Wii powers up for Christmas (+ photos)

Wii has a strong line-up for all ages leading up to Christmas.

The new approach to gaming that Wii brings is once again shown by the latest pile of new releases, just in time for Christmas.

Thrillville: Off the Rails

(G: Activision)

Thrillville is for those who love the 'design and build and then play' theme park games - except this time the Wii involvement makes it fun for adults and kids of all sizes.

There are heaps of fun things to do in this four-player thriller, and all the rides can be ridden on thanks to the remote controller.

So you not only build the park - as you do with such games - but thanks to the motion-sensing controller, you feel as though you're on the actual rollercoaster, putting at mini golf, riding the log flume or racing on a track. The remote can also be used for having a go at the carnival attractions like whack-a-mole.

There are about 50 mini-games which means others present can participate.

The single player is your standard Tycoon game, but without some of the complications where you feel you need an MBA degree to just get to grips with it. Walking around and chatting to your patrons is enjoyable, so is training the caretaker and the hands-on approach with the mechanic.

As the theme park manager, you have to keep everyone happy to keep the park running. Watch for those crafty health and safety inspectors!

There are different areas of the park with different themes such as a snowy mountain and a desert tank combat scene, which you adapt to suit.

This is not the most detailed Tycoon-type game but it's certainly one of the most entertaining in this easy to pick up and play form.

MadGamer Rating: 8 / 10

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground has mixed successes in moving to the new Wii controllers. It may prove to be a tad too challenging for some.

Hawk's first game for the PS2 back in 1999 helped redline extreme sports on consoles, and it would be nice if this also took it to a new level by using the controllers on the Wii a lot more.

This means you use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk exclusively but once you try something beyond the usual kickflips or other basic skate fare, the controls are an on-and-off again affair so can get a bit tiring repeating it.

The game itself, with its amateur, pro and "sick" playing options, is about as much fun as you'd expect from a series that has continued to be the mainstay of skating games, and still holds enthusiasts interest after all this time.

Spotlight appearances from skating sensation Rodney Mullen advertising the game online can be seen

here

.

The port to the Wii was a good one but without the multiplayer and video editor that other versions have in-game, there's a bit of work still to be done greasing axles.

MadGamer Rating: 7.5 / 10

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

(Nintendo: M)

After two highly acclaimed versions on the Nintendo's pre-Wii GameCube, console, this arrives for the Wii in its third and final instalment.

And it's awesome. The controls and eye candy in this game prove it the best out on Wii so far. Whether you get off on blasting aliens or solving puzzles, this is very satisfying fun.

You are bounty hunter Samus Aran helping the Galactic Federation battle evil space pirates, but you get mutated when infected by a substance called Phazon.

The goal is to stop the virus spreading through the galaxy so the Federation can stave off the pirates' attack.

At last the Wii manages to make a first person shooter work on its controls and as one example of clever controls, you hold the remote in one hand and the Nunchuk in the other so that the character's arms become an extension of your own.

It takes a moment to update the Wii when you first put the Metroid Prime 3 game disc into the tray and you will need to use the nunchuk for moving around.

Good looking, absorbing plot, excellent gameplay and Wii's innovative control scheme works really well for this title.

MadGamer rating: 9 / 10

EA Playground

(G)

There's plenty of engaging family fun games in this package including an amusing dodgeball, slot car and paper plane racing!

Kids will quickly relate to the premise of the game - being let loose in a playground where other "kids" invite them to play a match. You can score marbles which enable you to get power - ups to help defeat the tough kids. Golden stickers are won and enable you to progress to other contests and also go into your sticker book and can be used at the sticker store.

Brilliant for kids! Possibly even more fun than dodgeball is Tetherbal, which is the backyard classic that involves tying a ball to a rope and batting it up or down a pole while another kid bats in the opposite direction. Timeless classics like dodgeball and simplified squash make full use of the Wii remotes.

This will be a fun package for parents hosting parties or to use in bringing the house back to some order after a tiring Christmas when they are bored with their other presents and getting scratchy!

MadGamer rating: 7 / 10