10.
In 2010, Retro Studios surprised everyone by announcing the first installment of the Donkey Kong Country series in over 16 years. Donkey Kong Country Returns (DKCR) was a blast from the past, and a blast to play, which is very evident as you lot have voted it into your Top 10. Moving on from the problematic Kremling invasion, DKCR takes Donkey and Diddy Kong on a quest against mystical creatures known as the Tiki Tak Tribe. Infusing classic gameplay with added Wii controls, DKCR offered challenging and addicting gameplay that reminded us of the good ol’ days. And, with a sequel to be released for the Wii U this year, we can’t wait to take control of the tie-wearing ape and go on another one of his adventures, this time in glorious high definition.
9.
Considered to be the ‘swan song’ of the Wii, Pandora’s Tower holds a very special place in our hearts. Of course, it was one of the three games for which Operation Rainfall campaigned, so there was a lot of hype and anticipation on whether or not it was worth the effort. Thankfully, we think it was, and, according to the votes, you do, too. Pandora’s Tower may seem like a standard action game, with a hero protecting his girl and slaying monsters through different elemental-themed towers, but there’s so much more to it than that. Part of the draw is the relationship between the hero, Aeron, and the aforementioned girl, Elena. Anyone who has played the game will know the curse that Elena is dealing with, and the lengths to which Aeron has to go in order to cure her. It certainly is a unique mechanic, and one that offers you new experiences every time you play. It may be a little too quirky for some, but Pandora’s Tower is an experience that will stay with us for a long time.
8.
It was debated quite heavily among the staff on whether or not the Metroid Prime Trilogy should be included in the vote. Some might argue that it’s simply two GameCube games with an added Wii game put into a collectors set. And, while that is largely true, you also have to remember that Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes had both been modified to use the Wii’s motion controls–therefore making them become entirely new play experiences that the GameCube versions couldn’t offer. With that being said, there’s no denying the impact and excitement that Metroid Prime Trilogy gave. Three amazing games, all on one disc, utilising the Wii’s AR controls, and extra bonuses made this a must-have for any Wii owner. It’s a shame that this collector’s set is so hard to come by. But if you ever get the chance to pick this trilogy up, then we highly recommend it.
7.
Nintendo, once again, surprised the gaming world when they announced Super Mario Galaxy 2 during the E3 2009 press conference. Not since the days of the NES has Nintendo released two fully-fledged Mario games on the same console. Yet, they did with the Wii, and, boy, what a sequel Super Mario Galaxy 2 became. Taking everything that worked wonders with the first game and adding even more magic made Galaxy 2 one of the highest rated games of all time. Glorious graphics, enchanting music and original gameplay all added to the joyous adventure. Quite simply, one of the best.
6.
Well, would you look at that! Super Mario Galaxy beats out its sequel by only one spot. Although it’s hardly surprising, given that this introduced us to the magnificent series. Even though some may consider Galaxy 2 to be superior–obviously not you lot–the first Galaxy game started it all. It was our first step into a new play style of Mario, the gravity-defying mechanics, the jaw-dropping graphics which showed us what the Wii could really do and the absolutely stunning soundtrack gave everyone a euphoric feeling. Everyone expected big things from the new 3D Mario, but no one expected it to be this big.
5.
The unveiling of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess during Nintendo’s 2004 E3 press conference will no doubt go down as one of the most exciting, surprising and unforgettable game reveals of all time. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, then check out this video here. Twilight Princess originally started out in development for the GameCube, and was to be one of the final “big” games for the little purple box. However, Nintendo decided to also release the game as a launch title for the Wii with added motion controls. What gamers got was a rather dark Zelda title, with some of the most epic cinematics and interesting characters to ever grace the world of Hyrule. Personally, it’s my favourite Zelda game of all time, but there’s one other that you lot deemed to be superior.
4.
Like Pandora’s Tower, The Last Story holds a very special place in your hearts and ours. It was one of the three games for which we campaigned, and, for a lot of you, it was the most anticipated. An exclusive JRPG Wii title from the creator of Final Fantasy was not to be ignored, and what we got was one of the most intriguing, deep and mystifying adventures we’ve ever experienced. Accompanied by an original battle system, well-developed characters and perhaps the most emotional soundtrack we can think of, The Last Story offered all Wii owners an unforgettable adventure. Like Final Fantasy, we truly hope this is not the last story.
