These are all games I downloaded for the Wii and didn’t end up regretting. I don’t know how many of you with Wii’s out there actually buy the online games, but this is where I get most of my games now a days. I buy at least three virtual console and Wii ware games for every disc I purchase. I get many hours of entertainment from these games, whether old or new, and at a fraction of the cost.
So if you are interested in saving a little bit of money, and getting hundreds of hours of gameplay, this list might be of some aid to you.
#10: ActRaiser
While this game is far from perfect, it is revolutionary. Mixing action side-scroller and city simulation genres with a simple, but cool story. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I do, but it’s pretty awesome. I would say you have to enjoy the simulation part more than the side-scroller to make this a solid buy, but in my opinion its worth trying for 800 Wii points.
#9: My Life As A Darklord
If you like tower defense this is one of the most expansive ones I’ve played. It’s actually pretty difficult at times and enemies are very unforgiving. The thing I like about all tower defense games is the ability to play at short bursts and still enjoy yourself. This game does that wonderfully and with how much there is to do in it, you shouldn’t get bored any time soon. (Although replaying the beginning might drag quite a bit.) The best part about this game is just how unique the battle system is, be sure to give it a try. It’s 1000 Wii points.
#8 The Legend of Zelda
Pretty much this entire series is worth buying, the only one that I didn’t buy was Majora’s Mask. (Not because it wasn’t good, but because I would shoot myself in the head if I had to play it again.) The top of the Zelda list for re-playability in my eyes would be the first one (I have played through it no less than 12 times since it was brought to the virtual console.) Then I would say A Link to the Past which is one of my favorites, but even if I take five years off from playing it, it still takes less than five hours to beat with every heart piece. Next Zelda 2: Link’s Adventure, which is one of the worst Zelda games, and one of the funnest. Finally we have Ocarina of Time which is worth an occasional play through.
They vary in price from 500 -1000 Wii points, but they are worth every cent.
#7 Golden Axe
I just love how crappy these games are. I debated putting Altered Beast in this spot, but I decided this is the better crappy game of the two. What I like especially about this game is the ability to attack your second player,making it almost impossible for any normal siblings to get out of the first screen without wasting a continue or two. (Plus the cover art is wonderful.) This is a steal at 800 Wii points.
#6 Castlevania
This is another entire series that is worth playing over and over again, I couldn’t recommend them in any order because they are all exactly as good as each other, all for different reasons. Castlevania 1, because it is spoofing b-horror movies, and it takes twenty minutes to get to Dracula, and 6 hours to beat him. Castlevania 2, because it is similar to an RPG and I’ve never seen Dracula get a single attack off. Castlevania 3, because it actually has a story and is a real challenge (almost too much of a challenge.), and Castlevania 4, because it’s a perfect balance of the good elements of all of these games. They vary in price from 500-800 Wii points.
#5 Super Metroid
Super Metroid is just one of those games that you can think of a hundred different ways to play and never get bored of it. Beating it with every single item, Beating it under 3 hours, beating it with every single item in under 3 hours. I actually don’t really know what it is, but I love this game and never tire of it. For my money I think its one of the greatest games ever made. (The first one is good too, but I don’t think it deserves to be on the list because it is so aggravating. But if you get used to it, it is amazing.) This game is 800 Wii points.
#4 Crystal Defenders
This is a very standard Tower Defense game with very simple easy to grasp controls, if you’re looking for a game to beat, this isn’t the game for you, but if you like getting high scores, and pitting your score against a leader board this game has an indefinite amount of fun in store. It’s great how you can fill gaps of time you know you would waste with a game like this. For example: if you woke up ten minutes early for work. It is really easy to pick up, or put down and is worth 800 Wii points, easy.
#3 Kid Icarus
Kid Icarus doesn’t deserve to be in the number 3 spot because it’s the best game on the list, but I just assume everyone stopped reading by now anyway. In either case I love this game, I just don’t think its as good as The Legend of Zelda. The reason I put it on the list so high is because it was really cool to replay it on the Wii, and when you take the time to play through it, it feels like you accomplished something.
What really pushed this game over the edge for me was when I saw my seven year old nephew try it and then give up after five minutes. It’s really frustrating for me to watch this new generation with dumbed down video games for children. These NES games are what I was playing since I was five years old. And now because of games like Lego Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones, and (my personal favorite) Rock Band, kids are taught to press one button over and over again without consequences, leaving me saying, “They don’t make games like they used to.” 500 Wii points
#2 Secret of Mana
The best part of buying this game for the Wii is more or less, the fact that this is better than the original release by far, because it is so easy to get three players. A fair portion of my childhood was spent begging my parents for a multi-tap for the Super Nintendo for this game alone. They didn’t get me one, and so I was never able to play it three player until its Wii release (unless you count a rom computer download where three people share a single keyboard), and it was worth the wait. This game is simply brilliant and worth at least twice the 800 Wii points it goes for.
#1 Mega-Man 9
What a good Idea. Mega Man 9 ruled and I think it was even better than the original three Mega Man games. It was so fun and it was so intentionally cheesy. It had a hard first play through, and then once figuring it out, hours of extra play time figuring out what every one was weak against, and what order to fight everyone in. I so highly recommend this game, that if you trusted me at all you would just buy it right this second for 1000 Wii points.