Nintendo Wii - Reviews

(4.4)

2033 reviews

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For Nintendo Wii, 2033 customer reviews collected from 2 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 4.4.

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7.7.2008

Let's compare the Wii to games on other next gen consoles first. Now don't get me wrong, GTA-SA (not seen GTA 4 yet), the Halo and Half Life series, to name but a few, are some of the finest games ever made. But you can't have a QUICK game of any of them because each stage of the campaign might take up to an hour to complete. Playing them requires a dogged mindset, which can feel like having to tackle a sinkful of dishes when you only want a clean cup for a quick brew. A lot of modern games have the depth, complexity and epic scope of Wagner's Ring Cycle, but there are times when all you want is a three-minute pop song. You get the picture.The Wii fills this forgotten gap in the market admirably.The ethos of old-skool video gaming lives on in the Wii. Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart, Wii Play, Super Smash Brothers Brawl and even Link's Crossbow Training are masterful, being simple pick-up-and-play games where the emphasis is on a mainlined injection of fun and action rather than the drawn-out, drip-fed satisfaction of strategy and exploration. Wii Sports, which comes with the console, is utterly brilliant. It's a killer app, nothing like it exists (or has EVER existed) on any console, and it's a perfect multi-player game.The Wii is undoubtedly less technically sophisticated than the 360 or PS3. The Wii does not raise the bar in terms of technical umph, but rather limbos under it in a floral shirt, shaking the remote and nunchuck controllers like a pair of maracas. The Wii is primarily about simple, and often mindless, fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. While the Wii may only nibble numbers while the other consoles crunch them to dust, it is still no technical slouch. The graphics and sound are about as good or slightly better than the old Xbox, and much better than the PS2. Campaigning gamers are still catered for with the likes of Metroid Prime Corruption and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, although the console comes into its own on simpler fare, particularly Super Smash Bros Brawl, Mario Kart, and Super Mario Galaxy, which is another killer app for the Wii. I would never have believed that the tired old platform format could be given... well, not even a face lift, more like a brain transplant. The technology might not raise the bar, but the gameplay on all these titles certainly does. I've been playing home video games since the days of the Atari 2600 (yes I am an old git), and these are some of the best games on any platform... ever! Mind you, all the games I've mentioned here are Nintendo originals, and not all developers lavish their games with the amount of attention and warmth that Nintendo do. I'll return to that subject later.As any fule no by now, the unique feature of the Wii is the controllers. They are packed with more clever gadgets than Q's Christmas stocking. They contain speakers which play sound effects, usually to give hints or warnings on some games. With the remote connected to a nunchuck, you have one analogue thumbstick (on the nunchuck), one d-pad (on the remote), and four main buttons, two on each controller. The role of the right-hand thumbstick on traditional controllers is assumed by the sensor bar which you place above or below the TV screen, and the infra-red receiver at the front of the remote. The sensor bar is not aptly named, since it does not actually 'sense' anything, it merely emits two points of infra-red, and the remote cleverly converts it into three-dimensional co-ordinates for your on-screen pointer. That's right, I said THREE dimensional co-ordinates: some games require you to push and pull the remote in and out of the screen like a snooker cue. You can apparently mimic the action of the sensor bar by placing a couple of tea-lights on your telly because they also emit some low-level IR radiation. I don't know if this is true, and I'm not inclined to find out because I don't particularly want to set my house on fire.As Prince William recently demonstrated on national television, gawd bless 'im (he was on the news playing Wii Sports tennis, I don't know what the story was), the controllers also have motion detectors to recognise when you are tilting or shaking them. This means that most games have you pretending that the controllers are bats, racquets, fishing rods, lassos, hammers, swords, guns and heaven knows what else. You might look a pillock if the neighbours see you through the window, waving your arms around, smashing the light fittings and giving yourself tennis elbow, but it doesn't half add to the fun of playing. The Wii's clever control system makes its games feel distinctively different, not to mention more tempting to people who would never normally show any interest in playing video games, like maybe Prince William. It also means that the Wii lends itself to 'lifestyle applications' like Wii Fit in ways that the other consoles do not. Motion detection and infra-red sensors are far from new technology, but the way Nintendo have incorporated them into the Wii is a genuine innovation, and one which I'm sure had the boffins at Microsoft and Sony slapping their foreheads and asking why they didn't think of it. I'll bet all my saved game files that they will do something similar on their next generation of consoles. Unfortunately, the controllers run on batteries and there is no 'corded' option to run or recharge them off the console's power supply. Given that cheap and reliable rechargeable power packs are put in everything nowadays from toothbrushes to fence-paint sprayers, and most companies are trying to enhance their green credentials, it's a bit thoughtless of Nintendo not to have done the same with their controllers.If you like a bit of fun in addition to 'serious' gaming, you should get a Wii to sit alongside your 360 or PS3. If you are not in the least bit interested in video games normally, then this is definitely the console you should buy. The games I've mentioned here will keep you going for ages... but it's a good job that they will, because there are also some problems with games for the Wii, as I mentioned earlier.Third-party game developers do not seem to take the Wii seriously. There are far too many cutesy novelty titles, which all too often are collections of substandard mini-games that have you wobbling the controllers around just for the sake of it. The very worst offender here is Sonic and Mario at the Olympics. My Amazon review has been slated and given umpteen `not helpful' ratings, but I stand by my opinion - it's a high-gloss, polished turd of a game, and ludicrously overpriced. There are others that sink to similar depths of gameplay, but this one was the most overhyped. After that, check out the revolving racks of your supermarket for the glittering array of shovelware on offer - all of it so stinky that not even a dog would sniff it. Then, check out the `hot new releases' section of Amazon for the Wii, or just wander into your local game stockist and look at the Wii racks. Depressing, isn't it? True, some developers (Konami with PES 2008, Capcom with RE4) have taken their games and given them a revolutionary twist for the Wii - but they're about the only examples I can think of.Bottom line, the Wii is capable of great things, and some of the games available for it are truly modern-day classics. But the third-party games market for the Wii is a pretty barren landscape at the moment, and without them I'm not sure how much patience we Wii owners will have with the trickle of good new games that come out, particularly now that Nintendo have surely squeezed the Mario franchise dry. I hope, with its squillions of sales, that the Wii catches on!

18.2.2009

It's no secret that the Wii is far behind the Xbox360 and PS3 when it comes to graphics and processing power. But for the casual gamer and those just looking for fun, the Wii easily makes up for it. And if like me, you're old enough to remember 8bit consoles and you're not taken in by the hype of flashy graphics then you probably won't even care because the Wii still renders very impressive graphics and is definitely a very capable machine.Getting down the to important stuff: the big decision as to whether you want to buy a Wii or not is going to be all about the games. Some games that are available on the Wii are available on the Xbox360/PS3... but most are not, and vice versa.If you want a console that is all about intuitive games, family games, ingenuitively made games and outright FUN, then the Wii is probably for you. The Xbox360 and PS3 are more orientated to what many people now call 'serious gamers', i.e. those who play sports, racing and shooting games. Although in my opinion, if you're serious about games, especially First Person Shooter games, then a PC is the way to go as there is more choice, more communities, bigger communities, more room for customisation and a mouse and keyboard are the weapon of choice for real pros. It's just faster and more accurate than a gamepad. If you want to get into serious FPS gaming then do yourself a favour, forget consoles and just buy Half Life and a broadband connection.The other thing that really sets the Wii apart from it's competition is it's controller. You play the Wii using a 'TV remote' style controller in one hand that allows you to point at things on the screen and a smaller tear drop shape controller in the other hand called a 'nun-chuck'. The two are connected by a length of wire although there is no wire connecting you to the Wii. As an instrumentation engineer, I was sceptical at first about how well the controllers and the sensors inside them could really work. But they do work and surprisingly well! The controllers are sensitive, reliable, easy to use and pretty fast (although there's a slight lag between your remote and the cursor on some games). The result is that the controllers just do what you do, meaning that you can forget that you're holding bits of plastic and just play! If you've previously had problems with relating buttons on a gamepad to movement on screen then the Wii remote may just be what you've always wanted. You can even use them while sitting or laying although that's probably not the intention.I do have a few gripes with the Wii however. Nothing terrible but they're things that annoy me. Firstly, the wire that connects the remote and nun chuck could be longer. It's usually not a problem but I have long arms and when playing some games I sometimes end up yanking the wire tight as I move my arms apart. It doesn't really affect the gameplay, just annoys me.Secondly, depending on the size of your television, the Wii remote may or may not point directly where the remote points. This is because the Wii remote picks up a signal from a little bar that you have to place on top of or below your TV. From this signal, the Wii figures out where you are pointing the Wii remote. The Wii then guesses the size of your television and puts your cursor roughly in the right place. If you're using the remote from the hip then you won't notice that this is a problem. However, if you're using one of the Wii gun peripherals that the Wii remote slots into then this could be a very serious problem. Especially if you're used to using real guns and are in the habit of aiming with the thing in your hands rather than just watching where the onscreen cursor moves. I myself am used to real guns and it creates serious problem for me using the gun attachments as the on screen cursor doesn't sit on the gun sights. This makes having a gun attachment pretty useless for me. I've heard that more sophisticated televisions have a progressive scan mode for Wii that eliminates this problem, but I'm not willing to spend a few hundred pounds on a flashy television to find out. I just don't think I should have to in order to get the same performance I got with light guns on other older consoles on the TV I have now.Lastly and most seriously; the online options of the Wii. When I bought my Wii I was told by several people that the online feature is essential and makes up most of what you can do with the Wii. From my experience this is totally untrue. For a start, you can't just plug your Wii into the wall as you would with any modern PC (which usually have an inbuilt modem). Instead you need a router and all the cables that go with it. If you don't already have one then this is expensive and annoying to set up. Even if you do already have one then you'll need a special purpose adaptor if you want a wired connection to your Wii. I'm also pretty disappointed at how little there is to do online on the Wii. Nintendo splits the online features into 'channels'. Making the features look like TV channels. The problem is that there simply aren't many 'channels' to download. And you have to pay for almost all of the ones that are available. It took me less than a week to run out of things to do on the Wii online.It's not even like you can play the games that you've bought, over the internet either as the vast majority of Wii games have very limited internet play or none at all! (Check the boxes and online reviews if online play matters to you).The 'Virtual Console' is one online feature that could have been very good. The Virtual Console allows you to download old games from the N64, Megadrive, Master System and many more to play on your Wii. Obviously they don't have EVERY game ever made for the system offered but there are quite a few. But yet again, you have to pay for all of them individually. And they're EXPENSIVE! They range in price but even the cheaper ones are the same or more than what these old games cost to buy second hand. Rip off!Just to make things worse; you can't even buy things for the Wii in your own currency. Everything is priced in 'Wii points', which have to be bought with real money at an odd exchange rate. In my opinion it seems a lot like Nintendo invented Wii points to disguise just how expensive all of their online content is.Maybe I've been spoiled by being a PC gamer for so long though; with the enormous amount of free content and free third party mods available on games like Half Life, but I was particularly disappointed with the Wii's online features and the Wii loses a star for this reason. It's a shame because the Wii is brilliant enough without online features but it seems that Nintendo tagged online capability onto the Wii just so they could say that they had it. In my opinion, if you want internet play then just get a PC.Don't let the online features put you off though. Take a look at the range of games available for the Wii and if you like what you see then get one! You won't regret it.

15.9.2006

Nintendo couldn't have designed the Wii better, along with how it is presented. I didn't even realise I was about to open it when it arrived one morning, the packaging is so compact! The console itself is a technological achievement - Nintendo have designed a machine that boasts 4x the graphics power of the Gamecube, with built in Wi-Fi, backwards compatibility for 6 other consoles, room for 4 Gamecube controllers, 2 memory cards, SD card compatibility, and more in the space of 3 DVD cases... Not only this but since the original release, I have now updated my system's software up to 3.1E, with extra channels, and all for 179.99?This is where the Playstation 3 can't compete - it is classless.At the end of the day, its an overpowered machine that hasn't even reached its potentional, while housing features like a Blue Ray drive that you're never going to get full use out of, and a tacky controller to try and compete with the Wii's motion sensor.The Wii meanwhile was designed purely for gaming. Switch it on via the remote, and in seconds your away. The remote connects via 2 ways - The Bluetooth allows the axis and button information to be sent to the console, while a sensor on the top allows you to point on screen.Once the Wii has powered up, you're presented with the Wii Menu - a simple way of presenting all the features of the console in a 'TV' style way - each 'channel' being piece of software.On a graphical basis, their have so far been an array of games that graphically, are stunning, though it should be said that quite rightly, not all games focus purely on fancy looks. Excite Truck is one, when even while your driving at super-fast speeds, you can still see miles, and miles, and miles away a gorgeous landscape, or the incredible water ripples and reflection in puddles and rivers. What about Resident Evil 4? The graphics almost compare to that of the Xbox 360's, with stunning facial emotions and incredible physics. Nintendo's first games, like Wii Sports, were not designed to meat this level. They're just games to demonstrate that the Wii offers more than predictable fancy graphics. But certain people just can't accept this.Once your up on running on the net, another window opens for opportunities, whether you want to surf a Google Earth style weather program, or browse the news across the world on a 3-D globe, or go on the internet channel - perfect for watching You Tube on the big downstairs TV! Or why not download classic games from 3.50? And its all wireless and free with a wi-fi dongle that could cost as little as 8 pounds off ebay. You also have the option of WiiConnect 24 - a mode in which your console is constantly connected to the net, allowing updates to be downloaded while the console is off, signalled by a beautiful blue glow over the disc slot.Noise levels? Silent. Well, only a whisper quiet fan if your playing at night, but unlike other consoles in the past, this is a cool and quiet console, and pretty much reflects its personality - its not pumping out power. Its just staying at its own level...And looks? I would say this is the best looking console of this generation. You can only say this when you hold it though - its shiny smooth surface that's clean white looks so modern on a glass TV stand, and looks even better in its horizontal position. What's more, it takes up no room, unlike the 360 and PS3. And how cool is the blue light on the console? That's just inspired, made even better when you could be watching TV and then suddenly, it gradually lights up.The fact that the Wii applys to such a broad age group makes it the most appealing game console ever made. You can download all your old favourite games and bring back memories with the family from when even you were younger! (Not a good idea with Donkey Kong Country, because their a still some levels that are simply impossible!) and with the current software, their is every genre going. But what makes this more attractive is that the games are cheap, from as little as 17.95! Their is simply no excuse not to treat yourself to a fun and educational game such as Endless Ocean.I could go on, but I wouldn't be able to stop. Bad points? Only 1 little niggle - To play Gamecube games, you need to remove the flaps on the top of the console - not handy if its in a tight space (i.e a TV stand)I've been using video consoles for over a decade, but the Wii is currently the best console i've ever used. After owning it for 10 months, I can honestly say it represents the true meaning of next generation, while, in typical Nintendo fashion, setting more and more benchmarks, but for a rare time, in quite beautiful style. But whats so priceless is that their is now a catalogue of over 175 downloadable, since the NES, that allows me and many millions of people out their to relive all their past times. The Wii isn't just what's happening now. It's a celebration of what 'did' happen, and why we loved gaming in the first place. And all at just a fraction of the cost of the original consoles! (I remember the SNES being... ready? £450!)But lastly, on a more social level, one thing people haven't even realised is that the Wii is doing more good to your kids and family than the other consoles on the market will. Addictiveness is something that plagues many kids with gaming, but the Wii "wasn't" designed for the hardcore level. This is why I find it pathetic to read reviews about how this isn't a "true gaming machine". My response to them is simple - "And the PS3 is?....." The Wii games that have been released make every effort to ensure this is a machine to play in your spare time, when you want fun. To take it to the hardcore level where you wake-up, play on it, then go to bed is impossible, and I think Nintendo have been exceptionally clever to encourage kids not to spend long spells playing this machine.However, their is only one fact that makes this the best console i've ever bought...7 consoles in 1 for 179.99! Ill check my reciept....

22.4.2007

The Nintendo Wii (pronounced "we") is a so called "Fourth Generation" of Nintendo consoles, The first being the NES/ SNES (Nintendo Entertainment System / Super Nintendo Entertainment System). The second was the Nintendo64, the third the Nintendo Gamecube. The Wii is in the Seventh Generation of over all video games, and competes with both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, each is a new console, either being released in 2006 or to be release in the first half of 2007.The first thing that you notice when you pull the Wii out of its simple white box, which only shows its name and an image of it's controller, is the size of the console. Its much smaller than the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 at only 18cm x 21cm x 3.5cm.The look of the console is very minimalist, completely white on all sides, the only real detail is on the front of the console. The CD drive is the only real break from white console. There are only three buttons on the front of the console, all three of which are consistent with the minimalist look of the Wii, the power, reset and eject button are small with a small yet legible typeface that enables the user to find the correct button with ease. At the bottom of the consoles face is the consoles name, Wii. The only other thing on the face of the Wii is a panel hiding away a slot for an SD memory card, enabling easy data transfer between different consoles, or PC's. The top of the wee hides two panels. One for Nintendo Gamecube Controllers, the other for Nintendo Gamecube Memory Cards, this feature enables users to play titles for the previous Nintendo Console. The Back of the console has 2 USB sockets, (Universal Serial Bus) which enables the user to attach other accompaniments to the console. The only other notable thing about the console is that there are feet for the console to stand either on its belly, flat, or on its side, upright.The highlighting feature from the Wii is its revolutionary controller. The Wii uses a wireless almost, remote control like, joy pad. With a On/Off switch, directional Pad, a + and - button, a "home" button, and finally a 1 and 2 button. The Remote also has a built in speaker to emphasize certain sounds within parts of a game. Connected to the Wii "Remote" is a device dubbed the "Nun Chuck" to be held in the left hand of the user. This controller has an Analogue Stick, a "C" button and a "Z" button. Both controllers are perfectly ergonomic, fitting comfortably in to both right and left hands. However the revolutionary part of the controller is its ability to be detect rotation, movement and be used as a pointer. For example, if you were playing tennis on the Wii, you would actually swing the controller to hit the ball, or if you were playing a shooting game you would point at the screen and aim. This is an advancement that would usually need separate controllers on other consoles. To use the Wii Remote and Nun Chuck however you must attach a small sensor to either the top or bottom of your television set.Other features the Wii has include an IBM processor, an ATI Graphics Card, an option of up to four controllers playing wirelessly at once, internal wireless modem or optional USB Ethernet Modem, and parental controls.When the Wii starts up, The user is brought up to the "Wii Menu", an interface that has a number of "channels" The first of which shows what game disc you have in at that point in time. The Second is the "Mii Channel" (pronounced Me) which after selecting prompts the user to create a small digital character in their likeness. These "Mii's" act as a visual representation of the user in certain games, such as a title called Wii Sports.The Next Channel is the Photo Channel, in which the user can import photographs form the SD memory card and edit the on the Wii console. All the other channels, including Wii Shop Channel, Forecast Channel and News Channel, require a internet connection.The Wii comes bundled with the title "Wii Sports" in which the player can play 5 different sports, Baseball, Bowling Golf Tennis and Boxing. The user "plays" as one of the Mii characters they created earlier on. The game emphasizes on the advancement of the character, as a player earns skill points by winning games the computers artificial intelligence increases the skill of the computer players. The Tennis game is available to play with up to four players at once, as the game is only played by the rules of doubles tennis. If however the user is playing by their selves, they can choose whether or not to control both of the characters on the team. The game Is played as if the Wii Remote was a tennis racket , the player is able to perform serves, back and front hand shots, lobs, overhead shots and volleys without pressing a button on the remote. All of the actions mentioned are done simply by moving the remote in the right way. The motion sensors in the remote detect where the remote is in the room, and which way the user is swinging it, and the character on screen mimics the users movements.Over all the Nintendo Wii is a nice piece of hardware, which is much more focused on the game play and the experience the user has when games are played than just making games look pretty, like its competitors the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

22.2.2010

Well there isn't too much more to be said about the Nintendo Wii than has already been written, but I will repeat some of the basics as I am reviewing the new, limited, black edition, bundled with Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, plus a Motion Plus controller extension as you would expect for Resort. You can get a comparable bundle in the traditional white and, when I bought mine, the price for each bundle was identical.This limited black edition is a beautiful addition to the range that fits well with a lot of other living room tv and hi-fi equipment and is simply gorgeous in a glossy, 'piano black' finish. The blue illumination around the disc slot looks wonderful against the black finish.The black edition Wii comes with one unique item,a special soft cleaning cloth. This is because the black Wii is extremely vulnerable to scratching, which is reflected in Nintendo's instructions. Do not use a conventional duster on a black Wii or you will mark it.The black Wiimote and Nunchuk are identical to the standard issue in all but colour, but the black remote looks awesome with its mix of gloss and matt finishes.I've used several Wii consoles very extensively over the last two years and finally treated myself to one of my own when the limited edition came along. I knew exactly what I was getting, what the strengths and weakneses of Wii are, and that the limited edition is down to sales having peaked, and surely after three years something is coming to replace this console.If you don't know, Wii is backwards compatible with Gamecube and has a hidden set of ports at the top for a Gamecube memory card and controllers. My top tip to you - you can still buy Gamecube controllers and they will work with top Wii titles including Smash Brothers: Brawl, and Mario Kart. Wink, wink! They will also work alongside other players using Wii remotes, Wink, wink!I love the Wii but it is what it is and it isn't perfect.Wii lacks power! Nintendo stayed out of the numbers arms race for good reason, but there isn't even enough power at times for some of the games they have designed themselves. My much beloved Mario Kart Wii jerks and slows down with four players. The graphics are not properly HD. You only get a composite cable with the Wii anyway, so to use RGB or component output you must buy another lead. Only one controller set is supplied, albeit in this bundle with Motion Plus included too, but nobody wants to just play alone, so you usually have to budget for a second set right from the off. Luckily, since 65 million people worldwide own a Wii, some of your guests will usually be able to bring remotes! Unlike a Playstation, say, Wii can't read music or a DVD in the drive, however you can get it online and the Internet Channel is now a free download. Although a bit clunky to use, the Opera based browser will work with a USB keyboard, and I have also seen a wireless keyboard on sale for the Wii.Wii lacks memory! An early issue was that those downloading titles quickly ran out of memory and had to swap titles in and out of their consoles. The SD card slot was used only for backups of data and for loading images to the Wii Photo Channel. Happily, updates to the software in 2009 allow an SD card (not supplied but cheap!) to act as extension system memory, and Wii channels can now be stored on SD and run directly. In effect, this makes the storage on Wii unlimited. Yes, the SD limit on the Wii is 2GB, but this is so much more than the console memory sizem and more than most of us could afford games for, so you can consider it limitless.Nintendo, like all companies in the console business, wants lots of your money. It gets wrung out of you left, right and centre bacause new accessories and games are 'must haves'. Genuine Wii remotes are not cheap! Top rated Nintendo games are around £35 each. But there are also some great budget releases out there and you can always download quality Wiiware games at a maximum, usually, of around 7 quid a game. Virtual Console may also be of interest, a library of titles from older gamining syetems to run on the Wii. I personally find the price of most VC titles unjustifiably high for games of that age, but the minimum price for anything at the Nintendo shop is 500 Wii points (around a fiver in money). I can't recommend enough that you look at rechargeable batteries or the custom packs that fit into your remote - I particularly like those that charge from USB. In this area, third party maufacturers do well with a huge range of decently priced, good quality parts. I would not, however, buy third party controllers.Not one of the criticisms levelled at the Wii has stopped it being a runaway success, the best machine ever for uniting families and generations in shared gaming experiences and a uniquely charming little box that has such a universal appeal. I wouldn't be without mine.I sometimes consider that if someone at Sony or Microsoft had sat in the bath and suddenly dreamed up a simple sports game with a motion sensing controller, then the world would be a different place! But they didn't, and so we have the Nintendo Wii, still going strong, and utterly gorgeous in black. You know you want one!

3.8.2009

The Gamecube...Now the Gamecube was fighting in a losing battle agaisnt the Playstaion 2 and Xbox both which had advantages in all areas, they played DVD's, CD's and had a really wide selection of games. The Gamecube however couldn't play CD's or DVD's and even though there were a few solid games on the console (Metroid Prime, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Mario Sunshine, Resident Evil 4) there wern't that many. So the Nintendo Gamecube knew it was going to lose the battle, Nintendo knew what they needed to do. While the Xbox360 and The Playstaion3 were in the works, Nintendo decided instead of taking another stepforward and staying under there shadows,they took one step to the side and 2 steps forward!The Nintendo Wii, instead of gearing towards graphical power and fast performance, the Wii decided to do somthing a little diffrent. (Much like there DS) The idea of the Wii is simple, Nintendo was tired of gamers being steroyped as fat greesy pimple faced nerds who sit and play games for hours on end, so they decided to challenge that with the Nintendo Wii.Ok so I'll stop by boring you with history facts, time for me to review it. The Wii Console is built around its controller, and I might add that without the controler for the Wii, the Wii would untimatly not work and not be worth the money. The controler is called The Wiimote, it is a wireless motion sensing controller. Now for technicalphobic people that may sound a little confusing, I'll give an example.The Wii comes packed in with Wii Sports a collection of 5 sports games, (Tennis, Bowling, Baseball, Golf and Boxing) a collection of fun games that demonstrate how good the Wii actully is. For instance in Bowling all you do is perform bowling actions as if you were replicating real life bowling. In tennis all you do is swing the Wii Remote around like a tennis racket, in golf you just swing it like a golf club, I think I have made my point.This is why the Wii is geared towards familys, with a game such as this you need no instructions and you can have your 77 year old Grandmother Sheila playing in no time. The Wii with this fashion has broken down the walls that seperated the non gamers and the gamers, this is what makes the Wii so revoltionary.The Wii Remote also has an expansion port at the bottom so you can attach diffrent controlers to add to the experaince such as Wii Motion Plus and the Nunchuck which both enhance Gameplay. It also comes attached with a wrist strap so you don't accidently lob it at the TV.How does all this work you ask? Well the Wii comes with a sensor bar, this is the magic little stick whitch makes everything happen, just stick it ontop or under your TV and it will work. Thats all there really is to setting up the Wii, its that simple.Now like it's rivals it also has other uses besides playing games, lets start with the Mii Channel. The Mii channels lets you create little people called Mii's, you can create a Mii of yourself or of sombody you know or even Tony Blair if you feel like it. These Mii's can be used in certain Nintendo games as either the characters you control or in the backround, eg Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Music, wario Ware: Smooth Moves. Its a nice little touch witch makes the Wii stand out even more.It then has a photo channel which lets you browse through photo's by means of an SD card, it's a nice little feature but not one you'll really come back to. The same could be said about the next to The News and Weather channels, which are ovoius what they do, they are nice little additions never the less. You must however have your Wii online by means of conecting it with an ethenet cable or have a wireless conection to get the News and Wether, and the next channel below.The Wii also holds the Wii Shop Channel, as I said you need internt acsess but it will be worth it. This is where you can download diffrent channels or old games. Now it has a impressive game libery that covers from the NES up to the N64, each game costs varies but they are bought with Wii Points which can be purchused either online or at shops. The games themselves cannot be played with the Wii Remote but can be played with a Gamecube controller or an classic controler add on for the Wiimote.So yes the Wii has alot going for it, but however a big complaint would be that the still can't play DVD's or CD's, the Playstaion 1 could even play CD's. They may bring out a newer version of the Wii which does but as it stands it can not.The Wii as a much added bonus is way cheaper than its rivals, and comes with a free game to boot so you won't go wrong. The Wii has been out for a while and has a great number of games under its belt which are worth picking up. Super Mario Galaxy, Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit, No More Heroes to name a few.Now comes the big question, is the Wii for you?Thank you for reading :)

19.12.2010

Contrary to what you might think from the title of this review, I'm a girl who has owned ZX Spectrum, Atari, Sega, PlayStation (longest ownership) and now, Nintendo Wii. I couldn't be more neutral when it comes to gaming consoles. Honestly, if this wasn't a Wii review, I would tell everyone to go home because Atari takes the cake STILL.Anyway, I noticed that a lot of people downgrading the Wii have nothing solid to say against it except pulling out the graphics insults and the "Xbox/PlayStation is better" insults. These very people would also stop short of killing each other while reviewing the PlayStation against the Xbox too. Here are some common arguments presented and my responses to them:1.OMG WII GRAPHICS ARE POOR - no, they are not. Graphics aren't everything, it's the game-play and gaming experience that matters. That being said, the graphics on the Wii are by no means poor. Please pick up a copy of Golden Eye or Black Ops and tell me if it's "poor". And really, if you think it is, I think there is something wrong with you or your eyesight. They might not be top of the range, but they are far from being bad. And please stop referring to Wii Sports or Mario/Classic Nintendo games because THEY ARE MEANT TO HAVE THOSE KIND OF GRAPHICS! The whole purpose is to give gamers that retro experience with some modern elements to it. If you're a kid born in like 1993, of course you're not going to understand that. I would never want to pick up a copy of Mario if he looked like a real life human being with swords and guns in his hand, going around butchering people.2. WII GETS BORING AFTER A WHILE - no, it does not. There are plenty of games on the Wii to choose form, and they continue to make more games. Let's not forget that they also release latest titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops. If you're playing SO many video games that you run out of good games to choose from, I suggest you either get a job or find some other hobby because you have an unhealthy life-style playing video games all day long. I have a full-time job and it takes me a while to finish a game. I honestly don't understand how people can finish a game within a few days and then complain that the console got boring. Re-evaluate your lifestyle, not your purchase.3. SWINGING ARMS ALL THE TIME GETS OLD AND BORING - in case you didn't notice, there are classic controllers (not just the Game Cube ones) that are available for the Wii to play some of the games. Regardless, what's wrong with swinging your arms? Sitting on the couch in one position for hours and hours straight, tapping on the buttons frantically while staring at the screen is meant to be interesting!? I think you guys should do yourselves a favor and swing your arms, shed some weight, and get some exercise. It's actually quite therapeutic. And by the way...if swinging your arms isn't fun, then what are PlayStation's new sensor and Xbox Kinect all about???4. WII NEEDS MORE ADULT GAMES - the Wii is aimed at people of all ages for some family and/or individual fun. While Mario Kart may seem like a childish game, I enjoy it despite being 24 years of age. Most people are referring to violent and gory games when they say "adult games". If you're a hard-core gamer, then perhaps, Wii isn't for you. It's for people who just look for an hour (or two) of fun every other day. I love having a laugh with my sister as we play tennis on it. But if I was going to lock myself in a room to try and finish every level of GOD OF WAR, then I wouldn't be buying a Wii. Please do your research before you purchase something and then bash it.5. WII DOES NOT HAVE STRONG HARDWARE - not sure what this argument is about but if you're going to talk about "strong hardware" then let's have a laugh at the ever so expensive Xbox with it's 'ring of death' problems. I've HARDLY heard of people having issues with Wii's hardware performance but I do hear a lot of rants about the other two major consoles. Nintendo has more experience in the gaming field than Sony or Microsoft. There is a reason why they continue to make profits even when its two rivals were making losses.I'm sure I'm going to strike some nerves with this review considering I made references to Xbox and PlayStation. Just to clear up, I will ALWAYS be in love with my old PlayStation, but truth be told, Nintendo broke the mould. It was the first console that brought body movements into game-play. People bashed the idea when it first came out and now they're camping outside stores in the middle of the night to get their hands on Kinect. 70 million plus people in the world have purchased the Wii (almost DOUBLE the amount of people who purchased other consoles in the same years) so I'm going to have to say that it is a pretty successful, innovative, and fun machine.

30.12.2007

Now after reading some of the one star reviews about the Wii I feel I had to write this review because frankly I think the people who write a 1 star review for the Wii are thick.So why do I think this? Well after so many claims from PlayStation3 lovers that the Wii is a childish console, and that it is boring,I can now say to Phil Harrison and to every other PS3 lover that they have failed, failed to see what a bad console the PS3 is.Why? Well simply because of Nintendo's astonishing success in this industry. Since before 1900 Nintendo have been entertaining millions, and it hasn't stopped with the Wii. Now if you are somewhat of an idiot, or, ill informed person when it comes to games consoles,you may think that just because it costs the most it is the best. But now, the Wii is the best console around (followed closely by the 360) and if you have read reviews saying "oh it boring after while, Wii sport is crap wubbis!" then you will be thinking just that. However if you don't like Wii sports then ohwell- did it cost you anything? "urrrrmmm, no" EXACTLY! Now what you find is that Wii sports is in fact good, but it is simply to show off the marvelousness of the Wiimote, not to be played for a year no!Games like Red Steel and Call of Duty 3 are the FPS's and yes there are more, you have Excite truck for racing, among others, and for those of us out there who remember the NES and N64, there are 100's of titles available online for not too much money. There is of course Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess, the two best games around at the moment.So on to the other aspects.The Wii menu is so wonderful when you turn it on and hear it's wonderful sounds and when you gaze upon its many channel's it fills you up inside. Now I won't go into great detail about the channels, but just as a list and short comment, here they are.The Disc channel- Speaks for itselfThe Mii channel- A place where you can created avatars of anyone you wish to, which you can then use in games such as Wii Sports and Wii PlayThe Photo channel- You can edit, send, and view a slideshow of all your photo's on your SD cardThe Wii Shop channel- Where you can buy games from previous consoles and download new Wii channels free of charge (you can also send these games as gifts)The Weather channel- You can access the weather all around the world which includes a 6 hour forecast and a 5 day forecast. You can also access a globe from this channel to look at other countries' weatherThe News Channel- Where you can receive the latest headlines, Local National, and international. There is also a slideshow option, where it scrolls around the globe showing you the stories (also with images)The internet Channel- Where you can browse the internetThe Everybody votes channel- Where you use your Miis to vote for a 2 choices answer question and then view the results and trends and so on.The Mii contest channel- Where you can view and submit Miis to be judged on what they look like, i.e there are competitions to see who can create the best look a like.The Metroid Prime 3 Corruption channel- simply a priview channel for that game with videos and such.***A internet connection is required for most channels- its free aslong as you have a cable and USB adapter for the Wii, or simply a wireless router***Its size, well put 3 DVD cases together and thats about it.Now its Wiimote is great for gaming and one you pick it up it feels natural, along side the nun chuck it is very smooth indeed :) Its design helps you feel like you are inside the game.Its graphics, are no, not WOW! AMAZING! CAN I TOUCH IT?!But they are still good. Not as good as the 360's but good if you are a real gamer.Gameplay, its better than any other console out, believe me I have played on all!The other aspects are the controllers. So we have the Wiimote, already covered, the Classic controller. Well this is used for some virtual console games. However the Wiimote can be turned on it's side for use on some games, these include racing games, where you treat it as steering wheel moving it like one. The Zapper is really the last one at current, this is basically the gun, which has a place for the nun chuck and Wiimote, and is great for FPS games.So all in all I you are thinking about buying one, then do. And I plead with you not to buy the PS3, for you WILL regret it unless you have LOTS of money. I've had the Wii for over a year now, and Nintendo are still giving me free things, and are keeping everything in Gaming Perfectiional order! (is perfectional a word? ahh well, it suit's it!) Take it from someone who knows!Tom

4.9.2016

I’m a little late reviewing this item, having bought it just over 9 years ago, but having played it again recently, I’m compelled to put some words down about the Wii, as a decade on It’s still a fantastic piece of kit. I’m also conscious that there are still people buying the console for the first time who might appreciate the view of a seasoned user.I’ve been a gamer since my childhood (I’m now 42), and have owned many different bits of gaming hardware over the years, starting with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum back in the early eighties, through many generations of Sega, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft consoles since then. Without exception,the progression has always been represented by incremental increases in processing power of each new generation of hardware, with the competition always trying frantically to out-perform each other. Usually the primary indicator of this was graphical capability, with players being blown away by the new levels of realism afforded by bigger, better video chips.But when Nintendo launched the Wii, it was already behind the latest generation machines from Sony (PS3) and Microsoft (Xbox360) and it was widely known that the Wii simply couldn’t compete in terms of raw power with either of those. In fact, it was dismissed by many as a failure before it was launched, purely on the strength of its inferior hardware. The focus on ‘fun’ through the crossover with physical activity through the motion controllers was written-off as a novelty fad that would soon pass, with many proclaiming the console would only really appeal to the younger generation, and certainly not “real gamers”.How wrong they were. Nintendo were certainly taking a gamble, but it paid off big time. Not only was the Wii fun, but it engaged a wider demographic than either Microsoft or Sony had ever hoped to court with their consoles. Young children, teenagers, right through middle-aged and elderly players. The versatility offered by the Wiimote controllers to interact with games in a much more subtle and organic way opened the door for a whole host of wonderfully creative games, and even tried and tested genres had a new angle.The free Wii Sports disc bundled with the Wii gives a great introduction to the potential of the hardware and the motion controllers, with bowling and tennis being a definite favourite for many a rainy family afternoon (or wine-fuelled adults evening!). Then there are games like Cooking Mama. Who would have thought chopping onions would even be a thing on a video-game, let alone it actually being a physically taxing task, and much more fun than in actual real life? Putting an entire recipe together and seeing how well it turns out is an absolute blast, and when in competition with another real player, things get even more fun. Then there’s Trauma Centre, which takes the concept to an altogether more serious (albeit still hilariously fun) level. You take on the role of an upcoming surgeon, carrying out actual surgical procedures on patients, using the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers to cut the patient open before manipulating various tools to carry out increasingly more complex and sweat-inducing procedures – getting ranked on your performance each time. Titles like these just could not be replicated on the PS3 or Xbox360, for all their technical power.There are literally hundreds of titles for the Wii that are worth playing. Sure, there are some that are duds, and the Wii versions of the majority of multi-platform games are not a patch on the PS3 or Xbox360 versions of the same game. But the point of owning a Wii is for all the games that do not, and cannot exist on PS3 or Xbox360. Thinking of the Wii as an alternative is all wrong – it’s a completely different proposition. If you already own a PS3/Xbox360, or PS4/Xbox One for that matter, you should have a Wii as well! It’s true that the Wii-U has since been released, and is a fantastic evolution in itself, but the Wii is still a very relevant console in 2016 as it is still such undeniable fun, has such a huge back catalogue of games and peripherals, and is available at a fraction of the price.Ultimately the Wii was a landmark moment in gaming. One that should be applauded, as a victory for gaming itself, over the mindless pursuit for bigger, faster, stronger hardware. The Wii did, and still does fire the imagination, and is a reminder why Nintendo is so very important to the gaming industry.

5.1.2007

I will give a totally honest opinion of the Nintendo Wii.I received my Nintendo Wii on the 4th of January YAY without pre ordering it for £269.99 with Red Steel, Super Monkey ball Banana Blitz and Need For Speed Carbon. Please, please, please do not pay these Rip-Off prices that people are asking. Telephone your local Game/Gamestation and see if they are getting any in. on the 3rd Jan most Game stores had Wii's for sale but they sold out quickly and on the 4th Jan Gamestations got their delivery (and that's how I got mine)Now For those Nintendo fans that have had most or nearly all consoles like I have had will be able to tell you that the Wii is nothing more than a pimped up Gamecube.The graphics are practically the same you still can't play DVD's all Nintendo has done is modify their gamecube by giving it a some more features and a new controller (think of the Wii controller as a modified light gun and you will get what I mean).Now Nintendo has always been a leader and not a follower think of it as the rebel console provider. People who have had a n64 remember no other games console was better for multiplayer than the N64 the 4 pads had it so there was no longer winner stays on and there was about 6 of your friends there and it seemed to take forever. I don't have to tell you how great the DS lite is and how it has changed handheld console.Ok back to what I was yapping about even though I call it a modified Gamecube this is by no means a bad thing what Nintendo have done is brilliant.This controller is something that should have been around a long time ago and I am glad/Proud that Nintendo came out with it first (sorry nintendoism) this controller has gotten my Mum, Step dad, Sisters and brothers playing which is just great within it's self. They really have changed the face of gaming and it is far more interactive than any console I have ever played the speaker on the controller is a touch of genius you definitely feel even more into the game with it.Wii sports is as good as the reviews say, great single player game but a brilliant multiplayer game. (even though my body is absolutely aching, boxing and tennis have got me moving like a zombie and smelling of deep heat I have not felt like this since my gym days. I am 22 and a bit lazy when it comes to working out).Next generation wars which console PS3, Xbox 360 or the Nintendo Wii I am a strict Nintendo fan and would just like to say NINTENDO, NINTENDO, NINTENDO ok now I have got that out to be honest it depends on a lot price range number 1 now Nintendo aimed this console at families and women as well as us usual Nintendo fans.now a lot of people are saying that the price makes it a deal although this is great and I cannot fault the price i know some people have price snobbery and like the fact that some people cannot afford their console but I would like to say this Nintendo is not cheap and cheerful its just great value for money. so out of the 3 which one would I pick simple the console that suits best if your like me always like to play your games with family/friends get the Wii.(Family console)If you like to play with people but don't have a console type family or sometimes cant take the screaming in your ears then get the xbox 360 the online multiplayer is the best of the 3 plus because it continues from the xbox people have scores or and statistics I am told. Plus for those that know a lot about computers you should be able to modify your 360 as many did with their xbox.(Mini PC)If you just play games once in a while plus like the latest technology and great graphics get the PS3 the PS consoles always suit the single player or 2 players better than any other console and with the blue ray added this can be a more of an entertainemtn piece for some people.(mini Sony system)hope this review helped :-) good luck to everyone trying to get a console p.s Nintendo you should of given your old loyal customers who bother to register some priority its like you forgot about us.sorry for gramical/spelling errors i rushed this

29.11.2006

The Nintendo Wii is the most inexpensive of the current generation of gaming consoles. At only $250, it provides motion sensing controllers which are great fun - and 480p graphics which aren't as good as our other two systems.The Wii is designed around a menu of "channels". These make it very easy for even a non-gamer to start using the console quickly. There is of course the game-playing channel, where the Wii will play any Wii or GameCube game. Simply load the disc in and go - it's a simple front-loading "slot", no carriage to break. There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing, with many cute options. You can even make your Mii thin or thick.The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV, although its loading options are limited. Other channels for news, weather, and online shopping require an interent connection, and at least at launch aren't available yet.The system does NOT have a regular network cable port, which both the PS3 and XBox 360 have. Instead, it works with built in wireless or with a USB network adapter. I am a firm proponent of wireless - less clutter! So I am thrilled that they offer wireless automatically. With the PS3, you have to pay the extra $100 for the 60 gig unit to get this built in. The XBox 360 doesn't have it at all. We had our wireless up and running in about 5 minutes.It's hard to generalize gameplay on any console - it really depends on what games you buy. That being said, the comes-with-it software of Sports is really quite fun to play and is about as basic as you can get. We've had 8 year olds and adults try it out and really enjoy it. You swing at baseballs, lob tennis balls, bowl, box and play golf. A "fitness" mode puts you through a variety of tasks and then calculates your fitness age, sort of like how Brain Age keeps track of your mental age. If you did both every day, you could aim to be as fit mentally and physically as possible!In a world where video games = couch potato, it really is quite amazing to have a game where it natively expects you to move and be active. You don't lounge back and gain pounds here while playing games. Boxing can be quite strenuous, jabbing, blocking and weaving in real life. Tennis involves quick reflexes and strong arm movements. Bowling might be the most relaxed of the sports, but even there you are standing, moving, swinging. You get your heart going at least a little, and get some exercise. My boyfriend found his arms were sore after a few hours of fun gaming.The 480p resolution is certainly not high def 1080p like our other two systems. It's something you accept when you're paying such a low price for the console. But really, it's not that big a deal. I still play the old Zeldas and love them for their gameplay, even though you can't see the pores in Link's face. If they are going for the cartooney characters and environments, 480p is DVD quality and is quite good. If you really, really crave high definition super realism in your games, then the Wii might not be the best choice for you. However, if you're fine with playing games with a more impressionist / cartooney look to them, the 480p can show that quite nicely. For example, in Wii baseball, there aren't fans in the bleachers - just colored blocks.Nintendo has always been known as a "Kid's Console" since the release of the gamecube - but I really do think with the Wii that they have become a all round console combining a slick looking console with software that appeals to the hardcore gamer aswell as the casual. It's not just kids who will enjoy this. Seniors can have fun bowling without knowing anything "Tricky" about how to use a video game unit. It's very intuitive. Moms can easily play with their kids, each with their own Wii profile. Adults having parties can have fun passing the controllers around. Family groups can share slideshows on the big screen while hanging out and drinking wine.

4.1.2006

I don't really know what to say to start this review off except...THE Wii IS AWESOME!So...on to the review.Games: I have 4 games for the Wii so far, Wii Sports, Wii Play, Red Steel and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. All of these are great games and really show that the Wii has some great potential in the future. There's some more great games out right now. Wario Ware, Zelda, COD 3 and Madden '07 to name just a few, and there's even more highly anticipated games coming in the next few months.The Wii is also backwards compatible with Gamecube games, so there's a big library titles avilable from the get go.Controller: The Wii remote is completely different to any other controller available.Designed like a simplified DVD remote, it houses a motion sensor, 3D pointer, a speaker, Rumble and of course, the usual buttons you'd find on a controller, D-Pad, A, B, etc. It's a lot more responsive than I thought It would be and is easy to get the hang of.There's also a Nunchuck controller that comes with the Wii. It just plugs in to the bottom of the Wii Remote for more possibilities and is required for certain games.Graphics: Not the Wii's strongest attribute but Nintendo said right from the beginning that the Wii would not be a tech powerhouse. Saying that though, a lot of the current games look really good and future titles like Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 are looking brilliant.Sound: Like the graphics, the sound is lacking a little. It supports Dolby Pro Logic II, which is good, but not as good as the audio capabilities that the 360 or PS3 feature. But everything sounds great coming through a decent set-up or just through regular TV speakers.Features: The Wii has a lot of extra features which are both practical and fun to do. First off, it has a Mii Channel. This is where you can create yourself or whoever you want to be used in games like Wii Sports and Wii Play. There's also a few other games coming out soon that will use them so it's a pretty good feature.There's also a Photo Channel. Just put some pictures and/or videos on to an SD card and you can view and edit them on the Wii. You can also make slideshows with them and use your own music or you can make puzzles. A nice addition but could use a few more options.Some more features include the Shop Channel, where you can download the Virtual Console games and other things, the Forecast Channel, News Channel and the Web Browser. The Shop, Forecast and News Channels and the Web Broswer aren't available out of the box and require you to register your Wii and download the upgrade.Online: The Wii uses Wi-Fi to connect to internet for online gaming, downloads, etc. But Nintendo have recently released a Lan adapter that plugs in to a USB port on the back of the Wii. Currently, there are no online enabled games but hopefully there will be some soon.Design: This is one of the best looking consoles ever. It's about the size of 3 DVD cases stacked together and is a nice glossy white. On the front it has the on/off button, reset button and eject button. The game disc slides in to a self loading disc drive. it accept Wii games (obviously) and Gamecube games too.On the top of the Wii there is two removable flaps which cover the 4 controller ports and 2 memory card ports for the Gamcube. The Back has the usual power and Audio/Visual sockets as well as one for the sensor bar and two USB ports.The Wii can also be positioned horizontally or vertically by placing it in the included stand.Overall for the Price you pay, the Wii is an absolute must have. It features one of the most original and innovative controllers ever, A ton of features online and offline, The ability to play Gamecube games and classic titles from NES, SNES, N64, Megadrive and TurboGrafx and it's got a brilliant range of games out already and plenty more coming soon.Simply put, This is Nintendo greatest console yet!

15.11.2006

I agree with the previous reviewer that you need to ignore the review by Gamer and ignore his stupid rating. I am what I like to call a "hardcore" Nintendo fan and have followed them since the NES and have never really been disappointed by what they do, except maybe for ROB but that was just a lame add on and not a console in its self, so that doesn't count.Look at the history of Nintendo and the great games they offer - or KILLER games as Gamer would say - as well as the technological advancements in how we play games.NES had the original Zelda and Donkey Kong and introduced us to the D-Pad which defined the way we play games todaySuper NES had the amazing Link to the Past and Super Mario World (which I played yesterday - never get bored of that one)and introduced us to the shoulder buttons which allowed gamers to go that one step further and developers to create trickier games.The Virtual Boy was next and even though this never succeeded to do well it showed how far ahead in advance Nintendo was for the time and although I don't own one but I have played on one and it was, well, a bit bizarre, but at least they try to do something out of the norm!The N64 had some awesome titles including Goldeneye, Banjo Kazooie, Mario 64 and, of course, Ocarina of Time. The N64 also introduced us to the analogue stick which without we would not be playing half the games we play today.Then there is the Gameboy - the best and original handheld console which has been revamped a few times over the years and has some amazing games to play from Tetris through to Mario & Luigi.The doomed Gamecube came next - an amazing console overpowered by XBox and PS2 which left the Cube underrated and understated. But look at some of the games - Wind Waker, Eternal Darkness, Mario Kart Double Dash, Paper Mario and Resident Evil 4 to name just a few of the excellent titles available. And who could forget Donkey Konga - how many other consoles see you playing the bongos?Finally the DS - an amazing piece of technology with some of the cleverest games ever made - yes there are the great ones such as New Super Mario Bros and Mario Kart DS but the real great games are Trauma Centre, Phoenix Wright, Another Code not forgetting Animal Crossing and Brain Training.So look back over the history of Nintendo and you will see that the Wii will have some KILLER titles and the launch line up is looking fantasic already with Twilight Princess, Trauma Centre: Second Opinion and Red Steel. And as for the controls - even comparing these to the Eyetoy is completely wrong - the Eyetoy used a whole bunch of (mainly crap) mini-games to play whilst the wireless Remote on the Wii is a brand new way of playing games and will be used to play almost every Wii game from those involving mini-games (Rayman) to epic adventures (Zelda) and even FPS (Red Steel).My final argument for the Wii is this - PS3 is the main competition and their newest gimmick is a "tilt sensor" built into the remote. I know some PS fans who were going on about this like it was the greatest thing ever created - errrrr, Nintendo did that in 2001 with Kirby Tilt and Tumble on the Gameboy so it is hardly cutting edge technology compared to what the Wii will offer.So there you have it, although I don't deny that X360 and PS3 will no doubt have some great games on them I believe that the Wii will be the greatest next-gen console due to its creativeness and the fact that Nintedno has a great history of games and is always changing the way we play games. So if you a real gamer and want to actually, physically play games then the Wii is for you - if you are a couch potato who wants to sit on the sofa with a joypad in your hand playing racing games and FPS games then please feel free to spend your £450 on a PS3.That is allOh - one last thing, Blu-Ray player on PS3 - WASTE OF TIME!!!!!

19.9.2007

The strangely named 'Wii' is the fifth home console to be released by Nintendo and is by far their most original yet. The Nintendo Wii uses full motion and tilt sensitive controls making some of the most basic games more interactive and realistic than ever. Already after just 9 months since being released in the UK the Wii is the UK's best selling console and is outselling it's main competitors, the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360, and I can imagine that it's already impressive sales record will only get better and better with Christmas just around the corner.The thing that makes the Wii so unique from all other consoles past and present is it's controller. The controller is in two parts - the Remote,which can also be used on it's own on a lot of games, and also the Nunchuck, which plugs directly into the bottom of the Remote. Both parts are fully motion sensitive and can be used as pretty much anything, from a gun to a sword to a golf club to a tennis raquet etc, etc... These controls work surprisingly well and are very easy to use, making it more approachable to people who are not normally gamers. The game that you get with the console (Wii Sports) and the controller (Wii Play) are great introductions to the innovative controls as they show them off in various different ways including tennis, bowling, shooting, baseball and golf, to name a few.Nintendo have always been the best for first-party games with fantastic series like Super Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Wario, Starfox, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Battalion Wars, Fire Emblem and many others, so there is never going to be a shortage of brilliant games over the Wii's hopefully lengthy lifespan. Already there are many great games available such as Super Paper Mario, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Warioware: Smooth Moves, Mario Srikers and Mario Party 8. And then there's an impressive line-up coming soon over the next few months with games like Super Mario Galaxy, Battalion Wars 2, Super Smash Bros Brawl and Metroid Prime 3 Corruption.Developers must have a lot of faith in this console too as the third-party support seems a lot better with the Wii than it has been on previous Nintendo consoles. There's all the usual movie licenses like Harry Potter, Pirates of the Carribean and dozens games of animated films as well as plently of sports games like Tiger Woods, Madden NFL and FIFA. Then there's games from on-going series such as Resident Evil, Sonic the Hedgehog, SSX, Mortal Kombat, The Sims, Medal of Honour, Call of Duty, Splinter Cell and Rayman, so there is plenty of choice for gamers of all ages.The graphics are probably the Wii's only downfall as they aren't HD and no where near as good as the Xbox 360 or PS3, but they are still very good quality (probably just a little better than the Gamecube) but this really isn't what this console is all about.At the moment there aren't many games that can be played online but it is something that the Wii is fully capable of supporting in the future. In addition to this there is the Virtual Console where you can download older games (at a small price) from other consoles like the N64, SNES and even the Sega Megadrive, giving you plenty of retro games from the 8, 16 and 64-bit era to enjoy. If that isn't enough, the Wii is fully backwards compatible with all Nintendo Gamecube games too, where all you will need to play them is a Gamecube controller and memory card.Overall this is without a doubt the most fun console out at the moment and is one that can be enjoyed by pretty much anybody. The controls are easy and fun to use and it takes gaming to a completely new level. Even games that you may have played before on other consoles will feel completely new to you on the Wii. This is a must buy for gamers and non-gamers alike and is also the ultimate party games console.

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