Let's REALLY Talk About Cool Games, Guys

Checked out Nintendo Power's "Why Aren't You Playing This?" feature, 10 overlooked Wii games that really deserve your dollars. In case you care, they are:

1. "Muramasa: The Demon Blade"
2. "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers"
3. "Klonoa"
4. "A Boy and his Blob"
5. "Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles"
6. "Silent Hill: Shattered Memories"
7. "MadWorld"
8. "Dead Space Extraction"
9. "Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars"
10. "Little King's Story."

As the Wii doesn't really have the punch of the PS3 and 360, it tends to be defined by big name Nintendo tentpole releases with a lot of quirky, overlooked gems buzzing around the edges; there's not much middle ground. A feature like this really serves the reader. Nicely done.

Much like GamePro's "State of the System" that I described... in the post right before this one (magazine posts won't last much longer guys, I've pretty much exhausted the library's magazine reserve), this is something I think the game enthusiast print media should be doing much more often. You're always going to get the big features on the big games, like "Call of Duty," but those games are going to sell themselves. Not that gaming magazines exist to sell games, but they should put a significant focus on the unknown, the overlooked, and the quirky, because it's a way to bring good games to the attention of readers in a way that serves the medium, which, y'know, is why we still read gaming mags. A "Top 10 Overlooked Games of the Year" should be a standard feature, especially in console-specific mags.

We're already getting things like more thoughtful, long form game reviews that incorporate the perspectives of many critics. Second looks and reader discussion are also starting to take hold. Throw in an increased focus on those fun games that aren't going to set the world (or sales charts) on fire, along with good original features, and gaming magazines are positioned to deliver a package that let's you sit back, take in the entire width and depth of the industry, and both make informed buying decisions and think about all of the art and business involved. Sounds like heaven to me.

The best endorsement I can give is that reading these magazines has gotten me interested in the modern game industry again after a long lull. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to grab a lightgun shell and a copy of "Dead Space."