2007 was a really strange year. It was an excellent year for gaming overall. There were a lot of shocks, a lot of highs, and a lot of lows too. The Wii had it’s fair share of the latter. But still, we got Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and Resident Evil 4, among many more. But with another year over and done with, we can only look forward to the future. Our wallets may be empty from the last couple of months, but like a farmer after the harvest, we are ready to rebuild. The following games on this issue of the N10 are the games coming in 2008 that have turned our heads, widened our eyes, and have slapped a stupid grin on our faces. These are our most anticipated titles for 2008.

10. Okami

Sure, it’s a port. It’s a couple years old. But damnit, we just can’t help but be excited about this one! Fans of the PS2 version have been begging Capcom for a version on the Wii. Well, it seems they listened! Putting you in the role of an ancient spirit sent to save the world, Okami lets you use your Celestial Brush to attack enemies, cast spells, and literally draw in bridges etc. to help you progress. On the PS2, this was handled with the right analog stick. This time, however, you can use your Wii remote’s IR. It’s a perfect fit, and we can’t wait to see the results. The original was a critically acclaimed title for its excellent storytelling, very Zelda-like gameplay, and absolutely gorgeous visual style, looking like a very water-like form of Japanese calligraphy. While fans of the original may not want to go through the game all over again, plenty more gamers are going to be ecstatic that they are now given the chance to finally try out this excellent title.

Expected release: Q3 2008

 

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9. Wii Fit

Wii Fit is an exciting game. Not only for the peripheral – the Balance Board – but for the concept itself. But the Balance Board alone is very exciting. The excellent technology in the tool is so accurate that it responds and picks up on almost everything you do with your body. It opens up a huge list of possibilities in gaming. How many people saw it and thought “Dude, 1080 Snowboarding!” Who thought “Tony Hawk!” Who thought of a new dance game? What if you were playing an FPS and the Balance Board allowed you to lean around corners? Even Square-Enix has expressed interest in the peripheral for RPG’s. The possibilities are limitless.

Nintendo said that they want the Wii to be used for a wide range of uses. Already, the DS has dozens upon dozens of self-improvement titles such as Brain Age or Flash Focus. Wii Fit just continues that tradition. Not only will it help get you more active and physically fit, but other applications of the title mean to improve your coordination, your balance, and more. This is a game that will definitely get you on your feet… I mean how else are you supposed to play?

Expected release: TBA 2008

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8. Samba de Amigo

Samba De Amigo was one of those addictively-fun games that you just look back fondly to. Originally on the Dreamcast (sigh), the series is being brought back to the Wii. While we haven’t seen anything on the Wii version just yet, we just can’t help but imagine what it will be like. Shaking the controllers around like maracas, dancing to really catchy Latin music – this game is going to rock! Or… shake… I guess?

Expected release: Q2 2008

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7. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Who didn’t think ‘lightsaber’ when we first saw the Wii remote? While we got Lego Star Wars, The Force Unleashed promises to be the Star Wars game that Wii-owners have been waiting for. And boy, have we been waiting! With an excellent premise, putting you in the role of Darth Vader’s apprentice, this game sounds like it will not only astound from a gameplay standpoint, but it will tell a cool story on the way, too. We haven’t seen anything from the Wii version, but we can’t help but be thrilled by the idea. With luck, the Force will be strong with this one!

Expected release: Q2 2008

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6. Ghostbusters

We’re sure some people right now are thinking “What?” But it’s true. Written by the original creators (Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd), and voiced by the entire original cast, as far as the story and humour goes, we have high expectations. The original film in 1984 was one of those comedy classics that you just fall in love with. But what about the gameplay? With an over-the-shoulder perspective like Gears of War, about a dozen levels, and a Wii-exclusive focus on multiplayer (featuring 4-player co-op or competitive modes), this is your chance for you and buds to finally become the boys-in-gray that you always wanted to be when you were kids. We aren’t totally sure about our expectations. Even with the exciting script, this game could very well end being a failure. But from what hands-on impressions we’ve seen, for the multiplayer alone, this sounds like one of this year’s best multiplayer experiences on any platform!

Expected release: October 2008

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5. Wii Ware

Okay, this isn’t a specific game. But it’s on the Wii, and we’re excited. From the beginning, Nintendo talked about the ability to download original titles for the system, similar to the Virtual Console service. Well, after a long wait, it’s finally happening! Everything from puzzle games like Dr. Mario, action games like Star Soldier R, or adventures like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land can be downloaded via this service. The latter of which is incredibly impressive for a downloadable title on the Wii. As the room for creativity continues to expand, we can’t wait to see what else developers come up with for the service.

Expected release: TBA 2008 (March in Japan)

 

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4. Tales of Symphonia: Knights of Ratatosk (tentative title)

RPG fans rejoice! Tales of Symphonia was undoubtedly one of the Gamecube’s greatest RPG’s. That doesn’t sound too impressive considering how few there actually were, but trust us, this was an RPG to remember on any platform. Now with this direct sequel, the game features visuals that really look like they’re created using the Wii’s technology. With an improved combat engine and a new story, this could be a real hit for next year. While we can only assume this is coming to the Americas, this is definitely one to be excited for!

Expected release: TBA 2008

 

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3. Mario Kart Wii (tentative title)

Okay, Double-Dash! kinda sucked in comparison to most other Mario Kart titles. But when Mario Kart DS came out, our love and hope for the franchise was revitalized. Featuring more racers, more tracks, and our favorite feature, online-play, this could be one awesome entry in the franchise, if not the best!

Expected release: Q2 2008

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2. No More Heroes

Well this game is certainly coming up quick! Created by Killer 7 mastermind, Suda 51, No More Heroes lets you play as Travis Touchdown, an action-movie loving, videogame-obsessed, wrestling fan. After winning a lightsa… I mean… a ‘beam katana’ in an eBay auction, Travis suddenly thinks of what he could do with his new toy. Save the world? Nah. Become a carpenter? Nope. Run around killing a bunch of dudes as he tries to become the #1 assassin? Definitely! With very Tarantino-style action, you ride around the city taking out assassins, finding t-shirts in dumpsters, and doing mindless-remedial tasks like bring guys coconuts… we’re not kidding. This may not be the best game ever, but its sheer sense of lunacy, comedy, and action are enough to make us incredibly excited for it! This is a message to the hardcore gamers – this game is for you!

Release date: January 22, 2008

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1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Okay, who seriously didn’t expect this to be up here? This is the game that everyone who has a Wii is waiting for. This is the game people ask about when they talk about core games on the system. This is the game that will absolutely own our lives. Brawl is shaping up to be an absolutely insane game. It’s doing almost every possible thing that it could. Featuring a side-scrolling action/co-op mode, downloadable levels, a level creator, more characters, and online-play, this will be the most jam-packed title to come out this year! This game is doing so much! We’re all excited for the ability to create our own levels, and download those that others have made. We’re pumped to take some cool-looking screens and just post them all over the place. We’re grinning with glee for the ability to play as Sonic or Solid Snake. And we are shaking with anticipation for the ability to play online with our friends. We cannot put into words how much we love this game, and it’s not even out yet! It looks great, it sounds great, and it (apparently) plays great. This is the game to own in 2008. We’ll see you online this February!

Release date: February 10, 2008

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Editor’s Note:

Runner-up: De Blob

This game came so close to being on our Top Ten, but it just fell short of making it. Nevertheless, we need to mention it as our runner-up. De Blob immediately screams creativity. The basic idea is that you are meant to paint an entire monochrome city where colour is pretty much outlawed. Too bad, so sad! You’re a colourful little ball, and as you roll around the city, the city itself becomes your brightly coloured palette. It’s cool, it’s creative, and it just looks like a lot of fun! Starting from a very indie project, THQ picked this baby up and our heads are turned in its direction. It’s an exciting idea, and it’s a third-party effort that needs to be recognized. De Blob is an almost-perfect example of what kind of projects are possible on the Wii. It’s not just core games, but games that catch our eye, and are just so unique and intriguing that we don’t want to look away. Be sure to check this baby within the next couple of months!

Expected release: Q1 2008

 

Agree with this list? Think something else deserved to make it on here? Don’t be afraid to head over to our forums and tell us what your most-anticipated games for this year are! We look forward to hearing what you think!