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I put addtional Wii points on my console recently and I’ve been on a WiiWare shopping spree since then. In addition to some basic NES stuff I had to pick up (SMB2&3), I’ve now downloaded: ArtStyle: Cubello, ArtStyle: Orbient, World of Goo, Lost Winds and Helix. They’re all pretty great, and feature a variety of new and innovative gameplay mechanics. Cubello and Orbient are both ultra-minimal puzzle games which require/induce an almost meditative state while playing. World of Goo is based on a simple concept (connecting tiny blobs to form stable structures) and supported by amazing art & level design. I’m still just getting started with Lost Winds, but so far it is shaping up to be a very well-done 2D platformer with cool Wiimote specific controls and a chill/peaceful/forest-and-nature-sound-effects kind of atmosphere. Being able to blow gusts of wind at background plants & objects is a nice touch.

And then there’s Helix. It’s arguably a little overpriced at 1000 Wii Points ($10) and the music is… Well, it’s “dance music,” let’s leave it at that. But regardless of all that, this game is absolutely amazing! You hold one Wiimote in each hand and then repeat the gestures performed by the weird robot on screen, to the beat of the (aforementioned) music, increasing the number and complexity of maneuvers as you progress. Sounds kind of weird, but as rhythm games go, I found it really easy to get into (as opposed to DDR) and a great use of some Wii-specific control input. Also, playing this game is a pretty decent workout!

Anyhow, I’m pretty pleased to see such a cool, diverse set of games on a high-profile new platform like WiiWare, and I haven’t even mentioned the great disc-based games (Boom Blox, De Blob, etc.) that have come out for the Wii lately. The console still has it’s technical limitations of course, but when it comes to game design, Nintendo definitely seems to be following through on their goal of creating an entirely new set of experiences for players.

(Oh, and that Strong Bad game is pretty sweet too. That’s just what I heard… =)