Best Wii games of 2012

The year 2012 marked the end of the standard definition era for Nintendo, with the release of their brand new console, the Wii U. The Wii had a solid run for six years and even though many core gamers feel that Nintendo caters more to the casual, there is no denying with games like Skyward Sword, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo knew how to satisfy their faithfuls.

While it's true that not that many great games came out for the Wii this year, there are a number of standouts that should be a part of your Wii collection, even if you just bought a Wii U. So let's take a look at the best Wii games of 2012.

Rhythm Heaven Fever

Rhythm Heaven started out on the GBA in Japan, and eventually made its way to the DS here in America. The games consist of a zany collection of catchy tunes which usually require nothing more than a button press to play. Rhythm Heaven Fever continued this trend of simplistic gameplay and a ton of awesome songs that will be stuck in your head hours after you stopped playing.

It's important to note that the game won't appeal to everyone. This isn't a game Rock Band or Guitar Hero players will be dying to play. Rhythm Heaven Fever is also the most colorful and vibrant of the bunch, which means based on the player, it will either be a complete treat for your eyes, or an absolute nightmare.

Rhythm Heaven Fever is easy to recommend thanks to its simplistic nature and incredibly catchy soundtrack. Its quirkyness will probably appeal more to gamers with an affinity for everything Japanese, but to pass this great game up would be a crime…of rhythm! You can check out our review here.

Pikmin 2

Pikmin 2 saw the light of day for the first time in 2004 on the GameCube. It was a phenomenal follow up to the first game which actually fixed a lot of the issues that fans seemed to have. One of the biggest was the complete removal of a 30 day system, and instead allowing gamers to play the game at their own pace.

This year we got Pikmin 2 for the Wii with the added motion control support, which made controlling our favorite, multi-colored critters much easier. Three new Pikmin types could be found in the game. Purple Pikmin were much stronger than others, while White Pikmin were faster, but much weaker. There were also Bulbmin, which joined your group when their leader was defeated, and were immune to any and all status effects, but were the weakest.

There is a chance you might have already played Pikmin 2 back in the day, but why not revisit this great game and get yourself prepped for the gorgeous looking Pikmin 3, slated to come out next year.

Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition

So this might be the odd one of the group, since it contains six classic Kirby games. Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Adventure, Kirby's Dream Land 2, Kirby Super Star, Kirby's Dream Land 3, and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards are all absolutely stellar Kirby titles that have to be played. You heard me right, it's not a suggestion, it's an order.

The Kirby games were awesome for many reasons. For one, they were amazing platformers. The level designs were absolutely fantastic, whether you're playing the GameBoy games or the amazing N64 game. The power stealing mechanic, which was something gamers got used to in Mega Man games was even better in Kirby, since you could freely consume any enemy and absorb their power.

Aside from Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Return to Dreamland, these are the best Kirby games you could possibly ask for in one convenient collection. Seriously, don't pass this up. You can check out our review here.

The Last Story

Operation Rainfall was quite a phenomenon that had fans petition Nintendo to release three RPG's for the Wii in the US. It eventually worked and thus we were finally treated to the awesome game that was, The Last Story. Developed by the father of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, it spun an epic tale of saving the world, putting you in control of a likeable protagonist who leads a ragtag bunch of mercenaries.

The Last Story was also one of the more gorgeous games on the Wii, and feature some stellar voice acting, even though we got the European voice overs, instead of actual US ones.

The combat system was also quite unique in that it had a cover system, something new for RPGs, and allowed for the player to issue specific commands to other party members. These commands could turn the tide of battle and alter the environment in your favor.

There is a reason so many people wanted this game to come to the US, and you shouldn't pass it up, especially if you're a fan of grand RPGs. You can check out our review here.

Xenoblade Chronicles

Does it surprise anyone that not one, but two games from the Operation Rainfall campaign made the list? It was the first to make its way stateside and consume gamers with its story, gameplay and hundreds of hours worth of content. Xenoblade Chronicles told the gripping story of giant titans, invading robot armies, and a quest to save humanity, all in an open world, explorable environment.

Xenoblade Chronicles actually had more in common with an MMO, than it did with other RPG games. The world was absolutely massive, and combat was somewhat real time, but relied on activating skills, or Arts, on a cooldown basis.

Xenoblade was also about forging relationships and strengthening the bonds of friendship. You could partake in quests given to you by other NPCs and party members. The more you complete, the stronger the bond, leading to heart-to-heart moments which reveal further backstories for each of these characters.

Seriously, if you own a Wii, or hell, a Wii U, and have even the slightest interest in RPGs, Xenoblade Chronicles is a must own game. You can check out our review here.