Nintendo: Review of 2006, Wii and Nintendo DS Success

2006 was the year we saw our favourite plumber return to doing what he does best, while Nintendo DS and Wii proved that there are still many untrodden paths for videogames to wander, while both Game Boy Advance and GameCube played host to some sensational experiences of their own.

Looking back on a landmark year in gaming, we pick the cream of the crop to praise the games that towered above all else on their respective platforms. While it's virtually impossible to create such a list without leaving some real gems by the wayside, one thing is certain: every game in the list below warmed our gamer hearts during the past twelve months and should only be missed at your own risk.

Game Boy Advance

Game of the Year: Final Fantasy IV Advance

No mere port of a beloved classic, FFIV Advance took all the features of the original that secured the series its legendary status, and improved upon them with upgraded graphics and sound, an even better story thanks to the excellent translation, plus two massive new dungeons, resulting in a challenging, moving epic that proves that gameplay can age like a good wine.

Honourable Mention: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

Boldly moving away from the classic formula, the Mystery Dungeon games proved as deep and varied as the many dungeons below their surface. And once the core mystery had been solved, the tables turned to give the player more freedom and plenty of incentive to get to the very bottom of it all, encountering some of the toughest bosses in Pokémon history.

Nintendo GameCube

Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Few titles cause anticipation levels like a Zelda game does, and even less manage to live up to their hype like Twilight Princess did. The true successor to Ocarina of Time in every aspect, Link's final adventure on the GameCube is a milestone in gaming history, its Hyrule bathed in constantly changing light a work of art masterfully laid out as a playground you wish would know no boundaries. Quite simply, unmissable.

Honourable Mention: Chibi-Robo!

This little robot may have been small enough to slip under the radar, but the scope of his adventure deserves recognition on a broader scale. It takes a sizeable talent to turn as mundane a task as cleaning into an engrossing adventure, but that's precisely what makes Chibi's debut so special. Plug in and power up to this charming metal head for an experience you will never forget.

By Nintendo