http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/104/1048874p1.html

Matt Casamassina: This unique 3D platformer from Blue Tongue Software casts you as a big, jiggly blob who rolls and wobbles through a monochromatic world and splashes it with color. Simple premise, but the game is good fun thanks to tight controls and some clever level challenges that revolve around combining paint hues in order to skin structures in unique shades of the rainbow. de Blob is also a refreshing Wii anomaly because it is a third-party game with first-party production values. No only does the story come alive with crisp, beautiful cinematics, but the in-game world is incredibly polished, sporting a clean, detailed look, a bevy of graphic effects and a perfectly smooth framerate. The experience is complemented by a funky soundtrack whose tempo picks up and slows down depending upon how well you're playing. If you love platformers, don't miss this one.

Mark Bozon: The dementedly awesome mind of designer/director Suda 51 has brought us some truly original games, but none have seen as much consumer success – or fan following, you could argue – as No More Heroes. Set in the dilapidated futuristic city of Santa Destroy, No More Heroes is half cyber punk style, half classic western movie drenched in blood and adult humor. Playing as Travis Touchdown – a man that loves the ladies almost as much as he loves Mexican wrestling – you start on a quest to become the greatest assassin to ever live. Standing in your way is a leaderboard of higher ranked killers, so with beam sword – don't call it a lightsaber; Suda doesn't want to get sued – in hand you tear across the city, slice hundreds of thugs limb from limb, stop to take a couple minimum wage jobs along the way for some extra cash, and battle your way to the top.

Matt Casamassina: Bahhhhh! Yeah, the Rabbids return to rave again, but you won't find any mini-games in Go Home, developed by the Beyond Good & Evil team and led by Rayman creator Michel Ancel. The ambitious project, underway for three years, is a full-blown platformer and it's both incredibly fun and hilarious. The Rabbids drive a grocery cart through minimalistic city backdrops, from shopping malls to airports, in search of any stuff they can get their mitts on. They use clothes, trash and everything in between as they attempt to construct a giant junk pile to the moon. Don't ask. All you need to know is that this off-the-wall platformer is entertaining, beautiful and funny from beginning to end thanks to spot-on control, fantastic level designs and the trademark comedy of the characters.

Matt Casamassina: The true successor to the enormously successful Wii Sports, Resort travels you to a tropical island and challenges you to compete in a series of brand new activities enhanced by the power of Nintendo's new MotionPlus accessory. The game's simple, colorful graphics resemble those in its predecessor, but the controls are more accurate than ever before. Whether you're dueling, nailing targets in archery contests, flying an airplane over the island in an homage to Pilot Wings, playing golf or hurling frisbees across vast, colorful landscapes, you'll be having fun. Resort is not a revolution, but an evolution in the series thanks to its more precise controls that more closely mimic the long-promised one-to-one potential of Nintendo's unique controller.

Mark Bozon: As a prequel to EA's sci-fi horror classic on Xbox 360, PC, and PS3, Dead Space Extraction tells the story of the original outbreak of the mysterious virus before the events of the USG Ishimura. Put in control of a group of stranded colonists, Extraction has players making their way through over eight hours of intense light gun gaming that blends action with quick reaction puzzling, an impressive multitude of weapons, and some downright epic boss fights. The Dead Space feel is kept alive through gritty storytelling and plenty of technologically impressive gadgets, and the classic "strategic dismemberment." Throw in two player co-op through the entire story mode and you've got a great horror game that feels right at home on the Wii.

Mark Bozon: Hands-down one of the most beautiful 2D games ever crafted, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is simple enough gameplay-wise to be a coin-op arcade brawler, but so visually stunning that it begs you to continue playing for dozens upon dozens of hours. Created by Vanillaware, the team responsible for the RPG classic Odin Sphere and Grim Grimoire, Muramasa: The Demon Blade blends art and gaming together in a way most titles before it can't. When combat slows down, the visuals will compel you to press forward. When you're sick of looking at eye candy, there's bound to be another sword, boss, or spell around the corner It's one of the most simplistic games you'll find on our Top 25 list, but it's also a definite must-play, and a true classic on Wii.

Mark Bozon: You might be surprised to see Resident Evil 4 gracing our Top 25 countdown, but in reality there's no denying the greatness of Capcom's action thriller. Adding precise pointer control to an already robust package, Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition includes everything the original GameCube version had, all the added content from the PS2 update, and it's blended together with a control scheme that'll make any die-hard Wii player drool. Why Capcom hasn't continued the series with a Wii-exclusive RE4-inspired game (or direct sequel, for that matter) is beyond me. RE4 has sold wonderfully on Wii, and one trip into the classic opening village is enough to convince players that there's something special going on in RE4 Wii Edition. It's a must-play on any system, but if you're partial to Wii's pointer there's no way to go back once you've experienced the system's amazing precision

Mark Bozon: Out of all the games on this list Boom Blox is hands-down the number one title I recommend to new Wii owners. More than Mario, more than Metroid, and more than Smash Bros. Brawl - let's face it, they're going to buy those anyway, right? Boom Blox nails casual play on Nintendo's system in a way we haven't seen since Wii Sports. With such simple controls housed around an even simpler concept – throw balls at blocks, pass to a friend, and repeat – Boom Blox is ageless in its appeal, and I've yet to come across someone who has played the game and didn't walk away convinced. Bash Party brings the same great gameplay from the first game, and then throws in a slew of online connectivity, an improved creation tool, even more outrageous concepts, and the same universal appeal. I'll keep saying it until the game finally starts selling –Boom Blox is a must-own on Wii. Buy it

Craig Harris: Excitetruck was a launch game that hit the system quietly -- I mean, how do you compete with the likes of a free game like Wii Sports or a freakin' new Zelda adventure? But Excitetruck managed to show that arcade-style racers were alive and well, and that the Wii hardware had the right stuff to take things over-the-top in an incredibly fast-paced, energetic experience. But Excitebots took it to an even crazier level -- the developer fully embraced its anti-realism approach of Excitetruck and enhanced its already over-the-top experience with something nearly off the charts. The added online component and multiplayer modes took it all a step further and made this Excitetruck follow-up a must-have racer. This game deserves much more notoriety than what the sales charts are reflecting, so if you're one of the billions who've been avoiding this, make it all right again by snagging a copy.

Mark Bozon: Call me crazy, but Super Paper Mario feels like it came from a time before Nintendo realized that putting an armless stump on the screen with Grandma's face was enough to sell 10 billion units. As one of the truly innovative concepts geared towards the hardcore in the first couple years of Wii's life, Super Paper Mario is an often forgotten, far too overlooked RPG adventure. Blending a beautiful "proud to be retro" visual style with a new 3D screen-panning hook, Super Paper Mario is as much a platformer as it is a lite RPG, and the concept works wonderfully. It can be a little longwinded at times, but with a seamless blending of traditional controls and a few unique Wii-only concepts Super Paper Mario should really sit amongst the system's throwback greats. Everyone goes gaga for Mario titles, but pair New Super Mario Bros, Wario Land Shake It and Super Paper Mario together and you've got a veritable time warp of new retro goodness.

Matt Casamassina: The sequel to one of the first WiiWare games to prove the potential of the downloadable service, LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias is an even better game. You play as the boy Toku, aided by the powerful wind spirit Enril. Together, the two embark on a mission across a lush landscape to save Toku's sick mother. The $10 download utilizes the strengths of the Wii remote better than most full-fledged retail releases. You simply point at the screen to direct the motion and angle of the wind, which can be used to send Toku into the air and up platforms, to draw flames into icy barriers, to create destructive cyclones, to transport water, and much more. The controls are nothing short of triumphant and the levels are designed around all of Toku's powers. The end experience, while short -- it's over in less than four hours -- is a gameplay addiction. And the serene presentation is stunning.

Craig Harris: No one has managed to take the karting crown away from Nintendo in the decade and a half since the company pretty much created the genre with Super Mario Kart. When Nintendo builds a new Mario Kart game for its console it's usually something special, and Mario Kart Wii is no exception. The Wii design is tight and fast and retains pretty much everything that keeps Nintendo's franchise on top against all copycats. And Nintendo pleases everyone with a variety of control schemes, from the basic Wii remote tilting to the ability to hook up GameCube controllers. The Wii version also strengthens the online component that was introduced in the Nintendo DS version of the series, and even more than a year later you can still find pick-up games nearly immediately against players all over the world.

Craig Harris: One of my all-time favorite Nintendo Entertainment System games is Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! It's also one of my all-time favorite videogames, too, so it's about time Nintendo revived the franchise with a current generation update. The developer focused on recreating that same core arcade-style twitch gameplay in a Wii experience, and while you can certainly try to play the game with the motion-sensitive controls that mimic punches thrown, Punch-Out has always been about split-second timing and motion control just can't offer that same direct control that a simple button press can. And believe me, when you get to some of the later boxers in this game, you'll need all the help you can muster. What makes this game great isn't just the gameplay but the attention to detail in the visuals. The animation is spectacular and really adds to the fighters' personalities. I really hope Nintendo follows this one up with a sequel that introduces more unique characters to the mix -- I loved going through the classic roster, but I really want to fight some fresh new boxers

Mark Bozon: If you were with us from the start of Wii's lifecycle (and a little bit beyond) you'd remember our ongoing "Buy Zack & Wiki Campaign." Inspired by our love for a game we knew just wouldn't sell, we tried our damndest to get the game in people's hands, even going as far as to convince Capcom to give us a slew of copies for both die-hard Z-Dub converts, as well as players that just weren't convinced by the game's cute look. For those that took the plunge – or were lucky enough to score a free copy from us – Zack & Wiki became an instant classic that blended the unique power of the Wii remote's motion control and pointer with classic point-and-click adventures. Still to this day I'll bring a copy over to a new Wii owner's house and show them the pure awesome that comes with such a polished visual style, innovative control system, and enthralling library of puzzles. It's a shame this one never sold, as Wii MotionPlus teamed with Capcom's beautiful art style and undeniably addicting gameplay could have made for one hell of a sequel. Wait… what am I talking about? If you're reading this, chances are you never played it. Go out and buy Zack & Wiki!

Matt Casamassina: It took a few years, but EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 finally nailed it -- with the aid of MotionPlus, of course. This year's golf game boasts all of the features of previous iterations, including more golfers and courses, and expanded Tour, and a robust online mode compatible with up to four simultaneous players. But the Wii iteration additionally rocks some exclusive extras like a brand new Disc Golf mode -- pick up frisbee-like discs with the Wii remote, wind back, throw and watch them soar over all the courses in the game in what is a very welcomed and enjoyable inclusion. Of course, the biggest and best addition to the series is full compatibility with Nintendo's MotionPlus attachment for near perfect swing precision. At last Tiger's swings are measured accurately and naturally; pull back, swing forward while applying hook or slice, and off the balls go -- just as you intended them. It's a major step forward in control accuracy and makes all the difference in Woods. Once you try it, you won't want to go back to standard controllers.

Matt Casamassina: If you were raised on beat-'em-ups like Double Dragon and Final Fight and dream of a return to form, look no further than MadWorld from SEGA and acclaimed developer Platinum Games. Be warned: if you're squeamish, the game is not for you. Main character Jack pulls out spines, beheads enemies and yes, even impales them anus-first on rusty spikes. It gets pretty bad, people. MadWorld is one of the most violent games we've ever encountered. It's also ultra-stylized -- everything unfolds in black and white with the exception of the buckets of blood that can be found on-screen at any given moment. The presentation looks like something out of Sin City. Thankfully, though, MadWorld isn't just blood and guts. Beneath the rivers of gore lies a very competent 3D brawler complete with tight controls, clever motion mechanics, and amazing interactivity. The package is doused in a humorous story with crude announcers and a few twists on Jack's journey toward redemption.

Matt Casamassina: One of PlayStation 2's best games makes its way to Nintendo's console with new and improved Wii remote controls. You play as Amaterasu, the wolf goddess, charged with the task of saving the beautiful and vast land she inhabits from a deep evil that threatens to pollute its green forests and serene waters forever. The goddess is a force to be reckoned with, but she's aided by the power of the celestial brush -- draw symbols on-screen with the Wii remote to effect various defenses and attacks. Slice enemies in half or conjure bombs out of thin air with well-placed strokes. The Zelda-like adventure is every bit as epic as Nintendo's famous series. It earned Game of the Year nods when it came out for Sony's system in 2006 and holds up in its entirety years later on Wii.

Mark Bozon: I'd never in a million years be the one to do it, but you could make a case for Guitar Hero 5 to sit at the number one position on our Top 25 list. Ready to see me convince you? Ok…ready to see me make a few valid points, countered by the "Yeah, but Activision suxorz" argument? Start your engines.

Outside of being a downright amazing music game – easily the best in the series, and perhaps the last great Guitar Hero – GH5 incorporates technology that still isn't used by other Wii games to date; first party Nintendo or otherwise. Not only do players get a top notch music game, but also the inclusion of always online play, full downloadable content support, SD card streaming that essentially makes any SD card into a full-fledged hard drive, impressive online play, and every feature from the other versions (including GH Tunes, where you can create and upload your own music).

Add in Mii Freestyle – which I still stand by as being better than all of Wii Music – and the new Nintendo-only Roadie Battle mode where players can connect two DS units to the game and play an all-new co-op battle mode (easily the best mode in any Guitar Hero, period) with DS-to-Wii streaming and you've got not only a downright amazing showcase of technology Nintendo doesn't even use, but also an unrivaled music game that blows the socks off all the competition. This game is packed, and I personally don't see a single title in Wii's future (outside of a future Vicarious Visions-developed Guitar Hero) pushing as much tech, or cramming as much content into Nintendo's hardware and GH5. It's the best Guitar Hero on any console, and it runs circles around other Wii titles.

Craig Harris: It's hard to deny that the classic Mario design is timeless, and this update proves that the gameplay can still hold up to today's standards. While I may rag on the game for playing it safe in a presentation that barely goes above and beyond the call of duty, I truly believe that the core game itself is top notch and an absolute blast from start to finish. There have been a few modest upgrades to the classic Mario system including new powerups and new level elements that the NES and Super NES weren't able to offer back in the day, but for the most part this is true Mario gameplay. And like true Mario games this one puts up a pretty good fight for the solo players. The game's new addition, its multiplayer mechanic, is a fantastic and wonderfully balanced addition that lets casual observers become participants, tagging along with the more skilled players...for better or for worse. Luckily when things get a little rough for the newbies they can opt out of the platforming for a temporary break...another great addition that'll prevent fights between siblings.

So what do you think about IGN's Top 25 Wii Games list? Do our picks match yours? Sound off in the comments section with your thoughts on which Wii games deserve to be recognized. And stay tuned throughout the week as we unveil games #5-1.

Iga_Bobovic said:

People stop posting IGN lists, they always suck no exception!

Better than our list...

Ravenprose said:

It's really sad when they list a last-gen game (RE4) in a Wii Top 25 game list. *shakes head* I don't know what's more messed up, IGN's list or Wii's lack-luster library of games?

I would too, RE4 Wii is that good.

Ravenprose said:

It's really sad when they list last-gen games (RE4/Okami) in a Wii Top 25 game list. *shakes head* I don't know what's more messed up, IGN's list or Wii's lack-luster library of games?

If your suggestion that a top games list including the best version of one of the best games ever made somehow makes the Wii look bad, it's no wonder you're stuck in the 70s.

ASK_Story said:

IGN's list does suck.

Obviously, SMG will be #1. If they give it something else than "IGNorant!"

Endless Ocean will be number 1.

Godamnit.

phantom_leo said:

Puh-lease! After the night/morning (Thanks, Vader!)I had yesterday and today, I couldn't fap if...

WAITAMINUTE! ! !! ! ! ! !  !  !!

EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yodariquo said:

Ravenprose said:

It's really sad when they list last-gen games (RE4/Okami) in a Wii Top 25 game list. *shakes head* I don't know what's more messed up, IGN's list or Wii's lack-luster library of games?

If your suggestion that a top games list including the best version of one of the best games ever made somehow makes the Wii look bad, it's no wonder you're stuck in the 70s.

I am suggesting that the Wii looks bad because it has to include ports of last-gen titles. I played RE4 nearly two years before the Wii even launched!