Nintendo hosted a preview on Tuesday of Wii and DS games slated for release this fall. In contrast with a similar event held by Microsoft at a downtown Toronto nightclub last week that felt like a miniature game convention, Nintendo's showcase was a quieter affair. Small groups of journalists lounged on a couch in a makeshift living room set up in a Toronto hotel as they took turns trying a modest assortment of first- and third-party titles. 

The primary attraction was Wii Music, one of Nintendo's biggest game announcements at E3 this past July. Actually, “game” might not be the most accurate descriptor; Wii Music is more like a toy. As my colleagues and I experimented with several of the more than 60 instruments that Wii Music lets people play by using the Wii remote and nunchuk controllers to mimic the movements of, say, strumming guitars and thumping drums, it became evident that there aren't really any rules to follow or objectives to achieve. You simply choose a song, select an instrument, and begin jamming. The melody is locked in, so you can't go off-key. All you have to do to play your part is keep your movements in time with the song. And since Wii Music's catalogue is composed mostly of classic themes from Nintendo games and old children's standards like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” chances are anyone who plays will have a pretty good idea of the melody and rhythm, regardless of their age or gaming pedigree.

This everyone-and-their-kids-can-play vibe became something of a theme at Nintendo's event. A pair of 2-D platform games—Wario Land: Shake It!, a Wii title starring Nintendo's popular, pink-nosed hedonist, and Kirby Super Star Ultra, a DS game featuring a curious pink blob who sucks up bad guys and swallows them in order to usurp their powers—are both targeted at younger gamers, as is Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, the latest instalment in Nintendo's gotta-buy-‘em-all children's franchise. And then there's the undeniably cute life-simulator Animal Crossing: City Folk, which stars those precious little bobble-headed Mii avatars created by all Wii owners and involves such decidedly youthful activities as chasing after fireflies and trick-or-treating.

Of course, accessible family games are to be expected at any Nintendo hosted media gathering. Still, after being inundated by so many primary colours and upbeat game jingles I found myself craving something a little more grown up. Alas, there were no mature games to be seen.

A couple of third-party titles—a fun looking lightsabre duelling game from LucasArts based on the movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party, the third in a series of Wii party games that feature a group of mischievous bunnies who enjoy doing things such as riding cows like snowboards down steep mountains—provided some teen-rated shenanigans, but there simply wasn't anything in the way of adult-oriented, story-based, action. 

I realize that Nintendo is finding enormous success peddling all-ages content to kids and casual players, but the grown-up, serious gamer in me can't help but feel a little shunned. I play and adore games like Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart Wii, but I try to keep a balanced diet of both lighter and heavier video game fare. Based on what I saw Tuesday, Nintendo isn't offering a well-rounded menu.