COVID-19 has changed the face of gaming as we know it in 2020. Even though several AAA titles saw release, many developers had to adjust putting them together at home. Trade shows became a thing of the past in favor of online presentations and meet-ups. And digital spending picked up quite a bit, with some consumers refusing to go to stores to pick up the latest titles.
But there’s one other trend that came from this year – the return of retro gaming. Many players turned to the past to cure their shut-in blues during the pandemic, and one system that hugely benefited from it was the Nintendo Wii.
Originally released in 2006, the Wii ushered in motion-based gaming with a number of hit titles. Though it went out to pasture just a few years ago in favor of the more popular Nintendo Switch, many players have been flocking back to the system to pass the time. So what’s the reason for this? There are a number of things.
A Number Of Games Players Might Have Missed
First off, while the Wii’s online services and eShop may have bitten the dust, there’s still a number of classic titles out there that have yet to be discovered. And many players know about these, rummaging classic video game stores and eBay to secure copies.
What titles come to mind? There are quite a few. For instance, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is a thrilling shooter from the team at Treasure, following up on the Japan-only release with non-stop thrills and great visuals. There’s also the cult favorite Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, a good versus title that didn’t get much exposure during initial release. And while we’re talking Capcom, there’s also the cute little adventure Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure to consider.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Wii is home to a number of obscure favorites, like the Gunblade NY and L.A. Machine Guns arcade collection, the remastered port of Klonoa from the PlayStation era, and even the Mad Dog McCree trilogy, which is quite as hilarious to discover now as it was initially in arcades.
But if we’re gonna get down to the nitty gritty, there are also the more popular games to consider.
You Just Can’t Get Enough Of Wii Sports
Take a good look at the product page for Wii Sports on GameStop.com. It’s currently selling for $34.99 used – a far cry from when it was being given away as a freebie with the Wii system back in ’06.
That’s because the value of such a game is long-lasting, especially to those family and friends that have been stuck inside over the past few months. Whether it’s a quick round of golf or a few bowling games, Wii Sports has continued to be a popular favorite during the quarantine era, and well worth the price. For that matter, Wii Sports Resort and the Wii U spin-off Wii Sports Club have gotten a bit of draw on the resale market as well.
Part of it is due to the game’s innocent charm. Anyone can play these. In fact, for some time there, Wii Sports was a popular favorite in nursing homes. We’d like to still think it is, too, especially for those senior citizens looking for something to do.
So, yeah, 2020 is the perfect time to discover such a favorite again, even if it means paying a few extra bucks to enjoy it. And that’s not all.
The Major Games Are In Demand, Too
One big title that has become a reselling favorite on the market is Mario Kart Wii. Despite the
fact that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has it beat on features and gameplay, this version is still highly
popular with its fun visuals, great track selections and control options. What’s more, it’s easy
for anyone to get into and play, no matter which method they manage to use.
That’s not all. Other titles like New Super Mario Bros. Wii – with its four-player simultaneous
gameplay – as well as Mario Party 8 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are also heavy in demand. For
that matter, The Legend of Zelda games are also a big hit, particularly Skyward Sword. And even
the original Super Mario Galaxy is doing quite well for itself, despite the fact it’s included in a
Switch compilation, Super Mario 3D All Stars, which is available now.
Accessibility, games and dependable good times are all reasons why the Wii appears to be thriving again. Not to mention the fact that you can scour listings on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and find a reasonable deal to get one of these systems in your home. There’s just so much to take advantage of, and it never really hurts to add it back into your game library.
So then… who’s up for a round of Wii Sports? We certainly are.
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