Nintendo Wii Fanboy

We try to tip our hats whenever we spot a magazine cover that catches our fancy, but after having received numerous complaints from the jerks in accounting, upper management recently revised our office dress code to prohibit the wearing of sombreros, bowlers, and Davy Crockett caps. Our heads have been bare ever since the decree was passed down, and we haven't been doing much hat-tipping as a result. Needless to say, we really miss our silly hats.

Edge's cover for its July issue is just what we needed to lift our spirits. The UK magazine has a reputation for attractive layouts, inside and out, and this month's artwork is no exception, heralding Nintendo's victory run on gold. Though the image pasted above captures the basic gist, you can see a shot of the full cover after the post break. Ironically, only one Wii game made Edge's review pages this time around -- Mercury Meltdown Revolution. Ignition's labyrinthine title garnered an 8 out of 10; quite impressive considering the magazine's traditionally tough scoring.

Mercury Meltdown Revolution's $19.99 pre-order pricing at Amazon could be the deal we've been all been hoping for. Of course, we're suspicious about the quality of Ignition Entertainment's budget title, but it's hard to argue with a bargain like that.

Like a lemon on the used car lot, maybe the price suggests a faulty engine? Or perhaps Amazon just doesn't expect to sell many copies of the labyrinthine game, and the online retailer is looking to unload as much of its incoming stock as possible? Either way, if the idea of guiding a toxic, liquid metal ball through a virtual maze interests you even a little, this isn't a bad way to spend twenty bucks.

[Via NeoGAF]

An updated release list from Ignition Entertainment has yielded a surprising result: the heretofore Sony-exclusive puzzle series, Mercury, will be gracing Wii consoles with not one but two games come this Turkey Day. Mercury Meltdown and Mercury Type R are currently slated along with the previously announced Metal Slug Anthology to be released this November for the Wii.

Mercury has received some critical acclaim for its inventive puzzle design and play mechanics, so with any luck, the Wii will have two excellent puzzle games before long. (Author's note: actual Mercury is a deadly, poisonous liquid metal that should not be handled under any circumstances without proper supervision and care. Then again, if you're dumb enough to kill yourself with a silver blob, consider yourself eligible for a Darwin Award.)