When it comes to buying video games as gifts, it's worth doing your research to determine which games are good and which are not. A well chosen video game will offer hours of enjoyment, and earn you a well deserved bit of street credit with your child. A poorly chosen one can earn you a reputation for being clueless, and also represents a waste of money. In this article, we take a look at some of the top games - and therefor the safest gifts - available for the Wii this Christmas season.
1. The Nintendo Wii
No Wii-related gift guide could list anything aside from the Wii itself as the number 1 item. If you want to make a child happy, there's no safer way to do it than to get them a game system - assuming they don't already own one. Which game system depends on the child, but the Nintendo Wii is currently one of the most popular and accessible consoles out there. With games that appeal to hardcore and the casual gamers alike, the Wii offers a great deal in terms of a safe gift. If your gift recipient does not own one already, the Nintendo Wii is almost guaranteed to be above and beyond what they expect. Also, it comes with a great party game that will draw in the entire family once it's opened.2. Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii was released in early November of 2007, and quickly climbed the ranks as one of the best reviewed games of all time. The simple and addictive gameplay appeals to almost everyone, and makes Galaxy - along with the creative and ever-changing environments - one of the few must-have titles to be released for the Nintendo Wii since launch. If your gift recipient already owns a Nintendo Wii, your biggest concern with getting them a copy of Super Mario Galaxy should be the danger that other gift givers may end up getting the same thing. Or, as likely, that the gamer themselves will have bought it already. Double check for that, then buy and give with confidence.3. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
From this point on, the list becomes more complicated. Every item on this list is of good quality, but won't suit every gamer. The first of these is a game called Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. RE4: Wii Edition is actually a re-release of a game that came out several years ago on a previous generation of game systems, but was released again on the Wii to take advantage of its unique controls. Simply put, Resident Evil 4 is a great game. It's creepy, atmospheric, and has addictive gameplay, but is extremely violent. If that sounds like the type of game your gift recipient would like, doesn't have already, and should be playing, RE4: Wii Edition is a great gift. Plus, it sells at a reduced price, since it's not technically a new game.4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is the last in a series of three games that are considered "best of class" on the systems they appear on, which is the Wii and the GameCube. Metroid Prime 3 is the best of these, and the only one that takes advantage of the Wii's controls. If your gift recipient has an appreciation for science fiction and world exploration, Metroid Prime 3 is a fairly good bet. Unlike what the action-packed game trailers may suggest, Metroid Prime is more about solving environmental puzzles and opening doors than it is about intense combat, though there is certainly a lot of shooting. It's as close as the Wii has to a good first person shooter, but you'll still spend a good deal of your time jumping between platforms.5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a tricky item to buy as a gift. It's the latest iteration of one of the most beloved game franchises of all time, but it was also one of the few title available to the Wii at or near launch. There's a good chance that most gamers that are interested in Zelda, if they own a Wii already, will have already picked this title up for themselves during the drought in good games that followed the Wii's initial release. That said, it's still one of the best rated games on the system. If your gamer doesn't have it already, you should find out why. If the answer isn't, "I don't like Zelda games," then give The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess a good, long look.6. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is an entirely different style of game than any other on the list. It has far more in common with games like Dance Dance Revolution than it does with games like Twilight Princess. For one, it's far more physical, and requires rhythm. For another, it uses a special controller that comes with the game - it's shaped like a guitar. Because of the extra controller, the game costs more than some of the others, but for a gamer that likes music and the guitar, Guitar Hero III is perfect. It's addictive, accessible, and fundamentally cool. It's also one of the most common games that you'll see being demoed at game kiosks in stores like Wal-Mart, which gives you a chance to try before you buy.