5 Best Lesser-Known Games of E for All

Rock Band, Metal Gear Solid 4, Galaxy and Brawl definitely stole the show at E for All, but there were plenty of other great games to play at the show.

While everyone was busy gorging themselves with as much Super Smash Bros. Braw play time as they could squeeze into the four days of E for All (which was renamed by some gamers at the event to "Brawl for All" due to the tremendous amount of excitement surrounding the first public unveiling of Nintendo's new fighter), there were some other cool games at the expo that are definitely worth mentioning. Here are 5 of the best of them.


#5: Victorious Boxers: Revolution (Wii)
Victorious Boxers is the first true boxing video game for the Nintendo Wii and is a game that fans of Wii Sports' Boxing will appreciate. Based on the Manga "Fighting Spirit," Victorious Boxers: Revolution plays very much like a next-gen Super Punch-Out!!, where the camera hangs directly behind your transparent boxer as you move around the ring and engage your opponent. The player uses both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to deliver all the authentic moves real life boxers do to pummel their opponents, such as uppercuts, hooks, strong straights, and light jabs. Each of the game's 25 fighters also have their own powerful special moves such as one where a boxer unleashes a flurry of fast blows.

Something that's really striking about the game is how you and your adversaries show physical damage as you take hits. The game even switches to an x-ray camera mode when crippling punches are successfully executed (a la the less than spectacular action flick Romeo Must Die) letting you watch as bones get broken. Bruising and breathing rate also play a part in how matches are won in Victorious Boxers: Revolution as there is no health bar in the game. While there is no online support for the game, you can play against one of your buddies. The game is also already available in stores and you can pick one up for only $39.



#4: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (Wii)
Fans of the original Rayman Raving Rabbids will be happy to know that the quirky collection of minigames featuring Rayman is returning to the Wii next month. This time around the player can play as more than just Rayman, and can control one of several different Rabbids. You can customize your character by dressing them up in a variety of unlockable costume accessories too.

In Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 you travel to countries from around the world, each with their own unique batch of minigames, rather than playing through minigame after minigame like the previous game. There is an obvious greater emphasis on co-op this time around too. Some of the best minigames we played include washing dirty laundry in a river as fast as you can, slapping crying baby Rabbids in the back seat of a vehicle to shut them up, trashing your office cubicle while avoiding your boss, attempting to achieve the largest and most destructive belch by chugging soda, and many other hilarious games.



#3: de Blob (Wii)
Best described as a cross between LocoRoco and Marble Madness, THQ's de Blob is a game where you roll around a 3D world as a blob, smashing paint-filled enemies under your bulbous body and then using the paint inside them to paint the world which has been drained of color by the evil corporation I.N.K.D.

Mixing colors to create new ones is required during certain scenarios in the game, such as having to completely cover a building in a specific color. In addition bringing color to your surroundings, you'll also have to avoid getting poisoned by black ink, where you'll have to dip de Blob in water to wash it off. There are a total of 9 levels in the game, and although we didn't get to try it out at E for All, there will be multiplayer support in the final version of the game when it is released next year.



#2: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
Characters from both the Mario and Sonic universes compete in numerous Olympic events in the game that makes our #2 slot for the best lesser-known games at E for All, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Just about every character you could imagine from the two popular franchises is playable, including Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Sonic, Tails, Shadow, Knuckles, Bowser, Dr. Eggman and more. You can even play as your very own Mii.

There are tons of athletic events you can participate in such as shooting, gymnastics, and numerous others--table tennis and archery were some of the more exciting Olympic games. During the archery, the player simultaneously pinches down the A button and the B trigger on the Wii Remote, pulls the controller back (like an arrow), aims at a target with the Nunchuk, and then fires the arrow.



#1: Contra 4 (DS)
Contra fans from the NES and Super Nintendo days are in for a treat because Contra 4, the sequel to the popular Contra III: The Alien Wars for the Super Nintendo, is headed for the Nintendo DS. A total return to Contra's roots in terms of graphics and feel, Contra 4 has 9 levels for you to blast through as Bill, Lance, Mad Dog, Scorpion, and 5 hidden characters including Probotector. Although the game is very similar to older Contra games, there are a number of surprises such as weapon upgrades and the all-new grappling hook.

The touch screen is not utilized in the game--instead, the action spreads across both screens. There are also a number of cool extras the player can unlock as they play the game, such as the NES original and its sequel Super C. Contra 4 is turning out to be a must-have for diehard Contra fans. It ships next month.

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