Wii games come of age

When it was launched three years ago the breakthrough Wii console was hailed as a move away from hardcore shoot-em-ups to more mainstream sports activities.

The key was, and still is, motion control that lets you use real-life actions to play games and benefit from exercise.

And the Wii is now often the centrepiece at family parties where three generations, from gran to the kids will join in.

But after selling 50 million worldwide, most publishers are creating games for it, including some very hard-gore titles.

Games like Mad World, House of the Dead: Overkill, Punch Out and Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop are strictly over-18, adult only games and all on the Wii.

Weather it’s an Xbox, PS3 or Wii, most parents see the benefits of gaming consoles but they are still troubled about controlling the content. The starting point is to set the console’s parental controls. And the second step is monitoring the game content. So always check PEGI ratings on any game kids play. This selection of ten new Easter games shows the variety of PEGI ratings (brackets).

1.Ultimate Band, April 10 —Wii, DS (3+)
2. Wanted: Weapons of Fate, April 3 — 360, PS3, PC (18)

3. Dementium The Ward, April 3 — DS (15+)

4. We Rock: Drum King, April 9 — Wii (12+)

5. The Godfather II, April 10 — PC, PS3, 360 (18)

6. Brave: A Warrior’s Tale, April 10 — PSP, Wii, Xbox (7+)

7. Valkyrie Profile Covenant of the Plume, April 3 — DS (12+)

8. Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball, April 10 — Wii (12+)

9. Skate City Heroes, April 10 – Wii (3+)

10. Away: Shuffle Dungeon – April 10 – DS – (7+)