Why do we love the Wii with friends? Because we want all to share the splendor and majesty that comes from playing the best home gaming console around. So that's why we set out to bring you a nice, easy package of great multiplayer games for the Wii.
Both online and local multiplayer is covered, as well as games that have released and those that are still in production. We hope you find this useful in your own life, in some small way, or at least a good place to link a friend who has no idea what they're getting into with the Wii. So read on and see what we have in store, then come back here and tell us what multiplayer experiences you enjoy most on the Wii!
If, like us, you've been wondering where Atlus' creativity went with its terribly plain Trauma Center: New Blood boxart, you'll be happy to hear that we managed to find some of it in the latest issue of Nintendo Power. While not as hilarious or ridiculous as the Geometry Wars: Galaxies piece we featured late last week, this blood transfusion ad we spotted certainly is creative. Jump past the post break for the full page.
Every Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities.
Thought of by many as the "Disney of video gaming," Nintendo has crafted themselves an image of family-friendly entertainment. But to certain generations and classes of gamers, the term "family-friendly" is synonymous with "kiddy," and immediately sparks disinterest. But ever since publishing Rare's Killer Instinct, they've been working on broadening the public's perspective. Trying to appeal to the bloodlust of the Mortal Kombat crowd didn't give them any headway, and as generations progressed and they've garnered more "mature-themed" titles, they still haven't been able to shake the "kiddy console" stigma.
Even after snagging the exclusivity to the Resident Evil series for a generation, Nintendo was largely overlooked by the Playstation-bred gamers that were brought up on the series. How much more will it take for Wii to be regarded as a platform that can satisfy the tastes of mature gamers?
We love Trauma Center. It's just good, clean, surgical fun, and the forthcoming New Blood just looks awesome. It's just this box art we're not sure about. Maybe it's just us, but it seems so ... plain. So mundane. So not in-keeping with the other games. What do you think of it?
Look, don't get us wrong. We're likely to sink an unhealthy number of hours into it anyway, because that's what we do in the seven minutes of spare time we have per week. It's just that sometimes, we're forced to shake our heads over boxart decisions, and this is one of those times.
What's more fun than waiting around for a new Trauma Center? Getting an update on the title every week like clockwork. Today, Atlus debuted Trauma Center Tuesday, and they plan to put something new -- be it video, screens, or info -- on the site every week. The first update consists of the above commercial, which shows off a little coop mode ... as well as one particular gameplay style we do not recommend. Sometimes, cosplay and gaming just don't mix.
Though we must say, latex gloves probably cut down on Wiimote slippage.
A number of Wii games are going up against some of the industry's biggest contenders in this year's BAFTA awards. It should make for an interesting award session, because while the Wii is dominating console sales (along with the DS), many people see games like Gears of War as greater achievements. Despite that, Wii Sports leads the pack of nominations, having picked up the greatest number of nominations; the pack-in boasts nods in seven categories, including Gameplay and Multiplayer.
It's not the only Wii title to pick up recognition, however; The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Trauma Center: Second Opinion are up for awards, along with a few other games. Check out the full list of nominations after the jump.
This trailer for Atlus' upcoming sequel to Trauma Center: Under the Knife (or Second Opinion, if you want) was only made available to IGN Insiders, but imagine our surprise when we found someone had uploaded it to a video hosting site, allowing the whole world to see. Naughty naughty.
The trailer is a tad bit on the short side, but shows some new gameplay features, as well as multiplayer surgery. All in all, looks like the game should be a blast.
We've seen a few DS franchises expand to the Wii or, in the case of Trauma Center,jump ship entirely. We don't really have a problem with this, and, in fact, it can convert a single-player hit like Big Brain Academy into a party game with no real compromises to the original formula.
We personally have a massive crush on the Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents games, and want to see them on any and every console. We have a suspicion that iNiS could come up with a unique and clever interface for a Wii music game. What DS games would you like to see take the trip into waggle country?
Atlus gave away this little surgery-sim souvenir last week at E3, but we've seen it pop up on a few sites and even an eBay auction already, so you might be able to snatch one for yourself if you're intent on acquiring every single piece of Trauma Center merchandise. While the "syringe pen" concept is nothing new, this particular novelty item seems tailor-made for the sequel's title, New Blood.
For those of you who're still upset that the series seems to have completely defected the Wii, you could always try to replace its ink contents with a stylus. Maybe that'll inject some new life into Trauma Center: Under the Knife? Did you see what we did there?
For such a popular console that tries to offer something for everyone, the Wii also manages to be somewhat controversial -- and we're not just talking about Manhunt 2 here. The motion-sensing controls have been a bone of contention when it comes to nearly every game, even those people seem to enjoy. Some gamers find them awesome, and others ... not so much. We've selected six games which cover a range of game types (and aren't all first-party, either) as a measuring stick of what you think is best when it comes to Wii controls. We encourage you to vote early (and often!), but feel free to talk about other choices in the comments, as well as the reasons behind your picks.
You might have noticed that Wii Sports isn't on this list (and neither are several other well-received games!). We considered including it, because not everyone agrees that it works quite well as a showcase of the Wii control capabilities, but decided at the last minutes to include only non-bundled games. Feel free to voice your support for Wii Sports in the comments, however!
Given Atlus' sales success with Trauma Center: Second Opinion, timing the remake to release with the Wii's launch, it's no surprise that the small publisher has readied a true sequel for the surgery sim. Trauma Center: New Blood introduces two young surgeons, Markus Vaughn and Valerie Blaylock, along with several exciting features: a cooperative mode, online leaderboards, and a 16:9 widescreen mode. Throw on your scrubs and hit the gallery up for New Blood's first screenshots.
We've had enough time now with the Wii to discover some real gems (how many hours have you put into just Wii Sports so far?) ... but like any system, there are also a few duds, particularly within the launch window. If you're looking to expand your collection, or if you're one of the Wii-less trying to figure out how to budget when your day comes, we're here to help you find the best and the worst of the Wii so far.
As a director for the upcoming Sony game God of War 2, Cory Barlog is no stranger to the game's industry. He knows the ins and outs, and (we imagine) has a large love for the medium. We'll tell you what he doesn't love though: his newly-acquired Wii. Upon getting the gift and opening it, Cory contributes "It was fun...but the wow factor wore off fairly quick."
He goes on to talk a bit about the game he wanted to play most (how that wasn't Twilight Princess, we'll never know), saying "The one game I wanted to play, Trauma Center, was definitely a bit of a let down. The wiimote was woefully inaccurate and sapped the fun of the game. The Wii sports golf and bowling was cool...the boxing is freaking terrible though. In the end I hope to see some cool games come out of it, though it has me worried that the whole 'what new thing can you do with the controller' fad will wear off after awhile and I will have left is a much slimmer wireless gamecube." We can't say we share his opinions, but what about you guys? Do you think the system is headed where he sees it going?
It may be a port of the DS game, but Atlus has assured us it is in no way a quick and half-assed effort to bring the DS game to the Wii. It has new graphics and new missions, which is everything on paper making it out to be a new game experience. Has Atlus succeeded or did gamers have enough of surgery on their DS? The critics say:
IGN - 80%: "Putting aside the fact that Second Opinion is a retelling of the DS version, the game is absolutely perfect as an introductory game for Wii players. There's a ton of diversity in the missions, an all-new Hard mode for previous fans of the series, and an entirely new sixth chapter of the game to appease the "been there, done that" attitude of the hardcore crowd."
GameSpot - 80%: "This is about as unorthodox of a launch title for a new game system as they come, but then again, the Wii is pretty unorthodox too. So maybe it shouldn't come as any surprise that the game and the console make a great match. Trauma Center: Second Opinion isn't going to wow anybody with its presentation, yet it's got so much inventive gameplay and takes such a spirited approach to its subject matter that it still stands out from the crowd."
1UP - 65%: "Don't let the score dissuade you from playing the game. It is enjoyable. Actually, it reminds me of that college professor who taught a fun class but didn't explain things very well -- in the end, you didn't learn as much as you could have. Second Opinion's fun, but in the end, you feel like you didn't enjoy it as much as you should have."
The rumor floating around this week is that the infrared Wiimote interferes with pacemakers. While nothing has been confirmed or denied by Nintendo, it makes for some interesting conversation.
Some signs were spotted at the Nintendo World event in Japan warning older players but there is still no word if the rumors are real. If the grandparents, great-grandparents or anyone esle in the family with a pacemaker wants to get in on the games, family members beware. You could end up with a real life Trauma Center on your hands. No one wants that!
We love Trauma Center. It's just good, clean, surgical fun, and the forthcoming New Blood just looks awesome. It's just this box art we're not sure about. Maybe it's just us, but it seems so ... plain. So mundane. So not in-keeping with the other games. What do you think of it?
A number of Wii games are going up against some of the industry's biggest contenders in this year's BAFTA awards. It should make for an interesting award session, because while the Wii is dominating console sales (along with the DS), many people see games like Gears of War as greater achievements. Despite that, Wii Sports leads the pack of nominations, having picked up the greatest number of nominations; the pack-in boasts nods in seven categories, including Gameplay and Multiplayer.
We've seen a few DS franchises expand to the Wii or, in the case of Trauma Center, jump ship entirely. We don't really have a problem with this, and, in fact, it can convert a single-player hit like Big Brain Academy into a party game with no real compromises to the original formula.
As a director for the upcoming Sony game God of War 2, Cory Barlog is no stranger to the game's industry. He knows the ins and outs, and (we imagine) has a large love for the medium. We'll tell you what he doesn't love though: his newly-acquired Wii. Upon getting the gift and opening it, Cory contributes "It was fun...but the wow factor wore off fairly quick."
It may be a port of the DS game, but Atlus has assured us it is in no way a quick and half-assed effort to bring the DS game to the Wii. It has new graphics and new missions, which is everything on paper making it out to be a new game experience. Has Atlus succeeded or did gamers have enough of surgery on their DS? The critics say:
The rumor floating around this week is that the infrared Wiimote interferes with pacemakers. While nothing has been confirmed or denied by Nintendo, it makes for some interesting conversation. 
