The game has the same controls as Excite Truck. If you’re not familiar with that, it’s one of those video games you can just “pick up” and magically know how to play. Well, that game was so popular this is a spin-off with … well, excitebots! Heh. How can you not like a name like that? You can even choose to be the frog. Ribbit! Ribbit!

Nintendo Wii is coming out with some great games and this is one of them, especially if you like action racing games (or frogs.) As with Excite Trucks, this uses the special Nintendo Wii Driving Controller, which is kinda cool. (At least I like it. If you disagree with me, first – how dare you! Second, leave a comment so I can defend myself at least!

Ok, back to the video game.

Up to six of your friends can race online via a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in both the Excite Race and the Poker Race modes. Broadband Internet access is required for online play. (Duh.)

You can activate in-race mini-games including:

• Soccer
• Bowling
• Darts
• Clowns
• Sandwiches

What other game combines high-speed robot racers with bowling, poker, clown faces and sandwich making? Not many. Leave it to the Nintendo Wii to come out with such a game.

If you have any Excitebots: Trick Racing stories, we really do want to hear from you. (Seriously – some night I lay awake for hours wondering why there are no real comments on the blog. Smile. Just kidding. It’s free to join the conversation, though!)

Til next time, excite your bot.

The graphics in the game are some of the best currently available for the Nintendo Wii. There are some issues at some points in the game with the graphics, but overall, they’re going to pretty much amaze you.

The story behind the game is a bit zany and over the top, but so is the zombie killing action in this FPS (first person shooter.)

You don’t get to move a lot through the world, but that’s not the fun of this game. The fun comes in blasting mutants and finding power-ups so you can more effectively blast mutants.

The mutant enemies (even the bosses) aren’t much of a match, which makes this game kinda fun and light (for a gruesome mutant blasting game anyway), but there are ways to get to a ‘director’s cut’ of the game, with longer levels and slightly tougher enemies.

The soundtrack for the game is pretty good, with the music sticking in your head even after you turn off your Nintendo Wii. The voice acting isn’t too shabby either.

Overall, if you’re looking for an easy, laid back shooter for the Nintendo Wii with great graphics, The House of the Dead: Overkill should be on your hit list.

If you’ve played House of the Dead: Overkill, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and let us know what you thought of the game.

Until next time … keep your eyes open for mutant clowns.

The mini-games weren’t really needed in the game, but they may have been thrown in to make the game (ported from a PC with different interfaces and controls) more Wii-like. Whatever the case (Get it?), if you can get past the mini-games, there is a rich and detailed mystery for you to solve as Nancy Drew.

The storyline is typical Nancy Drew type material. (What, you haven’t read all the Nancy Drew books?!) There’s a lot of detail in the storyline, which lets you get drawn into the world and story of the Nancy Drew universe. Then a mini-game is thrown in, which pulls you back out as you try to shake or twist the Wii remote in just the right way.

The mini-games fit in the storyline by being tasks that Nancy has to complete while she’s undercover working. I’m sure they could’ve released the game without adding them, though. But enough of the annoying mini-games!

If you like Nancy Drew (the movies or the books), you’re going to like the story and attention to details that will really draw you into the game. It’s not a good game for everyone, but if you like mysteries and adventure, you’re gonna want to check it out.

If you’ve played Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek on the Nintendo Wii, leave a comment below and let us know what you think. (How much do YOU hate the mini-games in this game? Do you wish they would make a version specifically for the Wii instead of porting an older one? Let us know!)

Til next time, keep hunting clues.

For most of the game you’ll be playing as Po, but you can also play, at points, Master Shifu, Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, and Viper. As with most games where you shift characters, each character has different skill sets that will let you more easily clear certain levels of the (short) game.

The game is short and has been reported to take around 4 or 5 hours to complete. When compared to the XBOX version of the game, the Wii version has less to love, with some levels not appearing in this version of the game.

Despite all that, if you’re a fan of the movie (or Jack Black), you’ll want to pick this game up. It’s not going to keep you entertained for hours and hours and hours, but will for at least some hours. Sometimes a game is only meant to be played for a short while and that maybe makes it a little more special to you. What’s that they say about always leaving the audience wanting more? Maybe if sales are good there will be a sequel.

Have you played the game – either the Wii or the XBOX version? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below letting us know what you thought – whether it’s good or bad we want to hear your real opinion! We are, after all, Video Game Freaks. Smile. Til next time, keep gaming.

The latest incarnation for the Nintendo Wii offers online multiplayer action, the ability to trade screengrabs and custom levels, and even more characters to choose from (while still maintaining balance and playability.)

While the game is best played with a bunch of friends, Super Smash Bros. Brawl does offer a single-player game that’s kinda cool.

The real fun with this game comes in picking your favorite Nintendo character and battling 2D style with friends or family or even strangers you may never have met except for online.

Some of the 35 characters (14 are hidden and need to be unlocked) include Meta Knight from Kirby, Fox McCloud from Star Fox,  Pikachu from Pokémon, and more. This is the biggest Super Smash Bros. Brawl yet.

If you’re worried about being able to control your favorite character with the new Wii controller, don’t be. The game can be played with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, the Wii Remote, the classic controller, or the GameCube Controller, making it easy to bring your character to life and brawl with the best of them.

Another great site to check out is the Super Smash Bros. Brawl DOJO. IGN also has a good Super Smash Bros. Brawl write-up, including reviews of the game, tips for the game, screenshots, walkthroughs, cheats and a whole lot more.

If you’ve ever wondered if Mario could take on Metroid and win, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the game for you – it’ll let you pit your favorite Nintendo characters against each other.

If you like the game, leave a comment below and let us know your favorite Nintendo character match-ups.