Seems now is roughly the optimal time to be getting cheap Wii games, ie. at the end of its life, but before people arbitrarily decide it's retro and all its games need to cost a bomb. There are unfortunately quite a few perennial favourites for the system that haven't gone down in price, and likely won't (most Mario games, late release JRPGs etc), but there are also a lot of great games to be had at bargain prices on ebay. By bargain, I mean generally not exceeding ?5. The following is a list of such games, with more details on the titles I have more experience of.
Twilight Princess
Arguably the definitive version of the game. I found the Wii controls to be fantastic. The bow and hookshot are a joy to aim with the Wiimote and is a marked improvement over the standard controller. Horseback archery is also a lot of fun this way. It's also a very cool feeling when you flick the Wiimote to one side to make Link pull out his sword as he ventures into enemy territory. It makes you feel dangerous
Aside from the Wii additions (which includes flipping the entire game horizontally), this is a great entry in the Zelda series, with some of the best and most intuitive puzzles and dungeon designs, and excellent music as always. It's a long ass game too, as far as Zelda goes. I will say that I found the ending disappointing, for reasons I've discussed in the past, and I'm not a fan of the character designs compared to other Zelda games. The overall quality of the game is outstanding though, and for about a fiver, it's really not to be missed. It should also be noted that you won't be getting any bargains on the GC original, so the Wii version is a very attractive alternative.
Metroid Other M
It's probably been said many times (not least by myself), but this is a flawed, but brilliant game. The intrusive and overly long cutscenes, poor characterisation of Samus, crappy story, and lamentable voice acting is certainly a big issue, but I would urge Metroid fans to give this title the benefit of the doubt, and stick it out with them. The gameplay, design, and enemies are, unlike the Prime games, clearly inspired by classic Metroid. The simplicity of the horizontal Wiimote control scheme is only occasionally problematic. Switching from that position to aiming at the screen for missiles could have been done with one convenient sweeping motion had they made one alteration to the button layout. Alas, this is something of an annoyance - a trifling one, but still an annoyance. Despite its various problems, the inspiration it takes from 2D Metroid make this well worth checking out, especially at the prices it's available at.
Boom Blox
Here is a game that can commonly be bought for a pound or two. And it's a Steven Spielberg game, no less! It's a simple concept partly based on Jenga - you throw balls at towers of blocks to get maximum points/cause maximum chaos. The game gets more interesting with the addition of different types of blocks (bombs, gelignite etc), and different block structures and level goals/limits. To throw, you aim the Wiimote then hold A and swing, releasing the button at the last moment - the faster you swing, the harder you throw. There's a variety of game modes, and particularly of note, multiplayer modes which, like the best Nintendo games, strike a perfect balance between skill and chaos. The controls and goals are so simple even non-gamers and understand and play right away. It's a great example of a traditional style game like Jenga that the whole family can enjoy, but that as a video game can accomplish things that would be impossible in real life (like having explosives in the Jenga tower).
Resident Evil 4
I'm not going to say much about this game, because I ****ing hate it. However, it is dirt cheap, and praise is constantly heaped upon it (with the Wii version often described as the definitive edition), so of course I can't deny it a place in this list. I'll say this though: BUY RESI 1 INSTEAD!
House of the Dead Overkill
Overkill is a foul mouthed homage to exploitation films and grindhouse cinema, very much in the style of (and inspired by) Planet Terror. It's not as funny as it could have been, but there are some genuine laugh out loud moments, the best of which are probably the introduction of Clement and the game's ending. It's a fairly short on rails shooter as you might expect, but with a few twists to add depth: 1. There's a gunshop in the menu system with a selection of different firearms, all with upgradeable stats (reload time, damage, clip size etc), which can be paid for with money earnt in-game. 2. You can nudge the screen slightly to one side in order to line up better shots and hit off screen bonus items (requiring close cooperation in 2 player mode). 3. The game keeps track of combos scored by getting one hit kills without missing shots. 4. Director's Cut mode unlocks after an initial run-through, offering a tougher challenge and a few new sights. All of this means the game ends up being slightly more than the sum of its parts, and definitely worth an evening in with a pal for some stupid laughs and oldskool gore.
Madworld
Similarly to Overkill, Madworld is worth getting for its unique visual style and ultraviolent comedy antics. Fans of Frank Miller will be favourably impressed, I think. It also features the vocal stylings of John DiMaggio (Bender in Futurama amongst many, many others), so another plus point there. This is also another game that can be found turbo-cheap, and it's intriguing enough to warrant a purchase from even skeptical gamers.
Dead Space Extraction
I was surprised by the depth of this rail shooter (even more so than Overkill). A good deal of strategy is required when it comes to quick decisions on which weapons to pick up and upgrade, how to use those weapons (angle of the Wiimote changes the function/cutting angle of weapons). It really does a good job of adapting the gameplay of the series into this genre. A lot of care was also put into the story, as you'd expect from a Dead Space game and it's a nice complement to the main series in that regard. The atmopshere rivals that of the main games - playing in the dark is recommended for some good scares! It's a rail shooter, so it's not so easy to find a lot to say about it (plus, I played it quite a while ago), but it's got way more than you would probably expect for a spin off game, in this genre. The boxart is great too!
Red Steel 2
Stop! Where are you going! Come back! Banish all thoughts you have of the original and disastrously craptacular Red Steel 1. This game has nothing in common with that abomination other than the sweet, sweet combo of gun and blade. It has a new story, new setting, new graphical style, new everything. Well, except for the title. Kinda shot themselves in the foot there, with that association. Anyway, it's a Japanese-American Old West setting, rendered in fabulous cel-shaded graphics. Combat is a mix of gunplay and katana wielding sword fighting. Best of all, this is a Motion Plus game, so the sword movements very closely mirror your own movements with the Wiimote. There is a great range of special moves to learn, too. It's very stylish in its visuals and attacks - it's quite reminiscent of Viewtiful Joe (if you can imagine that as a first person sword fighting game).
Geometry Wars Galaxies
Yet another mega cheap game on the Wii that has surprising depth. For those unfamiliar with its XBLA origins, Geometry Wars is an oldskool-inspired multi-directional shooter in the vein of Asteroids (visuals and all). Imagine if gameplay design had not changed in 40s years, but the visual effects had continued to advance, and you'll be imagining something close to Geometry Wars. For its full scale console outing, GWG really ups its game and offers something new. A bizarre variety of level shapes, gravity effects, enemies, goals, and other unexpected features await you. Perhaps most interesting of all is the drone which follows your ships around and assists you much like the force pod in R-Type. Your drone's behaviour can be changed and upgraded with credits collected whilst playing, and you may want to strategise over which drone and which behaviour to use in different galaxies. These credits also unlock those galaxies (and there is a good variety of them). This game kept me busy for a long time, trying to unlock everything, and to earn the best medals on every galaxy - an incredibly tough challenge (I didn't manage it
). It should also be mentioned that there is a variety of control methods available (I prefer to use the Wiimote-aim, Nunchuck-move arrangement, though it takes getting used to), multiplayer co-op modes, and you can even upload a demo of the handheld version to your DS.
Link's Crossbow Training
I'm sounding like a broken record here, but this is another title that I wasn't expecting much from. I thought it was going to be a quick money maker from Nintendo (probably should have known better). It turned out to be a very nicely put together take on the Twilight Princess universe. I won't say too much because it is a short game, but if you loved Twilight Princess and want to dip back into that world, I can't think of a better way.
Some other bargains which I haven't put enough time into to comment on:
Zack and Wiki
Ivy the Kiwi
Metroid Prime 3
No More Heroes
Samba De Amigo
Ghost Squad
Wario Land Shake It
DeBlob
Battalion Wars 2
Eledees
Trauma Centre: Second Opinion
Feel free to add to the list, or comment on the games mentioned above! I'm sure Charles will have something good to say about Ghost Squad at least!
Twilight Princess
Arguably the definitive version of the game. I found the Wii controls to be fantastic. The bow and hookshot are a joy to aim with the Wiimote and is a marked improvement over the standard controller. Horseback archery is also a lot of fun this way. It's also a very cool feeling when you flick the Wiimote to one side to make Link pull out his sword as he ventures into enemy territory. It makes you feel dangerous
Aside from the Wii additions (which includes flipping the entire game horizontally), this is a great entry in the Zelda series, with some of the best and most intuitive puzzles and dungeon designs, and excellent music as always. It's a long ass game too, as far as Zelda goes. I will say that I found the ending disappointing, for reasons I've discussed in the past, and I'm not a fan of the character designs compared to other Zelda games. The overall quality of the game is outstanding though, and for about a fiver, it's really not to be missed. It should also be noted that you won't be getting any bargains on the GC original, so the Wii version is a very attractive alternative.Metroid Other M
It's probably been said many times (not least by myself), but this is a flawed, but brilliant game. The intrusive and overly long cutscenes, poor characterisation of Samus, crappy story, and lamentable voice acting is certainly a big issue, but I would urge Metroid fans to give this title the benefit of the doubt, and stick it out with them. The gameplay, design, and enemies are, unlike the Prime games, clearly inspired by classic Metroid. The simplicity of the horizontal Wiimote control scheme is only occasionally problematic. Switching from that position to aiming at the screen for missiles could have been done with one convenient sweeping motion had they made one alteration to the button layout. Alas, this is something of an annoyance - a trifling one, but still an annoyance. Despite its various problems, the inspiration it takes from 2D Metroid make this well worth checking out, especially at the prices it's available at.
Boom Blox
Here is a game that can commonly be bought for a pound or two. And it's a Steven Spielberg game, no less! It's a simple concept partly based on Jenga - you throw balls at towers of blocks to get maximum points/cause maximum chaos. The game gets more interesting with the addition of different types of blocks (bombs, gelignite etc), and different block structures and level goals/limits. To throw, you aim the Wiimote then hold A and swing, releasing the button at the last moment - the faster you swing, the harder you throw. There's a variety of game modes, and particularly of note, multiplayer modes which, like the best Nintendo games, strike a perfect balance between skill and chaos. The controls and goals are so simple even non-gamers and understand and play right away. It's a great example of a traditional style game like Jenga that the whole family can enjoy, but that as a video game can accomplish things that would be impossible in real life (like having explosives in the Jenga tower).
Resident Evil 4
I'm not going to say much about this game, because I ****ing hate it. However, it is dirt cheap, and praise is constantly heaped upon it (with the Wii version often described as the definitive edition), so of course I can't deny it a place in this list. I'll say this though: BUY RESI 1 INSTEAD!
House of the Dead Overkill
Overkill is a foul mouthed homage to exploitation films and grindhouse cinema, very much in the style of (and inspired by) Planet Terror. It's not as funny as it could have been, but there are some genuine laugh out loud moments, the best of which are probably the introduction of Clement and the game's ending. It's a fairly short on rails shooter as you might expect, but with a few twists to add depth: 1. There's a gunshop in the menu system with a selection of different firearms, all with upgradeable stats (reload time, damage, clip size etc), which can be paid for with money earnt in-game. 2. You can nudge the screen slightly to one side in order to line up better shots and hit off screen bonus items (requiring close cooperation in 2 player mode). 3. The game keeps track of combos scored by getting one hit kills without missing shots. 4. Director's Cut mode unlocks after an initial run-through, offering a tougher challenge and a few new sights. All of this means the game ends up being slightly more than the sum of its parts, and definitely worth an evening in with a pal for some stupid laughs and oldskool gore.
Madworld
Similarly to Overkill, Madworld is worth getting for its unique visual style and ultraviolent comedy antics. Fans of Frank Miller will be favourably impressed, I think. It also features the vocal stylings of John DiMaggio (Bender in Futurama amongst many, many others), so another plus point there. This is also another game that can be found turbo-cheap, and it's intriguing enough to warrant a purchase from even skeptical gamers.
Dead Space Extraction
I was surprised by the depth of this rail shooter (even more so than Overkill). A good deal of strategy is required when it comes to quick decisions on which weapons to pick up and upgrade, how to use those weapons (angle of the Wiimote changes the function/cutting angle of weapons). It really does a good job of adapting the gameplay of the series into this genre. A lot of care was also put into the story, as you'd expect from a Dead Space game and it's a nice complement to the main series in that regard. The atmopshere rivals that of the main games - playing in the dark is recommended for some good scares! It's a rail shooter, so it's not so easy to find a lot to say about it (plus, I played it quite a while ago), but it's got way more than you would probably expect for a spin off game, in this genre. The boxart is great too!
Red Steel 2
Stop! Where are you going! Come back! Banish all thoughts you have of the original and disastrously craptacular Red Steel 1. This game has nothing in common with that abomination other than the sweet, sweet combo of gun and blade. It has a new story, new setting, new graphical style, new everything. Well, except for the title. Kinda shot themselves in the foot there, with that association. Anyway, it's a Japanese-American Old West setting, rendered in fabulous cel-shaded graphics. Combat is a mix of gunplay and katana wielding sword fighting. Best of all, this is a Motion Plus game, so the sword movements very closely mirror your own movements with the Wiimote. There is a great range of special moves to learn, too. It's very stylish in its visuals and attacks - it's quite reminiscent of Viewtiful Joe (if you can imagine that as a first person sword fighting game).
Geometry Wars Galaxies
Yet another mega cheap game on the Wii that has surprising depth. For those unfamiliar with its XBLA origins, Geometry Wars is an oldskool-inspired multi-directional shooter in the vein of Asteroids (visuals and all). Imagine if gameplay design had not changed in 40s years, but the visual effects had continued to advance, and you'll be imagining something close to Geometry Wars. For its full scale console outing, GWG really ups its game and offers something new. A bizarre variety of level shapes, gravity effects, enemies, goals, and other unexpected features await you. Perhaps most interesting of all is the drone which follows your ships around and assists you much like the force pod in R-Type. Your drone's behaviour can be changed and upgraded with credits collected whilst playing, and you may want to strategise over which drone and which behaviour to use in different galaxies. These credits also unlock those galaxies (and there is a good variety of them). This game kept me busy for a long time, trying to unlock everything, and to earn the best medals on every galaxy - an incredibly tough challenge (I didn't manage it
). It should also be mentioned that there is a variety of control methods available (I prefer to use the Wiimote-aim, Nunchuck-move arrangement, though it takes getting used to), multiplayer co-op modes, and you can even upload a demo of the handheld version to your DS.Link's Crossbow Training
I'm sounding like a broken record here, but this is another title that I wasn't expecting much from. I thought it was going to be a quick money maker from Nintendo (probably should have known better). It turned out to be a very nicely put together take on the Twilight Princess universe. I won't say too much because it is a short game, but if you loved Twilight Princess and want to dip back into that world, I can't think of a better way.
Some other bargains which I haven't put enough time into to comment on:
Zack and Wiki
Ivy the Kiwi
Metroid Prime 3
No More Heroes
Samba De Amigo
Ghost Squad
Wario Land Shake It
DeBlob
Battalion Wars 2
Eledees
Trauma Centre: Second Opinion
Feel free to add to the list, or comment on the games mentioned above! I'm sure Charles will have something good to say about Ghost Squad at least!
Beside you can get thr **** Overkill on PS3 as well.
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