Believe it or not, the Wii has a handful of fun RPGs that, while not nearly the same depth or production value as The Elder Scrolls or other kinds of big-time titles, doesn’t mean they weren’t fun to just jump into and play.
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Some of these have been maligned on bigger consoles, but on the Wii, there wasn’t a ton to choose from, so beggars couldn’t exactly be choosers here. If you lower your standards a bit and just focus on the fun aspect, there are a good amount of Wii RPGs that are just pick-up-and-play fun, and sometimes, that’s all they need to be.
Let’s check out some RPGs that are fun from the very start on the Wii.
8
X-Men: Destiny
Better Than the Reviews
X-Men: Destiny is nobody’s favorite X-Men game, and it came out at a time when Mass Effect was hot as can be, so the idea of “what if X-Men was done in a Mass Effect style?” was one that had plenty of potential. I’ll tell you right now, it never reaches that potential, but that in no way makes the game terrible. It lets you choose from the start whether you’re going to fight for the Brotherhood or the X-Men, and depending on your choices, you get different powers.
It’s such a cool setup, and each mission, you get different choices along the way to change your path. It’s a really interesting setup for a superhero game and one that I really wish other games try again at some point. The combat is action-based, giving you some basic attacks and abilities you can pull off that get more and more devastating as you play. It’s a little bit floaty, but it works, and as I said, there is no other game in this genre that even attempts to be a Mass Effect-style X-Men game, so if you’re even the smallest bit curious, give it a shot.
7
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Better than the Movie
The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Wii really feasted on established property action RPGs, and The Spiderwick Chronicles is one of the games that actually fared better in video game form than movie form. Here, you play as Jared, Mallory, Simon, and of course, Thimbletack. It’s based on the movie of the same name rather than the book series, and most of the game revolves around the Spiderwick Estate and the surrounding areas.
It’s very much a first try at what would eventually be something like Hogwarts: Legacy. The exploration here is the big highlight, as from the start, you get the impressive Spiderwick Estate as a hub world of sorts where you can find hidden areas, puzzles, and all kinds of things to keep you busy.
Each character has their own unique feel, and that’s because they all interact with environments differently. Thimbletack, for example, can explore tiny tunnels and spaces that the other characters obviously cannot access. You can unlock different abilities for each character, and combat-wise, they all fight differently. Jared has a bat, Mallory can fence, and Simon has ranged attacks. It’s a straightforward action RPG, and if you like the property it’s based on, this is a quick and fun romp that uses the name well.
6
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Living Up to the Name
Developer
THQ Studio Australia
Release Date
October 10th, 2006
Platforms
PS2, Xbox, Nintendo Wii
Avatar: The Last Airbender has had, let’s say, an uneven performance the media outside of the initial TV series run, and while it didn’t bring the house down like most Wii RPGs, it still is a pretty fun action RPG romp that stays faithful to the world it’s based in. Instead of rehashing everything in the show, this game has a new story surrounding Lian, an inventor who is artificially using Airbending techniques, and it’s a cool premise that sets the stage for some good action.
You’ll be exploring, talking to NPCs, taking on main quests and side quests, and making sure your party is up to snuff along the way. The combat is really fun here, with Aang being everything he should be, an Airbending beast, Katara as a Waterbender, and Haru as an Earthbender. But it’s not all bending here, as Sokka gives you a straight-up tank with weapons and physical attacks. You can switch characters at any time too, so you’re never stuck playing as one character. You’ll have optional objectives, secrets to find, and even alternate paths throughout the levels. It’s not the prettiest or longest game, but it’s a pretty solid romp through a beloved fantasy world.
5
Lord of the Rings: Aragon’s Quest
Short and Sweet
Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest is a view of what Aragorn’s journey from the beginning of The Lord of the Rings was like, and while it isn’t going to win any awards, it’s actually a pretty solid, and more in-depth look than the somewhat cartoonish aesthetic would suggest. There are plenty of abilities to learn, combos to unlock, and the Aragorn you start the game with ends up feeling much different than the one you end the game with.
There are also side quests, some exploration, and while none of it is spectacular, it’s still really fun to just pick up and play. You don’t have to worry much about your build or your morality, as you’re just Aragorn, and you’re here to kick some orc ass and look cool doing it. On those grounds alone, Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest gets the job done quite well.
4
Alien Syndrome
Sci-Fi Diablo
Alien Syndrome is among the more serious attempts to get a franchise started in the RPG realm on the Wii, and it’s a pretty solid, if not a little bit simple, Diablo clone. You start by creating a character from five classes, which all change your approach to combat significantly. From there, you’re thrown into a variety of levels where you slaughter aliens by the scores, level up, get better skills, and take on a variety of quests.
You’ve got melee weapons, ranged weapons, and some cool special attacks to play around with, but you’ve also got a little pet robot that follows you throughout the game. This companion isn’t just there for show, as it’s an essential support unit for you to manage your equipment and manage stuff like healing when you’re out in dangerous and often hostile environments. The levels are impressively connected, and there are 40 different ones to explore. Crowd management is key here, and it’s one of the only games of its kind on the Wii, giving the feeling of a sci-fi Diablo clone that lives up to that name admirably.
3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
The Ultimate Team Up
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a fantastic action RPG that is about as pick-up-and-play fun as it gets. It’s got a huge cast of characters to play, from Spider-Man and Wolverine to Captain America, Iron Man, and more, and each character feels unique from the next. If you’re Spider-Man, you’re jumping and swinging around, and if you’re The Incredible Hulk, you’re grabbing enemies like they’re toys and obliterating them as you should.
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It’s also got great co-op, giving you one of the best brawlers out there to pick up and play with a friend. You can build your characters up the way you want, unlocking various abilities, and the story is a surprisingly gripping one, too. You’ll find all kinds of classic locales from the comics here and even some unique ones like Atlantis. It’s hard to have more fun in an RPG than this one, and even playing solo’s a great experience.
2
Valhalla Knights: Elgar Saga
A Saga Worth Investing In
Valhalla Knights: Elder Saga is one of the more interesting action RPGs on the Wii. From the start, you create your own protagonist. But that’s where the similarities with most games of this ilk end. See, there is a generation mechanic here, so in the first part of the game, you play as your character, but then you marry and have a kid with that character who then becomes the new protagonist.
It’s a very Romancing SaGa 2 approach to a game and one that really works. You can choose your archetype from Fighter, Mage, Priest, Thief, or Bard, and even if you don’t like the one you picked, you can shift your classes throughout the game, giving you a taste of what each has to offer. There are tons of locations to explore, from caves and ruins to big towns and lush fields. Combat is the big highlight here, as it’s all real-time and has a focus on your build over direct skill, lending itself more to an RPG than most games on the Wii. The quests can be a bit samey, but the combat feels good enough to get you all the way through, as the variety of it keeps the gameplay fresh. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
1
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
The Choices of Peter
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is one of the most exotic Spider-Man games out there because it actually gives you the choice of what path to go down. You can be the good guy, deciding to help people throughout the story, or you can follow the way of the Symbiote suit and go a much darker route. This isn’t just superficial either, as your abilities change significantly depending on your choices. The black suit, for example, has a much more brutal playstyle than the traditional red and blue.
The story is also a ton of fun here, with multiple routes to go down, different endings, and a ton of fun missions and side missions to occupy your time in between it all. It’s a bit over the top, but this is without a doubt the best Spider-Man game of its era and really the cream of the crop until Insomniac took the controls. It’s a different Spider-Man experience and one worth multiple playthroughs.
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