PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. Be sure to check out our hands-on impressions with the title, as well as our full review.
____________
Driver: Parallel Lines
Developer: Reflections Interactive
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: The port parade continues with Driver: Parallel Lines, Ubisoft's latest PS2-to-Wii conversion project. The game scored a solid 7.2 last year on PS2 and Xbox, though, so Wii owners shouldn't dismiss this action/driving experience – especially since it's arriving upgraded with new Nunchuk and Wiimote controls. You'll take on the role of a wheelman in 1979 New York, and undertake sandbox-style missions reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto, or the more recent Wii release Scarface – and the game is shipping with an M rating, so players not impressed with the more family-friendly fare found above and below on this summer release list could find their adult-oriented fix right here.
__________
Boogie
Developer: EA Montreal
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: August 7, 2007
Genre: Music Action
What to Expect: EA's giving Wii owners the chance to shake their groove things in August, as Boogie arrives as one of the industry's first ever dance action games. And karaoke games. And video-editing games. Categorizing Boogie is a difficult thing to do, since it's just such a unique and bizarre blend of different styles and gameplay concepts. On the one hand, it has some similarities to Konami's Dance Dance Revolution series. On the other, it's more like Singstar – the game will actually ship with a microphone peripheral to better facilitate its operatic elements. Boogie's one of the most interesting Wii exclusives on the way this summer, so keep an eye on it if you're in need of some motivation to get up off the couch and break it down on the dance floor.
_________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space Station Tycoon
Developer: Wahoo Studios
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Genre: Simulation
What to Expect: The aliens have arrived in Space Station Tycoon, and it's up to you not to destroy them and stop their invasion, but to just take away their paychecks. Extraterrestrials are just more of your customers in this strategy simulation, which takes the concept of games like Theme Park and Sim City and changes the setting to the greater realm of outer space. You'll use the Wii Remote to point, click and drag around the on-screen interface to interact with your own space station, micromanaging its many aspects and trying to earn top dollar from the pit-stopping alien visitors. It's yet another design built exclusively for Wii, so sim fans take notice – and read more about it in our hands-on preview.
_________
Dewy's Adventure
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: September 4, 2007
Genre: Action Adventure
What to Expect: From the same creative team that brought us the gravity-bending gameplay of Elebits comes Dewy's Adventure, an equally cute and even more innovative experience made exclusively for Wii. The core gameplay is built on tilt control, as you use the Wiimote to send water droplet Dewy slipping and sliding around vibrant, colorful environments. But players will also command the temperature of each world – turning the thermostat up to boiling will cause Dewy to evaporate into the form of a steam cloud, and dialing it down will make him freeze into the shape of an ice cube. You'll bounce back and forth between Dewy's three different forms while fighting the forces of the evil Don Hedron and his poisonous Dark Water.
_________
Brothers in Arms: Double Time
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: September 11, 2007
Genre: First-Person Shooter
What to Expect: The invasion of Normandy gets revisited on Wii with Brothers in Arms: Double Time, a first-person shooter design set in World War II. The Brothers series began two years ago with Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, and that title was followed up with Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. Neither of those titles came to Nintendo systems, though, so Double Time rectifies that – its missions are drawn from those two original games. Added in on the Wii is the requisite Wiimote aiming and control, which should give the gritty invasion game a fresh and focused feel.
From our awsome IGN
_______
The Bigs
Developer: Blue Castle Games/Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Release Date: June 25, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect:Being the first 2K Sports offering for WIi, The Bigs is a mix of both innovative controls and standard multi-console elements. The Bigs is all about delivering an arcade baseball feel, as players take to the field with MLB-licensed players and teams, and uses the Wii remote for pitching, batting, and fielding. The game isn't specifically designed for Wii, so some aspects work better than others - with pitching being a huge high point - but this motion-enabled version of America's favorite pastime delivers some serious intensity, speed, and over-the-top MLB action. With the Wii remote, simply swing your arms when batting, flick your wrist to pitch, or use Wii motion to jump and dive in the field. It's a new take on baseball, and the first MLB offering on Wii.
_________
Madden NFL 08
Developer: Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: As the next installment of Madden goodness on Wii, Madden NFL 08 promises more arcade/sim football, and more ease and entertainment through the Wii remote. With the core gameplay being retained from last year's extremely successful outing, players can pass, juke, spin, stiff arm, and dive their way to the end zone with engaging Wii motion control, all the while experiencing the same amazing Madden gameplay the franchise is famous for. Added to this year are over 20 multiplayer mini-games, online play, and a unique, Wii-exclusive "Telestrator" that lets you humiliate your friends by drawing on the screen during instant replays just like Madden himself.
__________
Mario Strikers Charged
Developer: Next Level Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: July 30, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: As the Wii successor to the popular GameCube game Super Mario Strikers, Mario Strikers Charged brings arcade four-on-four soccer to Nintendo Wii, including a ton of intensity, and chaotic "living" soccer stadiums, all wrapped in the world of Mario. Players will select their favorite Mario franchise heroes, three "sidekicks" for their team, and take to the field in fast-paced, high scoring soccer. Simple gestures are used for defensive tackles or intense goalie blocking, and a full-fledged online mode complete with vs battle and worldwide tournaments will keep players coming back for more.
___________
Transformers: The Game
Developer: Traveller's Tales
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Continuing this summer's movie madness, Transformers The Game is an epic struggle between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons. In this movie-to-game action title based on Michel Bay's film, players can chose to take the role of either side in the epic struggle to either save or destroy humanity. The game features open-world exploration, tons of action, and of course a lot of transforming between vehicle and robot. You are, after all, robots in disguise. Specific to the Wii version is the ability to aim and blast away your enemies with Wii remote IR cursor control.
___________
Manhunt 2
Developer: Rocstar Toronto/London
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: July 10, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Simply put, you should expect the most gruesome, violent, mature game in videogame history. As the sequel to the astonishingly violent PS2 Manhunt, Manhunt 2 comes to the Wii to deliver more brutal violence, stalking, and killing with the Wii-mote as your weapon. Taking the role of an escaped mental patient, players will uncover their own brutal past and take revenge, stabbing, strangling, choking, cutting, and mangling enemies with specific Wii gestures. The longer you stalk your victim, the more brutal the attacks, and any object you find in the world - be it knife, pen, plastic bag, baseball bat, axe, or electric saw - can be used to dispatch victims in the most brutal fashion ever experienced in gaming. Parents beware: Manhunt 2 is currently rated AO (adults only), and is being delayed due to its overly-violent nature. Major outlets such as Wal Mart and Target have policies against selling AO-rated titles. The game is meant for adults only, and for good reason.
________
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
Developer: Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: The release date is set, but publisher EA has yet to divulge significant information on Tiger Woods 08. As a sequel to last year's golf sim outing, seasoned Wii players should already know what to expect, as Tiger Woods has virtual golfers using the Wii remote for precise swinging, chipping, and putting on the course. As expected with all EA Wii titles this year, Tiger Woods should have online integration, as well as more emphasis on multiplayer gaming. As with last year's release, players can create their own pro golfer, upgrade their stats as they "drive" through a complex career mode, and hit the fairway on virtual representations of real-world courses.
_________
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Developer: Retro Studios, Inc.
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: August 20, 2007
Genre: Adventure
What to Expect: As the exciting third part of Nintendo's Metroid Prime series, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption looks to take all the first-person adventure aspects of its GameCube predecessors, and team it with the speed, precision, and comfort of the Wii controller. As Samus Aran, female bounty hunter for the Galactic Federation, players will explore new worlds, battle space pirates, and upgrade their suit with new weapons, visors, and abilities. The experience is deepened on Wii, with use of an IR cursor and gesture-based control, as players will explore alien landscapes in an attempt to destroy Phazon seeds that are corrupting the system's planets. It's part shooter, part adventure, pure entertainment.
Mercury Meltdown Revolution
_______
Developer: Ignition Banbury
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Puzzle Action
What to Expect: A continuation from the Mercury Meltdown franchise on PSP, "Revolution" looks to bring the same action/puzzle feel of Ignition's groovy world to the Wii. Using just the Wii remote held on its side, players will control a tiny pearl of mercury with a tilt of the controller, slipping and sliding through mind-bending puzzles in a race against time. In order to smash through over 150 levels players will need to navigate traps, tubes, spikes, conveyer belts, and more, gaining access to different areas by spray painting the blob of mercury. Achieve different colors by splitting your blob of goo into multiple pieces, and then combine them after spraying each with its own glossy coat of paint. Mercury Meltdown Revolution is about speed, precision, and mind-numbing puzzles, all at the budget price of $29.99.
________
Pokemon Battle Revolution
Developer: Genius Sonority
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: June 25, 2007
Genre: Battle
What to Expect: The Wii goes online for the first time in America with this 3D Pokemon battling interface, Pokemon Battle Revolution. Gamers who've mastered the world of the portable Pokemon adventures Diamond and Pearl will be able to use this Wii title to transfer their captured creatures onto the console and into full 3D for visually impressive, worldwide battles, even using the Nintendo DS as a controller to send commands to their on-screen monsters. And players who know nothing of Pokemon can still play, using "rented" monsters as their allies, so no one's disqualified from experiencing the first Wi-Fi Connection game on the Wii.
__________
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Developer: EA UK
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: June 25, 2007
Genre: Adventure
What to Expect: The Boy Who Lived is back for his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and this time there's a notable upgrade in the feel and control of Harry's magical abilities courtesy of the Wii Remote. The wand-shaped controller takes on the natural role of substituting for Mr. Potter's wooden wand, as spells are activated through unique gestural commands with the Wiimote. The explorable world in and around the Hogwarts castle is also more vast than ever before, and is presented consistently without load times. If you're a fan of the wizarding franchise, read on about this latest adventure in our full review, or grab a visual glimpse with our video review.
________
Ratatouille
Developer: Heavy Iron Studios/Asobo Studios
Publisher: THQ
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Disney and PIXAR's latest animated feature gets the gaming tie-in treatment with Ratatouille, a traditional action/platformer with a few unique garnishes – Remy the rat wants to be a chef, after all, so there'll be more than a few cooking-focused mini-games mixing up the running and jumping action in this adventure. The Wii version of Ratatouille is also its own unique animal, featuring environments and controls not shared with the editions appearing on PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. Be sure to check out our hands-on impressions with the title, as well as our full review.
____________
Driver: Parallel Lines
Developer: Reflections Interactive
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: The port parade continues with Driver: Parallel Lines, Ubisoft's latest PS2-to-Wii conversion project. The game scored a solid 7.2 last year on PS2 and Xbox, though, so Wii owners shouldn't dismiss this action/driving experience – especially since it's arriving upgraded with new Nunchuk and Wiimote controls. You'll take on the role of a wheelman in 1979 New York, and undertake sandbox-style missions reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto, or the more recent Wii release Scarface – and the game is shipping with an M rating, so players not impressed with the more family-friendly fare found above and below on this summer release list could find their adult-oriented fix right here.
__________
Boogie
Developer: EA Montreal
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: August 7, 2007
Genre: Music Action
What to Expect: EA's giving Wii owners the chance to shake their groove things in August, as Boogie arrives as one of the industry's first ever dance action games. And karaoke games. And video-editing games. Categorizing Boogie is a difficult thing to do, since it's just such a unique and bizarre blend of different styles and gameplay concepts. On the one hand, it has some similarities to Konami's Dance Dance Revolution series. On the other, it's more like Singstar – the game will actually ship with a microphone peripheral to better facilitate its operatic elements. Boogie's one of the most interesting Wii exclusives on the way this summer, so keep an eye on it if you're in need of some motivation to get up off the couch and break it down on the dance floor.
_________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space Station Tycoon
Developer: Wahoo Studios
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Genre: Simulation
What to Expect: The aliens have arrived in Space Station Tycoon, and it's up to you not to destroy them and stop their invasion, but to just take away their paychecks. Extraterrestrials are just more of your customers in this strategy simulation, which takes the concept of games like Theme Park and Sim City and changes the setting to the greater realm of outer space. You'll use the Wii Remote to point, click and drag around the on-screen interface to interact with your own space station, micromanaging its many aspects and trying to earn top dollar from the pit-stopping alien visitors. It's yet another design built exclusively for Wii, so sim fans take notice – and read more about it in our hands-on preview.
_________
Dewy's Adventure
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: September 4, 2007
Genre: Action Adventure
What to Expect: From the same creative team that brought us the gravity-bending gameplay of Elebits comes Dewy's Adventure, an equally cute and even more innovative experience made exclusively for Wii. The core gameplay is built on tilt control, as you use the Wiimote to send water droplet Dewy slipping and sliding around vibrant, colorful environments. But players will also command the temperature of each world – turning the thermostat up to boiling will cause Dewy to evaporate into the form of a steam cloud, and dialing it down will make him freeze into the shape of an ice cube. You'll bounce back and forth between Dewy's three different forms while fighting the forces of the evil Don Hedron and his poisonous Dark Water.
_________
Brothers in Arms: Double Time
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: September 11, 2007
Genre: First-Person Shooter
What to Expect: The invasion of Normandy gets revisited on Wii with Brothers in Arms: Double Time, a first-person shooter design set in World War II. The Brothers series began two years ago with Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, and that title was followed up with Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. Neither of those titles came to Nintendo systems, though, so Double Time rectifies that – its missions are drawn from those two original games. Added in on the Wii is the requisite Wiimote aiming and control, which should give the gritty invasion game a fresh and focused feel.
From our awsome IGN
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