Summary
TheNintendo Wiiis one of the most popular gaming systems of all time. The console appealed both to hardcore and casual gamers thanks to its intriguing peripherals and to an expansive selection of available games. Among other games, there were also some very goodvisual novelson the Wii, some of which took advantage of the comfortable pointing feature of the Wii Remote.
While visual novels aren’t the genre of games the Wii is most known for, there are still a few gems that players can find on the system. But which are the best visual novels on the Nintendo Wii?
5Another Code: R - A Journey Into Lost Memories
Metascore: 66
Another Code: R - A Journey Into Lost Memoriesis a direct sequel toAnother Code, which was released some years prior on the Nintendo DS.This game never came out in the US, leaving American fans without a proper conclusion for the series - even if the game still ends up hinting at some more stories to come for Ashley. Luckily though, things will soon change thanks to a re-release for the Nintendo Switch, which will include both games in a single package, titledAnother Code: Recollection.
The game is a very basic point-and-click adventure game in structure, with the plot delving into the mysteries that surround the protagonist’s past.While this is still very much a coming-of-age story, Ashley has grown up since the first game, and this allows the plot to be deeper when compared to what happened during the first adventure.
4Broken Sword: Shadow Of The Templars - The Director’s Cut
Metascore: 74
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director’s Cutreally needs no introduction. This is a remake of the very first game in the popularBroken Swordfranchise, taking advantage of the Wii’s abilities to offer a more immediate and intuitive control system. Not only that, but the game also adds a ton of new features, including new story bits that weren’t present in the original release - hence the “Director’s Cut” subtitle.
There’s really not very much else to say.The game is a timeless masterpiece in the adventure genre, and this version is probably one of the best ways to experience it - even years after its release. There were talks at some point about subsequent games coming to the Wii as well, which unfortunately never came to fruition, leaving only this game available on the system.
3Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Metascore: 75
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Loveis a visual novel with dating sim and RPG elements, where love gets to play a central role in the plot. Players will take the role of Shinjiro Taiga, who has just moved to New York City at the request of his uncle. While Shinjiro is coming to New York to fight, he will find himself inserted into a team composed of girls, all of whom will strive to get Shinjiro’s attention.
It’s a bit exaggerated and even somewhat sexist, but given the game’s age, it’s easier to turn a blind eye on these faults. Beyond that, the game offers an interesting plot, and all the romances are quite well-written, making all the characters memorable. Besides, this is one of the few titles in theSakura Warsfranchiseto have been officially released in the West, something that makes it much more valuable for collectors and fans of the genre.
2Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure
Metascore: 87
Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasureis a great adventure-puzzle game, where players need to complete one stage after the other by retrieving treasures and avoiding obstacles. While the game is very simple on paper, it makes smart use of the Wii Remote’s capabilities, and even if the game came out quite early in the Wii’s life, this is still one of the best examples of games that took full advantage of its potential.
The game is very light on plot, which makes it a very different beast when compared to other visual novels,but solving puzzles and riddles is incredibly satisfying. It’s a real shame that Capcom never greenlit a sequel on the Wii, and it’s now very unlikely that players will ever see more of Zack and Wiki. Hopefully, though, with the ever-growing attention to game preservation, Capcom could at least try and port the game to newer platforms at some point.
1Secret Files: Tunguska
Secret Files: Tunguskais another example of a very classic point-and-click adventure in structure, this timerevolving around the mysteries surrounding the Tunguska accident. It has some interesting puzzles, and the plot is intriguing enough to keep players engaged from start to finish. It’s far from being a masterpiece of the visual novel genre, but this is still a very solid game.
The series has produced other installments, and the second chapter is also available on the Wii, but its plot is much weaker than what can be found in the first game. In any case, players won’t go wrong with either game, as both are among the best visual novels the Wii has to offer.
