Girl Gamer Chronicles 02.11.09: How to Cure a Dusty Wii

Posted by Natalie Shoemaker on 02.11.2009

This week Natalie Shoemaker talks about games to remedy a Wii collecting dust and what a bad economy and disappearing print means for gaming culture.



About Me

Hi, my name is Natalie and I'm new to the column section of 411mania—not to say I'm completely unfamiliar with 411. I've been a reviewer here for a while, but I've wanted to try my hand at the columns to see how I fair.

When I'm not writing for 411 I help to produce a TV show for Ithaca College called Game Over, a video game review and everything geek show. In my spare time I enjoy playing Call of Duty 4 on Xbox Live and playing Risk 2210. My favorite game of all time is Donkey Kong Country.

About the Column

Each week I will start off the column with little snippets of interesting things that are going on in my life from stories about the game store I work at to my journey at trying to wiggle my way into the video game industry. I will also do a "Girl Gamer Recommends…" section that will talk about games that may have been overlooked or underrated and discuss what makes them unique or worthwhile. In the column I will lastly talk about something that is changing the gaming community for better or worse. This will include small news bits to big changes in business.

The Game Called Life

This weekend saw Taken with Liam Neeson—nothing beats an over-the-hill guy showing the world he can still dish it out. I felt every punch he gave and the body count—my god the body count. Neeson shoots a guy's wife without flinching, he hides under a corpse, and when he strikes it is hard and fast. I'm tempted to say Chuck Norris may have some competition.

Also I've been listening to "The Dragster Wave" by Ghinzu, the end song from Taken, all weekend.

Fun aside I've been working on my resumes to apply for summer internships. Thus far it feels like the college process all over again—only no SATS. My top choices are Game Informer and 1up.com. Then there are a few studios, like Capcom and Midway that I'm looking to try and get into. Here's to free labor in a bad economy.

Gaming wise there hasn't been too much other than a rekindled desire to play Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, my job at the video game store, and my Wii being used as a bookend.




Girl Gamer Recommends

This week on Girl Gamer Recommends I'm looking at three Wii games you should play before you decide to trade in your system… or at least something that will help you hold out until Mad World. Of late there has been an increasing amount of Wii systems traded in with games like The Price is Right, Game Party, and Ghost Squad. I can only wonder if these systems were ever given a chance to show what they've really got rather than wasting away on one hit party games.

I'm here to uncover the games that will make that white box shine before it grows dull again from dust.

1. Boom Blox- This game was not widely advertised when it came out in May 2008 even though its making was aided by director Steven Spielberg. This action puzzler allows players to destroy disassemble or completely destroy a series of Jenga-like block displays. The game prompts you with the objective to strategically destroy all the objects by throwing a baseball the least amount of times.

Why this game is worth your time: The number one reason is the physics engine—it's one of the best I've seen in a Wii title. The Jenga-like blocks and the baseball react very realistically to the amount of energy and force put into the throws. The way the blocks fall are flawless and seem to be unquestionable.

This game also makes you think like most straight puzzlers don't allow you to—there is a 3rd- dimension involved. The game makes you look at all angles to find the best solution to destroy each problem.

The last reason it has cute block-like animals dancing in the background… you can also throw stuff at them to make the cute go away.



2. Okami- This port from the PlayStation 2 may add a different experience on the Wii utilizing the motion controls. You play as Amaterasu, a white wolf who protects the world from the demons that lurk the earth.

Why this game is worth your time: If not for the graphics making love to your eyes and utilizing the Wii's controls in a sensible fashion I don't know what else there is to say. The cell shading and design makes the environment look like a watercolor painting. What also makes this game perfect for the Wii is the paintbrush tool. In battles and to achieve puzzles you will have to draw with the ink brush to create anything from trees to cherry bombs. This control is better than fuddling around with the two analog sticks.

On the new Wii version the colors are also more vibrant than on the PS2—it looks more washed out.

PS2 Version

Wii Version


3. de Blob- Began from humble origins as a PC tech demo in the Netherlands and moved up at an exclusive Wii title. The game was advertised on GameStop walls, but not widely received by audiences. The game's premise is the chromatic citizens of Radia come under attack by the "Inked"; a group of monochromatic soldiers lead by Comrade Black. The political undertones aside de Blob, a creature spackled with all the colors of the rainbow, comes to the chromatic citizens aid.

Why is this game worth your time: Its sheer uniqueness—it's one of the freshest IPs I've seen for the Wii in a while. De Blob's objectives to colorfully vandalize the town and drive off the monochromatic soldiers makes for a wonderful display of the Wii's graphics.

The gameplay does get a little repetitive with the level design, but de Blob mixes it up by beating down various baddies standing in your way.

If you want to add some diversity to your shelf this game is a must play before you give up all hope on your Wii.




When customers come into the game store I work at and stare at the white wall of Wii games they ask me, "What is there to get?" And I usually tell them about these three titles. They look at me like they've never been allowed to have a good game for the Wii, since its release. This year is looking like a new hope for the white brick.


News and Views

Recently Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) printed their last issue. I don't know about everyone else, but I have been mourning the ever-disappearing print articles. I understand that the Internet has made everything more accessible to—well—everyone (for free on that note), but there are a few conveniences that I will miss.

Remember sitting by the fire or at your kitchen table with your gaming magazine that you just got in the mail? Or going to school and checking out all the guns in Gears of War and showing it to your friends. We are now replacing these moments with huddling around a glowing screen—it doesn't sound as nostalgic.



It's safe to say that not all print magazines will be out of work. Game Informer will be around as long as it has GameStop as its partner. Every time a customer wants to save money on used games or earn more through trade-ins they have to buy the subscription in order to get the ‘Edge' Card. Smart business plan. This way Game Informer maintains a strong customer base and GameStop has a hand in Game Informers ads.


Until next.

Cheers,
Nat