2009 Wii games – Part 2

When I drafted this post, it was back in December, and now there are scores of such lists. Still, not all are the same.

In part 1, I previewed action and role-playing games that are confirmed for North America and/or Europe. In Part 2, I’ll look at other up-market genres. In part 3, I’ll list the best of the unconfirmed 2009 games.

Punch-Out! – Genre: Fighting – Release: 3/21/09 for NAmerica and Europe
This game has a following, although it might be questionnable how well it adapts to current gaming expectation while maintaining what made it one of the top Nintendo games. Little detail is known about the game.

The House of the Dead: Overkill – Genre: rail shooter/survival horror – Release: 2/10/09
It’s easy to get your zombie killing games mixed up, but this is not a port . . . it’s an all-new entry. This also appears to be a hardcore game with plenty blood-spattering gore. In general, previews indicate a very fun game.

The Conduit – Genre: first person shooter – Release: Q1 09
I don’t think much has to be said about this one because it’s gotten probably the most hype of any Wii third-party game.

Cave Story [wiiware] – Genre: platformer action- Release: 2009
Okay, so you can play this game for free on the PC. But the Wiiware version will have both enhanced graphics and music as well as new content. This has such a following and was so well done that I think this is still one of the top Wiiware games to look for in 2009.

deadly creatures - Genre: Action/adventure – Release: 2/13/09
Folks shouldn’t base their decision of this game on the box art and a few screen captures because the game is supposed to have a lot of depth. It has a large variety of enemies, each with different types of attacks and abilities. You can switch between playing a spider and a scorpion, each with different abilities. And it appears there are unlockable attacks. My anticipation of this game has probably risen the most of any game for 2009, except Fragile. For that reason, I’ve included a developer diary video.

Another Code R / Trace Memory R - Genre: adventure – Release: TBA
This sequel to Trace Memory should be released outside of Japan, but those dates have not been announced.

Overlord: Dark Legend – Genre:  Action/adventure – Release: June 2009
This is no port of the 360 game, which was mediocre. Instead, this a new game from the ground up, including a plot from Rhianna Pratchett.

Cursed Mountain - Genre: survival horror – Release: 2009
We have very little about about this game, other than its genre, its Himalayan setting, and its release sometime in 2009. And it’s a Wii-only game, which could mean just about anything in terms of quality, although the trailer indicates a good looking Wii game. I’m not a huge fan of survival horror, but the setting does looking interesting, but then, it reminds of H.P. Lovecraft. [Any arctic horror setting would really, thanks to At the Mountains of Madness.]

LIT [wiiware] – Genre: action horror – Release: namerica early 2009; other regions possible
As if you haven’t had enough survival horror and zombies on the Wii in 2009, check out this game. The flashlight could be too gimicky if the rest of the gameplay doesn’t hold up well.

Dead Rising:Chop until You Drop – Genre: – survival horror sandbox Release: 2/24/09
Okay, this one is the remake of a 360 game, but it supposedly includes some new features. I think the news that the Wii version wouldn’t have millions of zombies to kill compared to the original has made less desirable for some genre fans.

Swords & Soldiers [wiiware] – Genre: real-time strategy – Release: early 2009
The developers of the original de blob pc game are giving a sidescrolling strategy game. This isn’t necessarily the type of strategy game you might expect for the Wii, but the gameplay video makes it appealing. Its appeal is, like others I’ve listed, its difference.

Red Steel 2 - Genre: FPS – Release: TBA
Even though no release date has been announced, Ubisoft confirmed the game’s in the works, which means at least a North America release, and a likely European release. The problem with the original were the controls, so, with the announced support for the Motion Plus, expectations are that Red Steel 2 will address those control issues. But other than the announcement, there’s nada.