Wednesday, October 10, 2007

What will Wii get next year?



Many people are concerned that Nintendo is releasing too many of their big guns all at once. By the end of this year, we'll have Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Smash Bros., Pokemon and Battalion Wars on the Wii. What does that leave for 2008? What could Nintendo possibly whip up to fill an entire year? Besides the already announced Mario Kart and Wii Fit, what will Wii get next year? (All games listed below are guesses and are in no way confirmed)

Animal Crossing

We all know it's coming, and we've known this for over a year now. It only makes sense that Animal Crossing Wii will hit next year. First hinted at back in E3 2006, Animal Crossing Wii has been constantly popping up in interviews and such ever since. Nintendo even confirmed that the game was indeed in production earlier this year. If I had to guess, I'd peg Animal Crossing Wii as a third- or fourth-quarter 2008 release, at the latest early 2009.

Pikmin

As of yet, Nintendo has not spoken a single word of Pikmin 3. For all we know, it may not exist at all. The one thing that keeps me hoping for a Pikmin 3 is the fact that the man himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, called the Wii control scheme a perfect fit to the Pikmin gameplay. I really can't place any concrete guesses here in regards to a release date, but I'll bet on it hitting in the second half of 2008.

Kid Icarus

The existence of this game is even more doubted than Pikmin 3. There hasn't even been the slightest hint of this game ever being pitched. But still, would Nintendo bring back Pit in the world of Smash Bros. without some sort of plan for the future? Why bring back a long loved and dearly missed character in a spin-off title, and not in his own true sequel? I can say with very little doubt that there is a Kid Icarus game being worked on right this minute in some shape or form, and we just don't know about it yet. Again, since there's so little information regarding this title, I can only place it happening sometime next year, likely in the latter half.

Star Fox

There's been a Star Fox game on nearly every Nintendo system released since the days of the Super Nintendo, and I suspect the Wii shall too get some Arwing-flavoured action soon enough. As I've said before, Star Fox would be a great fit for the Wii. I'm nearly positive that it is in production right now. I'm pegging this one for a second- or third-quarter 2008 release.

And that's all I can think up, but I'm sure Nintendo has plenty more tricks up their sleeves. We'll just have to sit back and enjoy the show until then!

PS: Houston, we have a Dr. Mario! Dr. Mario has been announced for WiiWare! Excuse me while I party.

The Duck Has Spoken.

2 comments:

WJUK said...

Hm... I'm thinking Nintendo have some more tricks up their sleeves. And besides there will be third-party games too.

Anonymous said...

Hm.. I doubt Kid Icarus. They had a thing on at least the japanese website asking what characters you would like to see most in the next smash bros, and Pit could have very easily just been a very popular since the game is so loved.