Something for the Wii-kend?

Friday December 8, 06:11 PM Something for the Wii-kend?

In case you hadn’t noticed everywhere you look, the new Wii console has landed in the UK. Our top pick for that, plus the best on other consoles, right this way…

Just about everyone with a trace of gaming in their genes is hunting down Wii’s this weekend. Good luck, you’re going to need it. You’re also going to need time ploughing the internet for magical deals that may just pop up, so let’s not waste any more of that precious commodity.

If you do manage to get your mitts on Wii, and very well done too, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the ideal compliment to Wii Sports’ physical trials. Visually it’s identical to the GameCube version out next week (a shocking truth), but trust us the Wii control really makes the game special. If you’d rather continue throwing yourself around the room in the name of fun, Rayman Raving Rabbids pips Wii Play to the post for its humorous mini-games. Although bear in mind that Wii Play is basically an excellent and very cheap game bundled with an extra ‘wii-mote’ – something you desperately need.

We’re also pegging Rayman Raving Rabbids as the PS2 champ this week. Part of the game’s appeal is its sense of humour, so although you don’t get the same physical workout of the Wii edition, teaching the daft bunnies a lesson is still hilarious. Your only other choice this week really is King Of Fighters XI – it’s quality, but a very specialist and dated 2D fighting game.

Only one big release on Xbox 360 this week, so it gets mentioned by default: Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2. We get the impression that even Microsoft is at a loss what to say about this one, judging from their minimalist press releases. DOAX2 is girls in bikinis, flaunting ridiculous bouncy chests, engaging in ‘sports’ on the beach. The first DOA Xtreme game for Xbox was just about plausible, but you’ll need to be a rare sort to find DOAX2 appealing. Recommended if you’re inclined to spend £40 for curiosity value alone.

There can be only one game for PC gamers, and that’s Star Wars: The Best of PC. Nothing more than a boxed set of past Star Wars classics, but £40 for Star Wars: Empire at War, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, and Star Wars Republic Commando is a steal. You get 14-days’ worth of Star Wars Galaxies for free too, if you’re game for some MMORPG adventures.

If it weren’t for Wii, our game of the week would be Cooking Mama for Nintendo DS. Publishers 505 GameStreet has released this cute culinary simulation for under £20. If you see it, grab it quick because we doubt there will be many around, and not for very long either. Cooking Mama uses the DS to the best of its capabilities, and is genuinely delightful. Not quite the game to buy the guy who just completed Gears of War on ‘Insane’, of course. Although…

Copyright © 2006 Unlikely Hero Limited