Partial Wii launch lineup revealed
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jun 22nd 2006 at 1:55PM }
According to numerous reports, Nintendo Power has confirmed six Wii launch titles: - Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (Square Enix)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo)
- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Nintendo)
- Rayman Raving Rabbits (Ubisoft)
- Red Steel (Ubisoft)
- Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Sega)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alkaiser @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:59PM
Caption for the photo:
Her: "Why is my character spinning in circles?"
Him: "Get outta the way, honey, I'm trying to change the channel."
ncdign @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:04PM
Zelda and Metroid at launch is more than enough for me!
student @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:04PM
This here is a more full list of confirmed launch titles. http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=24649770
Shiggy said mario wouldn't be out til later because he wants it perfect but I wonder if this is part of nintendo's strategy to constantly be putting out solid titles for the system. If Mario came out at launch, people would be flooded with the big three. By delaying it some, people will never have a lull in their gaming.
All the same, I like that list of launch titles as right now, I'd like to pick up all of them.
Douglas @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:06PM
Metal Slug Anthology, Red Steel, Twilight Princess, and Metroid Prime all sell me. Sounds like a fairly promising launch. Now what about a date?
Scooby Doo @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:06PM
If it was only coming out with the first three as launch titles, it would be reason to buy a Wii at launch. I didn't realize we were getting a Dragon Quest! I think I've just forgotten that Nintendo even has competition. I'm sold. Who do I give my money to and when do I get a system?
Jake @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:10PM
Zelda, Metroid, Red Steel (if the controls are indeed fixed), CoD (if it has robust online multiplayer), WiiSports (if it is bundled), Trauma Center (if I rent it and my girlfriend likes it--she's a nurse), Madden 07 (maybe) if it's online, and about 6-12 retro downloads...with Galaxy and Smash around the corner.
Not too shabby Ninty, not to shabby at all
J B Cougar @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:10PM
Correct me please, but wasn't the launch lineup more than 20 titles? This is great and all, but much was made last month about the huge launch lineup compared with the GameCube, right?
Kevin @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:10PM
Too bad it's not a real Dragon Quest, like how Crystal Chronicles aren't really Final Fantasy's.
And TP should not be included on the list when it's not a freaking Wii game to begin with.
Azslic @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:12PM
Nintendo already said that if they don't launch with the plumber their system will be in trouble. I for one am sick of the "childish" games that Nintendo associates to its console. Thats why the N64 was the last piece of hardware from Nintendo that I will ever know.
Zacky V @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:12PM
Thats like half of what the 360 had at launch but they got two of their big name titles at launch which should bring good Wii sales.
Wolfkin @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:14PM
I'm glad. I'm not too happy about having Metroid be a launch title. I would have liked to have it come later when it could have a big impact like Metroid Prime 1 did.It's a good mix there but like they say about Mario I want the others to take full advantage of the system. The launch titles are more or less guinea pigs. They always are. There's nothing wrong with that but I don't want to throw out too many big franchises to the gears of trial and error. I will happily await my year maybe even year and a half for Smash Bros Brawl, because it gives devs time to see what works and what doesn't.
soniccar @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:18PM
Do you really think Nintendo will release another console without Mario available at launch? If you see Luigi's Mansion 2 available before Mario on the Revolution, you know something bad is going to happen with the console(that is a joke, but it is semi-serious).
Matt Q @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:21PM
Quite honestly, I'm impressed for a partial list. I'm very intersested in 4 of those games. I don't think I've been able to say that about any system launch.
Sabre @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:26PM
...and of course leave to Joystiq to start a false rumor and then act as if it is 100% fact.
darryl @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:34PM
Just look at the idiots in that picture! That made my day.
Austin @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:35PM
Here's a list of the titles which will probably make it within the launch window, i.e. before 2007. I tried to list them by category. Keep in mind, 5 of these titles are based on a list that Ubisoft sent to retailers. Even without those five, it's still a pretty impressive list.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
SpongeBob Square Pants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Rayman Raving Rabbids
*Prince of Persia
DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
Cars
Excite Truck
*Monstor Trucks
Need For Speed: Carbon
*Asphalt: Urban GT
Wii Sports
Madden NFL 07
Blitz: The League
Elebits
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Trauma Center: Second Oppinion
Mercury Meltdown
Mercury Type R
The Legend of Zelda: Twighlight Princess
Dragon Quest Swords
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Metal Slug Anthology
Red Steel
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Call of Duty 3
*Blazing Angels
*Far Cry
riffgod @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:37PM
I really hope that Iwata was serious about pricing those games appropriately from the start. I don't know if I could justify needing all 6 of those games if they aren't.
...although all of that would still be cheaper than a PS3.
Shogan @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:41PM
That list is already too much, but not in a bad way. I kinda hope some stuff gets spread out, because releasing so many awesome must-have games at launch would absolutely break me. Plus, spacing the big games out over say a month at a time is a really good idea. If they can keep momentum up like that over the consoles lifespan, we'll all be perpetually happy with the Wii.
Kendrew Leung @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:42PM
what happened to wii sports?
Lionel @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:42PM
Cool, Square Enix making titles for Wii. I wonder if they'll license the FF series as well.
Paul P. @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:44PM
Hm, a multiplayer co-op first person shooter/tennis game. And people say Nintendo doesn't have any original ideas.
that guy @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:45PM
Red Steel is a 'launch window' release, not a launch date release - there's a difference and hopefully everyone understands that. A launch window could be up to a month after a console launches (if I'm not mistaken). Just don't want people getting their hopes up that they can pick up Red Steel on shelves the day Wii comes out, because that's not likely the case.
Aside from that, this looks like a nice launch list. Rayman looks fantastic and of course TP is going to be freakin' amazing. And to the dude who said TP is 'just' a GameCube game - you couldn't be more wrong, bub.
steve @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:45PM
@ Wolfkin
I totally understand where you're coming from. I feel a little differently though, since Zelda's had a year extra of development time, so that should be really solid.
I had that initial feeling about Metroid Prime 3 though, but then I realized that its Nintendo, and they rarely drop the ball on their biggest franchises. They have the solid backbone of the engine that drove the first two Primes to work with, plus ample time to work with it.
I do think that it might be a tiny bit rushed because they know the importance of having a solid FPS (sorry Red Steel) to show off the Wiimote's potential.
DG @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:52PM
I think that launch lineup looks pretty good. There are the big guns in Metroid and Zelda, an RPG, a dedicated platform, and a sure-to-be-fun party game. If Madden is also available, it looks like a home run launch to me.
Ken @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:58PM
Holy Molely! A Square-Enix game at launch! It may not be a "real" Dragon Quest title, but it is a step in the right direction. I know what my launch game purchase will be.
oz @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:02PM
My kid will be so tickled playing ZELDA she won't even notice TONY HAWK is missing! a-a-a-g-g-g-h!
James @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:12PM
Why is rabbids misspelled in that article?
Derbeste @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:46PM
I hope people see the lengths Ninty is going to do things differently than it has in the past this time around.
Notice that not only will it have a Metroid and Zelda game for launch (both firsts), it will have TWO RPGs out (Zelda and Dragon Warrior). That is a BIG departure for Ninty and hopefully a great sign of things to come. They have historically been VERY light on RPGs since Square left Nintendo for Sony.
Embracing them again can only help their acceptence.
Once again....they are doing all the right things this time.
Mirz @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:47PM
Does anyone else ever get sick of these franchises? The Wii is supposed to be an innovative, fresh console. Well then let's see some new ideas, and new games! It's like watching the umpteenth sequal to a movie, or movies. Yes they might be good, but where is free thought? What is your mind for? No matter, I'm still gonna pick one up; the first console I've purchased since the Dreamcast. I will be patient.
marsel @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:55PM
@ #1 Alkaiser - hahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha!!!!! that comment was priceless. i dunno how this star system works but i call for stars! many stars for alkaiser dammit!
Raikage @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:09PM
If all these games launch...It will be the best launch in history...seriously. Some said that the 360 had a good launch, that is nothing compared with this. Metroid and Zelda launching is like the equivalent of Halo 3 and Fable 2 launching on the 360...or pretty close(IMO). Give us a $149.99 and a $199.99+ bundle along with these launch titles and I'm sold along with the rest of you...well I'll buy it anyway...
P.S. Snake is my hero
The Raikage
White Rose Duelist @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:12PM
If Alkaiser hasn't said the exact same thing in every Wii thread since E3 as well as in all the pieces he wrote for Netjak about it, maybe a star would be in order.
A technological device that isn't in its final form doesn't work quite right? Inconceivable!
T-Bag @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:25PM
Look at her grasp that wiimote. Ohhh yeahhh...
georgel @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:39PM
This is just my opinion so dont jump down my throat but I dont see why the wii is so highly regarded online but no one i hear locally talks about it. I think nintendo makes greats games but with graphics gamecube-like its extremely hard to get excited for. Also i cant imagine 30 year old gamers using the wii remote. The average age of gamers now is like 30 years old or more. I know alot of older gamers who are in their 40s now. The wii will sell to the young pre-teen crowd and girl gamers but i cant imagine anyone but "40 year old virgin" buying a wii.
j @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:59PM
Just wondering, has a mario kart for Wii even been mentioned by anyone at nintendo? Mario kart is by far my favorite mario spin off, and seems like a game that they could make quickly and seemed to be a great kick-off for the ds wifi.
anyone?
Austin @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:28PM
georgel, keep in mind the 360 graphics are nothing but xbox graphics unless you have an HDTV
LongshotX @ Jun 22nd 2006 8:12PM
Not interested in another Metroid Prime. Sorry Nintendo I've been doing the stupid "I lost all my weapons again now I must go through endless corridors and mazes to fnd them again in order to stop the evil space pirates from harvesting Metroids to use for their diabolical schemes" backtracking nonsense for far too long. The story isn't getting better though it has extreme potential to be as good as the Halo and Half Life 2 stories. Prime was great. Prime 2 wasn't as great. Prime 3 Boriiing. Prime 4 - 400 massive online worlds with weapon upgrades spread apart by 10 miles.
LongshotX @ Jun 22nd 2006 8:18PM
Who here wants to take bets the Wii will fail like the Nintendo 64, and the Gamecube? Ok Ok I know they made a profit this generation but they still came in last place in total sales.
rubaiyat @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:37PM
How exactly is making money losing?
No seriously, how is not losing 4 billion dollars, but actually raking in money losing?
Was most of that GC...no obviously not. But they were still raking in money as compared to that.
quidpro @ Jun 22nd 2006 10:53PM
34. I want one.
quidpro @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:19PM
34 year old here. I want one. I don't have as much time for games as I used to but still want to play! As much as I enjoy them, I don't have time for huge "open ended" games. Oblivion kicked my ass. I finished it, but had to spend too much time sneaking gameplay hours in the basement when I should have been doing other things. The Wii looks fun. That's all I want. Casual. The kind of console I can pass to a friend or guest for a quick round of...whatever...has more appeal to me than it used to. I've got a 4 year old and a 2 month old...I wouldn't be surprised if the 4 year old was able to play something soon... And maybe even the grandparents could figure it out! My wife would love to play all and any retro games that might be released. The Wii is looking more and more like a perfect fit for where I am in life.
I was with friends at a pub last night and one of them pulled out a DS. We had a blast just passing it around and playing BrainAge or whatever it was. Of course, we had been drinking...if the Wii is as entertaining as the DS, then I'm sold.
Nintendo just might be having a flash of brilliance with this one. I can't afford to sit for hours in front of a console or PC playing games anymore...and I assume there are lots of others who find themselves in the same position. They grew up with Ataris, Colecovisions, Nintendos, Playstations, Xbox, etc and now they have to raise kids, mow lawns, work overtime or what have you...not too old. Just too busy.
yeah, it could suck. I hope it doesn't, though.
idioteraser @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:44PM
Prime 3 you don't lose any weapons. Nor do you have beam switching. Read the damn developer comments on it. It looks like Wiiconnect 24 will have downloadable stuff to enhance the game.
Not a lot of backtracking it looks like in Metroid Prime 3.
As for number 32 a lot of those people you talk about do not know the PS3 prices nor that the games won't look any better then the 360. They know jack **** about the PS3 specs nor what game designers have said the system is capable. The 360 is more capable then the PS3 which is mostly blu-ray player costing the 400 smackers. They have no idea what games are coming for it heck they think Sony tells the truth about the Killzone 2 trailer which wasn't real time at all.
They have no idea about the PS3 controller heck a lot of people probably still think it is a batarang.
A lot of people will not fork over 500 or 600 bucks for a PS3 once they see it in the stores.
Btw the Wii if you were to show the Nintendo E3 press conferance or the Wii promo material from the TGS you would get people in their 40s and up who had never played a video game or haven't in years actually interested in the wii.
Show them PS3 game footage and they get bored.
So who is going to win more sales? The DS shows the answer. DS game sales and hardware are accelerating. Stores in the US are selling out their DS lite shipments in one day. PSP they aren't selling them at all.
DS games are selling out in stores. Phoenix Wright online stores sold out their shipment in a day when they were expecting it to last a month or two like other game reprints do. Lesser known stores still took a week. DS games are showing on more spots on the top selling game charts in the US and Europe.
idioteraser @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:46PM
If a Wii version of Mario kart is being planned odds are it will come after launch. Nintendo has commented they want a steady number of releases after launch to keep people interested in the system and attract more people.
Mario Kart would be an after launch title. Nintendo has expanded their internal game divisions and hired more second party assests and interested a huge number of third parties that have stated they will only develop titles for the Wii.
Exclusive titles btw.
Zacky V @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:54PM
Austin you must not have a 360 because I have a non HDTV and the graphics are still amazing, but yes they look ALOT better on a HDTV
Babylonian @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:43AM
I dunno, I still believe that Galaxy could be out for launch. The only Nintendo system to launch without a game starring Mario is the GameCube, which launched with a game in the Mario series (Luigi's Mansion).
idioteraser @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:33AM
Miyamoto said he would like it to be ready for launch. It may not be launch but in the months following. Say two or three.
He will delay it rather then rush it. They got a lot more people working it on then before so odds are it will be a launch title.
idioteraser @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:38AM
I wonder when joystiq will report those tidbits from the English translation of the Nintendo conferance in which pokemon battle revolution footage was shown.
Namely that the vc titles will take less then three seconds to load. That turning off the power will instantly save vc games. Iwata said no game should have a load time of a minute that it was intorable.
That the DS games will have content shown on the tv by way of the Wii. Such as your Nintendog being displayed on the tv or Jam with the Band including the sound coming from your speaker set up.
risingsunofnihon @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:37AM
I have to agree with a comment upthread that says all of the Wii's buzz seems to be coming from online sources only. I have the opportunity to talk to a lot of Japanse high school and college students, and the gamers among them are very excited about the PS3, but not many have mentioned the Wii. Not saying that my findings are scientific or anything, of course... just based on my personal experience.
vidGuy @ Jun 23rd 2006 8:13AM
This partial list is pretty good. The rumored list floating around is simply amazing! It seems to me that with such a variety (in the full list) every Wii owner is going to be interested in at least two games at launch.
Personally, I'll be getting LoZ, MP3, and Wii Sports. I'll try out Rayman and Red Steel when they are available for rental and make a decision on them then.
And I too hope that Nintendo releases their powerhouses spread out a bit. I can wait a while because between launch and probably March I'll be into TP. Maybe SMG will come out around Jan/Feb and SSBB before summer? Then Mario Kart Wii for Winter 07, and LoZ:Wii by Winter 08? That sounds like it would work for me.
Michael Yingling @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:32PM
To #8: Zelda TP is going to have a Gamecube version AND a Wii version (which will use the remote in cool ways, such as for firing your bow, swinging your sword, etc.) - so yes, it WILL be a Wii game as well, and does count towards the line-up.
To #9: "Childish"? Are you seriously still going to play that card? Mario is cartoon, yes, and he is Nintendo's "mascot", yes, but Zelda, Red Steele and Metroid WELL make up for this. If you want to JUST look at the negatives, how do you justify owning ANY gaming hardware? I promise I can find many more flaws in Sony & Microsoft's branding and advertising schemes, and even MORE in their games and hardware themselves. So do NOT dismiss Nintendo because you're too self-important too overlook a 20-year-old plumber who helped father the industry you're now such a part of. You're critizing your own gaming roots for continuing a successful path. Go pay $400-$600 for a console we've already seen; meanwhile I'll happily play Red Steele, Zelda TP, Metroid Prime 3 and yes, even my old friend Mario, with a new level of control never really seen in the industry.
To #29: These games aren't innovative? I agree FPS isn't exactly a new genre, but the way we will be PLAYING these games IS new! Nintendo is tinkering around with the Touch Generations on DS too, and I expect similar type games will make it to the Wii in the future. So let's not get hasty complaining that a mere 6 of the launch titles lack genre innovation (though I think it's safe to say that the games are still innovative thanks to the control sceme).