The three best WiiWare games of 2009 (so far)

The horror-puzzle game LIT is a truly unique game.

In addition to the great retail Wii games released in 2009 so far, some of the system's best games are available for download at the Wii Shop Channel. 2009 has been a big year for WiiWare. The service has turned one-year old and over 35 new games have been released. There have been many great WiiWare titles released this year, but perhaps the best three are Bubble Bobble Plus, LIT, and Bit.Trip Beat.

Bubble Bobble Plus
Bubble Bobble Plus is the latest installment in Taito’s classic Bubble Bobble series. Bubble Bobble Plus is a remake of the original, which was first released in 1986. However, Plus is much more than a simple re-imagining of a 23 year old game. In addition to the 100 stages from the first game, there are 100 new stages, updated graphics and music, multiple difficulty levels, online leader boards and two downloadable packs, each containing 50 new, harder stages aimed at Bubble Bobble experts.

While the single player mode is great, multiplayer is where the game shines. Up to four people can play in the new Arrange Mode, allowing for fast-paced Bubble Bobble fun. Multiplayer has always been a strong point for the series, and the same can be said of Bubble Bobble Plus.

Even though the NES version of the game is available on the virtual console for 100 less Wii Points, fans of the series should purchase this updated remake, and those looking for a fun and old-school arcade challenge should look into Bubble Bobble Plus.

LIT
There isn’t quite any other game like LIT. In this horror-puzzle game from WayForward Technologies, the emo teenager Jake must wander through his high school to save his girlfriend, Rachel. The high school has been taken over by bizarre, shadow-like creatures, and if Jake steps into the darkness, he is done for. Because of this, he has to use every source of light available to him- whether it comes from lamps, television sets, laptops, or flares, to light a path through his high school to survive.

The result is a challenging and original puzzle game that is well worth its 800 Wii point price tag. Though it is challenging, it also is rewarding. You can unlock a second playable character and a second difficultly level. If you can make your way to the phone in some of the classrooms, the conversations between Jake and Rachel provide the game’s storyline. The voice acting is great and the dialogue is well written- it sounds like something out of a B-horror movie, and it works well.

Jake’s journey through the darkness is among the best WiiWare games, and it should not be missed.

Bit.Trip Beat
Bit.Trip Beat is a fusion of the music/rhythm genre and Pong. It sounds like an odd combination, but it works amazingly well. For 600 Wii Points, players can join Commander Video as he journeys across three old-school, 8-bit inspired tunes. Balls are shot from the right side of the screen and up to four players can work to block these balls and send them bouncing back. The longer the player last, the more complex the song and harder the level gets.

It is a deceptively simple concept that because a real challenge really quickly. The retro style adds to the title’s appeal, and everything about it is old-school in nature. The game does a great job of making old school feel new again.

A sequel, entitled Bit.Trip Core, will be released later this summer.
 

For more info: Visit the official game web sites of LIT and Bit.Trip Beat.