gamrReview 2010 Game of the Year Awards - Wii
by Nicholas Taylor, posted on 22 December 2010 / 6,220 Views
And so another year has passed for Nintendo's little white box that could. Even more so than usual, this year, 2010, should be referred to as a franchise year, where sequels to popular series have graced the console more than anything else, with Nintendo giving us not only new iterations of franchises who already made an appearance on the console, like Mario and Metroid, but also gave us fresh editions of classics that had yet to see a Wii release in games like Kirby's Epic Yarn and Donkey Kong Country Returns. Outside of Nintendo themselves, other noteworthy franchises have made their mark on the system as well, including Monster Hunter, Sonic the Hedgehog and a sequel to the cult favourite No More Heroes.
But what games have stood out amongst the wealth of quality titles? What games were simply a cut above the rest? Scroll down to find our answer.
Best Shooter: GoldenEye 007
Goldeneye was one of the most celebrated games on the Nintendo 64, and as such, its hardly a surprise that a new remake of the game for the Nintendo Wii, which some say is a perfect fit for FPS-games, was met with great anticipation. Thankfully, it did something not all games manage to do - it delivered. With a reimagined look to fit current Bond-films rather than old ones (like replacing Pierce Brosnan with Daniel Craig), the game not only caters to good old fans of the original game, but also tries to bring in the new generation of Bond-fans to experience a new version of what many refer to as one of the best FPS-games ever made.
Runner-up: Call of Duty: Black Ops
Reader's Choice: GoldenEye 007
Best Action/Adventure: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
The return of Travis Touchdown was hyped to no end by the admittedly somewhat small masses who spent time with the first No More Heroes-game, and they finally got their wish granted this year, when he returned to rise in the Assassin ranks once more, by slashing goons all across the screen and make it rain blood mixed with coins. Filled with the overall strangeness and crude humour the series has become known for, it was a worthy successor to the 2007 (2008 outside of Japan) title which featured the best name for a main character in video game history, and is with no doubt the best Action/Adventure-game released for the Wii during 2010.
Runner-up: Monster Hunter Tri
Reader's Choice - No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Best Fighting Game: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Given that the Wii entry in Capcom's famous VS series, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars ran more or less unopposed in the fighting category, it's hardly a surprise that it won. That said, perhaps the lack of opposition is a good thing, because going up against this beast of a game would be a hard trial indeed. Capcom's fighting games are notorious for being the best in the industry, and their collaboration with Tatsunoko is no exception. Despite virtually half the roster being completely unrecognisable to people who aren't from Japan, the sheer fun factor and challenge that the game brings with it makes it so that it really doesn't matter. Besides, getting acquainted with new characters is always a good change of pace from reliving the same old classics all over again, right?
Runner-up: n/a
Reader's Choice: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Best Racing Game: Sonic & Sega: All-Star Racing
Sega have delved into the racing market with their blue blur mascot before, but it's never really been a very successful endeavor. Thankfully, Sonic & Sega: All-Star Racing changes that, and incorporates loads of familiar faces into the mix, even featuring the return of Ryo Hazuki, protagonist of the esteemed Shenmue series. This is a title that might even give Mario Kart a run for its money, particularly to those who grew up loving the things that Nintendon't.
Runner-up: n/a
Reader's Choice: Sonic & Sega: All-Star Racing
Best Platformer: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Has it already been three whole years since we got to enjoy the wonder that is Super Mario Galaxy? It sure didn't feel like it, but even so, Nintendo decided that we'd waited for too long, and assured us that there is much, much more fun to have with a direct sequel to the highest-rated game on the entire system. Super Mario Galaxy 2 shows you that maybe you can't have too much of the good stuff, as it incorporates the best stuff of its predecessor while still innovating further and bringing even more new stuff for you to enjoy. This category is probably the most fiercely competitive one on the entire Wii this year, but even so it also had the most obvious winner. So, Nintendo... How's about a Super Mario Galaxy 3? ... Please?
Runner-up: Donkey Kong Country Returns
Reader's Choice: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best RPG: Fragile Dreams: Farewell, Ruins of the Moon
The solemn mood set by Fragile Dreams really pulls you into the atmosphere. This is a game that, rather than being played, needs to be experienced. The player takes the role of a young boy named Seto who wanders a seemingly empty world in search of survivors with a flashlight controlled by using the Wii Remote. To fully enjoy the game, you should just drop all preconceptions and dive into it, and let it have its way with you. You'll be glad you did.
Runner-up: Arc Rise Fantasia
Reader's Choice: Fragile Dreams: Farewell, Ruins of the Moon
Best Party Game: Wii Party
Wii Party is the latest installation in the unbelievably commercially successful Wii-series of games. Wii Party is somewhat of a Mario Party for a new generation, dropping the italian plumber all-together, and instead letting you enjoy the board game and its minigame shenanigans with your own Mii instead. It's hardly something new to the scene, but it doesn't have to be either. All it has to be is fun, and there's no disappointment to be had in that department.
Runner-up: Disney Guilty Party
Reader's Choice: Wii Party
Best Music & Peripheral Game: Rock Band 3
Describing the wonder of a game like Rock Band 3 in mere words would do it injustice. Who among us hasn't dreamed, at least at one point, that we could be a rock star? Despite already having previous iterations in the series, Rock Band not only lets you feel awesome while playing, but also provides a fair challenge and loads of fun while doing so. And you're encouraged to do so with your friends! It's probably the perfect game for parties and gatherings, at least if you feel like rocking out like you were a star.
Runner-up: Just Dance 2
Reader's Choice: Just Dance 2
Best Strategy & Simulation Game: Trauma Team
The newest iteration in the Trauma Center-series, which was first popularised on the Nintendo DS, does anything but disappoint. The game delivers in true Atlus-fashion, and if you enjoyed the previous games you'd be doing yourself a massive disservice in not picking this edition up. Where else can you find a game that lets you cut people up to help them instead of to kill them, anyway?
Runner-up: Endless Ocean: Blue World
Reader's Choice: Trauma Team
Best Sports Game: NBA Jam
NBA Jam, much like GoldenEye 007, is another attempt at catering to the oldschool gamer in us. And guess what? It's a successful attempt. For anyone who remembers all the fun times they had way back when, playing the original in the Arcades, or the enhanced Tournament Edition at home, this is a game you must pick up. Even for people who aren't familiar with the old games, if you like basketball or sports games in general, this game is a must-have.
Runner-up: Tiger Woods 11
Reader's Choice: Tiger Woods 11
Best WiiWare Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
The blue blur returns - and in style. Sonic the Hedgehog has long been known for his games being at a steady decline, but it looks like his luck is turning around, partly due to Sonic the Hedgehog 4. It might not reach the heights that the classics did, but it's certainly worthy of being a numbered title in the series, and when playing this gem, its far from hard to remember why you fell in love with this little hedgehog in the very first place.
Runner-up: Mega Man 10
Reader's Choice: Cave Story
Best Graphics: Super Mario Galaxy 2
One thing we can tack on to the mile-long achievement list of Super Mario Galaxy 2 is that it looks absolutely gorgeous. The first game looked absolutely fantastic, but somehow the sequel manages to push it even further, and show just how much the Wii is really capable of. Nintendo sure know how to treat their main mascot, because he looks better than ever in this latest entry in one of gaming's oldest franchises.
Runner-up: Kirby's Epic Yarn
Reader's Choice: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best Original Music Score: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Not only does it look spectacular, it sounds spectacular too.With a return of the orchestration that made the original Super Mario Galaxy sounds so majestic, it's a very nice mixture of old classic tunes that any Nintendo-fan is sure to recognise with new tracks that'll set your heart aflutter, showing that Nintendo still know exactly what they're doing.
Runner-Up: Donkey Kong Country Returns
Reader's Choice: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Most Innovative: Kirby's Epic Yarn
A lot of people were expecting to finally see Kirby make his appearance on the Wii back at E3 2010, but I don't think that anybody was expecting this. It goes a long way when a company can still astound you with surprise in a good way, and Kirby's Epic Yarn turned shock and surprise into a homerun with its sheer level of detail and interaction. Seeing a game so wittily designed should bring hope to anyone who might have thought the industry was heading in the wrong way. The talent is still there, and it's being used.
Runner-up: Disney's Epic Mickey
Reader's Choice: Kirby's Epic Yarn
Biggest Disappointment: Metroid: Other M
Sadly, this particular game in the Metroid-series will be entering the annals of video game history for entirely different reasons than it's predecessor. While a good game, to be sure, it's hard to say if it's a good Metroid. When people first saw the game back at E3 2009, expectations were sky high, but so were worries. Worries regarding Team Ninja, and worries regarding the emphasis on story. These worries did not turn out to be unfounded, as most of the complaints can be focused on the story focus and somewhat strange design for a Metroid-game. Don't worry, though, Samus - we'll still see you next mission.
Runner-up: Disney's Epic Mickey
Reader's Choice: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Best Game No One Played: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
While Travis Touchdown certainly has a big enough awesome factor to satisfy millions, it is sad to say that his series is an underappreciated one. Most who give it a shot tend to love it, but somehow it just doesn't seem to be reaching the masses. If you enjoy laser swords, nerdiness, scantily-clad women, corrupt superheroes with gimmicky names, touchdowns or going to the bathroom, do yourself a favour and pick up No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle.
Runner-up: Endless Ocean 2: Blue World
Reader's Choice: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Most Anticipated Game for 2011: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
How could it not be? If there's any Nintendo-series that raises hype on the internet to the extremes, it's The Legend of Zelda, and with fans getting desperate from not having a console entry since way back in 2006, it's hardly a wonder to see Skyward Sword topping the anticipation list. Originally scheduled for a 2010 release, it sadly had to be delayed until sometime in 2011. From what we've seen so far, it looks amazing, with the graphics being a mix of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, and from what we've heard so far it sounds like a massively epic adventure. Let's be honest, how could we possibly be disappointed with a new Zelda?
Runner-up: Lost in Shadow
Reader's Choice: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Wii Game of the Year: Super Mario Galaxy 2
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Super Mario Galaxy 2 is gorgeous, sounds gorgeous and is probably the most fun you'll have with any game the entire year, at least if your console of choice is the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo know how to treat their major stars, and Mario is as major as they get. If you haven't picked this game up, you should reconsider your stance immediately, since this game practically epitomizes what gaming should be.
Runner-up: Donkey Kong Country Returns
Reader's Choice: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Be sure to check out our other Game of the Year Awards here!
