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75 Must Have Games for the Holidays

• By GamePro Staff
• December 19, 2008 16:42 PM PST
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Nintendo Wii

Sure to be a hot commodity come holiday shopping time, the Wii continues to sell through the roof. Its robust library features games that have wide crossover appeal as well as some innovative titles that take gaming to a whole new level. As you will soon see, the Wii has a little something for everyone, from core gamers to casual players just looking for a little fun.

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Super Smash Bros. Brawl

With an amazing roster of brawlers featuring the likes of newcomers Sonic the Hedgehog to Metal Gear Solid's own Solid Snake, Smash Brothers Brawl proved itself as one of the most highly anticipated games for the Nintendo Wii. The third game in the insanely popular Smash Bros. franchise Super Smash Bros. Brawl allowed players to take their Brawls online for the first time ever with Wi-Fi play as well as a deep single-player campaign featuring some jaw-dropping cinematics.

Mario Kart Wii

Okay, so maybe Nintendo didn't completely overhaul the Mario Kart formula this time around; but we see this is a good thing. Mario Kart Wii is, without a doubt, the ultimate version of the racing game, catering to fans of series as it featured some of the best race tracks from past iterations (tracks from everything from Mario Kart DS to Super Mario Kart for the Super NES) while introducing all-new ones. Plus, in Mario Kart Wii you have the option of riding dirtbikes instead of go-karts, which is one of the best features in the game.

Rock Band 2

Rock Band was never just a game -- it was a bona fide phenomenon. It changed the way we looked at, listened to, and played music in a video game environment and now that revolutionary experience is back and better than ever with Harmonix's highly anticipated sequel, Rock Band 2. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it's something every virtual rocker will want to get and crank up to eleven. In the infamous words of Dee Snider, "if it's too loud, you're too old!"

No More Heroes

This high-paced action game follows the story of Travis Touchdown as he pursues the status of the #1 assassin. After winning a laser beam katana on an online auction, Travis enters the seedy underworld in the city of Santa Destroy. Take control of Travis and his handy katana with the Wii Remote and hack, slash, and stab your way though this open world game.

Mario Super Sluggers

Mario and friends are goin' for extra innings in Mario Super Sluggers, the second game featuring the happy-go-lucky plumber and America's favorite pastime. This installment lets you choose between 12 team captains (such as Bowser and Diddy Kong), and 25 different teammates (such as a Goomba or a Magikoopa). The game will play much like its predecessor, with the exception of the unique controls of the Wii remote.

World of Goo

Equal parts puzzle game and political commentary, the insanely innovative World of Goo took the WiiWare/PC world by storm with its mixture of quirky physics-based gameplay and mind-boggling puzzles. Taking control of a series of living globs of goo, it's the players goal to construct devices and mechanisms in order to complete each stage& of course, this sounds much easier than it actually is. Whether you're flinging goo at a tower that's blocking your path or creating a bridge in which to lead your goo to the pipe and finish the stage, the feeling of victory that comes with completing a puzzle in this stunning brainteaser is one of the most rewarding experiences you'll feel all year!

Wii Fit

Playing Wii Fit is an interesting experience. It's sort of goofy and embarrassing-if you consider yourself "hardcore" you'll probably turn your nose up at it-but it can also be ridiculously fun. Of course, the best thing that Wii Fit has going for it is that it's unique. Much like the Wii Remote's motion sensing capabilities, the Balance Board offers you a gaming experience that you can't really find anywhere else. Sure, weight-sensing peripherals aren't anything new but unlike the flimsy mats of yore, the Balance Board feels less like a gimmick and more like a legitimate product. It's slick, responsive and solidly made.

Okami

In the cult hit Okami, the legendary monster Orochi has come back to life and turned the world into a veritable wasteland. Players must assume the role of a wolf, an embodiment of the sun god Amaterasu, which is capable of wielding unimaginable power. In this innovative adventure, paint your way through your surrounding environments to solve puzzles, and envelop yourself in a fantastical world of Japanese mythology!

Skate It

Just over a year ago, Electronic Arts let Skate loose into the previously Tony Hawk-dominated extreme sports genre. The title's sim-over-arcade controls proved an instant success, earning serious street cred with fans, while giving Mr. Hawk a reason to quiver in his Vans. The Wii version, dubbed Skate It, invites gamepad grinders back to the fictional skater's paradise, San Vanelona, for another dose of slick tricks and skinned knees. The series' staple organic "flick-it" controls, triggered by the analog sticks on the PS3 and 360 versions, are mapped surprisingly faithfully to the Wii-mote. Imagine the wireless Wii controller as a giant analog stick, and you'll be well on your way to urban skater stardom; kickflips, ollies, nollies, and pop shuv-its can all be intuitively pulled with some creative waggling. Additionally, A and B button presses further modify your sick skills with grabs and grinds. Toss in some air-catching tweaks and D-pad-triggered style enhancements, and you're working with a brimming bag of tricks.

Animal Crossing: City Folk

Animal Crossing: City Folk by Nintendo allows Wii owners to participate in an open virtual community, play with friends, and collect various animal items. Nintendo is looking for it to be a place for friends to hang out with a new online mode that will also take advantage of the new Wii Speak microphone peripheral.

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