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I am a long term "sit around the kitchen table" gamer, and have resisted console gaming in my house for about the last 15 years.

Old and grumpy.. terminally unhip.

However, I have gotten my family a Wii for Xmas after playing it at a friends house and having the multi-player possibilities pointed out.

I should mention that my wife is a non-gamer, and I have 2 girls, one 9 and the other 18.

After doing some serious research online and with friends and co-workers, I made a list of games for OUR family to try.

In addition to Sports Resort (which rocks all kinda neatness).. I have picked up and am looking forward to playing..

Rayman's Raving Rabbids
Boom Blox Bash Party
Mario Kart
Lego Star Wars Complete Saga

all of which are multi-player platforms.. I think. Since I have kept it quiet from the kids, we haven't had much opportunity to investigate these yet..

Also on the list of stuff to get down the road..

de Blob
Ghostbusters
Thrillville:Off the Rails
Mario Party 8

and maybe
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Epic Mickey

and for my own gaming.. Sam & Max..

Any comments on these choices for FAMILY time play?

New Super Mario Bro. Wii is great for family gaming.

Me, the wife and kids play it all the time.

Happy to oblige my good man.

First things first: Get Wii Sports resort as well. And a second Wii Motion Plus while you're at it. It is SO much better than the original Wii Sports.
Now, let's have a look at those games you want. ^^

Rayman's Raving Rabbids - If you're "new" to Wii gaming/casual games this is quite alright. Though there are a lot of Rabbids games out there. I haven't played World Tour yet, but I prefer the first one over TV party.

Boom Blox Bash Party - the first Boom Blox is really fun. I haven't played the second yet, but from what I've heard it's even better.

Mario Kart - This one's really a no-brainer, but you might want to invest in classic or Gamecube Controllers. The Wii wheel isn't that great.

Lego Star Wars Complete Saga - I've played it, but I was unimpressed. I loved Lego Star Wars the first time I played it, but when I got around to play the Wii version I was utterly bored.

Haven't played de Blob, seems alright though. Same for Ghostbusters. And I'm pretty sure Thrillville is really (2x) bad. Mario Party 8 is pretty boring. I played the old games, but the last game is just dull and weird.

Donkey Kong Country Returns is effin' fantastic, but it's also hard as hell. In a good way. If you want something for family Multiplayer go with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Not as good as DKCR, but better if you have more people to play with.

Epic Mickey was kinda dissapointing. Your 8-year old might have some fun with it. But it pales in comparison to the 2 Mario Galaxy-games.

If Tales of Monkey Island is any indication, I'd stay away from the Wii version of Sam & Max. It probably is quite slow and buggy. Get it for the PC. A good Adventure game where your daughter might have fun with is Zak and Wiki, a Cartoon Fantasy Pirate game.

Let me thing a minute about recomendations...

...

As I said, Mario Galaxy is really great AND can be very forgiving and really hard. If you only get one, buy 2, it's overall better and more creative.

If you have people to play with Wii Fit Plus can be a blast. Not for the sports and yoga stuff, but the minigames on the balance board.

And, last but not least, get Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's the greatest thing ever!

KingCracker wrote:
Not to derail my own thread but uh, how does the Kinect work out anyways? Does it get confused when multiple people pay it?

To be honest that was my biggest surprise, I expected it to be really gimmicky and not that good, but its actually quite scary how well it reads everything. The only real downside is space, you need to be in a two by one metre kinda area eight feet from the TV for two players to work well, and not everyone has that kind room.

But yeah, like I said I had no intention on getting one intially, but I've been very plesently surprised.


On a side note Epic Mickey does look really good, and I'm tempted to get it, even though my Wii future is in doubt.

Anung Un Rama wrote:Happy to oblige my good man.

First things first: Get Wii Sports resort as well. And a second Wii Motion Plus while you're at it. It is SO much better than the original Wii Sports.
Now, let's have a look at those games you want. ^^

Haven't played de Blob, seems alright though. Same for Ghostbusters. And I'm pretty sure Thrillville is really (2x) bad. Mario Party 8 is pretty boring. I played the old games, but the last game is just dull and weird.

Donkey Kong Country Returns is effin' fantastic, but it's also hard as hell. In a good way. If you want something for family Multiplayer go with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Not as good as DKCR, but better if you have more people to play with.

Epic Mickey was kinda dissapointing. Your 8-year old might have some fun with it. But it pales in comparison to the 2 Mario Galaxy-games.

If Tales of Monkey Island is any indication, I'd stay away from the Wii version of Sam & Max. It probably is quite slow and buggy. Get it for the PC. A good Adventure game where your daughter might have fun with is Zak and Wiki, a Cartoon Fantasy Pirate game.

Let me thing a minute about recomendations...

...

As I said, Mario Galaxy is really great AND can be very forgiving and really hard. If you only get one, buy 2, it's overall better and more creative.

If you have people to play with Wii Fit Plus can be a blast. Not for the sports and yoga stuff, but the minigames on the balance board.

And, last but not least, get Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's the greatest thing ever!

I should have mentioned.. the Wii system I got came with Wii Fit Plus, Sports, and Sports Resort.. so those are a lock.

I am interested in the Thrillville roller coaster game as the 9 year old daughter spent a week last summer at "Physics of Rollercoasters" camp.. and came home with such a jones for roller coasters that next year we will be hitting several .. so I thought that would be right up her alley. It is also decently reviewed online.

I am coming around to thinking that Epic Mickey is not the shizzit that initially it implied.. the reviews online are all "meh"

I need to look into Super Smash Bros.. and probably the Mario Galaxy.

Sam & Max is a personal grail though.. I have the comics, and played the Hit the Road PC game in the 80's.... so I was really excited about hearing that it exists.. plus the reviews from friends say it rocks... for what it is. Am not expecting it to be "th33 besat game EBAR!" but it speaks to a sadistic sense of humor I have..

Oh, Sam and Max is really good. I'm just not sure the Wii version does the game justice. From what I've seen and read so far, Telltale's console parts are sub par.

And it seems I've mistaken Thrillville for something else. I thought it would be one of those Carneval mini game collections.

If you got Resort and Fit Plus you're good to go. Check out some reviews for Wii Party while you're at it. Might be something for you too.

And if you're looking for a bit more action-oriented single-player game, Red Steel 2 is awesome!

I agree with Anung Un Rama, Zack and Wiki : The quest for Barbarossa's treasure, is a good way to go, it's a very fun, but also quite cute, point and click adventure.

Anung Un Rama wrote:Happy to oblige my good man.

First things first: Get Wii Sports resort as well. And a second Wii Motion Plus while you're at it. It is SO much better than the original Wii Sports.
Now, let's have a look at those games you want. ^^

Rayman's Raving Rabbids - If you're "new" to Wii gaming/casual games this is quite alright. Though there are a lot of Rabbids games out there. I haven't played World Tour yet, but I prefer the first one over TV party.

Boom Blox Bash Party - the first Boom Blox is really fun. I haven't played the second yet, but from what I've heard it's even better.

Mario Kart - This one's really a no-brainer, but you might want to invest in classic or Gamecube Controllers. The Wii wheel isn't that great.

Lego Star Wars Complete Saga - I've played it, but I was unimpressed. I loved Lego Star Wars the first time I played it, but when I got around to play the Wii version I was utterly bored.

Haven't played de Blob, seems alright though. Same for Ghostbusters. And I'm pretty sure Thrillville is really (2x) bad. Mario Party 8 is pretty boring. I played the old games, but the last game is just dull and weird.

Donkey Kong Country Returns is effin' fantastic, but it's also hard as hell. In a good way. If you want something for family Multiplayer go with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Not as good as DKCR, but better if you have more people to play with.

Epic Mickey was kinda dissapointing. Your 8-year old might have some fun with it. But it pales in comparison to the 2 Mario Galaxy-games.

If Tales of Monkey Island is any indication, I'd stay away from the Wii version of Sam & Max. It probably is quite slow and buggy. Get it for the PC. A good Adventure game where your daughter might have fun with is Zak and Wiki, a Cartoon Fantasy Pirate game.

Let me thing a minute about recomendations...

...

As I said, Mario Galaxy is really great AND can be very forgiving and really hard. If you only get one, buy 2, it's overall better and more creative.

If you have people to play with Wii Fit Plus can be a blast. Not for the sports and yoga stuff, but the minigames on the balance board.

And, last but not least, get Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's the greatest thing ever!

I'd add in Kirby's Epic Yarn. I really like the art style in the game too.

How is Resident Evil 4 on the Wii? I used to have access to a copy for the PS2 but I am without both now and was thinking of getting it for the Wii.

Mike Noble wrote:I'd add in Kirby's Epic Yarn. I really like the art style in the game too.

Sadly, it's not out in Europe yet.

OK.. I can now add a bit of info to my earlier post.

Xmas was a hit, the kids loved the Wii and games.

Guitar Hero 3 was praised by my ADD afflicted teenager, and after 5 days, she is bored with it, on easy mode. Does not wish to try on medium and hard, and wants/craves new games.

Boom Blox Bash Party was such a hit with both the 9 year old and wife, that we are playing it nightly .. and afternoonly.. and occasionally every morning. It is just that good for us.

de Blob is a different kind of game.. I seem to be the one playing this the most, and it is more of a contemplative peaceful game, unlike the raucus Boom Blox.

Sports Resort and the Wii Fit Board are also in almost daily use.. teenager goes "skateboarding" and the young'un bowls/shoots arrows/and Ski Jumps.

The executive decision made jointly by myself and spouse has left Rayman's Raving Rabbids, Mario Kart, Lego Star Wars Complete Saga, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, Thrillvilleff the rails, and Deadly Creatures as "in storage" for when Boom Blox is solved, and the teenager starts crying.

The hardest part is getting the 4 of us to agree on what is being played on the television, and is House more important than say, another round of archery..

djphranq wrote:How is Resident Evil 4 on the Wii? I used to have access to a copy for the PS2 but I am without both now and was thinking of getting it for the Wii.

The Wii version is the best version for RE4. Pointer controls are great and it has all the extra stuff from the PS2 version missing from the Gamecube.