New Play Control! Pikmin (Wii)

When PIKMIN was introduced in 2001, Nintendo GameCube fans either loved it or hated it. Some said the tactical strategy game, which involves manipulating tiny Pikmin creatures into rebuilding a spaceship for Captain Olimar, was too difficult. Others said its 30-day time system resulted in short game play with little replayability. Still, more players praised the game as one of the most unique and addictive Nintendo offerings in a long while.

Well, what's old is new again now that Nintendo has just released this title for the Nintendo Wii, the first in its planned "New Play Control!" series that reintroduces GameCube games to a whole new generation -- with updated wireless, motion-sensing controls and 16:9 widescreen presentation.

Indeed! The $30 game cleverly (and successfully) fuses strategy with action, brains with brawn. As Captain Olimar, players must use the Wii Remote to round up the 100-or-so inch-high Pikmin, to whom you can assign tasks: exploring the environment, collecting items, defeating nasty insect enemies, propagating to create new Pikmin, or solving puzzles, such as bypassing environmental obstacles and building a spaceship to flee this odd world. Each Pikmin color has its own abilities: blue Pikmin are resistant to water, red Pikmin can withstand fire, and yellow Pikmin are not affected by electricity. Whether or not you played the original on the GameCube, New Play Control! Pikmin is defintely worth the investment for Wii fans craving a challenging space adventure they won't soon forget.