Happy trails: Ten best Wii games remaining

02. Kirby Wii (HAL Laboratory, Nintendo)

Kirby has been on a roll, and it has nothing to do with his shape. Fresh ideas and some innovative design have allowed recent Kirby titles’on both canvas and fabric’to shine, and the all-new Kirby game coming to Wii seems poised to maintain the momentum.

Only it’s not an all-new Kirby game. Not even in the slightest.

It’s on our list for good reasons, but it’s important to note Nintendo’s upcoming Kirby game is anything but new. The as-yet-untitled game is actually a finished version of the Kirby game originally planned for GameCube and announced in 2005. After an erratic development history filled with console transitions, cancellations and denials of its existence, HAL Laboratory is finally bringing it to Wii later this year.

Allegedly, that is. Pardon the skepticism, Kirby, but we’ve been here before.

Despite its sketchy past, however, there’s reason to think the Kirby team has made a breakthrough. Kirby Wii takes the series back to more familiar territory, restoring the character’s trademark suction ability, but it also makes some interesting new additions. Kirby can spit out a destructive star after inhaling multiple enemies, and taking a note from Mario, the game also includes a riotous four-player multiplayer mode.

It’s not as innovative as his recent outings, but at least it’s done. I think. For Kirby fans who prefer eating to pulling strings, Kirby Wii is due out before the end of the year.