// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var games_holiday_081219_Wii = new Array(); games_holiday_081219_Wii.ID = "games_holiday_081219_Wii"; games_holiday_081219_Wii.ID_WB = 28303175; games_holiday_081219_Wii.sPubDate = "12/19/2008 5:54:12 PM GMT"; games_holiday_081219_Wii.navsectionID = "15879576" games_holiday_081219_Wii.appFmt = 2; games_holiday_081219_Wii.itemsPerPage = 1; games_holiday_081219_Wii.nTeaseW = 298; games_holiday_081219_Wii.nTeaseH = 298; games_holiday_081219_Wii.appWidth = 600; games_holiday_081219_Wii.appHeader = "

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The Wii continues to be the little game machine that could, busting out mind-boggling sales numbers despite being the most underpowered machine this side of the next generation. Time and time again, the Wii has proven that bigger is not necessarily better.

And while this year’s game lineup for the Wii may not have been as spectacular as last year’s seemed to be, there’s no shortage of enjoyable and unique games that make the most of what the Wii is all about.

Check out this list of our favorite Wii games from 2008 and then tell us your top Wii games of the year.


— Winda Benedetti


"; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Okami'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_Okami.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Capcom", "239", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

\"Okami\" first launched in 2006 on the PlayStation 2 and when this elegant and artful game finally came to the Wii earlier this year, it felt like it should have been here all along.

Using the Wii's motion controls, players help a wolf/god named Amaterasu vanquish an ancient evil in a world that looks plucked from a traditional Japanese watercolor painting. And that's what makes “Okami” so special – the way it draws on the art of Japanese brush stroke for both its gorgeous visual style and its ambitious gameplay. The Wii version of the game allows you to use the Remote controller as if it was a paintbrush itself. Wielding the game’s Celestial Brush – a magical paintbrush – you paint on the game canvas to fight, interact with the environment and solve puzzles. It's an awesome mechanic made even more awesome in its Wii incarnation. "; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Mario Kart Wii'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_MarioKart.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Nintendo", "232", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

The \"Mario Kart\" franchise has been racing along ever since its debut on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System 16 years ago. Populated by Nintendo's beloved characters, the racing game zipped onto the Wii earlier this year, bringing with it 16 new race tracks, 16 retro tracks, the addition of motorcycles into the mix and a plastic Wii Wheel to help players feel like they’re really in the driver's seat. \"Mario Kart Wii\" remains an excellent party game, but it burns rubber like never before thanks to a new, feature-rich and smooth-working online mode that allows players to race with friends both near and far."; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Super Smash Bros. Brawl'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_SuperSmashBros.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Nintendo", "273", "347", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

Speaking of seeing your favorite gaming characters gathered in one place, Nintendo fans and fighting game enthusiasts were thrilled to play this next chapter in the beloved \"Smash Bros.\" series. Like its predecessors, \"Super Smash Bros. Brawl\" allows you to pit favorite Nintendo faces against each other in some super-powered fisticuffs. It’s a thrill to see Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pikachu beat the brightly-colored stuffing out of each other. But more importantly, this \"Brawl\" introduced the first characters from outside the Nintendo collection into the mix -- Sonic the Hedgehog and Metal Gear's Solid Snake.

The game earns major kudos for its depth, its gorgeous cut scenes, lovely sound track and the robust multiplayer action it offers both locally and, for the first time, online. "; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Wii Fit'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_WiiFit.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Nintendo", "239", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

\"Wii Fit\" is an unusual offering from Nintendo. That is, it’s a cross between a fitness tool and a video game, which makes it something altogether new. Whether \"Wii Fit\" excels as either a fitness device or as a game, remains up for debate. But what is not up for debate is the fact that \"Wii Fit,\" with its unique approach and broad appeal, has brought many non-gamers into the gaming fold. And anything that opens the public’s eyes to the wonderful possibilities offered by video games deserves major kudos."; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_ShaunWhite.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Ubisoft", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

Welcome to snowboarding, without the pesky frostbite. Though the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of this snowboarding game hit a sour note with some players, Shaun White’s Wii venture is a really well-executed game that puts the \"Wii Fit\" balance board to great use.

\"Road Trip\" finds you controlling your snow surfer by leaning to and fro on the Balance Board as if it really was a snowboard. And players without a Balance Board aren’t left out either – the Wii Remote control scheme works like a dream.

Meanwhile, the graphics – specially stylized for the Wii – look great. All in all, this is a game that knows how to make the most of Nintendo’s machine and what it has to offer."; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Tetris Party'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_TetrisParty.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Hudson Soft", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

Here’s an awesome game for old-school gamers and new-school gamers alike. Yes, \"Tetris\" – but \"Tetris\" like you’ve never quite seen it before.

\"Tetris Party\" – which you download to your Wii via WiiWare – not only offers up the traditional block-dropping game, but it re-imagines \"Tetris\" in a multitude of unique forms. In Field Climber mode you use the multi-shaped blocks to help a tiny man try to grab flags as he races to the top of the screen. In the Stage Racer mode you must maneuver these oddly-shaped pieces through a narrow passage, avoiding obstacles as quickly as you can. There are simply a ton of unique modes to play and the multiplayer action is hugely addictive. "; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'de Blob'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_DeBlob.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "THQ", "273", "390", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

This ultra cool, ultra clever platforming game is just so much fun to play it should be in everyone’s Wii collection. Here you control a squishy, color-filled ball living in a world that’s been drained of color. It’s this Blob’s job (and thus your job) to fill the world with color again.

You’ll have to roll and jump and explore this surprisingly expansive world to keep your paint supply replenished and to mix paints to get the different colors you need. It’s a unique idea that’s been superbly put together with lots of puzzles and challenges to solve.

\"De Blob\" offers not only a great single-player mode but some highly amusing multiplayer gaming as well. Go ahead. Paint the town a rainbow of colors. "; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'Boom Blox'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_BoomBlox.hmedium.jpg","",".", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Electronic Arts", "273", "390", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

Famed film director Steven Spielberg proved he’s got a great gaming mind when he partnered with EA to produce this charming, vibrant, feature-rich puzzle game.

\"Boom Blox\" makes absolutely awesome use of everything that makes the Wii unique. Using the machine's motion sensitive Remote controller, you'll solve a vast variety of physics-based puzzles by knocking down blocks, removing blocks (think Jenga), blowing up blocks ... etc.

Spielberg has said he wanted to create a game he could play with his kids, but he’s done more than that. This is not only an excellent game for the younger set, it’s an excellent game for anyone who appreciates addictive, exuberant gameplay."; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'World of Goo'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_WorldOfGoo.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "2D Boy", "273", "363", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

We just can’t pile enough praise onto this beautiful, adorable and utterly entertaining game. Created by two guys fueled by nothing more than their dwindling savings accounts and their overactive imaginations, “World of Goo” is among the most inspired and compelling puzzle games out there.

“World of Goo” drops players into a world full of delightful globs of goo that must be stuck to each other to overcome a variety of challenges. Using their sticky properties, you may be asked to stack them on top of one another to reach a lofty goal, or string them together in a bridge to span a wide crevice. \"World of Goo\" is beautifully illustrated, and the music is absolutely stunning. It can be downloaded directly to the Wii through the online WiiWare service and it’s also available for PCs and Macs at WorldOfGoo.com."; games_holiday_081219_Wii[i++] = new Array("","'No More Heroes'","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/081219_HolidayGuide_Wii_NoMoreHeroes.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Ubisoft", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); games_holiday_081219_Wii[i-1].body = "

The Wii gets its mitts good and bloody with this superb and highly quirky game meant for grown-ups and grown-ups only. \"No More Heroes\" puts players in control of Travis Touchdown, a young hit man who won a \"beam katana\" (think lightsaber) in an online auction. Ranked the 11th-best hit man in the world, Touchdown is hell-bent on being No. 1. To do so, he must take out the top-ranked hit men and hit women above him.

\"No More Heroes\" is presented in open-world style, which means you can take on hit jobs and progress through the story as you please, or perhaps spend time driving around the town of Santa Destroy on your oversized motorcycle while doing various odd jobs. Zany, hilarious and eye-poppingly stylish, this game offers the most enjoyable sword-swinging action to be found on the Wii.

Tell us: Which Wii games from 2008 top your list?"; // END editorial data