Shooter Video Games

Players take the role of the darker, grittier James Bond in Quantum of Solace, the first 007 game from publisher Activision. Following Daniel Craig's portrayal of a violent, driven Bond, the young MI6 agent's methods may be messy, but he is ultimately effective. Gameplay features plenty of gun-fighting and hand-to-hand combat, as well as surveillance and stealth sequences. The game is built on Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4 game engine, and features similar graphical quality, third-person cut-aways, and lively enemy AI.

The setting and story of Quantum of Solace are based directly on the movies, both Casino Royale and its sequel, which shares the game's title and autumn 2008 release. Developers re-created locations from both films, based on thousands of photos. All main characters have the likenesses and voices of their cinematic counterparts, including Craig as Bond and Olga Kurylenko as Camille, plus Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Eva Green, and Mads Mikkelsen in their respective roles.

The Wii edition of the game offers multiple control schemes; one uses the standard Wii Remote and Nunchuk set-up and another makes use of the Wii Zapper accessory. A Wii-exclusive split-screen mode lets up to four players shoot it out together, and online multiplayer modes support up to 12 players. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Players take on the role of the newest recruit in the United Nations Air Force in Twin Strike: Operation Thunder. As a crack shot helicopter pilot, gamers must navigate a variety of different choppers through 20 intense missions, all the while fending off hostile aircraft, avoiding ground-based attacks, and upholding international laws. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

The veteran Army Men series enlists with developer and publisher DSI's Zoo Games label for Soldiers of Misfortune, a more light-hearted, family-friendly engagement than earlier games. Players take the role of Timmy, a little boy who not only plays with his toy soldiers, but plays as them. He imagines himself shrunk down to the size of his army men and takes part in missions alongside them. Players guide Timmy from a behind-the-shoulder perspective as he makes his way across giant, household battlefields.

The Tan army is set on total domination, and must be stopped for the good of the entire household. Armed with appropriate weaponry (including a dart gun, a water pistol, and a bowling ball), Timmy joins the ranks of the Green army, to embark on missions of both action and strategy against their perennial enemies. At the size of a toy soldier, ordinary objects pose big tactical considerations on the battlefield. Building blocks and stuffed animals offer shelter and cover, while other strategically significant items, such as wall switches, become much less easily accessible. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Like a jury-rigged mix of R-Type and Katamari Damacy, Blast Works is a side-scrolling shooter that aspires to be greater than the sum of its parts. Players control a small ship that can attach itself to the enemy ships it destroys. Enemy ships attached to the outer hull act as breakaway armor to the player's vessel, and they also add their firepower, shooting at whatever angle they happened to face when they were attached to the primary ship. Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy comes with level-design editing tools and a ship creator. Internet-connected gamers can trade their custom ships and levels with other players through the WiiConnect24 system. Blast Works is based on the Windows freeware game Tumiki Fighters by Aba Games. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Based on the 1988 arcade title Cloud Master, The Monkey King: The Legend Begins has players guiding the game's hero as he rides atop a cloud. The hero must defend the heavenly kingdom that has been invaded in order to take his place as a god. Using the Wii Remote's motion controls users can dodge enemies and control the pace of the game. A two-player cooperative mode is also included. ~ All Game Guide

Neko Entertainment's catty little imp has run off to the circus, where's he waiting for gamers to take their best shot. Cocoto Magic Circus is a carnival-style shooting gallery game designed to appeal to the whole family, from tech-leary grandparents to controller-savvy kids. Up to four players can join the pop-gun fun, in four modes of play: Training, Duel, Arcade, and Tournament. An additional 40 mini-games break up the shooting gallery action, and players can earn enabling bonuses (as well as hampering "maluses") as they blast from one mini-game to the next. The Wii's Magic Circus is based on the GameCube and PlayStation 2 game Cocoto Funfair, released previously in Europe but not in North America. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

A smash hit in late-'90s arcades, Sega's hit on-rails survival-horror shooter returns from the dead in 2008 with an all-new Wii-enabled interface. This collection includes both original games, House of the Dead 2 and House of the Dead 3, both revamped for point-and-shoot Wii remote control. From a first-person perspective, players proceed through nightmarish environments at a tense, deliberate pace, and are periodically assaulted by deadly, quick-moving zombies -- usually when least expected. A basic storyline holds each adventure together, and civilians and other friendly characters (who should not be shot!) add to the challenge. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

European developer Cauldron's follow-up to The History Channel Presents: Civil War -- A Nation Divided trades bayonets for sub-machine guns in Battle for the Pacific. This first-person shooter has players fighting alongside a close-knit squad in some of the most intense battles fought in World War II's Eastern Front. From Henderson Field to Mount Suribachi, players will advance through thick jungles, across volcanic islands, and past fortified caves to complete objectives. Documentary videos preface each mission, offering detailed statistics, battle footage, and other enlightening information. Authentic mission types include recapturing airfields, repelling enemy assaults, embarking on search-and-destroy operations, and more. Among the weapons available to players are sub-machine guns, sniper rifles, pistols, and grenades. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Sega's popular light-gun arcade game makes its Wii debut with four-player support and added content. As in the 2004 coin-op, a secretive Special Forces unit known as the Ghost Squad is sent by the United Nations to neutralize a terrorist threat. The Wii Remote is used to shoot down enemies, rescue hostages, and disarm explosives throughout three missions of play. Twenty-five weapons can be unlocked, ranging from pistols and shotguns to assault rifles and submachine guns. Hand-to-hand moves are also supported for close quarters combat.

Other terrorist-thwarting tools at your disposal include night vision, thermo vision, and when all else fails, a simple flashlight. While the console version still only features three missions, Ghost Squad on Wii offers new modes and features over the arcade game. Each mission, for example, offers multiple levels, alternate routes, day and night variants, secret costumes to unlock, and other surprises, allowing players to revisit stages for a new experience or challenge. Flexible control options allow solo soldiers to dual-wield Wii Remotes or up to four players to battle terrorists on the same screen. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The Xbox 360's retro-themed shooter series thrusts onto Wii with Geometry Wars: Galaxies. Inspired by classic arcade titles like Asteroids and Tempest, the game mixes vector graphics and non-stop blasting action within colorful, grid-shaped solar systems. The controls attempt to mimic the dual-analog system of earlier versions by using the Wii Remote as a pointer for 360° aiming and the Nunchuk for movement. Blasting enemies will leave behind items called Geoms that increase bonus multipliers for high scores. One of the biggest changes to the series is the inclusion of a drone ship companion, which can be ordered to attack, collect Geoms, deploy defensive turrets, and perform other strategic options. Four multiplayer modes are available for both competitive and cooperative action with a friend, and Galaxies supports connectivity with the DS version for bonus content. The full version of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved is also included as a special bonus. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide