Wii Hidden Gems of 2010 (by Carl B.)

December 22, 2010, by Carl B. - The Wii saw many high-profile releases in 2010, including a new Super Mario title, a new Metroid, and even big third party titles such as Monster Hunter Tri. Among all the more mainstream releases several games flew under the radar because they were more niche or received mixed reviews. Of these types of games, which are considered the Wii's hidden gems of 2010?



Arc Rise Fantasia
Released: July 20, 2010
Genre: JRPG
Metascore: 64

On a system that doesn't get much RPG love, I was very excited for Arc Rise Fantasia to finally release State side. This traditional JRPG offers nothing particularly new on the gameplay front, but that was just fine for me. Arc Rise Fantasia features an engaging combat system, no random battles when players travel on the overworld, and beautiful CGI cutscenes. However, the in-game visuals for Arc Rise Fantasia are PS2-calibur, and worst of all, the voice acting is absolutely horrendous. Arc Rise Fantasia is for JRPG super-fans only, and gamers that fit in that category will surely get enjoyment out of this title.

Cave Story
Released: March 22, 2010 (WiiWare)
Genre: Action-Adventure
Metascore: 89

I never got into Cave Story on PC despite it being 100% free, but the moment the highly upgraded version of the game released on WiiWare, I had to download it. Cave Story is often referred to as "the best Nintendo game Nintendo didn't develop." This 16-bit title plays very similarly to Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Players take control of a small robot boy in an alternate world of sorts, and they progress through the world in an open-ended nature. Cave Story is only four to five hours long, but there are three different endings players can receive and the WiiWare version has many new game modes not seen in any other version of Cave Story.

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
Released: March 16, 2010
Genre: RPG
Metascore: 67

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon is one of the most unique, but flawed, RPGs that I have ever played. Fragile Dreams follows the story of Seto, a young boy in a post-apocalyptic world, as he travels the desolate land with nothing but a flashlight and a few other items. The difference between Fragile Dreams and other post-apocalyptic RPGs, such as the Fallout series, is that it follows a theme of what it means to be alive. Fragile Dreams has one of the deepest and enriching stories in any video game (along with a fantastic soundtrack), it's a shame that the game is bogged down by annoying fetch-quests and a questionable combat system. For gamers that enjoy more substance in their gaming, they'll feel right at home with Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon.

Ivy the Kiwi?
Released: August 24, 2010
Genre: Platformer
Metascore: 74

Unfortunately, Ivy the Kiwi is a game that I haven't had the opportunity to play, due to the game's scarcity at retail vendors. In Ivy the Kiwi players take control of a newly born bird named Ivy and guide her through several platforming levels with the end point being her mother. Instead of taking direct control of Ivy, players draw lines with the Wii Remote as paths for her to follow. Ivy the Kiwi is only $19.99 on Amazon.com.

Sin and Punishment: Star Successor
Released: June 27, 2010
Genre: Rail Shooter
Metascore: 87

Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is the sequel to the Japanese-only N64 title, Sin and Punishment, which was later brought to the west through the Wii's Virtual Console service. Star Successor carries over many of the same elements that made its predecessor a cult classic; a story that doesn't make any sense (at all), a great soundtrack, and the most fast-paced intense action in a video game ever. What makes Star Successor even better, though, is the use of the Wii Remote's pointer for pin-point accuracy when shooting enemies. This also allowed developer Treasure to load the screen with hundreds of enemies at the same time without worry of the player being too frustrated with the difficulty level. For players that want an even more intense challenge they are able to use the Classic Controller and aim with the more primitive analog sticks.

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces
Released: January 12, 2010
Genre: Combat Flight Simulator
Metascore: 74

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces features a more unique control scheme than any flight simulator on the market. Innocent Aces uses both the Wii Remote and Nunchuck's motion sensors to control a place as players take to the skies in combat. The story is anime-styled and overall refreshing for a war themed game.

Honorable Mentions

Sonic Colors - This was Sega's big release of the winter season so it can't be considered a hidden gem. However, with the Sonic series in a decline for many years before this title it may get overlooked, even though it's a great game.

Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars - Fighting fans were very excited to finally get a port of Tatsunoko vs Capcom, and to be quite honest, nobody thought this game would be brought over to North America and Europe due to a plethora of licensing issues.

Red Steel 2 - Wii Motion Plus' first big release, and winner of our Best Controlling Game of 2010 Award, Red Steel 2 didn't sell as well as it should have.