Metroid is one of the few Nintendo franchises focused on hardcore gamers. A story in space involving aliens known as Metroids that absorb energy from living beings, space pirates looking to weaponize the Metroids, and a single bounty hunter burdened with the task of eradicating both sides definitely strays from the company's family-friendly norm.

The previous-generation Metroid Prime trilogy focused strictly on first-person shooting and was a different take on the franchise's story. Metroid: Other M (on the Wii system) takes a gamble by returning to the original continuity and a third-person action style. It pays off big, though, with fantastic high-speed combat and a deeper perspective on the Metroid universe.

2007's Super Mario Galaxy followed the tradition of Mario games moving platforming in a new direction. The consistently changing gravity combined with the series' top-tier movement controls delivered an experience that felt familiar but different at the same time. While it was a fun gameplay experience, the story was too bland to hold my interest against competing titles such as Mass Effect. Two and a half years later, the Wii exclusive Super Mario Galaxy 2 offers dozens of new levels to explore and power-ups to abuse. The game is just as gratifying as its predecessor, but it once again leaves a bitter taste in my mouth with its retread plot.

Since his 1981 debut in Donkey Kong, Mario has been a staple of the platforming genre, but in recent years he's branched out, taking on go-kart racing and fighting tournaments with other Nintendo characters, for instance. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the original magic that caught our attention decades ago returns, along with the sadistic difficulty some have come to love and hate.

Wii Sports Resort, the long-awaited sequel to 2006's Wii Sports, puts players in a tropical resort loaded with new activities to show off the Wii MotionPlus accessory that's bundled with the game, offering near-perfect motion control. There are 10 new game types, and most have variations to change things up.

Breaking the $49.95 package down, you essentially get a $30 game with the $20 MotionPlus controller add-on, and it's not a bad deal when you find a few games that get your blood pumping and keep you coming back for weeks on end. Everyone will have their own personal favorites, and it was easy for me to pick mine.