Hot Air: Overlooked

Don’t be intimidated by what you’re hearing here this week.

What am I saying?  Why, sir or madam, I’m merely saying that there is no need to feel bullied into playing one of the fantastic masterpieces that we’ve been pimping this week.  If you want to, that’s great, but it doesn’t mean you are despicable if you choose to do your own thing.

You don’t have to henshin a-go-go or tell stories about chocobos or get dangerous in order to play a good game.  Sometimes the good games are the games you’re already playing.  Something can be popular and still be good, too.  Since no one will let me have a whole week’s focus on this, we’ll just have to settle for this little column on:

The Best Games That You ARE Playing!

New Super Mario Bros Wii: This may end up being the best-selling Wii game of all time.  It’s not only a great Mario adventure that marks the triumphant (well, there was very little triumph involved for them) return of the Koopa Kids, but also entertainingly frustrating four-player co-op that changes the game up considerably.  Two Toads still seems like a cop-out, though.

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver: There’s a reason Pokemon is one of the most popular and enduring game franchises of all time, and part of it is because of the incredibly intense and deep playing experience, not the least of which is the hundred-and-a-half strong list of monsters you can capture.

Tingle’s Balloon Fight: Just kidding.  This is both lame and you aren’t playing it.  HA!

Donkey Kong Country Returns: You may or may not have loved Donkey Konga or Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, but even if you didn’t, there’s no question that this DK title is worth the scratch.  It’s made by the same people who made Metroid Prime and the like, and, believe it or not, eschews most of the superfluous DK family.  Just as well, right?  Candy Kong was kind of creepy.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Despite everything everyone else may have you believe, this may be the greatest Wii game ever made.  What other game lets you choose between Mario, Solid Snake, Link, Wario, Jigglypuff, and Captain Falcon as your playable character?  Not to mention the other 35 people.