Summary
NintendoWiititles are constantly ported and updated for theSwitchthanks to fan demand. The Wii’s great design and vast game library made gaming accessible to even unlikely demographics. Yet some of the critical hits that fans fondly remember remain trapped in its archives with no clear plans for renewal.
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Some titles are locked up due to studios focusing on other franchises. Others lost the rights to their games, while some are held up because of technical difficulties. A fair number simply aren’t on their developer’s radars or have spiritual successors taking their place. Without a port in sight, most titles live on through Youtube, unofficial channels, or third-party resellers.
10The Last Story
Directed byFinal Fantasycreator Hironobu Sakaguchi,The Last Storyearned praise for its successful blend of tactical action and stealth gameplay. Playerscommanded their AI teammateswhile they maneuver around the field and use melee, ranged, or magic attacks. They can also agro all enemies using Gathering to allow allies to carry out commands or unleash their special moves.
Its strong love story and political twists and turns use its tropes to the fullest. Within the structure, Zael, Calista, and the cast are fully fleshed out and feel like true companions. Technical limitations made its bustling settings feel like ghost towns, but a port to the Switch can make the world feel as lived in as it should be.
9Kirby’s Epic Yarn
TheKirbyseries continues its legacy on the Switch withKirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, an update of the Wii title. ButKirby’s Epic Yarnonly received a port to the 3DS and a spiritual successor in the form ofYoshi’s Wooly Worldfor the Wii U.
What madeKirby’s Epic Yarndeserving of its own sequel was its graphical style and control scheme. Kirby is already charming, but the fabric and hand-crafted look of the game dialed up its cuteness. Its knitted look is also integrated into the gameplay, as Kirby could unravel textiles, ball up yarn, and pull buttons and threads to interact with the world.
8Little King’s Story
Little King’s StoryandPikmincomparisonsare still madetoday because of their comparable gameplay. Players guide little Corobo after he finds a crown that permits him to control villagers, expand their village, and fulfill their wishes. The way villagers swarm objectives or enemies is reminiscent ofPikmin, butLittle King’s Storyis firmly its own game.
The RTS lets players take on different types of quests as they build Corobo’s kingdom. Time isn’t an issue, exploration is rewarded, and although some enemies are mere variations, they were charming and fun to defeat.
7Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Muramasa: The Demon Bladewas Vanillaware’shidden gem and the only gamefor the Wii. Also known asOboro Muramasa, the game was another classic side-scrolling action RPG that featured gorgeous hand-drawn environments and fast combos. Players can cycle between three weapons and use their blade’s Secret Art to see co-protagonists Momohime and Kisuke through their journey.
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Unfortunately, Vanillaware president George Kamitani admitted a Switch port is difficult due to unspecified issues. The company is also busy with ports of other projects, as well as an unannounced game. Atlus will publish the unnamed game that is reportedly at the end of its development cycle.
6Trauma Center
Although fondly remembered by fans,Trauma Center’spoor performance and declining sales axed the series. There’s never been another series that hasthe same blendof surgical simulation and dramatic visual novel.
Players made full use of the DS and Wii to make surgery exciting and action-packed. Motion controls on the Wii allow players to suture wounds, mend bones, and scalpel out tumors, among other standard medical procedures. Aside from the precise and often-gory gameplay, the over-the-top drama around bioterrorism kept players engaged.
5Red Steel
Ubisoft’s launch title for the Wii received a sequel in name, but not a successor for the Switch. Similar toTrauma Center,Red Steeluses Wii’s motion controlsto its fullest capacityfor its main gameplay.
Players can swing their controllers for melee or aim to use their guns. Accuracy and careful use of ammunition is encouraged along with slo-mo. In the sequel’s case, the Wii’s Motion Plus allowed for advanced melee combos that relied on the force and swiftness of the player’s motion.
4Rock Band
Rock Bandwas not a Wii exclusive. But Harmonix’s multi-instrument spiritual sequel to theGuitar Heroseries fit naturally into the Wii’s ecosystem. And with its competitors shying away from anything other than a VR peripheral, the Switch couldstand a revivalof the once-popular music game.
The franchise set the standard for band music games. It emulated the energy of playing in a rock band and covering major songs from every rock-related genre. Clones exist, but no true successor has come out to carry the same friendship-making, and breaking, energy asRock Band.
3Rhythm Heaven Fever
Rhythm Heaven Feveris yet another musical game that hasn’t seena proper sequelin a decade. Aside fromRhythm Heaven Megamixfor the 3DS, only references to its colorful characters made it to other games. Despite this, games likeRhythm DoctorandBits & Bopsare either inspired by or follow the same formula for euphoric rhythm mashing.
What made Nintendo’s rhythm game on the Wii iconic is its challenging, but fun beat-per-beat levels. Players were also able to play together to unlock more minigames and earn separate medals from the single-player mode. Lastly, its colorful cast of characters, cute and bizarre worlds, and superbly catchy songs sealed the game’s cult classic status.
2Pandora’s Tower
Back in 2011, fans united for a fan campaign called Operation Rainfall. The successful campaign showed Nintendo that games likeXenoblade Chronicles,The Last Story, andPandora’s Towerhadappeal outside of Japan.
Pandora’s Towerin particular persevered despite the Wii’s hardware limitations significantly affecting its graphical capabilities. Despite the hurdle, the game still earned acclaim for its story and multiple endings. Its action RPG elements, time counter, and gameplay integration of the main protagonist’s relationship with their love interest also had a unique appeal that other Rainfall games didn’t have.
1Itadaki Street/Fortune Street
Itadaki Streetwas the brainchild of Yuji Horii, theDragon Questcreator, and a game that originated as a minigame forDragonQuest 3. Its Wii edition,Fortune Streetin NA regions andBoom Streetin PAL regions was the first entry to be published outside of Japan.
The board game featured characters from Nintendofranchises such asMarioandDonkey Kong, as well asDragon Questcharacters and creatures. Other thanMonopoly-like mechanics, players can also buy and sell stocks of their controlled block. Players compete until they have the required amount of gold for the board’s win condition.
