Top 5 Games/Franchises Deserving Of A Wii Continuation

In 2009, there’s at least one first party franchise that will see a Wii release, with Punch-Out!. Its been since the SNES days that we’ve seen a new Punch-Out!, but with the Wii it seemed like perfect time to bring it back. There are still games, and franchises out there that still scream for continuance. This list is the games, or franchises that I think are most worthy of a return.

5. Splatterhouse

During the heyday of the horror movie genre in the mid-late 80′s, it’s hard to imagine a 16-bit game could be just as unsettling as something you’d see in a theater. Splatterhouse was that impressive though, and some of the images and enemies are still squirmishly delightful to this day.

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If you’re unfamiliar with Splatterhouse, it follows Rick Taylor and Jennifer Wills who are both parapsychology majors. They’re studying a place called West Mansion (a.k.a Splatterhouse), where Dr. West another parapsychologist had disappeared. I won’t say anymore in case you want to try the game out on the Virtual Console, which you really should.

Splatterhouse deserves the Wii treatment for many reasons. First, the game’s hell-like style deserves to see a graphical upgrade. Where we get to see these creatures with a little more dramatic effect. The simple gameplay style of Splatterhouse could make for an easy transition to the Nintendo Wii, and its controls. As the Nintendo Wii continues to grow, I’ve found it’s the more simple control layouts that have generally been the best for the Wii. Splatterhouse has the right layout to make it worthy of motion controls.

If nothing else though, it’s about time we got a hero that dons a cursed hockey mask.

4. Mario Paint

There are many games, and accessories in the history of Nintendo that didn’t see much financial success because they were simply before their time. The track pad released on the NES, which we’ve theoretically seen with Wii Fit. Then there was the Power Glove, which in many ways was continued with the Wii’s motion controls.

Mario Paint, was a game that saw success in a way but it just never really took off and started some kind of artistic/video game revolution. If you look back at the paint screen, there look to be features you see with MS Paint. For Mario Paint enthusiasts, you know that true magic isn’t found with the painting side of things, but the Mario Paint Composer that was bundled with it.

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Another problem that kept Mario Paint held back is that it had a special mouse peripheral that was sold along side of it. This increased the cost, along with not shipping as many units due to its production costs. Once, you were done with Mario Paint there were extremely slim pickings for games that took advantage of the mouse.

What I found was the largest road block for Mario Paint, was save space. It’s hard to imagine but there was a day when systems didn’t have built-in memory, or allow for external memory solutions. Back when I had to walk to school through a foot of snow both ways up hill, was the days Mario Paint had very minimal space for being able to save your works of art.

Mario Paint brought a progressive spirit to video games that I’d love to see continued on the Nintendo Wii. Many of the shortcomings that it had on the SNES are nearly instantly fixed with the Nintendo Wii. With Wii Remote MotionPlus coming out, theoretically you could move the remote around like an actual paint brush. You wouldn’t have to package any peripherals, as the Wii Remote provides all the controls you need in order to play.

Then you have the built-in Nintendo Wii memory that could hold plenty of art pieces. That is unless of course you’ve downloaded a crap-ton of VC, and WiiWare games.

3. Eternal Darkness

Eternal Darkness, unlike the other franchises and games on this list saw a release just one generation prior to the Wii. It’s hard to imagine, but its been 7 years since Eternal Darkness was released on the Gamecube. If you played the game back when it released then you were subject to one of the greatest ‘psycho-horror’ games ever created, if not the best.

The game to me is one of the most complete package games you’re bound to run across. It’s graphically beautiful, it has fun, engaging gameplay that comes with good variety. Eternal Darkness was also able to pull off replay value by allowing players to keep playing the game to unlock the ‘final boss’. It had been done in games before, but ED truly made me completely finish the game. Which is odd because I’ll be the first admit, I’m usually ‘one and done’ with games of its type.

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Eternal Darkness has a cast of playable characters that have you traveling to different periods of time on Earth, playing different characters during these time periods. Each character has a unique play type that you have to learn in order to be successful.

Easily the most memorable part of ED though was the psycho effects. As you progress through the game and see these weird and unspeakable events you ‘sanity meter’ decreases. As it decreases crazy things start to happen in the game. Walls will begin to bleed, the floor will tilt, if you get crazy enough the game will tell you, that you need to reset. There’s more effects but you get the picture.

I’ve really kissed ED’s ass so far, so what makes it worthy of transition to the Wii?

Because it has so many varying gameplay styles, this could really push the functionality of motion controls in a game. There’s melee, gunfighting, magic casting, all taking place in an action environment. Of course a graphical overhaul would definitely help to make the setting even more unsettling. The sanity effects is where the Wii could really provide some good support. With the different ways you move the Wii remote, you could really get to players as their sanity decreases. Maybe the Wii Remote “runs out of batteries”. Maybe the IR sensor bar isn’t reading right so you have to turn your lights off. These are just a couple of ideas, but show just what could be capable on the Wii.

2. Time Crisis

I’ve mentioned Time Crisis in one of my Top 5 lists before. I mentioned the series as a port idea for Namco to bring their PS2 releases to the Nintendo Wii. Instead, how about just continuing the Time Crisis series on the Nintendo Wii?

If you’ve played Time Crisis before, then I’d like to think you agree that its play style is made for the Wii. On-rails shooters have made a comeback with the Nintendo Wii, specifically with the zapper accessory. SEGA has revived the House of the Dead series, and saw some success with their re-release of House of the Dead 2 & 3. Now, they’re releasing a brand new House of the Dead game set to come out soon. Namco should really be taking a look at this, as I believe Time Crisis would get a warm welcome on Nintendo’s console.

First, of course you have the Wii Zapper which would function as your gun. Then, you have Time Crisis’ cover system which is handled in the arcade by way of a foot pedestal. You push it down to go into cover, and then release to open fire on the bad guys. With the Playstation 2 & 3 versions of the game, you lose this pedestal pushing ability. With the balance board there’s so many more options for the cover system.

Since the balance board has many different quadrants, pressing down on the board could activate different moves in Time Crisis. Pressing down on the left side of the board, and releasing could make your character roll to the left to find better cover, and so on.

Time Crisis might be a simple game, which most on-rails shooters are. Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it isn’t fun though. With a creative group working on Time Crisis, it could end up being a blast on the Nintendo Wii.

1. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

In a time before Square Enix, and Nintendo had their little tiff, there was a game released that would live in the minds of anyone who played it. Super Mario RPG will be heralded as one of the greatest games ever to be released (at least I think so). This might be, but you might be wondering what makes it so worthy of a continuation on the Nintendo Wii?

The obvious reasons, which I’ve stated for many games on the list is of course a graphical upgrade. Super Mario RPG during its time was a graphical marvel in its own right, and one of the first 3D games ever released. It might not have been ‘Super Mario 64′ type 3D, but it was still impressive none the less and really pushed the SNES during its twilight years. I foresee this could happen if Square Enix, and Nintendo can kiss and make up to collaborate on another release.

The graphics might be a big reason for a Wii release, but another is its story. Super Mario RPG, easily has the best Mario story ever told. Granted the Mario games never had much of a story to begin with; but leading Mario and other Mushroom Kingdom characters in an epic storyline was amazing. It’s about time to feel this magic all over again.

The graphics, and story of Super Mario RPG were impressive but where the game really shined was in its gameplay. Before, the turn-based RPG world was pretty cookie cutter. You either, attack, use magic, use an item, or defend, then rinse and repeat until you get to the end of the game. Super Mario RPG follow this formula in a way, but it was nearly all interactive. Instead of just pushing a command and watching it unfold, you became part of the action. If you used Mario’s ‘Super Jump’ ability then you had to press the ‘A’ button at the right time to string a series of jumps together to maximize your damage. It might seem like a simple concept now, but during its day it was an amazing feature.

With the Nintendo Wii, this idea of interactive turn based battles could be taken to the next level. Now, with motion controls you could make the player even more involved with the turn base battles. Instead of just hitting the ‘A’ button for a super jump, you can make them have to keep a drum beat with the Wii Remote and nunchuk; or something of the like.

Super Mario RPG is a game that should be played by anyone, and is available on the Virtual Console. I’d love to see a continuation of it and really see what Square Enix, and Nintendo could come up with together. It’s been awhile, but I think both companies have really grown since then and could create something magical.

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What are some games you remember playing on older consoles that you’d like to see come to the Nintendo Wii? I feel as though I should give an honorable mention to Star Fox, who would make the list if it was ‘Top 6′.