17.
The fifth best-selling game on the Wii comes in at number 17. New Super Mario Bros. Wii took the same formula as the classic 2D games, but added one vital component: four-player co-op. Sticking with the familiar story of Princess Peach getting kidnapped by Bowser, NSMBW allowed you to play as Mario, Luigi or two different coloured Toads as you go on the lengthy rescue mission to kick seven shades out of Bowser and return Peach to the safety of her kingdom. New power ups, unique level designs and the welcome return of the Koopalings made New Super Mario Bros. Wii a must-have for any fan of the franchise.
16.
The first outing for Travis Touchdown enters your Top 25 three places ahead of its sequel. No More Heroes was a breath of fresh air, offering a unique style, risqué story and a killer soundtrack that put Suda 51 and Travis Touchdown to the forefront of everyone’s attention. Not afraid to push the boundaries of decency, and often breaking the fourth wall, No More Heroes became an instant cult favourite. Memorable cutscenes, ridiculous characters and your very own pet cat added to the insane brilliance. After the equally awesome sequel, fans are yearning for a third outing from Mr. Touchdown. Let’s hope it’s not too long a wait.
15.
Muramasa: The Demon Blade storms into your Top 15 and epitomizes everything we love about Japanese niche titles. Gorgeous, unique art style? Check! A glorious soundtrack fusing together techno, rock and traditional Japanese music? Check! Complete Japanese voice acting with English subs? Check! A quest that takes you through many different landscapes and meeting quirky, eccentric characters? Check, check, check! If you ever passed up on this game, and have a love for 2D side scrolling action games, then you owe it to yourself to play it–you won’t be disappointed.
14.
Fire Emblem is one of the more popular Nintendo franchises among the staff here at oprainfall. It seems that it’s also very popular with you lot, as you voted Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn in at number 14. Following on from the story of the GameCube’s Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn continues the tale of Ike and his mercenaries. However, it also introduces an almost entirely new team of heroes known as the Dawn Brigade. With both teams fighting on opposite sides of the war, the game takes you on an engrossing quest of trust and betrayal. The intense, strategic gameplay is what makes many a player fall in love with this series, and Radiant Dawn is no different.
13.
Mario Kart Wii certainly divided a lot of fans of the franchise upon its release. One major addition that raised a few eyebrows was the inclusion of motorbikes, which some players said ruined the essence of Mario Kart. And, whilst it may be true that the motorbikes were significantly better than the karts, there was still a very enjoyable kart racing game to be found. Also, Mario Kart Wii offers one of the best online experiences to be found on the Wii, where up to 12 players from around the world can take part in various races and battle modes. Adding to that, you also had: monthly competitions, a multitude of vehicles and characters to unlock and the ever-addicting time trial mode–now with online leader boards–made Mario Kart Wii a very decent package. Ignore the haters, this is one of the best.
12.
When Monster Hunter Tri was announced for the Wii, many people were shocked, surprised and giddy with excitement. Capcom taking their beloved franchise and putting it on a significantly weaker console compared to its competitors was a bold step. But, by jove, what a great bold step it was. Sticking with its familiar gameplay, you create a hunter and go on epic quests to slay or capture some of the biggest and scariest screen-filling monsters you can imagine. Gathering materials, grinding, creating new weapons and armour all added to the enthralling experience. And, while Mario Kart Wii offered one of the best online experiences for the Wii, Monster Hunter Tri was the best online experience on the Wii. Going online with three friends, or strangers, and working together to take down a Rathian is an adrenaline-filled ride of excitement and tension. There really is nothing else quite like it.
11.
Okami was first released on the PlayStation 2 back in 2006 to critical fanfare. It was then re-released on the Wii in 2008, which took advantage of the Wii Remote’s motion controls. With its unique traditional Japanese art style, its Zelda-like gameplay and having some of the most breath-taking, beautiful pieces of orchestrated music, Okami is certainly a title that will appease any fan of niche Japanese games. Despite the sales of Okami not being all that impressive, it instantly became a cult favourite, and one that has fans yearning for more entries in the series.
