It’s close, folks. How close? We don’t know. But we know it’s close. The launch of Nintendo’s Wii will be happening before we know it, and I’m here to help you sort through the pickin’s. Wii will be launching with an unprecedented number and variety of games for a Nintendo console, and will, undoubtedly, leave a lasting mark on both the Nintendo community and the gaming world as a whole.

The Wii launches, of course, November 19 in the US at a price of $249.99. Japanese and European launches follow in December, but these games are those confirmed for US release – Japanese and European launch lineups will vary.

The following paragraphs will be a sort of mini-preview of each noteworthy title of the Wii’s confirmed launch lineup. So let’s get to it.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Nintendo

By far the most talked about, most anticipated, and most delayed of the launch titles, this seems the obvious place to start. Nintendo’s most celebrated and epic franchise makes both its GameCube Swan Song and Wii Debut the same day, and we couldn’t be more excited.

The latest chapter of the largely fragmented and incomplete Hyrulian legacy finds the titular Hylian princess in peril once again, and Hyrule facing its darkest hour yet. The game will take place after the events of Ocarina of Time for the N64, and before those of Wind Waker for the Cube, leading many to believe that this is a bridge story, being used to help explain the destruction and eventual rebuilding of Hyrule, discussed in past games. But that’s not why we’re here.

Link’s “new-gen” inauguration finds him facing off with more than just evil wizards and pig-men this time around; as he’ll also be fighting is own inner demons and a curse that has engulfed both his beloved Hyrule as well as himself. At this point Link’s canine alter-ego is no secret, so I won’t bore you with details of how his latent ability to communicate with animals, coupled with his entry into the Twilight Realm currently overwhelming Hyrule, turns him into a wolf. We have not been able to see much of the wolf-Link in action, and none of that on Wii, so anything I could say on that would be no more than speculation.

What we DO know is how Nintendo is utilizing Wii’s decidedly unorthodox features to immerse the player into Hyrule’s universe more than ever before. Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuck controller, players will have the ability to draw, aim, and fire a bow and arrow just as Link would, complete with the sound of the drawing of the bowstring and the ping of the arrow launching coming straight from the source. Link’s famous sword-spin and pogo stick maneuvers are recreated intuitively using Remote actions, and shield bashing is as easy as a thrust of the wrist. Combining an unprecedented mix of realism and fantasy for a Nintendo game, along with what is sure to be an immersive storyline and a promised epic battle between good and evil, Wii-ers can expect The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to perhaps become the biggest-selling launch game in history. This won’t be Nintendo’s only offering at launch, though, as the Big N also prepares the launch of…

Excite Truck – Monster Games

Forget bikes, trucks are the new excitement. Twist and turn the Wii remote to steer your rig through all kinds of terrain and morphing tracks. Nintendo’s Excite Truck takes the classic Excite Bike and adds new formulas for fun at every corner.

While this may not be the only racing game available at launch (with Ubisoft’s GT Pro Series and Monster Trucks 4x4 also coming out the same day, it is certainly the most provocative, and the only one from Nintendo. Excite Truck will no doubt be to the Wii what Wave Race: Blue Storm was to the GameCube – the must-have racer of launch.

Featuring unlockable cars and, in traditional Nintendo style, a bevy of power-ups and plenty of high-speed crashes, coupled with tracks that can be morphed in-race to provide the player with a shortcut, or to send opponents flying in the air, simply by driving through strategically placed exclamation point icons. Get some big air and land that perfect landing to score points towards unlocking new stuff and increasing your overall rating! And, if you’d rather shoot somebody than race them, you might want to check out…

Red Steel – Ubisoft

Ubisoft has been on board with the Wii since day one. Among the most celebrated third party developers in the world, when it was announced that they would be strongly supporting Nintendo’s quirky new console, people took notice. When they said they were working on a new franchise, one that combined both gunplay and sword combat, heads were turned. When Red Steel was finally unveiled to the public earlier this year, jaws were dropped.

Merging both classic first-person shooter staples and brand new Wii-centric innovations, Ubisoft are sure to have a winner on their hands when Red Steel launches with the Wii in the coming months. The story is simple – an average American guy goes off to Japan to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, who happens to be the daughter of a Yakuza kingpin. Along the way, a few more bullets than words are exchanged, and our hero finds himself becoming quite adept at swordplay as well.

The swordplay is where Red Steel has gotten most of its attention. Boss fights are now, rather than a spray of bullets and obscenities, exercises in honor and dignity. Put away your gun and pull out your steel. Use the Nunchuck to block, and the Remote to attack. Your moves will be reflected and mirrored in the game. In gun battles, slow time down to focus and concentrate your shots. Either get in an easy headshot or shoot the gun out of enemy hands to gain your advantage. It’s up to you.

As the game progresses, the story will evolve with the player. More ruthless gamers may find themselves caught in a situation where a few friends would be nice, but none are to be found. Conversely, if one were to exercise mercy rather than cut down every boss and henchman who comes by, rewards may be reaped, from new weapons to information to maybe a few friendly faces in a tight spot. It’s all up to the player, and how you want to experience Red Steel. If you’d rather shoot Germans than Japanese, though, head back in time to World War II with…

Call of Duty 3 – Activision

As Allied soldiers fighting for the US, Britain, Canada, and Poland, penetrate deep into Europe during the Normandy Breakout in a campaign to liberate Paris from Axis control. Fight long-range rifle battles or up close and personal with an all-new hand-to-hand mechanic – with branching mission paths and multiple ways to go about each level, the choice is yours!

With fully interactive environments, manipulation of the battlefield plays an important role as you’ll break through enemy encampments and flush them out of hiding – or be flushed out yourself. Taking full advantage of the Wii remote and Nunchuck to aim, fight, and move, this is sure to be one of, if not the, most engaging and intense war shooters of all time, complete with multiplayer. Or, if the shell shock starts to get too real, on the lighter side of things, you can check out…

Rayman: Raving Rabbids – Ubisoft

Using the Remote and Nunchuck, guide Rayman through an all-new adventure optimized for play on the Wii, which Ubisoft has made the flagship console for their latest Rayman adventure. (Wii? Wiiiiiiiiiiii!) Gameplay features an assortment of mini-games taking advantage of the remote, and will somehow involve costume changes, with different outfits granting Rayman different abilities, and kicking the crap out of psychotic bunnies. We may not know much about the game, but what we’ve got is enough to make us interested. Meanwhile, speaking of kicking the crap out of psychos, why not give a heads-up to…

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance – Activision

Comic book geeks rejoice! The most legendary characters from the most legendary comics are coming to the Wii. From Wolverine and Captain America to Spider-Man and The Invisible Woman, players can take control of their favorite superheroes and go up against the likes of the worst villains the Masters of Evil have ever thrown at them. With a customizable team of heroes and the sure-to-be unique control style, any Marvel fan should be drooling over this.

And if you have a problem drooling, maybe seek some help from the doctors in...

Trauma Center: Second Opinion – Atlus

Our official runner-up for “weirdest game concept of E3 2005” was Trauma Center: Under the Knife (coming in after Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney). A surgery game that took the concept behind Operation far beyond plastic tweezers and an annoying “bzzt” sound, the game was hailed by critics and devoured by fans. It seems only fitting that last year’s sleeper hit would get a sequel. We don’t know much about the game yet, but you can be sure that it will make extensive, creative use of the Wii remote, including incisions, sewing, bandaging, and (hopefully) a defibrillator. And those will be some handy skills to have when you start taking hard hits in…

Madden NFL 2007 – EA Sports

By far the most successful football franchise in gaming history, EA’s legendary Madden series hits Wii with some cool new additions (cool new additions to a Madden game? Unheard of!). Combining classic Madden play and Wii features, this Madden will immerse you in the NFL experience more than any game yet. You’ll be able to make hail-Mary passes by moving the controller in a throwing motion, kick impossible field goals by moving it like a swinging leg, juke runners out of harm’s way with a flick of your wrist, and an assortment of other Wii-remote related functions. And if simulation football isn’t your bag, give a look at Blitz: The League from Midway, making it’s Nintendo console debut with the Wii, with a more arcade style of play, including excessive violence, sexuality, and drug abuse. It’s like Grand Theft Pigskin! That’s not the only game with the word “Blitz” in the title, though, as Sega brings us…

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz – Sega

Flex it to make the monkey move – that’s the concept behind the latest installment of Sega’s sleeper hit series of games featuring apes (they’re not really monkeys if you look closely) in balls.

With both challenge levels like those in the original Monkey Ball and an adventure mode to play through, this action/puzzle/platformer should provide some fun whether you’re a franchise veteran or new to the spherically trapped primate world. By twisting the Wii remote you’ll steer your chimp through levels packed with traps, falls, and baddies, all the while collecting bananas and accomplishing whatever is supposed to be accomplished by putting a monkey in a ball. With over 50 gameplay modes and the series’ famously addictive multiplayer fun, this should be a big party game hit for the launch of the Wii – the second Nintendo console in a row to launch with a Monkey Ball game. And if you’d rather go down hills on skateboards than inside plastic globes, check out…

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam –Activision

The first Tony Hawk game to focus on racing, Downhill Jam, developed exclusively for the Wii and DS, takes advantage of the Wii remote to let you steer your skater around dangerous curves, and perform tricks in the air utilizing both the motion sensing and buttons. Think SSX with skateboards and motion sensing, and you’ll have an idea of what this game is about. Third parties aren’t the only ones getting in on the idea of putting sports games on the Wii, though, with Nintendo getting in on the action themselves with…

Wii Sports –Nintendo

Baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, and boxing all in one game. Map your face onto the 3D characters using Mii. Swing your bat, racket, or club in realistic, intuitive motions. Hit a grounder by swinging down, blast a homer by swinging up and hard. Put topspin on the ball with a flick of your wrist. Put just the right touch on the ball to putt it into the hole. Roll the perfect hook on the ball and watch it roll down the hardwood alley, in anticipation of nailing the strike or putting away that ugly 7-10 split. Dodge, duck, jab, and throw a haymaker at your opponent, bringing back memories of Punch Out. The possibilities with Nintendo’s quirky arcade sports title are endless, but from what we played at E3, this one is a definite must-play for anybody who has enjoyed the Mario Sports titles, or anybody who wants a good example of what that controller is capable of. As if that weren’t enough, you get the game for free just for buying a Wii!



Honorable mentions:

Avatar: The Last Airbender – THQ

Barnyard – THQ

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft

Disney/Pixar’s Cars – THQ

Far Cry Vengeance - Ubisoft

GT Pro Series - Ubisoft

Metal Slug Anthology - SNK

Monster 4x4 World Circuit - Ubisoft

Need for Speed: Carbon - EA Games

Open Season - Ubisoft

Spongebob Squarepants: Creature from the Krusty Krab – THQ

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubisoft