Virtual Console Games For 2-11-08

Harvest Moon® (Super NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): You bought the farm, so now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and try living off the fat of the land. Fresh air and the beauty of the outdoors will be fulfilling, but a successful farm needs a lot of working capital as well. There are buildings on your property, but they are in need of livestock. You have a modest house, but if things get lonely in the field, it’s going to take a remodel to woo a female farming companion. Your challenge is to dig in and build your life as a farmer from the ground up. How you manage will determine the outcome, but remember: You always reap what you sow.

Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter that has you take on the role of a legendary warrior, blasting enemies to heavy-metal tunes. Your enemies are plotting to revive Zaggart, “The Dark One,” who was sealed beneath the six continents of Mistral. It’s up to Landis, descendant of the heroic Dyu, to stop them. Choose the order in which to attack the six stages. Before each stage, select one of four magic armors and use crystals you’ve collected during your battles to buy items. Selecting the right armor for each stage is the key to your ultimate victory. Then get ready to face awesome enemies like a fire-spewing sea serpent or a giant insect. Whether it’s the fast-paced shooting or breaking into the fortress of a stage boss, you’ll be blown away by the intensity of Lords of Thunder.

And the winner is…… Console wars in the 08.

2007 was a year of great prosperity for the video game industry. While Playstation 3 had its first full year of existence, the boys over at Microsoft continued their success with the release of Halo 3, and other critically acclaimed exclusives.(Bioshock, Mass Effect etc..) But it was Nintendo’s next-gen offering, the Wii (also in its first full year) that stole the show.

The explosion of the Wii onto the market took everyone by surprise. With its “family oriented” appeal, and unique controls, the Wii rubbed everyone the right way. So much so, that towards the end of the year, trying to find a Wii was like trying to find Osama. Needless to say, things are looking up for Nintendo in 2008. With DS being the overall best seller last year, and the emergence of the Wii, 08 is shaping up to be the company’s most profitable yet.

While Nintendo led the charge commercially, there is still a lot to be desired by hardcore gamers. Since the Wii is geared more to the younger gaming fan, those who want to experience the revolutionary innovations of the system are taking a back seat because of the lack of “adult” games. Sure there are classic franchises like Mario that have made the jump, and even unique titles such as No More Heroes to keep us interested. But other than that there are a bunch of “hot pocket” titles, that while they are satisfying, we find ourselves hungry again in an hour. We need steak and potatoes. That blockbuster title(s) that will have us on the edge of our seat for weeks. Grant it, Super Mario Galaxy is a spectacular game, with a ton of replay value, but after you have found all the stars, it’s like enough with the plumber already. I’m sorry, but I can’t identify with Mario the way I did when I was 9. Therefore, I need something else. I’m not saying I need a “KILL, KILL, KILL” title, but a thinking man’s game. Something to stimulate my left hemisphere as well my left wrist.( damn nunchuk..)

There are, however, those other pesky consoles to worry about. With the Playstation 3 having a great holiday season , Sony is poised to make a charge this year. With a ton of blockbuster titles on deck(GTA IV, MGS4, Little Big Planet), the competition is getting stiff, and Nintendo better step up to the plate.

Though it has its flaws like a lack of titles, and no Blu-ray/DVD player (what’s that about?), with its unique controls and online capabilities, the potential for amazing games on the Wii is limitless. But potential unfulfilled can become something much simpler. Just a word.