Guitar Hero 3 is the best online Wii game so far
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 12:08pm by Blake
I’ve played quite a few online-enabled Wii games in all their varying degrees. Elebits with its basic WiiConnect24 features; Mario Strikers Charged, which is perhaps one of the most underrated Wii games, especially online; Medal of Honor Heroes 2 which lovingly bypasses friend codes like other EA games; Metroid Prime 3 (kidding); Guitar Hero 3; and most recently, Super Smash Bros. Brawl which suffers from some pesky lag and inability to currently “Play With Anyone,” but is still a giggle fest when playing friend matches.
So far, Guitar Hero 3 has been the best online Wii game in my opinion. Only the ditching of friend codes (or better yet, a universal ID like PSN and Live) and VOIP would make it a better experience. Here’s why: Guitar Hero 3 doesn’t make you connect and reconnect to Wi-Fi like Brawl does, rather it maintains a constant connect. But the gravy is receiving friend invite alerts much like Xbox Live at anytime you have the game fired on. Brawl and others are sorely missing this smart feature.
Guitar Hero 3 is far from being online perfect, but more publishers, including Nintendo, should look to it as starting inspiration of what can be done on Wii. Nintendo clearly has little idea of what constitutes a compelling online system — I can only suspect they are too prideful to admit they need help and then ask for it.
Would you agree?
March 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Haven’t tried this one online yet. Not quite good enough. Still can’t really play on HARD mode so, I have been hesitant.
I will have to wait a few weeks anyways as I just shipped my copy away for a Stereo version of the game. I was actually surprised when I got it in the mail (the send-away package) since I placed the order awhile back. I had also been getting a lot of “freebies” from Nintendo for taking some surveys, so I couldn’t remember if I had taken one lately.
But I digress. I actually got online last night at 8:30pm (EST) with connected to Random Brawlers. Took less than 30 seconds to find someone to play. It worked great….except for the lag. There was some serious lag issues in the last few games I played. Some where up to 10 seconds of hang-time with nothing. However this is more progress than I had last week, so at least the situation is improving.
Once I get my new copy of GHIII I’ll make an attempt to go online.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Great points. I wish Nintendo would take online stuff more seriously, because it seems like they must know what the people want, they just refuse to give it.
However, they will need to get a better track list to get me to buy it on the Wii. I would love the online play, but I already have all 4 GH games on PS2, as well as 2 guitars, so I just couldn’t justify starting over on a new system, especially since I think the track list on GH3 is the weakest of all the full GH games.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
smash online with anyone is working great now. it usually take about 30 seconds to get someone but it works perfectly.it has for like 4 days
March 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
question for those of you that complain about lag:
do you use wavebirds?
I ask, cuz i heard they cause lag in brawl… Im not sure if it’s true, but it’s been bothering me as some people are still complaining about lag, while others say it’s been running smoothly.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I use Wiimote sideways. As of yesterday, Play With Anyone still wasn’t working — i continually get the “couldn’t connect error” (note: I use a 15mbps down and 3mbps up broadband).
March 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I believe Pokemon Revolution is the best online game. Nothing beats being 30 and playing Pokemon….nothing.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I’m with Blake, Wii-mote sideways. However as stated, it was working with significant lag yesterday.
Blake: How do you test your down and up speeds?
This however doesn’t confirm if those I was playing against were using wavebirds.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Maybe they should make a Metroid Prime Hunters type game for the Wii where multiplayer is more emphasized. Although it might cheapen the Metroid series.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
This may be tad anal but that should have been worded, “the best online functionality of any wii game”. It sounds like you are saying it is better than brawl, which as we all know would be ludacris.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
With regard to what sam said; my experiance has been the same. I can’t see what everyone else is complaining about. I just got my luigi slaughtered by a zelda like 20 times last night
March 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Yeah I think GH probably does have the nicest online setup. It’s benerally fast and pretty pain free. What i don’t understand is why MOH heroes gets any praise for it’s online, sure it doesn’t use friend codes, but it has less features than a 10 year old pc game, and a pathetic selection of maps.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I use Wavebirds, but I don’t know why that would cause lag.
I’ve had a mostly OK experience with Brawl online play the past few days (vs. the first week when I couldn’t get into any brawls at all). I sure wish Nintendo would flesh it out more though. It’s 2008 Nintendo, get in the online game!!! Geez.
More than the lag issue, my question is how to handle the player who chooses Kirby EVERY..SINGLE..GAME and does nothing but the Stone move on other players while they’re brawling. Annoying. I’m not an experienced enough Smash Brothers player to know how to deal with that particular stunt.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
6 maps and 8 different guns is more than enough
March 19th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
MOH gets praise because it’s great. Sure there are hugh drawbacks, but it’s the first fps on the Wii, give them a break (plus the control are incredible). As for Smash, it didn’t work last night but that was the first time since a few days after it came out, and the lag has mostly gone away.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I dunno, I just find it hard to be impressed with online in so many console games when there were games like Tribes in 1998 that did so much more than a lot of new games do (enormous maps, 32+ players on dial-up, vehicles). But that’s neither here nor there, Gh does have good online, better than the PS3 version from what Ive heard.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Personally, I think EA nation (or whatever it is called) is pretty slick. I used it for a rented copy of Fifa 08 and it was smooth like mayo.
@ Quix
As someone who uses Kirby a great deal (with mixed results, I’m a noob), I’ll say this: if Kirby is floating above you, get aside. Just always keep an eye out on him. You can drill him when he lands and switches back to kirby.
Just like staying out of the line of site for some other attacks that come from distance sideways (links boomerang, metaknights twisty-thing, etc.) you just have to keep an eye out as to where you are situated. I try not to do that move when I am kirby all the time (maybe 3 times in a 2 minute brawl) but when you evade and float to the top, it is so damn easy and fun to use.
March 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am
I have to agree with you that it is probably the best online Wii game. But might have to disagree with you on whether or not it is a “pride” aspect of Nintendo as to why the others don’t work as well. It’s a different action type game altogether. I personally like the friend code as I have young ones that play it as well and I don’t just want them going out there and “connecting” with people that I’m not aware of.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Haven’t really explored the GH3 online component yet, aside from a few “battle anyone” matches just to see how things were working. None of my friends own the game, surprisingly, so my online prospects for GH3 are low; I really don’t have any interest in playing strangers.
I have really enjoyed Nintendo’s basic service. Sure, it is extremely flawed and could be much more intuitive…but I’ve spent countless hours playing Battalion Wars II online with my little brother, and have had a blast doing so. And I’ve spent even more time playing my sister and friends with Mario Kart DS and, to a lesser extent, Mario Strikers Charged.
I’ve said this before, but as long as I can play with my friends and family online, even in a basic form…I am more than happy with Nintendo’s service.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I’m in the same boat Derek, not one of my friends has GH3. Ahh well.
As for the Kirby comment, I played as him for a few matches online and used the aforementioned “turn into a brick/stone” move quite a bit with terrible results.
Even though you’re big stone and take little damage, opponents can still grab you and throw you around. So I guess if people are doing that move to you, just grab them. Worked against me.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:06 pm
[...] the recent accolades of the Guitar Hero Franchise being the #1 played game over Nintendo’s Wi Fi connection and [...]
March 24th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
“Would you agree?”
Yes, I agree that it is the current best online Wii game so far. Unfortunately, that’s not saying much. After delving into Brawl’s lag-fest — excuse me — online, I have to say I’ve given up on Nintendo’s online. They had a chance. Really. But they just didn’t pursue it. I’m through with their online; it looks like I’ll just be sticking with PC. It’s sad really. Who didn’t look forward to playing Super Smash Bros Brawl online? And now Pay to Play?? Really, Nintendo. But that’s getting off topic. The point is, games like Guitar Hero 3, and Super Smash Bros Brawl, are flat-out awesome. I can’t get enough of the two. But the online is like a dent in a flawless mirror — you can’t help but notice it through the reflection.