[Wii Send-Off] NintendoEverything Staff Opinions!
Our Favorite Third Party Wii Games
The Wii may not have had the huge library of AAA third party games that other consoles so proudly touted, but what was hidden behind the curtains of Zelda and Mario were some of the most original and charming games to come out of last generation, period. If you’ve spent a lot of your online life complaining about the lack of third party games the Wii has, then this is the list for you!
Valay says… Okami!
“If I’m going with my own personal tastes, I’d have to say Okami is the best-third party game. Yes, it was initially a PS2 game. Yes, it’s also now on the PlayStation 3 and in HD. But it’s an absolutely amazing game. There are three main elements of Okami that completely drew me in: the huge world, music, and story.
For those of you who are looking for Zelda-type experiences: for the love of God, buy this game (and Okamiden!) for any platform. The series could use any support it can get.”
Austin says… No More Heroes 2!
“Gotta go with No More Heroes 2 for this one. Great gameplay, great dialogue, a unique story, hilarious characters, and a beautiful visual style really made for one heck-of-a-game!”
Patrick says… Little King’s Story!
“I totally get why Little King’s Story didn’t sell well. Yes, the core gameplay of rounding up a group of Pikmin-eque townspeople to explore and fight monsters might be appealing to older gamers, but at first glance the game looks “too childish”, which I’m sure put a lot of people off. It’s a shame really, because there’s a reason why everything looks so cutesy and once you figure it out the game takes on a much darker tone. There are definitely a few issues with pathfinding and recruiting people early in the game, but I can overlook them because Little King’s Story is one of the most creative games I’ve ever played, especially when it comes to the showdowns with rival kings. It’s both an enjoyable game and a smartly written exercise in psychoanalytic theory that manages to be equally cute and unsettling. Just don’t play the recent Vita version unless you’re fine with the charming graphical style, excellent localisation and interesting story being replaced by DLC maid costumes.”
Laura says… Epic Mickey!
“Epic Mickey was without a doubt my favorite third party game. I did really enjoy Fragile, as I said before, but Epic Mickey took up way more of my time. I loved every minute of it, the atmosphere, the story, and the artwork. It all had the magic Disney feel to it. Choosing whether or not you wanted to be a good or destructive Mickey Mouse was very appealing as well. Seeing my favorite Disney characters in a darker light really made the game more enjoyable. It was perfect for a young adult who grew up loving Disney.”
Jack says… No More Heroes 2!
“While I probably wouldn’t objectively rate it as the highest third party title (Violent J of ICP noted in a recent interview that his favorite third party title for Wii was the underrated Call of Duty: World at War port, which featured stellar online multiplayer and the only DLC available on Wii) the Wii has to offer, my vote for best third party title undoubtedly has to go to No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. Shunning the entire kiddy stigma Nintendo has had to deal with almost since the release of the Playstation, No More Heroes 2 was a parody of the industry the likes of which no other console has an equal. Highlights: the scorpion-catching job on the side, working out with Travis’ cat, and the final, prolonged boss fight.”
