It’s quite obvious that if you like first-person shooters then there are plenty of quality titles to enjoy, as long as you have the right console to play them on. Many will know what I’m referring to as the Nintendo Wii has in polite terms has always had the misfortune of received little or no notable offerings in comparable shooters, we’ve heard all the reasons such as hardware limitations to opposing demographic appeal, the fact of the matter is our little motion-sensing console is typically an unusual platform to develop for.  It’s been a while coming and something of an anticipated Cinderella story for developer High Voltage Software as they sought to do what few have accomplished - or even tried.  After funding the project themselves and proposing what has been considered a gamble by many publishers (minus publisher Sega), their efforts have finally culminated into The Conduit.

It’s undeniable upon first impressions that The Conduit isn’t just another hasty or budgeted port, but rather a completely unique and enjoyable first-person shooter built from the ground-up and tailored for Nintendo's console.  While most developers have been satisfied (and profitable) utilizing Gamecube-era software systems, High Voltage Software took the brave step of creating one of the most technologically advanced graphics and physics engines possible on the console, and while the results may not match up entirely to high-end Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 software, they're (mostly) startling and show what's possible when effort is put in.

You assume the role of Agent Michael Ford, who is an operative that works for the welfare of his country, of course his work for the secret organization simply known as The Trust has a far different agenda as their priorities involve diffusing an impending alien invasion. As you can tell the plot is heavily influenced by science-fiction themes and situations that does its best to combine serious narrative, conspiracy theories, and government intrigue that can at politely be described as 'generic' at best.  Its clear the bulk of research and effort went into molding the game's visual wonders, but in some ways the simplistic nature of the plot works to the overall experience; no overblown drama or bald space marines anywhere, so count your blessings.

What will keep you enthralled is the solid technical implementation of controls, which in the case of the Wii is something of a grand feat. With the exception of Metroid Prime 3, the typical Wiimote/Nunchuk combination has never worked better in an fps game until now as even the standard layout is quite intuitive to grasp with much of my gaming concerns were wiped clean after only a few quick minutes of play, and even after that the customization of schemes are good enough to possibly satisfy even the most discerning of gamers. The presence of motion controls are fortunately exclusive to maneuvering and executing physical actions such as melee and grenade tossing, which results in a more sensible method of motion actions.  Of course, even these small details are customizable to an unheard of degree (Wii or otherwise), so if the game's controls aren't to your liking, just go ahead and change them.

It not an overstatement for me to contend that this is quite possibly The Conduit’s greatest achievement, hopefully other developers taking some heavy notes.

The single-player campaign is fairly straightforward and traditional, with a linear path and few distractions along the way. This is great until the formula gets a little bit repetitive as you'll have to deal with some puzzle-solving sessions through his nifty - and often mentioned - "All Seeing Eye" (ASE) orb that grants him powers to see hidden objects and numerous spawning conduits that need to be disabled.  While this ocular object looks cool, its never utilized properly, and a later-state battle requiring the ASE to 'unmask' an enemy hints at what could have been possible if the developers had more confidence in the mechanic.  As it stands, the gimmick is well thought-out, but that's about it.

Luckily full online multiplayer offerings make up for some of the previous issues with single or team-focused varieties. The choices are what you’d expect from CTF to team deathmatch with support up to 12 players with most matchmaking sessions plagued with very little lag, something I haven’t seen since Mario Kart Wii.  The game's online menu system looks and feels surprising modern, with voting/veto options, level selection, and even micro-management of your character's model.  The interface is so clean and slick that I almost forgot I was playing the Wii, and a friend walking inquired if I was playing Halo online.  A big compliment, indeed.

But a major disappointment for me and probably many other competitive people is the severe limited functionality of the WiiSpeak device that lets you talk with others; it appears that I can only converse with my registered friends and their notorious 12-digit Friend Codes.  Naturally, those looking to bring Xbox Live-quality smack-talk to the Wii's online universe are in for a big disappointment.

A quick note before I summarize my feelings about the final product, and its about the game's development in general.  High Voltage Software should be applauded for taking on such an ambitious task, namely proving the Wii can handle complex graphics and 'hardcore' gameplay - because any gamer worth his or her salt knows the console is more than capable.  However, there are certain things Nintendo's console simply cannot match its high-definition and technically superior rivals can, and perhaps rather than continue their current technological path, they should find comfort and inspiration with more recent titles on the system, specifically The Ghostbusters and EA's upcoming Madden 10.  Free from the unrealistic expectations of producing Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 quality visuals, this would free developers from their impossible task and focus on what the Wii does best, which is provide innovative experiences and unique gameplay options.  Again, the console is more than capable, and developers like High Voltage have proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

It's been a long time coming, but The Conduit  may finally be that answer to a competent first-person shooter designed for the Wii console. It might not be perfect but it’s hard to not to admire High Voltage’s efforts either when you’re treated with excellent controls and presentation that actually make good use of the hardware--Ironically I’m reminded of the Nintendo 64 and original shooting classics like GoldenEye and Perfect Dark and how entertaining those title were to play back then. Of course a somewhat lackluster story and campaign may give hardened fans a sense of déjà vu, the excellent and surprisingly deep multiplayer options will keep most of them happy.