It's been just about three years now, and the Wii has been something of a let down for me. Most of that has to do with the software the console has: 90 percent of the games on the Wii range from "doesn't live up to its full potential" to "absolutely putrid." Only a handful of developers — Nintendo itself, Suda 51, Capcom and EA among them — have even put something on the Wii worth writing home about. Most are content to half-ass it in graphics, in game play and in just about every facet, preferring sales over quality. And even those who are doing things right aren't putting enough attention to the hardcore gamers ... well, actually, there is no strong hardcore Wii userbase anymore. It's gone to PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 and it's maybe never coming back if things continue as is. And though I do play my Wii still, I'm slowly drifting into that group, too.

To say I'm displeased with the way the software side of the Wii has gone would be an understatement. While I have played some great Wii games, they have been far and few between not because there aren't any good games, but they just aren't being released on a regular basis to any fanfare. Combined with some confusing statements from Nintendo, it just makes me feel that even though they seem to want to do the games the core wants, they're hesitant to pull the trigger on developing them.

Maybe that's why I'm so hopeful about Epic Mickey, the game Warren Spector's leading the charge on. Disney's become a surprise as of late, having first shocked me with how good Split/Second is turning out to be, and then not only creating this Wii-exclusive title, but giving a damn to start promoting it at every turn. And on top of all of that, after watching Warren's recent talk about the game, I feel like both he and Disney get it. They get what the Wii core gamers, the few of us left, need in a game. And that, more than anything, makes me excited about this game.



If you're at all interested in this game, I'd suggest listening to what Warren has to say about the game.
It's absolutely fascinating to hear his design philosophy, what he's hoping to get out of this game, and to see some of what the final product might look like. Sure, there's a good chance the game's not going to be the prettiest belle at the ball. It's not going to run circles around what the PS3 and Xbox 360 can do with their graphics. But for the first time in a long, long time, I am genuinely excited about a Nintendo Wii game, and I hope this lives up to what it's suggesting it'll be. Disney needs it. Mickey Mouse needs it. And most of all, Wii owners need it.