208 4 I bought a Wii roughly 1 - 2 months ago . Although I don't have many games , I am completely enthralled with this system and it truly has brought a ton of entertainment to my friends and family .
Let's first go over what comes with this system . First , we have the actual Wii system . The system is so small compared to other video game systems ( it's almost the same size as a slim PS2 only it's wider ) . You can set it up vertically or horizontally . I personally use it horizontally because you also get a stand which works superbly . The buttons on the front of the system are the power button , the reset button , an opening for your games , and an eject button . To insert a disk , you simply slide it into the system ( this system doesn't have a tray to place the disk in ) and it slides right back out when you hit the eject button . On the back of the system you have your slots for plugging in the adapter , the audio / video cable , the sensor bar , and other cables . On the top of the system is a slot for memory cards and wired controllers .
From there we go to the controllers . You get one Wii remote and one nunchuck . The Wii remote is almost like a real remote in that to play , you must point the remote to the screen and press buttons on the remote . It's also wireless so you're not tied down like wired controllers are . Most buttons are used for game play but you also have a home button which acts as a Start button when comparing it to other video game systems that pauses the game and can take you back to the main screen . The bottom of the remote lights up and if you're using more than one remote , each remote will light up different squares to show you which player you are . For example , if the second square is lit on your remote , you would know that you're player 2 . There's also a strap that you place on your wrist so that you don't accidentally throw the remote across the room while your playing . I've personally never used the nunchuck but it basically connects to the Wii remote for certain games and it contains one button as well as a joystick .
You then have your typical cables ( your adapter and your audio / video cable ) but you also have a sensor bar . The sensor bar is placed preferably on top of your tv or directly below it . The bar is needed for your Wii remote to work as it acts as a sensor .
You also get manuals and other papers with this system . Along with two main manuals ( one for system setup and one for channels and settings ) you get a paper that explains how to register your Wii to extend your warranty , an ad for a Wii magazine , the usual disclaimer , as well as a quick setup manual .
Finally , you get the Wii Sports game as your first starter game . The Wii sports game contains a few sports games that allow you to practice using your remote . The games are bowling , boxing , golf , tennis , and baseball . These games are multiplayer and you can choose different skills if you'd like . The tennis game has you serving and stroking . The baseball game has you batting and pitching . The bowling game has you aiming the ball and throwing it . The golf game has you swinging and hitting the ball . And the boxing game has you punching , blocking , and shifting your position ( you need the nunchuck to play this game ) . These games aren't anything special but they help you understand the different ways to use the Wii remote . This is a pretty good starter game that all types of people will enjoy although you'll probably ditch it once you buy other games . One thing I'd like to point out is that you play using your Mii . Which leads me to another tidbit . . .
A Mii is a character you create ( you can pick what they look like , they're favorite color , etc ) that you use everytime you play . There's no limit to the amount of Miis you can have which means that every family member can have one . The Miis can gain skill points when they play certain games so whenever you turn on your Wii , be sure to play using your own Mii so that you can build points . When you turn on your Wii , the main screen shows the game that is currently in your system as well as Wii options . You can add different programs to the main screen but the Wii comes with a few programs to start you out . They are the disc channel , the Mii channel , the Photo channel ( you can upload pictures from your SD memory cards ) , the Wii Shop channel , the Forecast channel , and the News channel ( these last three require an internet connection ) . You can also communicate using the Wii message board but this also requires an internet connection . There are a ton of options within these channels and you can change programs and add more although I won't comment on these because I haven't used them .
Another great thing about the Wii is that it plays Gamecube games . What is especially great about this is that some games are only available for the Gamecube , and not the Wii , so you're able to get these games without having to use two different systems .
When it comes to accessories , there are quite a few things to choose from . If you plan on having more than one person play , I suggest getting an extra remote as well as a nunchuck ( I personally recommend getting the Wii Play which comes with an extra remote as well as a few extra games ) . You may also need a memory card somewhere down the line if you plan on using your Wii often and if you plan on taking advantage of the Wii's great selection of extra features . If you have children who have trouble using the Wii remote , you also have the option of buying a Wii controller which works much like every other video game controller . Among these things , you can get a remote stand ( which allows you to display your remotes ) , cases that will hold your Wii and accessories , sling backpacks to bring your Wii to a friend's house , skins ( which are basically colorful covers for your Wii remotes ) , and much more .
Gamewise , this system has quite a few games to choose from ( with a ton more in the works ) that'll satisfy everyone , young and old . I only have two other games besides the Wii Sports game ( I have Wii Play and Mario Party 8 ) . You have your typical shooting games ( like Call of Duty ) , your typical kids movie games ( like Ice Age ) , you also have games that mom will enjoy ( like Cooking Mama ) . These games can be expensive ( the majority of them are around $50 ) but they are worth it and most of them provide even more entertainment than the same titles from different video game systems .
When it comes to price , the Wii is by far cheaper than the newer video game systems that have recently been released . The Wii is a new kind of video game system and you can't beat the price for the amount of entertainment that this system will bring . I've played with 7 year olds , I've played with 21 year olds , and I've played with 53 year olds and they all love this system . When it comes to video game systems , NOTHING compares to the Wii .
001 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Nintendo Wii is the most inexpensive of the current generation of gaming consoles . It provides motion sensing controllers and 480p graphics . We tested the Wii before its launch day ( I'm a game reviewer ) , and we had our own unit in our home the morning of launch day . Here are our findings .
The Wii is designed around a menu of channels . 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 . There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing . The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV . Other channels for news , weather , and online shopping require an interent connection ; the news and weather were not actually working at launch time .
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 extra for the 60 gig unit to get this built in . The XBox 360 requires extra hardware as well .
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 and is about as basic as you can get . 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 had a sore arm after playing for a number of hours , in a good way , as he would from exercising .
The 480p resolution is certainly not high def 1080p like the 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 , there aren't fans in the stands for baseball - there are colored blocks .
Nintendo has always been known as a Kid's Console - but I really do think with the Wii that they have become a Family Console . 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 . Every person who has come over - from 8 to adult - has instantly understood and enjoyed the Wii , without much explanation at all .
With the price tag being so low , a gaming household that needs a higher end system can easily save up their money to get that XBox 360 or PS3 - and still be able to justify to get a Wii for the fun , casual gaming stuff to share with their non-gaming friends .
Well recommended ! Since I own all three systems , and am playing all three wirelessly , feel free to contact me if you have any further questions .
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Update : One year later , and the Wii is still going strong ! It's really funny how many people said the Wii would bomb because it wasn't as good as the PS3 or 360 - and here we are a year later and the Wii is still the system that people are really wanting to get . Hospitals are getting Wiis for their patients to play with . Senior centers are getting Wiis for their residents to play games together with . I was just on a cruise ship and they had Wii tournaments going on every day ! This is a fantastically fun system that we really enjoy playing with and that literally the whole family can have fun with . There are great games for kids , great games for teenagers , great games for adults . I am really very pleased with how the Wii has held up and the game set available for it .
Update 2 : 2 years later ! Our Wii is still adored in our household , used just as much as the PS3 and XBox 360 . I was just at a bar and they had two Wiis set up for people to play with , and everybody loved them . This really is an every person's gaming system .
I'm running out of space here , but my nintendo.bellaonline.com site has full articles on exactly what you get in this box , and what else you should buy so you have a full system to play with .
002 4 The Nintendo Wii is the most inexpensive of the current generation of gaming consoles . It provides motion sensing controllers and 480p graphics . We tested the Wii before its launch day ( I'm a game reviewer ) , and we had our own unit in our home the morning of launch day . Here are our findings .
The Wii is designed around a menu of channels . 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 . There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing . The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV . Other channels for news , weather , and online shopping require an interent connection ; the news and weather were not actually working at launch time .
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 extra for the 60 gig unit to get this built in . The XBox 360 requires extra hardware as well .
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 and is about as basic as you can get . 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 had a sore arm after playing for a number of hours , in a good way , as he would from exercising .
The 480p resolution is certainly not high def 1080p like the 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 , there aren't fans in the stands for baseball - there are colored blocks .
Nintendo has always been known as a Kid's Console - but I really do think with the Wii that they have become a Family Console . 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 . Every person who has come over - from 8 to adult - has instantly understood and enjoyed the Wii , without much explanation at all .
With the price tag being so low , a gaming household that needs a higher end system can easily save up their money to get that XBox 360 or PS3 - and still be able to justify to get a Wii for the fun , casual gaming stuff to share with their non-gaming friends .
Well recommended ! Since I own all three systems , and am playing all three wirelessly , feel free to contact me if you have any further questions .
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Update : One year later , and the Wii is still going strong ! It's really funny how many people said the Wii would bomb because it wasn't as good as the PS3 or 360 - and here we are a year later and the Wii is still the system that people are really wanting to get . Hospitals are getting Wiis for their patients to play with . Senior centers are getting Wiis for their residents to play games together with . I was just on a cruise ship and they had Wii tournaments going on every day ! This is a fantastically fun system that we really enjoy playing with and that literally the whole family can have fun with . There are great games for kids , great games for teenagers , great games for adults . I am really very pleased with how the Wii has held up and the game set available for it .
Update 2 : 2 years later ! Our Wii is still adored in our household , used just as much as the PS3 and XBox 360 . I was just at a bar and they had two Wiis set up for people to play with , and everybody loved them . This really is an every person's gaming system .
I'm running out of space here , but my nintendo.bellaonline.com site has full articles on exactly what you get in this box , and what else you should buy so you have a full system to play with .
003 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Since the console has been covered in other reviews , this one will be a little more in-depth about the controller , and only the controller . I hope it can convince you , because it certainly enhanced my gaming experience .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wow . That's all I had to say after plugging the Wii in at my home on November 19th . After months of waiting , it is finally here , and for once , this game system actually met and possibly exceeded my expectations . Know before continuing that I'm not a Nintendo fanboy , I hated the Gamecube , own a PS2 and will be buying an Xbox 360 . Well , after buying this , I don't know if i will be needing that 360 .
The biggest thing about the Wii is it's new controller . Instead of the traditional two-handed gamepad with 2 - 4 buttons and some analog sticks , the Wii's input system is shaped like a TV remote control . It has a couple of buttons on it , but not nearly as many as the average controller . How can you play complex games with such a simple controller ? The answer is motion control .
The Wii's controller has accelerometers inside of it , allowing it to sense when you wave , swing , punch , stab , or shake . It can also interact with a sensor bar placed on top of the television to make a pointer for the TV . For example , to select a menu option , you just point at the option with the remote and click the A button . This creates a whole new gaming experience . It's like one of those arcade games at the local mall , but it works better , and no more 25 cents per turn !
The remote is also very comfortable . For games that would need two analog sticks , such as shooters , there is a connectable perephial with an analog stick and two shoulder buttons , which is called the Nunchuk . In a shooting game , this would handle movement and the remote would handle the aiming . It takes a very short amount of time to get used to , but once you do , it is much more comfortable than the normal controller . You can spread your hands out instead of hunched up , holding your hands together .
The Wii Remote is functional , efficient , comfortable , and smart . It is so much better than controllers of the past , and I hope this is a sign of things to come from Nintendo .
004 4 Since the console has been covered in other reviews , this one will be a little more in-depth about the controller , and only the controller . I hope it can convince you , because it certainly enhanced my gaming experience .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wow . That's all I had to say after plugging the Wii in at my home on November 19th . After months of waiting , it is finally here , and for once , this game system actually met and possibly exceeded my expectations . Know before continuing that I'm not a Nintendo fanboy , I hated the Gamecube , own a PS2 and will be buying an Xbox 360 . Well , after buying this , I don't know if i will be needing that 360 .
The biggest thing about the Wii is it's new controller . Instead of the traditional two-handed gamepad with 2 - 4 buttons and some analog sticks , the Wii's input system is shaped like a TV remote control . It has a couple of buttons on it , but not nearly as many as the average controller . How can you play complex games with such a simple controller ? The answer is motion control .
The Wii's controller has accelerometers inside of it , allowing it to sense when you wave , swing , punch , stab , or shake . It can also interact with a sensor bar placed on top of the television to make a pointer for the TV . For example , to select a menu option , you just point at the option with the remote and click the A button . This creates a whole new gaming experience . It's like one of those arcade games at the local mall , but it works better , and no more 25 cents per turn !
The remote is also very comfortable . For games that would need two analog sticks , such as shooters , there is a connectable perephial with an analog stick and two shoulder buttons , which is called the Nunchuk . In a shooting game , this would handle movement and the remote would handle the aiming . It takes a very short amount of time to get used to , but once you do , it is much more comfortable than the normal controller . You can spread your hands out instead of hunched up , holding your hands together .
The Wii Remote is functional , efficient , comfortable , and smart . It is so much better than controllers of the past , and I hope this is a sign of things to come from Nintendo .
005 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The true battle of the gaming consoles began months before last Christmas . Beginning about October , and definitely by Black Thursday - the Friday shopping day after Thanksgiving , television , newspapers , and every advertising medium were filled with articles and advertisements for the new gaming consoles coming out just in time to put under the Christmas tree .
The gaming console picked to attract the most attention immediately was the PlayStation 3 . It touted the Blu-ray player that was part of the standard equipment , and that Blu-ray player was supposed to be the feature that crushed all other game consoles . Unfortunately , the PlayStation 3 - like its predecessor and the original Xbox and Xbox 360 - was underproduced . Supposedly the problem was in the blue diode chip that enabled the Blu-ray player to work . As a result , there were simply not enough PlayStation 3 units produced to fill every Christmas stocking .
The Xbox 360 came out the Christmas before . It , too , was underproduced and ended up inspiring a whole new generation of campers that took up the sport outside Walmart , Costco's , and other electronic outlet stores around the United States . The price tag of the PlayStation 3 was exorbitant , as was that of the 360 when it first broke .
But the same time Nintendo released its new game system called simply Wii . At $250.00 per unit , buying a Wii seemed like a no-brainer , except that people were getting wooed in by the wowser graphics offered by the PlayStation 3 . But the lack of PlayStation 3 units caused a run on the Wii at Christmas that has taken months to level off .
I had been looking for a Wii since before Christmas and finally scored one at a Best Buy in May . My eighteen-year-old and I had been diligently calling the local retail stores trying to nail one down . We even called in favors from some of his friends who worked at those places to find out about incoming shipments . The problem was , those incoming units generally disappeared as soon as they hit the floor . No one would hold one back . And you couldn't buy one over the Internet . Not even from Amazon .
We got up bright and early on a Sunday morning and hauled butt down to the local Best Buy to grab a unit seconds after it was put out . My wife thought we were crazy . My son and I thought we were mission to rescue the Holy Grail . My nine-year-old came with us . It was his first time for such foolishness and he had a blast . After we got the unit , we hit the game shelves . Everybody got something .
Of course , Dad got the bill .
At home , we hooked the unit up to the 42 - inch television in the living room and proceeded to play . The games were broken out and passed around . Then we chose up lots to see who got to play first . Everybody got to play for a little while . Even when we weren't playing our games , we all sat around watching everyone else play their game . Of course , we made comments on the player's form . Unfriendly comments that beggared gross retribution when our own time came to play .
Admittedly , I felt like an idiot waving the controller around . If someone had been looking through the window , I feel certain that the onlooker would have believed he was tuned into Discovery Channel and was watching a presentation involving tribal rituals and the sacrifice of small animals . There's just no way to look cool while playing a Wii .
The controller is incredibly easy to use . All the new games made for the Wii are already coded to respond to the wireless controller's motions . Button use is even at a minimum so you don't get the sore thumbs you normally get with console systems . Whatever the programming is that allows the motion sensitivity to work with the games is amazing . In addition to the primary wireless controller , there's also another wireless controller that plugs into it called the nunchuk . Using different configurations of these two devices allows for many permutations of movements .
Since we got the Wii right at the end of school , we had time to play on the weekends and often used it as a stress reliever in the evenings . For the first time a long time , we were all gathered around the television and a gaming console . Over the years we've played board games and card games , but there is nothing like playing video games together or providing moral support during a hard-fought campaign . Every victory is celebrated together , and every defeat is never alone .
The Wii package we got came with a collection of sports games . The collection includes boxing , golf , bowling , tennis , and baseball . We had more fun , and more laughs , playing those games together than we did playing our individual games with support .
I fault the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 for not making more family-oriented games . They just don't bring families together the way Nintendo games always have . Of course , I have to give it up to the graphics that are available on those two games systems . Nothing short of a PC matches up to them .
But the bottom line is while the 360 and the PlayStation 3 look beautiful , they just don't put families together the way the Wii does . Not only is the price tag significantly cheaper , but if you're a family that loves to play games together , the Wii is the best way to go because there are more multi-player games that are age-friendly from parent to child .
006 4 The true battle of the gaming consoles began months before last Christmas . Beginning about October , and definitely by Black Thursday - the Friday shopping day after Thanksgiving , television , newspapers , and every advertising medium were filled with articles and advertisements for the new gaming consoles coming out just in time to put under the Christmas tree .
The gaming console picked to attract the most attention immediately was the PlayStation 3 . It touted the Blu-ray player that was part of the standard equipment , and that Blu-ray player was supposed to be the feature that crushed all other game consoles . Unfortunately , the PlayStation 3 - like its predecessor and the original Xbox and Xbox 360 - was underproduced . Supposedly the problem was in the blue diode chip that enabled the Blu-ray player to work . As a result , there were simply not enough PlayStation 3 units produced to fill every Christmas stocking .
The Xbox 360 came out the Christmas before . It , too , was underproduced and ended up inspiring a whole new generation of campers that took up the sport outside Walmart , Costco's , and other electronic outlet stores around the United States . The price tag of the PlayStation 3 was exorbitant , as was that of the 360 when it first broke .
But the same time Nintendo released its new game system called simply Wii . At $250.00 per unit , buying a Wii seemed like a no-brainer , except that people were getting wooed in by the wowser graphics offered by the PlayStation 3 . But the lack of PlayStation 3 units caused a run on the Wii at Christmas that has taken months to level off .
I had been looking for a Wii since before Christmas and finally scored one at a Best Buy in May . My eighteen-year-old and I had been diligently calling the local retail stores trying to nail one down . We even called in favors from some of his friends who worked at those places to find out about incoming shipments . The problem was , those incoming units generally disappeared as soon as they hit the floor . No one would hold one back . And you couldn't buy one over the Internet . Not even from Amazon .
We got up bright and early on a Sunday morning and hauled butt down to the local Best Buy to grab a unit seconds after it was put out . My wife thought we were crazy . My son and I thought we were mission to rescue the Holy Grail . My nine-year-old came with us . It was his first time for such foolishness and he had a blast . After we got the unit , we hit the game shelves . Everybody got something .
Of course , Dad got the bill .
At home , we hooked the unit up to the 42 - inch television in the living room and proceeded to play . The games were broken out and passed around . Then we chose up lots to see who got to play first . Everybody got to play for a little while . Even when we weren't playing our games , we all sat around watching everyone else play their game . Of course , we made comments on the player's form . Unfriendly comments that beggared gross retribution when our own time came to play .
Admittedly , I felt like an idiot waving the controller around . If someone had been looking through the window , I feel certain that the onlooker would have believed he was tuned into Discovery Channel and was watching a presentation involving tribal rituals and the sacrifice of small animals . There's just no way to look cool while playing a Wii .
The controller is incredibly easy to use . All the new games made for the Wii are already coded to respond to the wireless controller's motions . Button use is even at a minimum so you don't get the sore thumbs you normally get with console systems . Whatever the programming is that allows the motion sensitivity to work with the games is amazing . In addition to the primary wireless controller , there's also another wireless controller that plugs into it called the nunchuk . Using different configurations of these two devices allows for many permutations of movements .
Since we got the Wii right at the end of school , we had time to play on the weekends and often used it as a stress reliever in the evenings . For the first time a long time , we were all gathered around the television and a gaming console . Over the years we've played board games and card games , but there is nothing like playing video games together or providing moral support during a hard-fought campaign . Every victory is celebrated together , and every defeat is never alone .
The Wii package we got came with a collection of sports games . The collection includes boxing , golf , bowling , tennis , and baseball . We had more fun , and more laughs , playing those games together than we did playing our individual games with support .
I fault the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 for not making more family-oriented games . They just don't bring families together the way Nintendo games always have . Of course , I have to give it up to the graphics that are available on those two games systems . Nothing short of a PC matches up to them .
But the bottom line is while the 360 and the PlayStation 3 look beautiful , they just don't put families together the way the Wii does . Not only is the price tag significantly cheaper , but if you're a family that loves to play games together , the Wii is the best way to go because there are more multi-player games that are age-friendly from parent to child .
007 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I have owned almost all of the game systems that have come out except for a few of the Nintendo . I just was not a big fan . These days I'm a huge XBOX 360 fan . When I saw the controllers for this new system I though if Nintendo pulls this off it will be huge for them . I decided to give the system ma try and waited in line for 13 hours at Wal-Mart with my 9 year old daughter . She loved the wait and interacting with all the other people waiting for the release . By the time we got it home that night we were both to tried to hook it up that night so it stay in the box till the next morning . The hook up was easy . I spent the money on 3 extra controllers and nunchucks and Trauma center ( which I haven't had a chance to play yet ) and Zelda . The game that comes with the unit was one of the smartest decisions by a company I have ever seen . This reminds me of pong back in the 70 ' s when everyone at least tried playing the first video games , because the games are so easy to play that everyone can and will be talked into playing them . I can't wait to get my 76 year old mother year to play some golf and bowling . We had friends over on Sunday to watch the Bears-Jets game . They are not video game fans to say the least and made fun of me for sitting in line for 13 hours . I talked them into trying the system and then had to talk them into getting off the system because the game was starting and they were having too much fun playing a video game . They apologized to me for making fun of me waiting inline for that long .
I knew going into the purchase the unit was small , but it still shocked me how compact it is . It's a nice sleek design that is simple . The main interface on the unit is manageable and ready for many upgrades . It seemed all of the online features were not available yet except for the Nintendo shop . 10 dollars for a Nintendo 64 game is a little steep . They need to take a look at that . The Mii interface was neat and I had to stop my daughter from creating miis for each child in our neighborhood . The only con I had witht he system was the remotes ran on AA batteries . It would have been nice for them to be on a rechargable system . I'll just have to go get a battery recharger .
Will I stop playing and recommending the XBOX 360 . NO , because I still believe the 360 is the best on the market at this time ( The Wii could change that in time ) . But I will be spending less time on it because of the Wii . If you are on the ledge about this system get off and go and find one . It is worth it . If you're looking for a system that the entire family can enjoy this is it . You will not be disappointed .
P.S . If you're going to trash the system without playing it goes somewhere else . People come here for opinions on if this is a good buy for them . Not for some flamer that's close-minded and loves only his playstation or XBOX and everything else stinks no matter what .
008 4 I have owned almost all of the game systems that have come out except for a few of the Nintendo . I just was not a big fan . These days I'm a huge XBOX 360 fan . When I saw the controllers for this new system I though if Nintendo pulls this off it will be huge for them . I decided to give the system ma try and waited in line for 13 hours at Wal-Mart with my 9 year old daughter . She loved the wait and interacting with all the other people waiting for the release . By the time we got it home that night we were both to tried to hook it up that night so it stay in the box till the next morning . The hook up was easy . I spent the money on 3 extra controllers and nunchucks and Trauma center ( which I haven't had a chance to play yet ) and Zelda . The game that comes with the unit was one of the smartest decisions by a company I have ever seen . This reminds me of pong back in the 70 ' s when everyone at least tried playing the first video games , because the games are so easy to play that everyone can and will be talked into playing them . I can't wait to get my 76 year old mother year to play some golf and bowling . We had friends over on Sunday to watch the Bears-Jets game . They are not video game fans to say the least and made fun of me for sitting in line for 13 hours . I talked them into trying the system and then had to talk them into getting off the system because the game was starting and they were having too much fun playing a video game . They apologized to me for making fun of me waiting inline for that long .
I knew going into the purchase the unit was small , but it still shocked me how compact it is . It's a nice sleek design that is simple . The main interface on the unit is manageable and ready for many upgrades . It seemed all of the online features were not available yet except for the Nintendo shop . 10 dollars for a Nintendo 64 game is a little steep . They need to take a look at that . The Mii interface was neat and I had to stop my daughter from creating miis for each child in our neighborhood . The only con I had witht he system was the remotes ran on AA batteries . It would have been nice for them to be on a rechargable system . I'll just have to go get a battery recharger .
Will I stop playing and recommending the XBOX 360 . NO , because I still believe the 360 is the best on the market at this time ( The Wii could change that in time ) . But I will be spending less time on it because of the Wii . If you are on the ledge about this system get off and go and find one . It is worth it . If you're looking for a system that the entire family can enjoy this is it . You will not be disappointed .
P.S . If you're going to trash the system without playing it goes somewhere else . People come here for opinions on if this is a good buy for them . Not for some flamer that's close-minded and loves only his playstation or XBOX and everything else stinks no matter what .
009 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
By the time I was able to locate and purchase a Wii , I had read various reviews of the new console . Needless to say , the consumer reaction had my expectations set pretty high . I quickly found that the Remote and Wii combo fully lives up to everythig that I have read .
I bought the Wii at a retail location with Zelda : Twilight Princess . I opened the box and 4 easy steps later , was up and running . Even on my old 27 inch CRT with the factory supplied RCA cables , the Wii menu was crisp and impressive . My Wii remote instantly and accurately displayed a pointer that seemed a little sensitive at first , but quickly became easy to control with only slightly smaller , and slower movements . I created a Mii : a fun little extra with lots of customization available . In seven minutes or so I had created Miis for me and my girlfriend that were actually pretty decent caricatures of ourselves . Torturing myself , I left Zelda in the package and popped in the game that comes with the console , Wii Sports .
The Wii Sports games are very basic . Tennis requires no button pressing at all , and you don't move your Mii character to the ball , the computer does that for you . Despite the limitations , you can control the hardness and directionality of your shot by simply altering your stroke hardness and timing with the Remote . Baseball is also rather simple . It is more like a homerun derby mixed with one-on-one baseball you might play in the backyard with ghost runners and ghost fielders ( based on your hit , the batter is declared out or is given a single , double , triple , or homerun , depending on how long it took for the ball to be fielded by the AI controlled fielders ) . Human players only control pitching and hitting , but the Wii Remote operates flawlessly . I was even able to place my hit like real baseball , hitting it down either line or up the middle . After a few innings I hit my first couple homeruns and moved on to the next game . Bowling is as simple as real-life bowling . You can line up your Mii and put as much or as little hook on the ball as you want by simply twisting the Remote in the corresponding direction . I bowled the best ten frames of my life on my very first round . Golf is a little more difficult . If you swing too hard , you will shank the ball pretty badly , and not in a predictable manner . It doesn't help matters that if a ball lands in the rough , your max shot power is reduced by half and there is no chance of reaching the green in two shots on a par 4 . The Mii on-screen does not always match your back stroke accurately . Luckily , the on-screen backstroke doesn't seem to affect how well you hit the ball when you swing forward . Putting and chipping are all touch . If you have shot at least four or five rounds of golf in your life , you can just look at how far away the hole is on the TV and swing accordingly . You can read the greens just by looking at them and adjust your aim to correspond to the slope . The ball responds pretty true-to-life and it is very easy to find yourself overshooting the green or putting way past the hole . This is not a fault with the Wii , however , it is a reflection of the difficulty of the real game of golf . The final game on the Wii Sports disc is boxing . Not quite Fight Night , but still rather fun ; Wii sports boxing will warm you up . You can float like a butterfly , though your feet don't control anything on the screen . Your gloves on screen mimic where your hands , equipped with the remote and nunchuck , are in real-life . You can bring your hands to your face and block and then dodge left and right . If you are trying to do a punch other than a jab , it requires a pretty specific motion of either the remote or the nunchuck ( just uppercutting the air will not necessarily perform an uppercut on-screen ; you have to exagerrate the motion quite a bit to see results ) , and don't expect to be able to execute lightning-fast combos , at least not until fight night or a new rocky game is released . Overall , the sports games are more teasers than anything else . They show the true potential of the wii remote and nunchuck , especially for sports game applications . I can't wait to see some of the old sports favorites adapted to the new control scheme . The potential is there and Wii Sports hilights this potential while offering replayable games that are still fun and intuitive . My girlfriend , who will only play zelda games , was up jumping around , boxing and nearly falling over returning tennis serves within ten minutes of setting up the console .
Zelda is beautiful so far , but I haven't really acquired enough items to make any firm determinations . I did , however immediately go out and buy Red Steel , which I have to say is great as well . It took a few levels to truly get the aim down and adjust to the sensitivity , even though I am still occasionally forgetting that the remote controls looking and letting the pointer wander off of the screen . The graphics are great and the control is fantastic after a little practice .
Considering the high price tag and extremely limited availability of the other next-generation consoles , I definitely prefer the Wii . Graphics will continue to get better and better until reaching a level of near reality , but what then ? Nintendo has taken the first big step in radically changing the way that users interact with the digital world and I glady forfeit some minute details and crispness in the graphics for the brand new control scheme . So long controllers with 15 buttons and counterintuitive , press this button to do this , memorization-required control schemes and hello pick-it-up and play , get-off-the-couch controls of the future .
010 4 By the time I was able to locate and purchase a Wii , I had read various reviews of the new console . Needless to say , the consumer reaction had my expectations set pretty high . I quickly found that the Remote and Wii combo fully lives up to everythig that I have read .
I bought the Wii at a retail location with Zelda : Twilight Princess . I opened the box and 4 easy steps later , was up and running . Even on my old 27 inch CRT with the factory supplied RCA cables , the Wii menu was crisp and impressive . My Wii remote instantly and accurately displayed a pointer that seemed a little sensitive at first , but quickly became easy to control with only slightly smaller , and slower movements . I created a Mii : a fun little extra with lots of customization available . In seven minutes or so I had created Miis for me and my girlfriend that were actually pretty decent caricatures of ourselves . Torturing myself , I left Zelda in the package and popped in the game that comes with the console , Wii Sports .
The Wii Sports games are very basic . Tennis requires no button pressing at all , and you don't move your Mii character to the ball , the computer does that for you . Despite the limitations , you can control the hardness and directionality of your shot by simply altering your stroke hardness and timing with the Remote . Baseball is also rather simple . It is more like a homerun derby mixed with one-on-one baseball you might play in the backyard with ghost runners and ghost fielders ( based on your hit , the batter is declared out or is given a single , double , triple , or homerun , depending on how long it took for the ball to be fielded by the AI controlled fielders ) . Human players only control pitching and hitting , but the Wii Remote operates flawlessly . I was even able to place my hit like real baseball , hitting it down either line or up the middle . After a few innings I hit my first couple homeruns and moved on to the next game . Bowling is as simple as real-life bowling . You can line up your Mii and put as much or as little hook on the ball as you want by simply twisting the Remote in the corresponding direction . I bowled the best ten frames of my life on my very first round . Golf is a little more difficult . If you swing too hard , you will shank the ball pretty badly , and not in a predictable manner . It doesn't help matters that if a ball lands in the rough , your max shot power is reduced by half and there is no chance of reaching the green in two shots on a par 4 . The Mii on-screen does not always match your back stroke accurately . Luckily , the on-screen backstroke doesn't seem to affect how well you hit the ball when you swing forward . Putting and chipping are all touch . If you have shot at least four or five rounds of golf in your life , you can just look at how far away the hole is on the TV and swing accordingly . You can read the greens just by looking at them and adjust your aim to correspond to the slope . The ball responds pretty true-to-life and it is very easy to find yourself overshooting the green or putting way past the hole . This is not a fault with the Wii , however , it is a reflection of the difficulty of the real game of golf . The final game on the Wii Sports disc is boxing . Not quite Fight Night , but still rather fun ; Wii sports boxing will warm you up . You can float like a butterfly , though your feet don't control anything on the screen . Your gloves on screen mimic where your hands , equipped with the remote and nunchuck , are in real-life . You can bring your hands to your face and block and then dodge left and right . If you are trying to do a punch other than a jab , it requires a pretty specific motion of either the remote or the nunchuck ( just uppercutting the air will not necessarily perform an uppercut on-screen ; you have to exagerrate the motion quite a bit to see results ) , and don't expect to be able to execute lightning-fast combos , at least not until fight night or a new rocky game is released . Overall , the sports games are more teasers than anything else . They show the true potential of the wii remote and nunchuck , especially for sports game applications . I can't wait to see some of the old sports favorites adapted to the new control scheme . The potential is there and Wii Sports hilights this potential while offering replayable games that are still fun and intuitive . My girlfriend , who will only play zelda games , was up jumping around , boxing and nearly falling over returning tennis serves within ten minutes of setting up the console .
Zelda is beautiful so far , but I haven't really acquired enough items to make any firm determinations . I did , however immediately go out and buy Red Steel , which I have to say is great as well . It took a few levels to truly get the aim down and adjust to the sensitivity , even though I am still occasionally forgetting that the remote controls looking and letting the pointer wander off of the screen . The graphics are great and the control is fantastic after a little practice .
Considering the high price tag and extremely limited availability of the other next-generation consoles , I definitely prefer the Wii . Graphics will continue to get better and better until reaching a level of near reality , but what then ? Nintendo has taken the first big step in radically changing the way that users interact with the digital world and I glady forfeit some minute details and crispness in the graphics for the brand new control scheme . So long controllers with 15 buttons and counterintuitive , press this button to do this , memorization-required control schemes and hello pick-it-up and play , get-off-the-couch controls of the future .
013 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Ok , you've seen the advertisements . You've looked at the Xbox 360 and the PS3 . Now , you are wondering how the least expensive next gen game console compares to its more expensive competition . Nintendo's Wii not only performs well , it exceeded all of my expectations as far as being a fun game machine .
The Wii is actually a lot smaller than I expected . . . much smaller than the PS3 or the Xbox 360 , and I might add , a lot lighter too . How powerful can such a little game machine be ? The answer to this question can be described by what happened on the first day of playing with the Wii . . . everyone in my household wanted to play with it . This is saying quite a bit as the other members in my family don't play games . I started out with the included game disk called Wii Sports and tried out the bowling game . After a few minutes of play , everyone wanted to try it . Next came the tennis game , the golf game , and boxing game . To put it mildly , the Wii was a hit at my house .
Somehow , Nintendo has decided to not buckle under the pressure of trying to produce a new game machine on steroids that will cost you almost a month's house mortgage payment . What they have elected to do is to provide a game machine that has good graphics , fun game play , and a game console that will not just cater to hard core game people , but will offer everyone else , a game machine that is entertaining , fun to use , and non-threatening . And even if you happen to be a hard core gamer , the Wii should offer you excellent game play too .
The Wii is the surprise of the year . If you are looking for an affordable and fun game console that the whole family can enjoy , try out the Wii , because it really is for we .
014 4 Ok , you've seen the advertisements . You've looked at the Xbox 360 and the PS3 . Now , you are wondering how the least expensive next gen game console compares to its more expensive competition . Nintendo's Wii not only performs well , it exceeded all of my expectations as far as being a fun game machine .
The Wii is actually a lot smaller than I expected . . . much smaller than the PS3 or the Xbox 360 , and I might add , a lot lighter too . How powerful can such a little game machine be ? The answer to this question can be described by what happened on the first day of playing with the Wii . . . everyone in my household wanted to play with it . This is saying quite a bit as the other members in my family don't play games . I started out with the included game disk called Wii Sports and tried out the bowling game . After a few minutes of play , everyone wanted to try it . Next came the tennis game , the golf game , and boxing game . To put it mildly , the Wii was a hit at my house .
Somehow , Nintendo has decided to not buckle under the pressure of trying to produce a new game machine on steroids that will cost you almost a month's house mortgage payment . What they have elected to do is to provide a game machine that has good graphics , fun game play , and a game console that will not just cater to hard core game people , but will offer everyone else , a game machine that is entertaining , fun to use , and non-threatening . And even if you happen to be a hard core gamer , the Wii should offer you excellent game play too .
The Wii is the surprise of the year . If you are looking for an affordable and fun game console that the whole family can enjoy , try out the Wii , because it really is for we .
015 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Right when I picked up the controller and began playing this game , I immediately started having fun . The only game I've played on it so far is Wii Sports , and I can't stop ! I've had friends over and we play all of the games . Even golf ( a sport I suck at ) was fun for me ! It's really a game for all ages . My 5 year old nephew has played everything and is actually doing better than most of the adults . He has also tried racing games and even my mom has bought a game for herself ( that's an accomplishment since she's definitely not the video game type ) .
My only problems are with the controller . In golf , when you try to lightly tap the ball into the hole , it doesn't work . It just doesn't seem to pick up the movement until you move your hand backwards . That's also a problem ( inverting the motion of the controller ) . Even if you start with your hand positioned exactly as the character's , it can invert the motion , or not even pick it up .
Also with boxing , it really can't seem to pick up the motion very well at all . We figured out the main problem is that we are punching too quickly , but even when slowing down , the controller doesn't always pick up the motion . Also , when trying to block , holding your hands completely together doesn't put your character's arms together . We realized that the only way for the characters to block is by crossing our arms . Nothing is in the way when this happens either , so it's pretty frustrating .
And in bowling , the ball will curve to the left , even when someone is holding their arm completely straight , or even try curving their hand towards the right .
Besides all those minor problems , the Wii really is fun . Everyone has really gotten into the game and made their own characters . ( Which is also a fun process ) .
016 4 Right when I picked up the controller and began playing this game , I immediately started having fun . The only game I've played on it so far is Wii Sports , and I can't stop ! I've had friends over and we play all of the games . Even golf ( a sport I suck at ) was fun for me ! It's really a game for all ages . My 5 year old nephew has played everything and is actually doing better than most of the adults . He has also tried racing games and even my mom has bought a game for herself ( that's an accomplishment since she's definitely not the video game type ) .
My only problems are with the controller . In golf , when you try to lightly tap the ball into the hole , it doesn't work . It just doesn't seem to pick up the movement until you move your hand backwards . That's also a problem ( inverting the motion of the controller ) . Even if you start with your hand positioned exactly as the character's , it can invert the motion , or not even pick it up .
Also with boxing , it really can't seem to pick up the motion very well at all . We figured out the main problem is that we are punching too quickly , but even when slowing down , the controller doesn't always pick up the motion . Also , when trying to block , holding your hands completely together doesn't put your character's arms together . We realized that the only way for the characters to block is by crossing our arms . Nothing is in the way when this happens either , so it's pretty frustrating .
And in bowling , the ball will curve to the left , even when someone is holding their arm completely straight , or even try curving their hand towards the right .
Besides all those minor problems , the Wii really is fun . Everyone has really gotten into the game and made their own characters . ( Which is also a fun process ) .
017 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I've had my Wii for 24 hours now , and my first impressions are that this system is going to revolutionize video gaming . There are a few things that make the Wii worth buying more so than the XBox 360 or Playstation 3 :
- Better value - $ [ . . . ] , comes with a game and a built-in memory card
- Better controllers - The Wii remote and nunchuck are a bit pricey , but they are by far the most comfortable , accurate , and intuitive controllers I've ever used .
- Potential for on-line services - The virtual console games are a bit pricey right now , but the potential for Wii channels to grow into something awesome is definitely there . The Wii is the first console I know of that shipped with a built-in set of on-line services , several of which were active the day of release
Now , for the review :
The Wii hardware is small , sleek , stylish , and attractive . It doesn't feel cheap or flimsy , but compact and durable .
The operating system of the Wii is intuitive , clean , and moves pretty quickly . The wireless configuration is easy for anyone familiar with wireless networking . I had it connected to my secured wireless router in just a few minutes .
I can't say enough about how cool the Wii remote is as a controller . Not only is it innovative , and provides whole new ways to think about controlling video games like Wii Sports , it's also a much more comfortable controller to use for traditional games like Zelda . Being able to sit with your shoulders spread and your arms at your sides is a new freedom of movement that I never knew I needed while playing a video game .
Wii sports is also more fun than I expected . Although the interface and games are simple , they are also entertaining . The tennis and golf games borrow a bit of their look and feel from Mario Tennis and Mario Golf , both pretty solid fun-sports titles . The bowling game is also particularly fun , especially when played with a friend .
Overall , I don't miss having the enhanced graphics of the PS3 or XBox 360 even a little bit . The games I've played are fun and engaging , the new controller is going to change the world , and the on-line Wii Channels show a lot of promise .
I'm really happy I bought this system , and if Nintendo keeps delivering at this level of quality , I don't think I'm going to need any other game systems any time soon .
~ Chris
018 4 I've had my Wii for 24 hours now , and my first impressions are that this system is going to revolutionize video gaming . There are a few things that make the Wii worth buying more so than the XBox 360 or Playstation 3 :
- Better value - $ [ . . . ] , comes with a game and a built-in memory card
- Better controllers - The Wii remote and nunchuck are a bit pricey , but they are by far the most comfortable , accurate , and intuitive controllers I've ever used .
- Potential for on-line services - The virtual console games are a bit pricey right now , but the potential for Wii channels to grow into something awesome is definitely there . The Wii is the first console I know of that shipped with a built-in set of on-line services , several of which were active the day of release
Now , for the review :
The Wii hardware is small , sleek , stylish , and attractive . It doesn't feel cheap or flimsy , but compact and durable .
The operating system of the Wii is intuitive , clean , and moves pretty quickly . The wireless configuration is easy for anyone familiar with wireless networking . I had it connected to my secured wireless router in just a few minutes .
I can't say enough about how cool the Wii remote is as a controller . Not only is it innovative , and provides whole new ways to think about controlling video games like Wii Sports , it's also a much more comfortable controller to use for traditional games like Zelda . Being able to sit with your shoulders spread and your arms at your sides is a new freedom of movement that I never knew I needed while playing a video game .
Wii sports is also more fun than I expected . Although the interface and games are simple , they are also entertaining . The tennis and golf games borrow a bit of their look and feel from Mario Tennis and Mario Golf , both pretty solid fun-sports titles . The bowling game is also particularly fun , especially when played with a friend .
Overall , I don't miss having the enhanced graphics of the PS3 or XBox 360 even a little bit . The games I've played are fun and engaging , the new controller is going to change the world , and the on-line Wii Channels show a lot of promise .
I'm really happy I bought this system , and if Nintendo keeps delivering at this level of quality , I don't think I'm going to need any other game systems any time soon .
~ Chris
022 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Everyone can understand how to play , and everyone has fun playing . . . My father , who hates video games as a way of spending time and money thinks that the wii is great , and was like a little boy playing it . . ( he's 55 ) . My mother even tried it out and enjoyed it . The wii , when used as its intended with you getting up and swinging the remote will give you a nice bit of exercise . in wii sports , ( comes with the system ) , boxing tennis bowling and the various training and fitness tests that go along with the games can have you working up a sweat . zelda is great too , for the serious gamer . $250 is well worth the price , video games are fun again , and you can get everyone involved !
023 4 Everyone can understand how to play , and everyone has fun playing . . . My father , who hates video games as a way of spending time and money thinks that the wii is great , and was like a little boy playing it . . ( he's 55 ) . My mother even tried it out and enjoyed it . The wii , when used as its intended with you getting up and swinging the remote will give you a nice bit of exercise . in wii sports , ( comes with the system ) , boxing tennis bowling and the various training and fitness tests that go along with the games can have you working up a sweat . zelda is great too , for the serious gamer . $250 is well worth the price , video games are fun again , and you can get everyone involved !
024 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I don't own the Wii yet . I'm getting it soon , but I have played it at a friend's house for quite some time now . I'm going to avoid talking about the Mii channel and the controllers , and focus on the games .
Wii Sports is a very interesting package . I thought it would be more of an introduction to the concepts of motion sensing and exercise . However , I was proven wrong as my friend and I were able to play Wii Sports for periods of hours at a time . My favorite of the sports is baseball . As an avid baseball fan , I really enjoyed how Nintendo created the home run derby-pitching mix . Yes , baseball on the Wii does get your arm sore after throwing hard fastballs ( my highest was 93 mph ) , but I took it in a positive way , because the soreness reflected real life . As a pitcher , often after throwing hard my arm is sore , and I was astonished by how real Nintendo made this game .
My second favorite Wii Sports game is tennis . Although I was somewhat dissapointed about the fact that you can't move your character ( the computer does it for you ) , I was again astonished by the detection of the machine . My friend gave me a volley return , up by the net , and when I softly swung the controller , the ball lobbed . When I wanted to smash a ball right by him , I could swing hard , and again win the point . The point is , Nintendo outdid itself by making the velocity on the shot exactly as it is in real life , both in baseball and tennis .
Finally , a game in which no one has mentioned yet , Madden 07 . I own this game on the xBox 360 and I could not believe how much more fun this game was compared to the 360 . Along with added features like the college all-star game and a fantasy draft ( both of which are not on the 360 ) , the gameplay is superb . I played my friend in a heated grudge match in the NFC Championship , I , the Packers against he , the Lions . We had conducted our fantasy drafts already , but I won't bore you with that . From kickoff , I was intrigued . I liked Eli Manning barking the signals through the Wiimote , and although many people find this annoying , I think it is quite funny . The game went down to the wire . I was winning 30 - 23 , and he was driving down the field . We were running around the room at this point , and were completely immersed in the game . He scored a touchdown with 40 seconds left , and went for two points . On the two point conversion , I was able to spin off my man and place a power hit into Brady Quinn , the quarterback . He was able to throw the ball , and I could control my cornerback into swatting the ball away . I won , 30 - 29 .
The final play is an example of two things :
First , the ability to score 30 points and control Reggie Nelson into swatting the ball away isa great example of how easy the controls are . Throwing the ball , snapping the ball , kicking the ball , it is all so easy to do . Instead of having to memorize a button to press , everything from juking to stiffarms to snapping the ball is done in an arm movement , allowing for people with bad memory to enjoy the game without the hassle of tutorials and reading the little booklet that comes with the xBox 360 games .
Second , Nintendo was able to immerse its game-players in reality . I believe that graphics are not reality , but are just eye candy . I completely regret making the decision to buy an xBox 360 with my own money because of some stupid graphics . But the Wii was able get me lost in the game . I was running around the room actually chasing my friend like Mario Williams , and when I was Eli Manning , I called signals and threw passes . My point , the Wii is the closest thing you can get to virtual reality because you make your own movements . I have never been much of an athlete , so when I played Madden , I was able to be Eli Manning . Then I got home and cranked up Madden on the 360 , and it wasn't the same . I haven't played my 360 for a week because it is impossible to go back .
This system is actually the best thing since the invention of video games and pong . I love it . I can't wait to get my own . Please do yourself a favor and buy this . It's great for the family and great for social occasions .
025 4 I don't own the Wii yet . I'm getting it soon , but I have played it at a friend's house for quite some time now . I'm going to avoid talking about the Mii channel and the controllers , and focus on the games .
Wii Sports is a very interesting package . I thought it would be more of an introduction to the concepts of motion sensing and exercise . However , I was proven wrong as my friend and I were able to play Wii Sports for periods of hours at a time . My favorite of the sports is baseball . As an avid baseball fan , I really enjoyed how Nintendo created the home run derby-pitching mix . Yes , baseball on the Wii does get your arm sore after throwing hard fastballs ( my highest was 93 mph ) , but I took it in a positive way , because the soreness reflected real life . As a pitcher , often after throwing hard my arm is sore , and I was astonished by how real Nintendo made this game .
My second favorite Wii Sports game is tennis . Although I was somewhat dissapointed about the fact that you can't move your character ( the computer does it for you ) , I was again astonished by the detection of the machine . My friend gave me a volley return , up by the net , and when I softly swung the controller , the ball lobbed . When I wanted to smash a ball right by him , I could swing hard , and again win the point . The point is , Nintendo outdid itself by making the velocity on the shot exactly as it is in real life , both in baseball and tennis .
Finally , a game in which no one has mentioned yet , Madden 07 . I own this game on the xBox 360 and I could not believe how much more fun this game was compared to the 360 . Along with added features like the college all-star game and a fantasy draft ( both of which are not on the 360 ) , the gameplay is superb . I played my friend in a heated grudge match in the NFC Championship , I , the Packers against he , the Lions . We had conducted our fantasy drafts already , but I won't bore you with that . From kickoff , I was intrigued . I liked Eli Manning barking the signals through the Wiimote , and although many people find this annoying , I think it is quite funny . The game went down to the wire . I was winning 30 - 23 , and he was driving down the field . We were running around the room at this point , and were completely immersed in the game . He scored a touchdown with 40 seconds left , and went for two points . On the two point conversion , I was able to spin off my man and place a power hit into Brady Quinn , the quarterback . He was able to throw the ball , and I could control my cornerback into swatting the ball away . I won , 30 - 29 .
The final play is an example of two things :
First , the ability to score 30 points and control Reggie Nelson into swatting the ball away isa great example of how easy the controls are . Throwing the ball , snapping the ball , kicking the ball , it is all so easy to do . Instead of having to memorize a button to press , everything from juking to stiffarms to snapping the ball is done in an arm movement , allowing for people with bad memory to enjoy the game without the hassle of tutorials and reading the little booklet that comes with the xBox 360 games .
Second , Nintendo was able to immerse its game-players in reality . I believe that graphics are not reality , but are just eye candy . I completely regret making the decision to buy an xBox 360 with my own money because of some stupid graphics . But the Wii was able get me lost in the game . I was running around the room actually chasing my friend like Mario Williams , and when I was Eli Manning , I called signals and threw passes . My point , the Wii is the closest thing you can get to virtual reality because you make your own movements . I have never been much of an athlete , so when I played Madden , I was able to be Eli Manning . Then I got home and cranked up Madden on the 360 , and it wasn't the same . I haven't played my 360 for a week because it is impossible to go back .
This system is actually the best thing since the invention of video games and pong . I love it . I can't wait to get my own . Please do yourself a favor and buy this . It's great for the family and great for social occasions .
026 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Which one ? Playstation 3 ? Xbox 360 ? Nintendo Wii ? ? ? ? . . . .
This is an extremely hard question that has no definate answer . Out of the three new-generation systems which one will you purchase ? First of all let me say that it really comes down to your personal preferences . What kind of game do u like ? Things like that . Welllll . . .
The main reasons that i would choose the Wii out of the other two are these as follows .
1 . I'm not allowed to play mature games . For the many kids out there who are not allowed , i would personally think that the ps3 and the 360 may not be the best choice . Pretty much all the games worth playing on them so far are rated M . Yes , there are a few sports game , but that alone , I believe , is not worth the 400 dollars you will have to dish out .
2 . Price : $250 , this alone is a good reason . It is much cheaper than the Xbox 360 Premium Edition ( the only edition worth getting ) . And as you guessed it completely and utterly destroys the PS3 price .
3 . Backwards Compatibility : Any Nintedo fans out there will love this . You can download games on to the wii from Nintendo systems dating all the way back to the NES . NES SNES N64 and Gamecube titles will all be available .
4 . Controllers : The next generation motion sensoring device we know as a controller . This is really something you have to try to understand . It is so simple that 4 year olds could play it . Buty yet it has enough features especially with the Nunchuck to challenge the experienced gamer . This is the biggest reason the Wii wins in my opinion . Playing = Believing
Okay , now your wondering , There has to be something wrong ! Well your right . Although very few and minor , here are the flaws
Graphics : Although the graphics are awe-inspiring at 480p , they are not even close in my opinion to the graphics of the PS3 and the Xbox 360 at 1080i . But don't let this bother you as it used to me . Believe me after you play the Wii at your local game store , the last thing in your mind will be graphics . You will be to happy with gameplay .
Closing comments :
Do yourself a favor kids and get the Wii . You will not be dissapointed . And i used to be a doubter too . Untillll i played it . So , happy gaming until then . I hope my review has been helpful .
Peace out
027 4 Which one ? Playstation 3 ? Xbox 360 ? Nintendo Wii ? ? ? ? . . . .
This is an extremely hard question that has no definate answer . Out of the three new-generation systems which one will you purchase ? First of all let me say that it really comes down to your personal preferences . What kind of game do u like ? Things like that . Welllll . . .
The main reasons that i would choose the Wii out of the other two are these as follows .
1 . I'm not allowed to play mature games . For the many kids out there who are not allowed , i would personally think that the ps3 and the 360 may not be the best choice . Pretty much all the games worth playing on them so far are rated M . Yes , there are a few sports game , but that alone , I believe , is not worth the 400 dollars you will have to dish out .
2 . Price : $250 , this alone is a good reason . It is much cheaper than the Xbox 360 Premium Edition ( the only edition worth getting ) . And as you guessed it completely and utterly destroys the PS3 price .
3 . Backwards Compatibility : Any Nintedo fans out there will love this . You can download games on to the wii from Nintendo systems dating all the way back to the NES . NES SNES N64 and Gamecube titles will all be available .
4 . Controllers : The next generation motion sensoring device we know as a controller . This is really something you have to try to understand . It is so simple that 4 year olds could play it . Buty yet it has enough features especially with the Nunchuck to challenge the experienced gamer . This is the biggest reason the Wii wins in my opinion . Playing = Believing
Okay , now your wondering , There has to be something wrong ! Well your right . Although very few and minor , here are the flaws
Graphics : Although the graphics are awe-inspiring at 480p , they are not even close in my opinion to the graphics of the PS3 and the Xbox 360 at 1080i . But don't let this bother you as it used to me . Believe me after you play the Wii at your local game store , the last thing in your mind will be graphics . You will be to happy with gameplay .
Closing comments :
Do yourself a favor kids and get the Wii . You will not be dissapointed . And i used to be a doubter too . Untillll i played it . So , happy gaming until then . I hope my review has been helpful .
Peace out
029 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Let me start out by simply saying that , despite what you may have read in many of the reviews here , the Wii is not a perfect console . It is not a bad console , but it has more than its own share of flaws . For many prospective customers these flaws will not amount to much . To others however they can be pretty serious .
If you were to go simply by the most helpful reviews here on Amazon , you would have to conclude that the Wii is far and away the best video game console ever made . I can hardly blame most of these people . If I had not owned any other game console in the last decade , as many of them confess they have not , I imagine I would feel the same way . And I have to admit , that I was pretty excited the first time I booted up the system . There is a sort of newness , a freshness to it , even for someone who has been playing games for a long time , that adds exponentially to the initial enjoyment .
However , this is no longer the case . I have owned my Wii for over a year now and the excitement for it has long since waned . The chief culprit here is the severe lack of quality games for the system . The list of games that are actually worth spending $50 on is a short one indeed ( less than a dozen in my personal opinion ) , and shorter still if you count the fact that many of these games ( eg Okami , Resident Evil 4 , Twilight Princess , etc . . . ) are available on older , cheaper consoles . And it's not just that there aren't many good games on the system , there aren't many mediocre games on it either . The Wii has become a system for game developers to shovel out cheap , rushed games in the hopes that an undiscerning customer base won't know the difference .
The truth is , the Wii is a console with a very specific target market . That market is people who don't play video games . If all you want is to play Wii Sports with your friends or workout with Wii Fit , then by all means this is the console for you . However , if you're looking for something that will give you a steady supply of new , fresh , quality games the I'm sorry but this is not your system .
Some of the other reviewers have painted the picture that only the hardest of the hardcore would not be satisfied by a Wii . I disagree . If you plan on playing more than 3 - 4 games a year and have even a rough sense of what does and doesn't make a quality game , then you're going to start running into the holes in the Wii's library pretty fast . To me , that's not hardcore that's just someone who likes video games .
And really , I'm not sure I would really even recommend a Wii for a lot of casual players . If you're looking for a cheap console to play with friends , I would probably recommend a Playstation 2 . The system costs half as much , it has pretty much the same graphical fidelity as a Wii , and has literally hundreds of quality games to choose from , almost all of them available for less than $20 . For what it costs you to get a Wii with Wii Sports and a single controller , you could get a PS2 and a copy of Rock Band and still have $20 left in your pocket . Oh , and unlike the Wii you won't have to spend the night outside your local Target just to get your hands on a PS2 either .
The Wii is a good console for a certain group of people , but it is not the end all be all of video games that a lot of people say it is . For a lot of people there are better options out there .
Update : Over 6 months after my initial review , the situation is more or less unchanged with the Wii . The library of games , even after the holiday season , is still remarkably devoid of quality titles . Of the five platforms I own , the Wii sees easily the least usage . Yes , I am what most would consider a hardcore gamer . Yet my wife , who barely games at all , has spent more time playing Little Big Planet on the PS3 than all our Wii games combined in the last several months . Meanwhile the Xbox 360 arcade is now priced at $200 ( $50 cheaper than the Wii ) , and the PS2 has been reduced to $99 .
Don't believe the hype . Don't buy one simply because it's popular . For most people , there are still better options out there for less money .
030 4 Let me start out by simply saying that , despite what you may have read in many of the reviews here , the Wii is not a perfect console . It is not a bad console , but it has more than its own share of flaws . For many prospective customers these flaws will not amount to much . To others however they can be pretty serious .
If you were to go simply by the most helpful reviews here on Amazon , you would have to conclude that the Wii is far and away the best video game console ever made . I can hardly blame most of these people . If I had not owned any other game console in the last decade , as many of them confess they have not , I imagine I would feel the same way . And I have to admit , that I was pretty excited the first time I booted up the system . There is a sort of newness , a freshness to it , even for someone who has been playing games for a long time , that adds exponentially to the initial enjoyment .
However , this is no longer the case . I have owned my Wii for over a year now and the excitement for it has long since waned . The chief culprit here is the severe lack of quality games for the system . The list of games that are actually worth spending $50 on is a short one indeed ( less than a dozen in my personal opinion ) , and shorter still if you count the fact that many of these games ( eg Okami , Resident Evil 4 , Twilight Princess , etc . . . ) are available on older , cheaper consoles . And it's not just that there aren't many good games on the system , there aren't many mediocre games on it either . The Wii has become a system for game developers to shovel out cheap , rushed games in the hopes that an undiscerning customer base won't know the difference .
The truth is , the Wii is a console with a very specific target market . That market is people who don't play video games . If all you want is to play Wii Sports with your friends or workout with Wii Fit , then by all means this is the console for you . However , if you're looking for something that will give you a steady supply of new , fresh , quality games the I'm sorry but this is not your system .
Some of the other reviewers have painted the picture that only the hardest of the hardcore would not be satisfied by a Wii . I disagree . If you plan on playing more than 3 - 4 games a year and have even a rough sense of what does and doesn't make a quality game , then you're going to start running into the holes in the Wii's library pretty fast . To me , that's not hardcore that's just someone who likes video games .
And really , I'm not sure I would really even recommend a Wii for a lot of casual players . If you're looking for a cheap console to play with friends , I would probably recommend a Playstation 2 . The system costs half as much , it has pretty much the same graphical fidelity as a Wii , and has literally hundreds of quality games to choose from , almost all of them available for less than $20 . For what it costs you to get a Wii with Wii Sports and a single controller , you could get a PS2 and a copy of Rock Band and still have $20 left in your pocket . Oh , and unlike the Wii you won't have to spend the night outside your local Target just to get your hands on a PS2 either .
The Wii is a good console for a certain group of people , but it is not the end all be all of video games that a lot of people say it is . For a lot of people there are better options out there .
Update : Over 6 months after my initial review , the situation is more or less unchanged with the Wii . The library of games , even after the holiday season , is still remarkably devoid of quality titles . Of the five platforms I own , the Wii sees easily the least usage . Yes , I am what most would consider a hardcore gamer . Yet my wife , who barely games at all , has spent more time playing Little Big Planet on the PS3 than all our Wii games combined in the last several months . Meanwhile the Xbox 360 arcade is now priced at $200 ( $50 cheaper than the Wii ) , and the PS2 has been reduced to $99 .
Don't believe the hype . Don't buy one simply because it's popular . For most people , there are still better options out there for less money .
031 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
You'll have to try it out for yourself , but from my full 24 hours with the system , I have a pro / con list :
pros :
- Throw away your Gamecube ! It plays the games , has 4 slots for GC controllers , and memory card slot
- WiFi with a browser on its way out
- Controller really puts you in the games
- Comes with WiiSports which is a good starter game for learning to use the remote
- FUN !
- MyWii is neat
- Can save MyWii to a remote and use your remote on someone elses Wii
cons :
- Quite a few titles already released , but nothing I want to play
- Controller takes some getting used to and doesn't seem right for all games
- Virtual console games a bit pricey ( $5 - $10 ) , especially since I already own them on other consoles
- Had to re-sync controllers twice already . What happened ?
- $60 for extra nun-chuck and remote x 3 . . .
032 4 You'll have to try it out for yourself , but from my full 24 hours with the system , I have a pro / con list :
pros :
- Throw away your Gamecube ! It plays the games , has 4 slots for GC controllers , and memory card slot
- WiFi with a browser on its way out
- Controller really puts you in the games
- Comes with WiiSports which is a good starter game for learning to use the remote
- FUN !
- MyWii is neat
- Can save MyWii to a remote and use your remote on someone elses Wii
cons :
- Quite a few titles already released , but nothing I want to play
- Controller takes some getting used to and doesn't seem right for all games
- Virtual console games a bit pricey ( $5 - $10 ) , especially since I already own them on other consoles
- Had to re-sync controllers twice already . What happened ?
- $60 for extra nun-chuck and remote x 3 . . .
035 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Wow . Nintendo has finally come up with a gaming console that can be appreciated by both genders and all ages . From middle schoolers to senior citizens , everyone can find something to love about Wii .
Although most people will want to buy accessories such as extra controllers and new games , the Wii is great to play right out of the box . The basic console comes with Wii Sports game ( a selection of sports - - tennis , baseball , golf , and bowling ) with its various skill levels and challenges ; a wireless hand controller with wrist strap ; a nunchuk controller ; batteries ; a wireless receiver , and the necessary cables to hook it up . Most gamers will want , at a minimum , an extra handset and possibly the charger with rechargeable batteries . Because Wii Sports has so much included within the single game disk , extra games , while great to add , won't be necessary at first .
For set-up , you'll need a space on top of your television for the slender , 9 1 / 2 inch long wireless bar that will pick up the movements and input from the remote controller . You'll also need LOTS of room for arm swinging and back and forth movement ( which will be unintentional , especially if you're used to playing the sports in real life . ) Don't underestimate the warnings ! Inevitably , someone playing Wii will cream a hand or knock the dog out or hit someone else in the nose . Make sure the playing area is free of all obstacles and that everyone not playing knows to steer clear . Even people who exercise regularly run the risk of tennis elbow and / or sore muscles .
An extra note about Wii Sports since the game is a large part of a gamer's introduction to the medium : the really cool part of the interface is the way the Wii senses and translates movement . You can hook a bowling bowl and put slice on a tennis ball , all with the specific movements you use . The game has a training area that goes beyond the mere tutorial and into actual methods of doing the sports . You can also test for your Wii Fitness Age once a day .
Although the Wii is difficult to come by at this writing , I suspect it will become more available a month or two after the holidays . Definitely pick one up . You won't regret it .
036 4 Wow . Nintendo has finally come up with a gaming console that can be appreciated by both genders and all ages . From middle schoolers to senior citizens , everyone can find something to love about Wii .
Although most people will want to buy accessories such as extra controllers and new games , the Wii is great to play right out of the box . The basic console comes with Wii Sports game ( a selection of sports - - tennis , baseball , golf , and bowling ) with its various skill levels and challenges ; a wireless hand controller with wrist strap ; a nunchuk controller ; batteries ; a wireless receiver , and the necessary cables to hook it up . Most gamers will want , at a minimum , an extra handset and possibly the charger with rechargeable batteries . Because Wii Sports has so much included within the single game disk , extra games , while great to add , won't be necessary at first .
For set-up , you'll need a space on top of your television for the slender , 9 1 / 2 inch long wireless bar that will pick up the movements and input from the remote controller . You'll also need LOTS of room for arm swinging and back and forth movement ( which will be unintentional , especially if you're used to playing the sports in real life . ) Don't underestimate the warnings ! Inevitably , someone playing Wii will cream a hand or knock the dog out or hit someone else in the nose . Make sure the playing area is free of all obstacles and that everyone not playing knows to steer clear . Even people who exercise regularly run the risk of tennis elbow and / or sore muscles .
An extra note about Wii Sports since the game is a large part of a gamer's introduction to the medium : the really cool part of the interface is the way the Wii senses and translates movement . You can hook a bowling bowl and put slice on a tennis ball , all with the specific movements you use . The game has a training area that goes beyond the mere tutorial and into actual methods of doing the sports . You can also test for your Wii Fitness Age once a day .
Although the Wii is difficult to come by at this writing , I suspect it will become more available a month or two after the holidays . Definitely pick one up . You won't regret it .
037 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Although Nintendo is somewhat of a household name for someone of my age ( > 40 ) , I never really thought of getting myself a console . If I play games , I always played ( and still do ) them on a ( high-end ) computer . All that changed when I first saw the wii demoed shortly before christmas 2006 . What intrigued me was their truly innovative game controller design ( yes , boys love toys ) , and the way they integrated into the games ( I saw demos from the wii sports series ) .
So , on a whim , I decided on getting myself a wii , without really knowing what I got myself into . For even measure I threw in a second controller ( I seldom play alone ) , and a title I seemed to recognize : Legends of Zelda . The box I purchased came with wii sports , and the second controller came with wii play .
Please note that I have no experience with regard to other consoles , and the following is purely my experience I derived from playing with wii .
First of all , the device is easy to set up . The console's design and manual make it clear that this is a mature product from a company that has a lot of experience creating consumer devices . You can't , for example , accidentally mix up plugs . The only thing that I did not like was the flimsy wire that connetcs the console to the sensor strip ( which looks like an accident waiting to happen ) . Plug in power , plug in sensor strip ( this was the most difficult , as I could not decide where to put it for best performance . As it turned out , I shouldn't have bothered . It works no matter where I place it ) , connect to TV , pair with controllers , and I was ready to go . Using the controllers is strange at first , and using them as pointing device has nowhere near the precision I have come to expect from a mouse . During set-up of the console I thought that this did not bode well for game play later on . Again , I should not have worried . Most games don't rely on the pointing abilities of the controller but on it's motion detection . A very nice feature of the controllers is the feedback ( both aural and tactile ) it gives at various moments ( e.g . it slightly vibrates when your pointer is over a clickable button , or chimes when your console becomes active in two-player bowling ) .
I tried the Sports games first . Yes , I've heard the stories . And laughed at those poor saps . And yet , it only took me a few minutes to stare sheepishly at my controller dangling from the wrist strap . I let go while bowling . It is a testament to the game that it becomes so immersive so quckly that you forget what you are doing . Going on to baseball I barely managed to dodge my friends swing . It was forceful . And executed in blissful forgetfulness that I was but a few feet away . I knew then that even though potentially harmful , this was real fun .
The wii also comes with built-in WiFi , which was a surprise to me . It connected without any problems to an open access point , but required a little more work to connect to my secure wireless network . I have not yet tried to access the internet ( save for two firmware updates that the wii performed flawlessly ) , but I'm delighted to see that it works .
Something I also like in this console is their fun and friendly ( and sometimes slightly over-protective ) way they approach gaming . I really like the ' toy shop ' atmosphere surrounding the device , which appears to be a stark contrast to the overbearing , testosterone-suffused GAME THIS ! attitude that other consoles seem to exude ( perhaps one of the reasons I never looked at other consoles ) . I already have that , and more , in my workstation ( which it well should . That beast's graphics card alone has triple the price tag of the wii ) . The wii , on the other hand , is petite , white , and , strangely enough , seems to actually * look * happy . It appears to emphasize fun , not performance .
Accordingly , the wii's graphics are nothing much to write home about . Somehow , though , I find it strangely appealing . Even though the graphics are simplistic , it is the way the games are presented , and the way I can get immersed through it's game controllers . I'm having more fun waving that little white stick about than I've had in a long time of precisely pointing my mouse .
All in all I am really delighted by this console . I won't play shooters on it ( for that I have my computer ) , but the interactive sports and party games are so much fun ( and a positive danger to anyone near you should you choose not to be careful ) that I simply cannot resist them . I wholeheartly recommend this console to everyone . If possible , try to get a demo at your local store . Beware - - you might be hooked immediately .
038 4 Although Nintendo is somewhat of a household name for someone of my age ( > 40 ) , I never really thought of getting myself a console . If I play games , I always played ( and still do ) them on a ( high-end ) computer . All that changed when I first saw the wii demoed shortly before christmas 2006 . What intrigued me was their truly innovative game controller design ( yes , boys love toys ) , and the way they integrated into the games ( I saw demos from the wii sports series ) .
So , on a whim , I decided on getting myself a wii , without really knowing what I got myself into . For even measure I threw in a second controller ( I seldom play alone ) , and a title I seemed to recognize : Legends of Zelda . The box I purchased came with wii sports , and the second controller came with wii play .
Please note that I have no experience with regard to other consoles , and the following is purely my experience I derived from playing with wii .
First of all , the device is easy to set up . The console's design and manual make it clear that this is a mature product from a company that has a lot of experience creating consumer devices . You can't , for example , accidentally mix up plugs . The only thing that I did not like was the flimsy wire that connetcs the console to the sensor strip ( which looks like an accident waiting to happen ) . Plug in power , plug in sensor strip ( this was the most difficult , as I could not decide where to put it for best performance . As it turned out , I shouldn't have bothered . It works no matter where I place it ) , connect to TV , pair with controllers , and I was ready to go . Using the controllers is strange at first , and using them as pointing device has nowhere near the precision I have come to expect from a mouse . During set-up of the console I thought that this did not bode well for game play later on . Again , I should not have worried . Most games don't rely on the pointing abilities of the controller but on it's motion detection . A very nice feature of the controllers is the feedback ( both aural and tactile ) it gives at various moments ( e.g . it slightly vibrates when your pointer is over a clickable button , or chimes when your console becomes active in two-player bowling ) .
I tried the Sports games first . Yes , I've heard the stories . And laughed at those poor saps . And yet , it only took me a few minutes to stare sheepishly at my controller dangling from the wrist strap . I let go while bowling . It is a testament to the game that it becomes so immersive so quckly that you forget what you are doing . Going on to baseball I barely managed to dodge my friends swing . It was forceful . And executed in blissful forgetfulness that I was but a few feet away . I knew then that even though potentially harmful , this was real fun .
The wii also comes with built-in WiFi , which was a surprise to me . It connected without any problems to an open access point , but required a little more work to connect to my secure wireless network . I have not yet tried to access the internet ( save for two firmware updates that the wii performed flawlessly ) , but I'm delighted to see that it works .
Something I also like in this console is their fun and friendly ( and sometimes slightly over-protective ) way they approach gaming . I really like the ' toy shop ' atmosphere surrounding the device , which appears to be a stark contrast to the overbearing , testosterone-suffused GAME THIS ! attitude that other consoles seem to exude ( perhaps one of the reasons I never looked at other consoles ) . I already have that , and more , in my workstation ( which it well should . That beast's graphics card alone has triple the price tag of the wii ) . The wii , on the other hand , is petite , white , and , strangely enough , seems to actually * look * happy . It appears to emphasize fun , not performance .
Accordingly , the wii's graphics are nothing much to write home about . Somehow , though , I find it strangely appealing . Even though the graphics are simplistic , it is the way the games are presented , and the way I can get immersed through it's game controllers . I'm having more fun waving that little white stick about than I've had in a long time of precisely pointing my mouse .
All in all I am really delighted by this console . I won't play shooters on it ( for that I have my computer ) , but the interactive sports and party games are so much fun ( and a positive danger to anyone near you should you choose not to be careful ) that I simply cannot resist them . I wholeheartly recommend this console to everyone . If possible , try to get a demo at your local store . Beware - - you might be hooked immediately .
039 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'm a 40 - something dad whose gaming experience can be measured in minutes - - not hours - - so you are getting a review here by a real neophyte .
The Wii has definitely found a niche , and I think that niche will prove to be not just tween , teen , and 20 - something crowd , but the entire family . I knew something was going on when my 11 - year old had his 69 - year-old grandmother doing virtual bowling with him and laughing hysterically .
Where do I start ? First , I like the diminutive footprint of this unit and the silence . We replaced a Sony Playstation 2 with the Wii . My biggest grip with the PS2 was that it sounded like a freight train . . . the fan was very , very noisy .
The Wii hasn't tried to outmuscle the competition . They've done something smarter : they've tried to be different . The PS3 is big , powerful ( and probably noisy ) , expensive , and not selling all that well at $ [ . . . ] + a pop . In contrast , my son is perfectly satisfied with the $ [ . . . ] Wii ( he had to pay for it from his own savings ) , and I like the fact that the Wii system requires more physical interaction than just moving your thumbs .
I also like the integrated wireless capabilities of the Wii . It took me about 3 minutes to get it connected to my home wireless network , which is an absolute world record compared to the frustration of getting other devices connected ( such as my office laptop ) . Nintendo did a great job of making this simple , and writing a decent manual with step-by-step instructions . I put the MAC address into my router's list of trusted devices and within minutes - voila - we were connected . The device downloaded a firmware update and then installed a nifty utility called the internet channel that lets us surf the ' net from the living room on our TV screen using the Wii . [ . . . ] . Very cool .
We've only had the system for a couple of days and haven't explored all the features yet . My son has had fun building little Mii characters ( sort of like screen avatars ) for himself , his pals , me , grandma , aunts and uncles , etc . We've also watched weather forecasts and news now that it is connected to the internet , and of course , he's played games ( the Sports disk that comes bundled with the Wii . . . and a Mario Party 8 disk ) .
The number of titles currently available for the Wii seem to be rather limited , but since the Wii is backward compatible with Gamecube disks , there is a library of 545 compatible games from that platform to choose from as the Wii builds up its own library .
The game controller itself is very innovative and is definitely what makes this system appealing to the over - 18 crowd - - all the way up to the AARP crowd .
One neat little feature for parents is the daily log that shows how much time has been spent doing activities . So now when those inevitable disagreements come up about how much time Junior has spent in front of the TV screen , you'll actually have an impartial log to turn to . The first day , my son spent 6 hours and 47 minutes - - but that will be the exception , not the rule . Grandma let him go overboard with his new toy .
If you are a hard-core gamer that has to have photo-realistic graphics , then this probably isn't the system for you . But if you are looking for something the entire family can enjoy , and doesn't try to be a me too system like the PS3 and Xbox 360 , I think you'll find this system to be very innovative , very interactive , and very fun .
040 4 I'm a 40 - something dad whose gaming experience can be measured in minutes - - not hours - - so you are getting a review here by a real neophyte .
The Wii has definitely found a niche , and I think that niche will prove to be not just tween , teen , and 20 - something crowd , but the entire family . I knew something was going on when my 11 - year old had his 69 - year-old grandmother doing virtual bowling with him and laughing hysterically .
Where do I start ? First , I like the diminutive footprint of this unit and the silence . We replaced a Sony Playstation 2 with the Wii . My biggest grip with the PS2 was that it sounded like a freight train . . . the fan was very , very noisy .
The Wii hasn't tried to outmuscle the competition . They've done something smarter : they've tried to be different . The PS3 is big , powerful ( and probably noisy ) , expensive , and not selling all that well at $ [ . . . ] + a pop . In contrast , my son is perfectly satisfied with the $ [ . . . ] Wii ( he had to pay for it from his own savings ) , and I like the fact that the Wii system requires more physical interaction than just moving your thumbs .
I also like the integrated wireless capabilities of the Wii . It took me about 3 minutes to get it connected to my home wireless network , which is an absolute world record compared to the frustration of getting other devices connected ( such as my office laptop ) . Nintendo did a great job of making this simple , and writing a decent manual with step-by-step instructions . I put the MAC address into my router's list of trusted devices and within minutes - voila - we were connected . The device downloaded a firmware update and then installed a nifty utility called the internet channel that lets us surf the ' net from the living room on our TV screen using the Wii . [ . . . ] . Very cool .
We've only had the system for a couple of days and haven't explored all the features yet . My son has had fun building little Mii characters ( sort of like screen avatars ) for himself , his pals , me , grandma , aunts and uncles , etc . We've also watched weather forecasts and news now that it is connected to the internet , and of course , he's played games ( the Sports disk that comes bundled with the Wii . . . and a Mario Party 8 disk ) .
The number of titles currently available for the Wii seem to be rather limited , but since the Wii is backward compatible with Gamecube disks , there is a library of 545 compatible games from that platform to choose from as the Wii builds up its own library .
The game controller itself is very innovative and is definitely what makes this system appealing to the over - 18 crowd - - all the way up to the AARP crowd .
One neat little feature for parents is the daily log that shows how much time has been spent doing activities . So now when those inevitable disagreements come up about how much time Junior has spent in front of the TV screen , you'll actually have an impartial log to turn to . The first day , my son spent 6 hours and 47 minutes - - but that will be the exception , not the rule . Grandma let him go overboard with his new toy .
If you are a hard-core gamer that has to have photo-realistic graphics , then this probably isn't the system for you . But if you are looking for something the entire family can enjoy , and doesn't try to be a me too system like the PS3 and Xbox 360 , I think you'll find this system to be very innovative , very interactive , and very fun .
041 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Nintendo . . . remember the days of Super Mario Brothers , sitting in front of the television for hours because of the excitement and total awe of the game , feeling like a child again - that is what the Wii is about . Capturing that feeling of gameplay , making it totally interactive , creative , something we've never seen before , we become part of the video game again . The system is smaller than i thought it would be - fits nicely in an entertainment system - very sleek . The controllers are so easy to use and after about 30 minutes you'll wonder how you ever played a game without them . The graphics are beautiful , smooth lines and rounded edges everywhere - no pixelated graphics here . The interface is simple to use , the instructions are self explanatory . If there were ever a system to wait 6 hours on line in Times Square in the cold , it was this one . The experience was not one I'll soon forget and owning the Wii is definitly something I won't regret . As for the price - it beats out the Xbox360 and PS3 . It's affordable , innovative , fun for the whole family - kids will love the nunchuck controller and wii sports , swinging the controller around ! ! ! I absolutely love Nintendo because they do a great job putting a high quality on the market that is affordable for everyone and innovative all at the same time . Enjoy your Wii - if you got one before they all sold out that is . . .
042 4 Nintendo . . . remember the days of Super Mario Brothers , sitting in front of the television for hours because of the excitement and total awe of the game , feeling like a child again - that is what the Wii is about . Capturing that feeling of gameplay , making it totally interactive , creative , something we've never seen before , we become part of the video game again . The system is smaller than i thought it would be - fits nicely in an entertainment system - very sleek . The controllers are so easy to use and after about 30 minutes you'll wonder how you ever played a game without them . The graphics are beautiful , smooth lines and rounded edges everywhere - no pixelated graphics here . The interface is simple to use , the instructions are self explanatory . If there were ever a system to wait 6 hours on line in Times Square in the cold , it was this one . The experience was not one I'll soon forget and owning the Wii is definitly something I won't regret . As for the price - it beats out the Xbox360 and PS3 . It's affordable , innovative , fun for the whole family - kids will love the nunchuck controller and wii sports , swinging the controller around ! ! ! I absolutely love Nintendo because they do a great job putting a high quality on the market that is affordable for everyone and innovative all at the same time . Enjoy your Wii - if you got one before they all sold out that is . . .
043 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We got our Wii on the launch day after spending a few hours in line the previous week to reserve it . Initially , I wanted to re-sell the unit on eBay and then pick one up for myself next year after the initial kinks get worked out . I noted the box could be opened and the items removed without breaking any shrinkwrap , so I decided to briefly test out Wii sports and make sure everything was working . I also invited my wife to try it our since she is not really an avid gamer ( other than a few DS games and the Sims / Animal crossing on the Gamecube . )
Those 2 mistakes ended any idea of parting with the unit on eBay - at any price .
There are lots of good reviews of these systems on gamespot and IGN . If you are trying to decide whether to get a console and which one that is largely a matter of taste . For us - we like party games , both with sober family or the occasional inebriated friends . I've tried playing golf with non-gamers before and it has never been much success - you know push up then down then back up and press these buttons etc falls on deaf ears .
There is nothing to teach on how to play the Wii . My dad who , never plays videogames but likes to go bowling is a great example . He normally scores around 220 in real life . The first and only time he bowled on the Wii ( it was a short visit ) he scored a 217 . That was higher than any of the rest of us scored - and in real life hah hah that is about right . So if that is any measure of how well the controller works , you have to conclude it works great .
If you are lucky enough to score a Wii - pick up Raymin Rabbids with it too . The party games are awesome . Can't really explain why they are so much fun since they are borderline ridiculous - never-the-less my wife can't stop playing and the rail-hunt shooting rabbits with toilet plungers has yet to grow old .
044 4 We got our Wii on the launch day after spending a few hours in line the previous week to reserve it . Initially , I wanted to re-sell the unit on eBay and then pick one up for myself next year after the initial kinks get worked out . I noted the box could be opened and the items removed without breaking any shrinkwrap , so I decided to briefly test out Wii sports and make sure everything was working . I also invited my wife to try it our since she is not really an avid gamer ( other than a few DS games and the Sims / Animal crossing on the Gamecube . )
Those 2 mistakes ended any idea of parting with the unit on eBay - at any price .
There are lots of good reviews of these systems on gamespot and IGN . If you are trying to decide whether to get a console and which one that is largely a matter of taste . For us - we like party games , both with sober family or the occasional inebriated friends . I've tried playing golf with non-gamers before and it has never been much success - you know push up then down then back up and press these buttons etc falls on deaf ears .
There is nothing to teach on how to play the Wii . My dad who , never plays videogames but likes to go bowling is a great example . He normally scores around 220 in real life . The first and only time he bowled on the Wii ( it was a short visit ) he scored a 217 . That was higher than any of the rest of us scored - and in real life hah hah that is about right . So if that is any measure of how well the controller works , you have to conclude it works great .
If you are lucky enough to score a Wii - pick up Raymin Rabbids with it too . The party games are awesome . Can't really explain why they are so much fun since they are borderline ridiculous - never-the-less my wife can't stop playing and the rail-hunt shooting rabbits with toilet plungers has yet to grow old .
045 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My wife and I purchased this console almost completely because of Wii Sports , watching the videos of people . It looked so different and so fun that we decided to give it a shot .
My wife does not play video games , she knows I like them , but has very poor hand-eye coordination and is horrible at video games . That being said , she has had a blast playing Wii sports and has spent a few hours playing Zelda . She loves that you actually move to interact with the game . She doesn't care about graphics or about HD capable , next generation or any of that stuff . She cares aboutt having fun . That is what the Wii is , FUN .
I love the system . I play it too much , but it is so addicting . Sure the controls are not pin point accurate , but you get used to it , and it really is fun . The graphics are not crystal clear , but they are good enough . I enjoy them greatly .
It really is a fun system . I own PC games and sometimes would feel bad , because my wife had no interest in them . Now she suggests we play the Wii .
Very fun
046 4 My wife and I purchased this console almost completely because of Wii Sports , watching the videos of people . It looked so different and so fun that we decided to give it a shot .
My wife does not play video games , she knows I like them , but has very poor hand-eye coordination and is horrible at video games . That being said , she has had a blast playing Wii sports and has spent a few hours playing Zelda . She loves that you actually move to interact with the game . She doesn't care about graphics or about HD capable , next generation or any of that stuff . She cares aboutt having fun . That is what the Wii is , FUN .
I love the system . I play it too much , but it is so addicting . Sure the controls are not pin point accurate , but you get used to it , and it really is fun . The graphics are not crystal clear , but they are good enough . I enjoy them greatly .
It really is a fun system . I own PC games and sometimes would feel bad , because my wife had no interest in them . Now she suggests we play the Wii .
Very fun
047 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
On Christmas , I heard that my little brother had bought my parents a Wii . My first thought was what are my 57 years old parents going to do with a video game system . We went to their house that afternoon and I was totally amazed . The entire family from 57 to 3 was taking turns bowling .
My husband and I agreed we needed to get one . I couldn't see paying over $500 for it on Ebay , so I called every store withing a 100 mile radius for days until I found one .
I know it is not a tremendous amount of exercise , but it is more exercise than just sitting on the sofa barely moving . My theory is to play the game as if you are actually playing the real sport .
048 4 On Christmas , I heard that my little brother had bought my parents a Wii . My first thought was what are my 57 years old parents going to do with a video game system . We went to their house that afternoon and I was totally amazed . The entire family from 57 to 3 was taking turns bowling .
My husband and I agreed we needed to get one . I couldn't see paying over $500 for it on Ebay , so I called every store withing a 100 mile radius for days until I found one .
I know it is not a tremendous amount of exercise , but it is more exercise than just sitting on the sofa barely moving . My theory is to play the game as if you are actually playing the real sport .
049 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I just picked up a Wii yesterday along with Marvel Ultimate Alliance , and I love both ! I have not owned a game console since the days of original Nintendo and Atari . I felt very left out by the game clearly designed for either young children or obsessive young males willing to spend 8 hours on a couch twitching their thumbs . I loved Wii Sports so much I have a sore arm today from countless games of bowling , tennis and golf . Yep , even golf is entirely entertaining for hours on Wii . Can Xbox or PS say that ?
To everyone who gripes that the graphics can't compare to Xbox or PS , Jar Jar Binks used better graphics than Yoda in the original Star Wars trilogy but Jar Jar was still the worst movie character in history ! If graphics were the most important part of a game , no one would have played Pac Man .
The Wii's graphics are fine . Really , once you play you stop paying attention to graphics . You'll be entirely focused on hitting the pitch coming at you ! I've already rushed out and bought Legend of Zelda , too . I love the game play .
The Wii is the most innovative platform ever !
050 4 I just picked up a Wii yesterday along with Marvel Ultimate Alliance , and I love both ! I have not owned a game console since the days of original Nintendo and Atari . I felt very left out by the game clearly designed for either young children or obsessive young males willing to spend 8 hours on a couch twitching their thumbs . I loved Wii Sports so much I have a sore arm today from countless games of bowling , tennis and golf . Yep , even golf is entirely entertaining for hours on Wii . Can Xbox or PS say that ?
To everyone who gripes that the graphics can't compare to Xbox or PS , Jar Jar Binks used better graphics than Yoda in the original Star Wars trilogy but Jar Jar was still the worst movie character in history ! If graphics were the most important part of a game , no one would have played Pac Man .
The Wii's graphics are fine . Really , once you play you stop paying attention to graphics . You'll be entirely focused on hitting the pitch coming at you ! I've already rushed out and bought Legend of Zelda , too . I love the game play .
The Wii is the most innovative platform ever !
051 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I love the whole concept behind the Wii . I read in a magazine about that Reggie guy , everything he gets his hand behind turns to gold . And looks like he's struck gold again .
Anyway , the Wii is so much fun . The Wiimote is so resposive . Like seriously responsive . I was playing the golf game at a friends house and I was testing each position of my backstroke from pointing down , diagonal , all the way up to the top and it followed my movements perfectly . It's like having those lights on you to capture your movements .
The real reason I'm most happy about the Wii is because this system will make me buy games I never thought I would ever buy . Like I am really looking forward to a Tiger Woods title . And golf bores me . Well watching it . I'm not really into first shooters either , but I'm very much looking forward to the Metroid games and other shooters .
It may take a while for developers to make games that really fit the Wii , but I have high hopes for this system .
052 4 I love the whole concept behind the Wii . I read in a magazine about that Reggie guy , everything he gets his hand behind turns to gold . And looks like he's struck gold again .
Anyway , the Wii is so much fun . The Wiimote is so resposive . Like seriously responsive . I was playing the golf game at a friends house and I was testing each position of my backstroke from pointing down , diagonal , all the way up to the top and it followed my movements perfectly . It's like having those lights on you to capture your movements .
The real reason I'm most happy about the Wii is because this system will make me buy games I never thought I would ever buy . Like I am really looking forward to a Tiger Woods title . And golf bores me . Well watching it . I'm not really into first shooters either , but I'm very much looking forward to the Metroid games and other shooters .
It may take a while for developers to make games that really fit the Wii , but I have high hopes for this system .
053 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
A bit of disclosure - I was excited about the Wii before I played one . I was camped outside Target all night to ensure that I got one on launch day . So I was All About The Wii .
I'm here to say that my expectations were met .
One , the bundled Wii Sports was a great move by Nintendo . It may not be as deep as other games , but I've spent a fair amount of time playing tennis and boxing and such things . And it makes for a fun party game ; my brothers and I enjoyed 4 - player games of tennis and bowling from the word go .
Also , it's nice to not only get a relatively inexpensive system , but have something to play out of the box . The last time I saw that was many years ago .
The controller is fun . My poor , now-overworked muscles are glad not everything has the grand gestures of Wii Sports ( and yes , I'm aware that technically you only have to flick your wrist , but come on , where's the fun in that ? ) , but it's still a neat switch up to the traditional means of playing a game . Also , it has helped some people who have been turned off by gaming in the last few years ( Too many buttons ! is a common complaint ) to give it a go again .
I can't recommend the Wii enough . Maybe it's not the graphical powerhouse that the Xbox 360 or PS3 are , but what it lacks in glamour it makes up for in fun and innovation . I am especially excited for games that come out six months from now , when developers have gotten a better feel for using the Wii control system . Can anyone say Star Wars games using lightsabers ? Oh yes please .
054 4 A bit of disclosure - I was excited about the Wii before I played one . I was camped outside Target all night to ensure that I got one on launch day . So I was All About The Wii .
I'm here to say that my expectations were met .
One , the bundled Wii Sports was a great move by Nintendo . It may not be as deep as other games , but I've spent a fair amount of time playing tennis and boxing and such things . And it makes for a fun party game ; my brothers and I enjoyed 4 - player games of tennis and bowling from the word go .
Also , it's nice to not only get a relatively inexpensive system , but have something to play out of the box . The last time I saw that was many years ago .
The controller is fun . My poor , now-overworked muscles are glad not everything has the grand gestures of Wii Sports ( and yes , I'm aware that technically you only have to flick your wrist , but come on , where's the fun in that ? ) , but it's still a neat switch up to the traditional means of playing a game . Also , it has helped some people who have been turned off by gaming in the last few years ( Too many buttons ! is a common complaint ) to give it a go again .
I can't recommend the Wii enough . Maybe it's not the graphical powerhouse that the Xbox 360 or PS3 are , but what it lacks in glamour it makes up for in fun and innovation . I am especially excited for games that come out six months from now , when developers have gotten a better feel for using the Wii control system . Can anyone say Star Wars games using lightsabers ? Oh yes please .
057 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Like many people , it took me awhile to finally obtain a Wii . But let me tell you , it was well worth the wait ! I got mine on the day after Christmas . Setup was a breeze , and everyrhing worked right out of the box . It took me a little while to get connected to my wireless network , but that was my fault ( I was using the wrong password : O ( ) .
For any parents who are planning on purchasing this , let me give you some advice . Wii Sports which comes with it will provide many hours of enjoyment . In fact , I bought Rayman's Rabbits for the minigames , since my youngest ( 6 ) likes those alot . In reality , in the four days we have had it , we have been playing only Wii Sports . While none of the games is really indepth , they are easy to pick up and play . We have probably had the most fun bowling . Hats off to Nintendo for such a great included game , and showing the possibilities of the system .
I also purchased Zelda for myself , and already put in 4 + hours . Having played all the Zelda's on the various systems , this one was a must have . I am really enjoying it .
One other point - creating the Miis is a blast . We spent about a half hour as a family creating all our Miis . And it is cool how they show up in the various Wii Sports games , even if they are not actually the ones playing .
All in all , Nintendo has finally created a game system for the whole family . No , it doesn't have cutting edge graphics , but it is a lot of fun to play . Even my wife enjoys bowling , and she is definitely not a gamer . And what other system can make you sore the next morning ( aka Boxing ) .
Get one for yourself as soon as you can . You will not be disappointed !
058 4 Like many people , it took me awhile to finally obtain a Wii . But let me tell you , it was well worth the wait ! I got mine on the day after Christmas . Setup was a breeze , and everyrhing worked right out of the box . It took me a little while to get connected to my wireless network , but that was my fault ( I was using the wrong password : O ( ) .
For any parents who are planning on purchasing this , let me give you some advice . Wii Sports which comes with it will provide many hours of enjoyment . In fact , I bought Rayman's Rabbits for the minigames , since my youngest ( 6 ) likes those alot . In reality , in the four days we have had it , we have been playing only Wii Sports . While none of the games is really indepth , they are easy to pick up and play . We have probably had the most fun bowling . Hats off to Nintendo for such a great included game , and showing the possibilities of the system .
I also purchased Zelda for myself , and already put in 4 + hours . Having played all the Zelda's on the various systems , this one was a must have . I am really enjoying it .
One other point - creating the Miis is a blast . We spent about a half hour as a family creating all our Miis . And it is cool how they show up in the various Wii Sports games , even if they are not actually the ones playing .
All in all , Nintendo has finally created a game system for the whole family . No , it doesn't have cutting edge graphics , but it is a lot of fun to play . Even my wife enjoys bowling , and she is definitely not a gamer . And what other system can make you sore the next morning ( aka Boxing ) .
Get one for yourself as soon as you can . You will not be disappointed !
059 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
OK , I have two kids ones is an active and outdoor person . The other has to be forced outside . We finally picked this game up at Best Buy after waiting in line for two hours in the cold and rain . It was totally worth it . They are both sweating playing this game , it's an exercise machine too . If you are just thinking about this or are on the fence on whether or not to get it , I have to say you need to take the plunge . My son is finally getting some exercise , and my other son is finally learning to interact with computers . It was win / win for me . . .
060 4 OK , I have two kids ones is an active and outdoor person . The other has to be forced outside . We finally picked this game up at Best Buy after waiting in line for two hours in the cold and rain . It was totally worth it . They are both sweating playing this game , it's an exercise machine too . If you are just thinking about this or are on the fence on whether or not to get it , I have to say you need to take the plunge . My son is finally getting some exercise , and my other son is finally learning to interact with computers . It was win / win for me . . .
061 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
So we unpacked the console that Amazon.com just sent us , with a mix of excitement and wondering whether our expectations ( based on previous superlative reviews ) would be met . I have to say , being an owner or every console under the sun , that all the reviews are true .
First I have to say on the downside , the graphics are a significant ( large ) step below the xbox360 , but I really believe that Nintendo has hit a nerve on ease of use and changing the paradigm of what a gaming system can be . Why ? I have never seen so many people involved in a console , right out of the box ! My Wife and Daughter ( 14 Years ) were hooked in about 10 minutes . The wireless remote is brainless . . . . it just works right out of the box . As an IT professional by career , when does something work out of the box ? ? ? In my career next to never .
So it works out of the box . . . . It's Easy to setup . . . Its games are fun . . . What's the downside ? ? ? ? Graphics . . . They are on the low-end . But Nintendo knew exactly what they were doing . . . . I'm a gamer , and though I'd never admit it I would buy this unit easily before all my other gaming systems . . . ( which are all stunning in their abilities and output ) This console puts the user in the action !
Have a Family ? Don't think , just buy it .
Gamer amused by design and interface ? Don't think just buy it .
Hardcore Gamer ? Buy it after you have run through all the games on your PS3 .
This is a guilty pleasure that you'll never tell your friends about . Thanks Nintendo ! I say that with a smile on my face !
062 4 So we unpacked the console that Amazon.com just sent us , with a mix of excitement and wondering whether our expectations ( based on previous superlative reviews ) would be met . I have to say , being an owner or every console under the sun , that all the reviews are true .
First I have to say on the downside , the graphics are a significant ( large ) step below the xbox360 , but I really believe that Nintendo has hit a nerve on ease of use and changing the paradigm of what a gaming system can be . Why ? I have never seen so many people involved in a console , right out of the box ! My Wife and Daughter ( 14 Years ) were hooked in about 10 minutes . The wireless remote is brainless . . . . it just works right out of the box . As an IT professional by career , when does something work out of the box ? ? ? In my career next to never .
So it works out of the box . . . . It's Easy to setup . . . Its games are fun . . . What's the downside ? ? ? ? Graphics . . . They are on the low-end . But Nintendo knew exactly what they were doing . . . . I'm a gamer , and though I'd never admit it I would buy this unit easily before all my other gaming systems . . . ( which are all stunning in their abilities and output ) This console puts the user in the action !
Have a Family ? Don't think , just buy it .
Gamer amused by design and interface ? Don't think just buy it .
Hardcore Gamer ? Buy it after you have run through all the games on your PS3 .
This is a guilty pleasure that you'll never tell your friends about . Thanks Nintendo ! I say that with a smile on my face !
063 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Wasn't really interested when the Wii first came out , kind of thought it was going to be like GameCube and only for kids . Let's face it , after Playstation 1 came out , I never thought I'd own a video game console made by any other company except Sony . But then , Sony had to go and turn its back on people who have been supporting it for so long , focusing more on keeping up with its competiton ( Microsoft ) than it did on making its loyal customers happy . First by charging the rediculous price for its PS3 console , and second by not realizing that people who had PS1 ' s all those years ago have grown up , gotten jobs , had families , and now play games mostly for recreation . We do not have the time to get killed 55 times while trying to complete a single level , nor do many of us have the inclination to play on-line with a bunch of kids who have nothing else to do in their day than play Resistance Fall of man , and who obliterate us the second we come on-line . Not to mention that when my three year-old is awake I don't like to him to see the ultra-realistic violence possible on newer systems . What ever happened to all the fun games , with quick levels that were not so easy as to be childish but were definitely achievable ? Oh , wait . . . . I know . . . they are on the Nintendo Wii ! ! Just got mine last night and also got Wii Play and Bust a Move and they are a blast ! ! No , the graphics may not be as pretty as XBox 360 or PS3 , but the cost is far more reasonable and the games are very fun . Some of the games on Wii Play are a little strange , but they all demonstrate the capabilities of the WiiMote and most of all Wii brings the fun back into video games !
Although I completely agree the WiiMote is VERY strange at first , it doesn't take long to get used to it . The Wii provides helpful hints to get you started playing right away . I am already hooked on Wii Tennis . And I even worked up a sweat , which was a unique experience whilst playing video games . I can see that at least my right arm will be super-buff after about 6 weeks of Wii Tennis . : )
Overall , if your entire life revolves around video games , the Wii may not be exactly what you're looking for . But if you just play games to have a little fun and unwind after a long day , or have a family that likes to spend time playing together , the Wii may be just what you're looking for ! Highly reccommended ! ! !
064 4 Wasn't really interested when the Wii first came out , kind of thought it was going to be like GameCube and only for kids . Let's face it , after Playstation 1 came out , I never thought I'd own a video game console made by any other company except Sony . But then , Sony had to go and turn its back on people who have been supporting it for so long , focusing more on keeping up with its competiton ( Microsoft ) than it did on making its loyal customers happy . First by charging the rediculous price for its PS3 console , and second by not realizing that people who had PS1 ' s all those years ago have grown up , gotten jobs , had families , and now play games mostly for recreation . We do not have the time to get killed 55 times while trying to complete a single level , nor do many of us have the inclination to play on-line with a bunch of kids who have nothing else to do in their day than play Resistance Fall of man , and who obliterate us the second we come on-line . Not to mention that when my three year-old is awake I don't like to him to see the ultra-realistic violence possible on newer systems . What ever happened to all the fun games , with quick levels that were not so easy as to be childish but were definitely achievable ? Oh , wait . . . . I know . . . they are on the Nintendo Wii ! ! Just got mine last night and also got Wii Play and Bust a Move and they are a blast ! ! No , the graphics may not be as pretty as XBox 360 or PS3 , but the cost is far more reasonable and the games are very fun . Some of the games on Wii Play are a little strange , but they all demonstrate the capabilities of the WiiMote and most of all Wii brings the fun back into video games !
Although I completely agree the WiiMote is VERY strange at first , it doesn't take long to get used to it . The Wii provides helpful hints to get you started playing right away . I am already hooked on Wii Tennis . And I even worked up a sweat , which was a unique experience whilst playing video games . I can see that at least my right arm will be super-buff after about 6 weeks of Wii Tennis . : )
Overall , if your entire life revolves around video games , the Wii may not be exactly what you're looking for . But if you just play games to have a little fun and unwind after a long day , or have a family that likes to spend time playing together , the Wii may be just what you're looking for ! Highly reccommended ! ! !
067 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
So far , all the game consoles we have got for my 13 year old has been just for him . Even with some urging from him , I would find it hard to get involved in the games . Not so with the Wii . We got this just ahead of the Memorial weekend and throughout the weekend , we NEVER switched on the TV for watching some show . All of us - myself , my not-at-all-techie-wife and son - got hooked .
The technology behind the Wii is just amazing . It is incredible how swinging the remote in space can be sensed correctly by the system in determining whether you made a jab or a punch or a forehand or a backhand - you get the point . This is like bringing high quality simulation to the family room . In the near future , we will soon have training games that make a person better at say , golf or any other game .
It seems that the Wii sports package that come as part of the original purchase is all that we need right now . The games - Bowling , Baseball , Tennis , Golf and Boxing - are all high quality fun . I never thought I will try Boxing , but it is the game I , as well as my wife , have enjoyed most . What's more , is it gets your arms swinging quite a bit and at the end of the day , you will end up with quite a sore arm ( which is good anyway ) . Yes , the Wii is something you have to get up and play ! Don't think you can get your daily dose of workout here , but it is better than playing a video game sitting . One fun part of the Wii sports package is the Fitness challenge . I came up rated at an age 80 : ( On my defense , this has got more to do with the skill / technique required than physical abilities ) .
One thing that other gaming consoles boast about is higher definition ( better than 480pi ) . But , the other dimension that the Wii provides - involvement physically - far exceeds this drawback . So far , we have just tried the Wii Sports that come with the base package . The graphics is fun and I haven't found a need to appreciate more than it is .
If you have a wall mounted TV or are planning to get one , then you will see quite a few wires that need to come of the TV . These aren't an eye-sore , but if all other wires are hidden , you may want to plan for wires-behind-the-wall .
I really haven't found something to complain about . The remote comes with a strap now that secures it to the hand and keep it from flying off and hitting nearby objects or the TV . If there can be some improvement , then built in storage to hold many games would be an advantage as one doesn't need to keep popping in and out DVDs .
Lots of fun in store for the family in this gaming system ! With the summer coming up , you will have a little less to complain about your child's time with video games . Video games are better this way due to physical involvment and this can be a starting point .
068 4 So far , all the game consoles we have got for my 13 year old has been just for him . Even with some urging from him , I would find it hard to get involved in the games . Not so with the Wii . We got this just ahead of the Memorial weekend and throughout the weekend , we NEVER switched on the TV for watching some show . All of us - myself , my not-at-all-techie-wife and son - got hooked .
The technology behind the Wii is just amazing . It is incredible how swinging the remote in space can be sensed correctly by the system in determining whether you made a jab or a punch or a forehand or a backhand - you get the point . This is like bringing high quality simulation to the family room . In the near future , we will soon have training games that make a person better at say , golf or any other game .
It seems that the Wii sports package that come as part of the original purchase is all that we need right now . The games - Bowling , Baseball , Tennis , Golf and Boxing - are all high quality fun . I never thought I will try Boxing , but it is the game I , as well as my wife , have enjoyed most . What's more , is it gets your arms swinging quite a bit and at the end of the day , you will end up with quite a sore arm ( which is good anyway ) . Yes , the Wii is something you have to get up and play ! Don't think you can get your daily dose of workout here , but it is better than playing a video game sitting . One fun part of the Wii sports package is the Fitness challenge . I came up rated at an age 80 : ( On my defense , this has got more to do with the skill / technique required than physical abilities ) .
One thing that other gaming consoles boast about is higher definition ( better than 480pi ) . But , the other dimension that the Wii provides - involvement physically - far exceeds this drawback . So far , we have just tried the Wii Sports that come with the base package . The graphics is fun and I haven't found a need to appreciate more than it is .
If you have a wall mounted TV or are planning to get one , then you will see quite a few wires that need to come of the TV . These aren't an eye-sore , but if all other wires are hidden , you may want to plan for wires-behind-the-wall .
I really haven't found something to complain about . The remote comes with a strap now that secures it to the hand and keep it from flying off and hitting nearby objects or the TV . If there can be some improvement , then built in storage to hold many games would be an advantage as one doesn't need to keep popping in and out DVDs .
Lots of fun in store for the family in this gaming system ! With the summer coming up , you will have a little less to complain about your child's time with video games . Video games are better this way due to physical involvment and this can be a starting point .
071 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We received our Wii console today from the Walmart bundle purchased on Nov . 1st . After we tucked the kids away in bed mom and dad decided to give the console the official functional / working test so the kids would not be disappointed on Christmas day . First off let me say how impressed we were with the efficiency of the packaging . Everything in it's place with no wasted space and no room to move around and get damaged during shipment . Typical Nintendo quality . Everything packed in foam and plastic in marked boxes labeled 1 & 2 . Installation and setup was very easy . The system is tiny and appears to be very solid and well made . We installed the 4 GB SD card that I had purchased from Newegg and the system recognized it with no problems . We attached to our HDTV with the supplied composite cables and proceeded to load up Wii Sports . All I can say is my wife and I have not had this much fun with a video game console in a long time . That remote is something else . Very accurate , realistic and fun . We played with the tennis and bowling before we decided to box it all back up for Christmas . You do need plenty of room for those vigorous swings . All in all were very happy with the purchase . If I had anything negative to say it would be with the cables included . I wish Nintendo had supplied the component video / audio cables for use on HDT。's instead of the composite cable . This system is highly recommended ! !
073 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Below I describe what lead me to the decision to decide for the Wii .
Living in Tokyo , you should now that space is very precious . So is your freetime after work ( in general after 8 - 10 PM or on the weekends ) . I live with my wive , a 3 year old daughter the 70 + year old mother in law , etc . . . So that already gives you a good background on what facts I had to make a decision on . 3 generations in one household , so how did the Wii hold up against it ? You are about to find out . . .
During this summer I was slowly collecting ideas for the next generation game console .
The choice to make was basically either
- an Xbox 360
- the Wii or
- the PSP 3
I wanted something that doesnt cost an arm and a leg and doesnt get so warm that I can heat the room with it . I wanted something that the whole family can enjoy together and if possible with some sort of activity .
So I went to Akihabara ( Electric Town ) in central Tokyo where all the good customer and game maniacs go queueing from the last night in front of the shop for the newest game ; - )
The Xbox was supposed to have the widest choice of games ( at least outside of Japan ) , is not s expensive as the PSP3 but I remember from some time back that there was a heating issue with the first version , which didnt make me feel so comfortable .
The PSP3 has a superb graphic and is probably state of the art but somehow gave me the impression that mostly hardcore game-maniacs would use it on their 50 inch flat screen monitor or with a projector . Playing it on such a big screen is great but can make you real exhausted if you look at it for 2 + hours . Eventually virtual world and real world change their meaning . Playing it on a small screen wouldnt really justify the extra cost .
The Wii seemed to be the kind of console which doesnt take up half the room and heating it all up and spend a fortune on power consumption , so that was nice to see .
Wii also comes with games and accessorie which my 3 year old daughter can enjoy at least watching , while PSP3 and Xbox 360 have a strong focus towards violence intensive action games which I wouldnt want her to enjoy at least for now .
I also wanted to spend some quality time with my family again doing some fun games .
A friend of mine already had a Wii and was very enthusiastic about the way the Wiimote ( The remote of Wii ) is working . He enjoyed the simple fact that for many games you actually have to move your body .
So for me it became very quickly clear that the Wii is the best choice for us .
Game maniacs or hardcore action game lovers will want to choose the PSP3 , or ( if you dont have so much money ) the Xbox360 .
As I found it hard at the beginning to quickly find sometimes which kind of category / age / target users a game is focused towards I have created my own game lists here on Amazon on which I will also list up games that are not yet available outside of Japan .
Hopefully some readers will find it useful .
074 4 Below I describe what lead me to the decision to decide for the Wii .
Living in Tokyo , you should now that space is very precious . So is your freetime after work ( in general after 8 - 10 PM or on the weekends ) . I live with my wive , a 3 year old daughter the 70 + year old mother in law , etc . . . So that already gives you a good background on what facts I had to make a decision on . 3 generations in one household , so how did the Wii hold up against it ? You are about to find out . . .
During this summer I was slowly collecting ideas for the next generation game console .
The choice to make was basically either
- an Xbox 360
- the Wii or
- the PSP 3
I wanted something that doesnt cost an arm and a leg and doesnt get so warm that I can heat the room with it . I wanted something that the whole family can enjoy together and if possible with some sort of activity .
So I went to Akihabara ( Electric Town ) in central Tokyo where all the good customer and game maniacs go queueing from the last night in front of the shop for the newest game ; - )
The Xbox was supposed to have the widest choice of games ( at least outside of Japan ) , is not s expensive as the PSP3 but I remember from some time back that there was a heating issue with the first version , which didnt make me feel so comfortable .
The PSP3 has a superb graphic and is probably state of the art but somehow gave me the impression that mostly hardcore game-maniacs would use it on their 50 inch flat screen monitor or with a projector . Playing it on such a big screen is great but can make you real exhausted if you look at it for 2 + hours . Eventually virtual world and real world change their meaning . Playing it on a small screen wouldnt really justify the extra cost .
The Wii seemed to be the kind of console which doesnt take up half the room and heating it all up and spend a fortune on power consumption , so that was nice to see .
Wii also comes with games and accessorie which my 3 year old daughter can enjoy at least watching , while PSP3 and Xbox 360 have a strong focus towards violence intensive action games which I wouldnt want her to enjoy at least for now .
I also wanted to spend some quality time with my family again doing some fun games .
A friend of mine already had a Wii and was very enthusiastic about the way the Wiimote ( The remote of Wii ) is working . He enjoyed the simple fact that for many games you actually have to move your body .
So for me it became very quickly clear that the Wii is the best choice for us .
Game maniacs or hardcore action game lovers will want to choose the PSP3 , or ( if you dont have so much money ) the Xbox360 .
As I found it hard at the beginning to quickly find sometimes which kind of category / age / target users a game is focused towards I have created my own game lists here on Amazon on which I will also list up games that are not yet available outside of Japan .
Hopefully some readers will find it useful .
077 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I am not a hard-core gamer . I like to play once in a while , but I haven't been interested in buying a system in years . The last time I bought one was in 1985 when the original Nintendo was released .
So , when my husband's neice and nephew visited after Christmas and brought their XBox 360 , my husband was hooked . He wanted one , but I wasn't so sure . I started asking around and found out that the Wii was a better choice . My boss's kids had both and the Wii gets tons more play .
My next task was not only to convince my husband of the Wii , but also to find one ! They are no where to be found . You would think that over a month after Christmas that they would be available , but nope . . . nowhere . So , I did some searching on the web and found a website that keeps in-stock status at websites . I checked mutiple times a day and finally it was available at Wal-Mart . Unfortunately , it was in a bundle with 7 games . I figured that we would buy a bunch of games anyway and I would just make the up front investment . There was a good selection of games , so I picked ones that I thought we would like ( the ones we didn't want I just returned to the store ) .
After a week of waiting , the Wii finally arrived ! We were so excited that we started playing right away . I love playing the more kiddie games , while my husband likes the more advanced games ( he plays Call of Duty 3 & Splinter Cell for hours ) . We love playing Wii Sports against each other and when the family visits ( including my laws and teenage neice and nephew ) we play the games together and everyone can play ! My father-in-law has never played video games and picked it up right away and loved playing Wii Sports . My nephew ( with the XBox 360 ) now wants a Wii more and is addicted to it !
The Wii is different than any other video game I have ever played ( not that I have played many , but I have watched friends play everything from the original Nintendo to Playstation , Gamecude , XBox , etc . . ) . The remote takes a little getting used to since most games are played with the little twists of your wrist or the motion of your arm . Bowling is cool because a little twist of your wrist curves the ball just like in real life . I find that I don't sit down for most of the game and if I am sitting , I am moving around a lot . . . my arm has gotten sore from hitting the ball in tennis or boxing with my husband .
This is the best game console out there for everyone ! It is so easy to play and super fun ! My husband is hooked and so glad that we got the Wii . . . he is over the Xbox 360 .
078 4 I am not a hard-core gamer . I like to play once in a while , but I haven't been interested in buying a system in years . The last time I bought one was in 1985 when the original Nintendo was released .
So , when my husband's neice and nephew visited after Christmas and brought their XBox 360 , my husband was hooked . He wanted one , but I wasn't so sure . I started asking around and found out that the Wii was a better choice . My boss's kids had both and the Wii gets tons more play .
My next task was not only to convince my husband of the Wii , but also to find one ! They are no where to be found . You would think that over a month after Christmas that they would be available , but nope . . . nowhere . So , I did some searching on the web and found a website that keeps in-stock status at websites . I checked mutiple times a day and finally it was available at Wal-Mart . Unfortunately , it was in a bundle with 7 games . I figured that we would buy a bunch of games anyway and I would just make the up front investment . There was a good selection of games , so I picked ones that I thought we would like ( the ones we didn't want I just returned to the store ) .
After a week of waiting , the Wii finally arrived ! We were so excited that we started playing right away . I love playing the more kiddie games , while my husband likes the more advanced games ( he plays Call of Duty 3 & Splinter Cell for hours ) . We love playing Wii Sports against each other and when the family visits ( including my laws and teenage neice and nephew ) we play the games together and everyone can play ! My father-in-law has never played video games and picked it up right away and loved playing Wii Sports . My nephew ( with the XBox 360 ) now wants a Wii more and is addicted to it !
The Wii is different than any other video game I have ever played ( not that I have played many , but I have watched friends play everything from the original Nintendo to Playstation , Gamecude , XBox , etc . . ) . The remote takes a little getting used to since most games are played with the little twists of your wrist or the motion of your arm . Bowling is cool because a little twist of your wrist curves the ball just like in real life . I find that I don't sit down for most of the game and if I am sitting , I am moving around a lot . . . my arm has gotten sore from hitting the ball in tennis or boxing with my husband .
This is the best game console out there for everyone ! It is so easy to play and super fun ! My husband is hooked and so glad that we got the Wii . . . he is over the Xbox 360 .
081 4 As many other reviews have provide perspectives from gamer's perspective . I'll just relate how my kids ( and some of mine ) responded to Wii . One word : FUN . Kids loves it . The very first game they played was the Wii Sport boxing . You won't belive how they were in the game . They were boxing each other with an extra set of Remote and the Nunchuck , and they kept getting closer and closer to the TV , I was afraid they were going to punch the TV itself . First I put down some seat cushions on the floor and told them not to cross the line of death . Didn't work . They kept punching and walking closer to the TV . Finally I had to laid myself down on the floor ( not to block the sensor ) to keep them from approaching the TV . Kids loved the play , using their arms with the remote , and unconsicously with their feet , too . It gave a good physical work out for the kids as well - big plus for me .
The remote opened a new dimension in game play . Don't be fooled by the saying the Wii is for the casual gamers , girls , or senior citizens . Wii Sport and early games are just a beginning slavo - for people to get used to the new controls . IMHO , Nintendo's strategy is to hook the casual gamers first , and then push for the serious gamer later . Given the motion-sensitive Remote and the Nunc , you CAN create very sophisciated games targeted for hardcore gamers . If the strategy work out well , Sony and Microsoft will have to come out with their motion-sensitive controls and follow suit - late in the game . Yes , graphics from PS3 and XBox are stunning , but game-play is / will be the King . Currently Wii may seem to target the casual / young / senior / female players . However , the Wii Remote technology CAN be used for games with game-play targeting the hardcore gamers . PS3 and XBox focus too much on technology and visual , Wii focues on human aspects of fun . PS3 and XBox better have a strategy to counter Wii . There will always more people who will go for Fun than Tech .
BTW , my 7 yr-old killed me in boxing . KO in 2nd round . I will switch the Remote I was using with hers . I think the 2nd Remote is somehow biased . Make sure you have a lot of rooms for the kids during play . They almost punched each other's fists .
082 4 As far as revolutionary goes , this is one of those systems that's a revolution in the video game industry with its unique motion feature and cool design . I actually downloaded a Wii for my sims in The Sims 2 because it seemed so exciting . My Playstation 3 just seems so big and bulky compared to the small and sleek design of the Wii . It looks great with any furniture set and it doesn't waste that much room either . It's not even complicated to set up and if you think so , the instruction booklet explains everything you have to do to set up your Wii thoroughly . Now I'll start with explaining the features of the Wii :
1 ) Motion-sensing adds a whole new experience for casual gamers and hardcore gamers alike . You can put your Wii remote in anything-a baseball bat , a golf club , a tennis racket , a steering wheel , a gun , you name it . And if you don't like the feel of moving the Wii remote every which way and you'd rather keep it classic , you can just get the Wii classic controller and a grip so you can play classic games like Super Mario Bros . easily .
2 ) There's a whole new genre of gaming with the Wii with motion and other accessories . In Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 , you can swing the golf club as if you would in real golf . In Punch-Out , you can box by smacking the Wii remote into the air to put some serious blows into your opponent . In Jenga , you actually have to pull the blocks out by moving the Wii remote cautiously as to not knock the tower down . In MarioKart Wii , you steer your Wii remote onto a race track to go for first place . In House of the Dead 2 and 3 Return , aim your Wii remote at the TV and destroy zombies . In The Conduit , you can use Wii Speak to speak to other players during gameplay . There are a bunch of possibilities on the Wii .
3 ) The fact that you can play Gamecube games on the Wii would want to make you sell your Gamecube for some good money and keep the games for entertainment on the Wii . The Gamecube games are played as they would be played on the Gamecube with no special differences . For people who didn't own the Gamecube previously , this is a good chance for you to go out and get some good titles that you missed like Luigi's Mansion , Mario Golf , Chibi-Robo , Zelda Four Swords Adventures , Sonic Adventure 2 Battle , Zelda Wind Waker , Smash Bros . Melee , Double Dash , Paper Mario , Resident Evil 1 and 2 , Pikmin , King of Fighters 98 , Animal Crossing and many more . All you have to do is plug your Gamecube controllers into the Wii , put in a memory card , put in you Gamecube disc , and start playing !
4 ) Next-generation Nintendo games can not be played on any other system . Play games like Animal Crossing City Folk , Metroid Other M , Harvest Moon Tree of Tranquility , New Super Mario Bros . Wii , and many more .
5 ) The Mii Channel allows you to make and customize people to represent you in games . Some games like Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games and Mario Super Sluggers allow you to use the Mii's in actual gameplay . And in games like Smackdown vs Raw , the Mii's just represent you . There is no limit to how many you make .
6 ) Wii Shop Channel allow you to get games like Super Mario Bros . , Super Mario 64 , Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time , Mario Kart 64 , Donkey Kong Country , Sonic the Hedgehog , and many other games for people that haven't owned Nintendo 64s , Super Nintendo Entertainment Systems , Nintendo Entertainment Systems , Sega Genesis's and even Sega Game Gears . You can get these games for a decent price without having to pay for shipping . You can also buy new channels like a channel where you can access the Internet at any time .
7 ) Other channels like Forecast Channel and News Channel allow you to do other things . The Photo Channel allows you to view photos . The Check Mii Out Channel allows you to look at other peoples ' Miis . The Forecast Channel allows you to see the forecast from all around the world , whether it be the five-day forecast or just the current temperature , you can even see what it's like in Antarctica and Tokyo . The News Channel allows you to see news from all around the world instead of having to tune in to news channels on your TV .
8 ) The Home Brew Channel allows you to do many cheats in games . In Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games , you can play as a Goomba , Jet the Hawk , Silver the Hedgehog , and other scrapped characters . All you need is Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess and a manual on how to get the Home Brew Channel and you're all set .
9 ) Wi-fi allows you to play your video games with people around the world easily .
10 ) Wii Sports is a fun and enjoyable game for beginners with the Wii . You can play golf , boxing , bowling , baseball , and tennis . It's very entertaining .
That's most of the Wii's features . You have to have the Wii-you wouldn't regret buying it .
083 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My wife got an XBOX 360 for me and my son as an after Christmas surprise . I asked her permission to return it and get a Wii at $100 over retail instead . I have never regretted that decision . Even at that price , I could get a few more games ( especially cheap used Gamecube gems like Metroid Prime , Super Mario Sunshine , and Zelda Wind Waker ) . I was also able to get Zelda Twilight Princess , of which I have barely scratched the surface . All of these games were made in a way that my 8 y.o . son would enjoy far more than almost any of the dark shooters that XBOX / XBOX 360 library seemed to be dominated with . After hooking it up , I was amazed at the responsiveness of the Wiimote , the sheer joy of controlling Wii sports , creating Miis for the whole family and the visiting friends of my son , and the intuitive interface of the spinning globe on the silly Forecast channel . The XBOX 360 may have the adavantage in terms of HD graphics and overwhelming processing power , but it doesn't have the Wiimote , which to me is a far more important advancement . Don't event talk to me about the PS3 . I've seen black boxes of the $600 Sony dud gathering dust in every store I've visited while on the hunt for a second Wiimote and Nunchuk . I've never , ever , seen a Wii on sale anywhere . I'm glad I got mine when I did . Even a few more weeks with this joyous wonder were worth the extra cash I doled out .
084 4 My wife got an XBOX 360 for me and my son as an after Christmas surprise . I asked her permission to return it and get a Wii at $100 over retail instead . I have never regretted that decision . Even at that price , I could get a few more games ( especially cheap used Gamecube gems like Metroid Prime , Super Mario Sunshine , and Zelda Wind Waker ) . I was also able to get Zelda Twilight Princess , of which I have barely scratched the surface . All of these games were made in a way that my 8 y.o . son would enjoy far more than almost any of the dark shooters that XBOX / XBOX 360 library seemed to be dominated with . After hooking it up , I was amazed at the responsiveness of the Wiimote , the sheer joy of controlling Wii sports , creating Miis for the whole family and the visiting friends of my son , and the intuitive interface of the spinning globe on the silly Forecast channel . The XBOX 360 may have the adavantage in terms of HD graphics and overwhelming processing power , but it doesn't have the Wiimote , which to me is a far more important advancement . Don't event talk to me about the PS3 . I've seen black boxes of the $600 Sony dud gathering dust in every store I've visited while on the hunt for a second Wiimote and Nunchuk . I've never , ever , seen a Wii on sale anywhere . I'm glad I got mine when I did . Even a few more weeks with this joyous wonder were worth the extra cash I doled out .
087 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'll admit I was skeptical at first , but I have to say that Nintendo's wonderous Wii is a sight to behold . The motion sensored remote controls may seem gimmicky at first , and even hard to get a hold of for some , but once you get the hang of it , you'll be immersed in some of the most intuitive gaming unlike anything else you've experienced . And unlike the PS3 , the Wii features a bevy of excellent launch titles , and many of them are exclusive to the system . The Wii includes Wii Sports , which is a great showcase for just what this system is capable of . The game itself is a nice distraction and a taste of things to come for the system . Yeah , the graphics aren't mouthwatering like what you see on the XBox 360 or Playstation 3 , and it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the other systems have either , but it's the games that make the system worth owning . The Wii is compatiable with Gamecube games and controlers , plus it also features the ability to go online to the Wii's Virtual Console and download classic NES , Super NES , and Nintendo 64 games , as well as Genesis and Turbo-Grafx 16 titles ; which in itself is an awesome extra that may rival that of XBox Live Arcade , maybe . The list of first party games are great , including Excite Truck and of course Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess , and third party titles like Rayman Raving Rabbids , Marvel : Ultimate Alliance , Call of Duty 3 , Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz , and Madden ' 07 all fit in quite well on the Wii . Upcoming titles like Super Mario Galaxy and the next installment in the Metroid Prime series , make purchasing the Wii all the sweeter , and the ultra affordable price should help seal the deal . Yes , some people won't get the controls , and many may be turned off by the lack of mature games , but for what it's worth , the Wii is the best thing Nintendo has crafted in a while . All in all , if you're looking for a next-gen system with a ton of potential , the Wii is a glimpse at what the future of gaming could be .
088 4 I'll admit I was skeptical at first , but I have to say that Nintendo's wonderous Wii is a sight to behold . The motion sensored remote controls may seem gimmicky at first , and even hard to get a hold of for some , but once you get the hang of it , you'll be immersed in some of the most intuitive gaming unlike anything else you've experienced . And unlike the PS3 , the Wii features a bevy of excellent launch titles , and many of them are exclusive to the system . The Wii includes Wii Sports , which is a great showcase for just what this system is capable of . The game itself is a nice distraction and a taste of things to come for the system . Yeah , the graphics aren't mouthwatering like what you see on the XBox 360 or Playstation 3 , and it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the other systems have either , but it's the games that make the system worth owning . The Wii is compatiable with Gamecube games and controlers , plus it also features the ability to go online to the Wii's Virtual Console and download classic NES , Super NES , and Nintendo 64 games , as well as Genesis and Turbo-Grafx 16 titles ; which in itself is an awesome extra that may rival that of XBox Live Arcade , maybe . The list of first party games are great , including Excite Truck and of course Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess , and third party titles like Rayman Raving Rabbids , Marvel : Ultimate Alliance , Call of Duty 3 , Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz , and Madden ' 07 all fit in quite well on the Wii . Upcoming titles like Super Mario Galaxy and the next installment in the Metroid Prime series , make purchasing the Wii all the sweeter , and the ultra affordable price should help seal the deal . Yes , some people won't get the controls , and many may be turned off by the lack of mature games , but for what it's worth , the Wii is the best thing Nintendo has crafted in a while . All in all , if you're looking for a next-gen system with a ton of potential , the Wii is a glimpse at what the future of gaming could be .
089 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We bought a Wii the day after Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time with all our friends , gamers and non gamers alike .
setup :
super easy and very well explained , make sure you set up in a room that allows your full arm width as you will use up a lot of space . There is also a sensor that you will have to place in front of you for the controller to work , the distance of the sensor cord ( for those with projection screens ) is about half a rooms length . The only thing that took a long time during setup was the updates when we hooked it up to the internet ( about 10min ) , and you have to make an account with Nintendo .
controller :
Awesome and very intuitive , even our non-gamer friends were able to get a hang of it within a minute .
the Mii : allows you to build an avatar ( sp ? ) which you can allow to travel and interact with other people's Wii systems . These are a blast to make , all of our friends . . . even those who refuse to pick up a traditional controller , had a wonderful time building there characters and sending them out in the world . Not to mention any time we get lonely there they are ; )
parents : there is log that allows you to see what games have been played and for how long , as well as parental controls so you can control what your child plays when you are not around . I highly suggest you try to play as well , it really is a lot of fun , and easier to learn then a traditional consoles .
The sports game that is included :
great starter game to get you used to the controllers , not to mention alot of fun . It also allows you to track how many calories you have burned while playing tennis , bowling , baseball , golf and boxing . ( And I don't even like sport games )
Overall :
it is very , very fun to play and great for parties with people of any age ( we're in our late 20 ' s and 30 ' s ) . The controls are a wonderful innovation and very natural . I would suggest this for anyone , even non gamers . Several of our friends were considering PS3 and skipping the Wii , but after playing once they are determined to get one .
090 4 We bought a Wii the day after Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time with all our friends , gamers and non gamers alike .
setup :
super easy and very well explained , make sure you set up in a room that allows your full arm width as you will use up a lot of space . There is also a sensor that you will have to place in front of you for the controller to work , the distance of the sensor cord ( for those with projection screens ) is about half a rooms length . The only thing that took a long time during setup was the updates when we hooked it up to the internet ( about 10min ) , and you have to make an account with Nintendo .
controller :
Awesome and very intuitive , even our non-gamer friends were able to get a hang of it within a minute .
the Mii : allows you to build an avatar ( sp ? ) which you can allow to travel and interact with other people's Wii systems . These are a blast to make , all of our friends . . . even those who refuse to pick up a traditional controller , had a wonderful time building there characters and sending them out in the world . Not to mention any time we get lonely there they are ; )
parents : there is log that allows you to see what games have been played and for how long , as well as parental controls so you can control what your child plays when you are not around . I highly suggest you try to play as well , it really is a lot of fun , and easier to learn then a traditional consoles .
The sports game that is included :
great starter game to get you used to the controllers , not to mention alot of fun . It also allows you to track how many calories you have burned while playing tennis , bowling , baseball , golf and boxing . ( And I don't even like sport games )
Overall :
it is very , very fun to play and great for parties with people of any age ( we're in our late 20 ' s and 30 ' s ) . The controls are a wonderful innovation and very natural . I would suggest this for anyone , even non gamers . Several of our friends were considering PS3 and skipping the Wii , but after playing once they are determined to get one .
091 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My husband and I were at our local vendor at 11 : 30 waiting for our pre-order and finally went to sleep ( me earlier than him ! ) by 3 am . We had highly anticipated this system and we were not disappointed .
The setup of the system itself was fairly simple and straightforward . We discovered quickly that even just setting up the Mii's ( your individual character for such games as WiiSports ) was already entertaining as you selected hair color , height etc , reminded me of the Sims but on a simpler level .
We first began with WiiSports since it came with the system and within 10 - 15 minutes could easily use the controllers especially on tennis and bowling . I was surprised at how involved your whole body was in playing these games . For example , when bowling you really have to do the motion ( leg involvement and all ) of bowling to get a good hit .
For launch we also purchased Zelda and Call of Duty 3 . They graphics and sound on both are amazing but since we only played them briefly I won't review them further here . The games could have looked 10x better if Nintendo had bothered to release / produce the component cables . We have an impressive TV but without the component cables you could definitely sense you were missing the crispness of the graphics .
The only cons I will say are :
1 - the sensor bar that you have to attach so the wireless wii-mote will
work was a bit frustrating . This was largely due to the fact that we
have cats and they kept walking in front of it . I hope we can find a
better area to attach it to .
2 - Accessories . As noted , no component cables available , very difficult
to get additional controls , and the additional controllers can start
running up the bucks ! ! ! !
This is a wonderful system that could be for the whole family . We can't wait to take it with us on Thanksgiving to have everyone play . I hope more are made available soon as the game selection is much more versatile then other systems on the market and this system , in general , will be playable by a large market base .
ENJOY ! ! ! !
092 4 My husband and I were at our local vendor at 11 : 30 waiting for our pre-order and finally went to sleep ( me earlier than him ! ) by 3 am . We had highly anticipated this system and we were not disappointed .
The setup of the system itself was fairly simple and straightforward . We discovered quickly that even just setting up the Mii's ( your individual character for such games as WiiSports ) was already entertaining as you selected hair color , height etc , reminded me of the Sims but on a simpler level .
We first began with WiiSports since it came with the system and within 10 - 15 minutes could easily use the controllers especially on tennis and bowling . I was surprised at how involved your whole body was in playing these games . For example , when bowling you really have to do the motion ( leg involvement and all ) of bowling to get a good hit .
For launch we also purchased Zelda and Call of Duty 3 . They graphics and sound on both are amazing but since we only played them briefly I won't review them further here . The games could have looked 10x better if Nintendo had bothered to release / produce the component cables . We have an impressive TV but without the component cables you could definitely sense you were missing the crispness of the graphics .
The only cons I will say are :
1 - the sensor bar that you have to attach so the wireless wii-mote will
work was a bit frustrating . This was largely due to the fact that we
have cats and they kept walking in front of it . I hope we can find a
better area to attach it to .
2 - Accessories . As noted , no component cables available , very difficult
to get additional controls , and the additional controllers can start
running up the bucks ! ! ! !
This is a wonderful system that could be for the whole family . We can't wait to take it with us on Thanksgiving to have everyone play . I hope more are made available soon as the game selection is much more versatile then other systems on the market and this system , in general , will be playable by a large market base .
ENJOY ! ! ! !
093 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'll spare you the technical details about the Wii , but tell about my experience with it . I actually had the Wii over Thanksgiving weekend
and took it to my fiance's families ' dinner parties and it was a huge hit ! I hooked it up a few hours before the thanksgiving feast and her parents saw it . They were so impressed they were actually eager to try it . We played some Wii tennis , bowling , and a few holes of golf ( golf was FUN can you believe it ? ) .
At the actual dinner when the guests came , my fiance's mom actually asked me to show the guests the Wii - - and then they all got into it too ! It was crazy , never seen this many 50 yr-olds playing video games - - probably because it's not like traditional video games . One of the guests said This is incredible ! This is too much fun ! and later he went to my fiance and told her that she has to take the Wii away from me otherwise she will never see me again .
Two days later , we tried it out at my fiance's aunt's house with her mother's side of the family . Again , her mom brought up the Wii and I hooked it up and everyone was watching or playing . Even her 9 yr-old cousin tried it and she wouldn't put it down when everyone was leaving - - she was as good at the game as anyone else - - Wii is this easy to use - - only takes couple of tries to learn how to play . 4 player tennis and bowling action ! Baseball was fun too , but only 2 players .
I mean I knew it was going to be fun for ME , but wasn't expecting it to be a huge hit across all ages . Making Miis is one of the most fun aspects of the Wii . You can make virtual avatars to use in Mii compatible games such as Wii Sports . I specialize in politicians and celebrities , including Dubya , Cheney , Hilary , Kerry , Saddam , Kim Jung Il , Michael Jackson , various Star Trek characters , etc . It's very amusing to use these fun avatars in your games : imagine tennis matches of Dubya and Cheney vs Saddam and Kim Jung Il .
[ . . . ] .
094 4 I'll spare you the technical details about the Wii , but tell about my experience with it . I actually had the Wii over Thanksgiving weekend
and took it to my fiance's families ' dinner parties and it was a huge hit ! I hooked it up a few hours before the thanksgiving feast and her parents saw it . They were so impressed they were actually eager to try it . We played some Wii tennis , bowling , and a few holes of golf ( golf was FUN can you believe it ? ) .
At the actual dinner when the guests came , my fiance's mom actually asked me to show the guests the Wii - - and then they all got into it too ! It was crazy , never seen this many 50 yr-olds playing video games - - probably because it's not like traditional video games . One of the guests said This is incredible ! This is too much fun ! and later he went to my fiance and told her that she has to take the Wii away from me otherwise she will never see me again .
Two days later , we tried it out at my fiance's aunt's house with her mother's side of the family . Again , her mom brought up the Wii and I hooked it up and everyone was watching or playing . Even her 9 yr-old cousin tried it and she wouldn't put it down when everyone was leaving - - she was as good at the game as anyone else - - Wii is this easy to use - - only takes couple of tries to learn how to play . 4 player tennis and bowling action ! Baseball was fun too , but only 2 players .
I mean I knew it was going to be fun for ME , but wasn't expecting it to be a huge hit across all ages . Making Miis is one of the most fun aspects of the Wii . You can make virtual avatars to use in Mii compatible games such as Wii Sports . I specialize in politicians and celebrities , including Dubya , Cheney , Hilary , Kerry , Saddam , Kim Jung Il , Michael Jackson , various Star Trek characters , etc . It's very amusing to use these fun avatars in your games : imagine tennis matches of Dubya and Cheney vs Saddam and Kim Jung Il .
[ . . . ] .
096 4 I was lucky enough to pick one upon 1 / 21 at a non-Amazon retailer ( brick and mortar ) .
This thing is AMAZING . We have been playing Wii Sports non-stop . Can't wait to get to the other games ! So what sets the Wii apart ? The feeling of being immersed into the game . Sure , the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have all the technology advances built in to them . They are the cutting edge as far as graphics and video , but neither of those captured me as much as the Wii .
The Remote is what really sets it apart . You can't sit down and play this thing . So much for being a couch potato ! You have to get up and MOVE . Second is the creation of Miis . You create your own profiles and can bring them with you to another Wii ( if you can find somebody else with one ) . Last , is the compatibility with GameCube and the virtual console games . It's awesome that I can download games from my childhood .
The con is that you will spend lots of time playing !
If you are into the latest video technologies , get the PS3 or 360 . If you want amazing interactive technology that you can forget about AND HAVE FUN , get the Wii . . . If you can find one !
097 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I put off buying a Wii for a long time . We're adults , in our 50 ' s and not really gamers other than solitaire on the computer . I figured it was mostly for kids or that it was too cartoony and it wouldn't get used . I even left it in the box for 4 days because I thought I might bring it back . When I finally decided to keep it I put off installing it because I thought it might be complicated and take a long time . It was only 3 clearly marked cords to hook to the back of the TV and into the unit , and the sensor into the unit .
Well , it took me about 5 minutes to hook it up ( It would have taken 3 but I had to crawl around back of the TV stand ) and as soon as we started it up I could see it was something we were going to like . Bowling was the first thing I tried and couldn't believe how realistic it was . I even have the same hook on the ball that I do in real life . After that it was tennis , then baseball , then golf and boxing . I was surprised at how much exercise the tennis and boxing provided . It was definitely a fun thing to play with .
Two nights later we had friends over , 12 people in all and the people from across the street wanted to see the Wii . I put on the bowling game , got 4 volunteers to play and that was it for the night . Everyone was screaming when someone got a spare or a strike and they went on to play tennis , baseball , golf and boxing . Fortunately dinner was stuff that could be served buffet style because everyone was gathered around the TV watching or playing the games , with plates their laps or at the kitchen table which has a clear view of the family room . Two of the people ended up buying Wii's the following week .
I'm mostly into it for the exercise aspect and we've gotten the Wii Fit and the Outdoor Challenge which are both great . But there are lots more games that get you up off the couch coming out and now having tried a few , I can't wait to get them . Two thumbs up for this game console !
098 4 I put off buying a Wii for a long time . We're adults , in our 50 ' s and not really gamers other than solitaire on the computer . I figured it was mostly for kids or that it was too cartoony and it wouldn't get used . I even left it in the box for 4 days because I thought I might bring it back . When I finally decided to keep it I put off installing it because I thought it might be complicated and take a long time . It was only 3 clearly marked cords to hook to the back of the TV and into the unit , and the sensor into the unit .
Well , it took me about 5 minutes to hook it up ( It would have taken 3 but I had to crawl around back of the TV stand ) and as soon as we started it up I could see it was something we were going to like . Bowling was the first thing I tried and couldn't believe how realistic it was . I even have the same hook on the ball that I do in real life . After that it was tennis , then baseball , then golf and boxing . I was surprised at how much exercise the tennis and boxing provided . It was definitely a fun thing to play with .
Two nights later we had friends over , 12 people in all and the people from across the street wanted to see the Wii . I put on the bowling game , got 4 volunteers to play and that was it for the night . Everyone was screaming when someone got a spare or a strike and they went on to play tennis , baseball , golf and boxing . Fortunately dinner was stuff that could be served buffet style because everyone was gathered around the TV watching or playing the games , with plates their laps or at the kitchen table which has a clear view of the family room . Two of the people ended up buying Wii's the following week .
I'm mostly into it for the exercise aspect and we've gotten the Wii Fit and the Outdoor Challenge which are both great . But there are lots more games that get you up off the couch coming out and now having tried a few , I can't wait to get them . Two thumbs up for this game console !
099 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Our son has cerebral palsy , but loves to ' play ' video games . This usually isn't very meaningful for him as he can't really control the actions of the games , but he has fun nonetheless . ( one option , though mostly for little kids , is the game Whack-a-Mole that simply plugs into your VHS / DVD player and you interact with the T.V . ) We are looking forward to getting the Wii for our family this Christmas , specifically so he can interact on a more social level with his cousins who love doing things with him .
101 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I think this was the perfect gaming system for me . I have a fairly high end SLI equipped gaming PC running a 30 Dell monitor . So , as far as top of the line graphics for action games , MMOs and whathaveyou , I don't need a console .
However , the Wii complements the gaming rig nicely given the controls and interface . Naturally , the graphics are 2 generations behind in complexity , but this is more than made up for by the fun factor of the games .
Also , if you are trying to get someone that isn't into video games to start playing , this is your gateway drug . It certainly isn't Crysis , WoW or Halo3 which probably would reinforce the negative aspects of video gaming to those that might be coming in with a negative vibe . The reason is that the games are ridiculously simple . Wii baseball , for example only has pitching and batting , you don't have to deal with all the ' usual ' complexity of fielding , base-stealing , substitutions and so on . You just swing the bat , that's it ! Trust me , put that controller in their hand , load up Wii sports and watch the addiction start : )
102 4 I think this was the perfect gaming system for me . I have a fairly high end SLI equipped gaming PC running a 30 Dell monitor . So , as far as top of the line graphics for action games , MMOs and whathaveyou , I don't need a console .
However , the Wii complements the gaming rig nicely given the controls and interface . Naturally , the graphics are 2 generations behind in complexity , but this is more than made up for by the fun factor of the games .
Also , if you are trying to get someone that isn't into video games to start playing , this is your gateway drug . It certainly isn't Crysis , WoW or Halo3 which probably would reinforce the negative aspects of video gaming to those that might be coming in with a negative vibe . The reason is that the games are ridiculously simple . Wii baseball , for example only has pitching and batting , you don't have to deal with all the ' usual ' complexity of fielding , base-stealing , substitutions and so on . You just swing the bat , that's it ! Trust me , put that controller in their hand , load up Wii sports and watch the addiction start : )
103 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I've owned the Wii for about 6 months now and I wouldn't trade it for a 360 or PS3 for anything . I love the way that the controllers make every game more interactive . I've yet to play anything that didn't play better , or was at least more satisfying , when I played it standing on my feet .
And those same controls have already sucked in several family members who wouldn't otherwise dream of playing a video game . But they all love the Wii .
Definitely , there's been a dearth of decent games ( particularly those that really take good advantage of the controller ) . But there have been enough to tide me and my Wii-lovin ' 5 - year-old over until we get some goodies later this year . My X-mas list is already locked in at a single item : Guitar Hero 3 .
If you've got a family , or if you're just tired of the same-old-same-old in console gaming , get yourself a Wii . You won't regret it .
104 4 I've owned the Wii for about 6 months now and I wouldn't trade it for a 360 or PS3 for anything . I love the way that the controllers make every game more interactive . I've yet to play anything that didn't play better , or was at least more satisfying , when I played it standing on my feet .
And those same controls have already sucked in several family members who wouldn't otherwise dream of playing a video game . But they all love the Wii .
Definitely , there's been a dearth of decent games ( particularly those that really take good advantage of the controller ) . But there have been enough to tide me and my Wii-lovin ' 5 - year-old over until we get some goodies later this year . My X-mas list is already locked in at a single item : Guitar Hero 3 .
If you've got a family , or if you're just tired of the same-old-same-old in console gaming , get yourself a Wii . You won't regret it .
105 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Some people say not to by the Wii because it has bad graphics . I think this is ridiculous . Even if the graphics were terrble , it is the games that matter , and the graphics are good anyway . Take Excite Truck , a racing game , for example . Its graphics are fantastic , even though it doesn't use super high definition or something . But the gameplay is where the Wii really shines . On New Years Eve , we had about 20 people over . Every single one tried the Wii , and every single one loved it . Buttons will soon be a thing of the past , and the Wii is leading the way . Cheers for Nintendo for taking the real next step in making games not more high-tech , but more fun . In my opinion , that is all that really matters .
106 4 Some people say not to by the Wii because it has bad graphics . I think this is ridiculous . Even if the graphics were terrble , it is the games that matter , and the graphics are good anyway . Take Excite Truck , a racing game , for example . Its graphics are fantastic , even though it doesn't use super high definition or something . But the gameplay is where the Wii really shines . On New Years Eve , we had about 20 people over . Every single one tried the Wii , and every single one loved it . Buttons will soon be a thing of the past , and the Wii is leading the way . Cheers for Nintendo for taking the real next step in making games not more high-tech , but more fun . In my opinion , that is all that really matters .
107 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
if you are looking for a system to replace your first person shooting , marrowind playing xbox 360 , the Wii is not for you . the Wii is not a traditional gaming system ( as i am sure u already knew ) . if you are a hardcore gamer , and want to continue to do so , nintendo still hasnt made a system for you . nintendo usually gears their system to the younger gen of gamers . but with the wii , now any first time gamer can pick it up and play , so the older gen also .
how can i explain this better . the Wii is mario party to the extreme . every game on the wii , because of the controller , feels like a fun goofy game . the more i play it the more i feel it was built for mario tennis . this is the ultimate get your friends togther . girls and guys . and goof off over a few drinks .
this system succeeded in every way possible at accomplishing what it was meant to do . which is be a fun , easy to use , addictive system . but it is not trying to , nor can it ever , replace an xbox 360 for a hard core gamer . once again . . they are apples and oranges .
. . . but to be honest . . . at risk of negating everything i just said . . . if i had to pick . . i would go with the Wii
108 4 if you are looking for a system to replace your first person shooting , marrowind playing xbox 360 , the Wii is not for you . the Wii is not a traditional gaming system ( as i am sure u already knew ) . if you are a hardcore gamer , and want to continue to do so , nintendo still hasnt made a system for you . nintendo usually gears their system to the younger gen of gamers . but with the wii , now any first time gamer can pick it up and play , so the older gen also .
how can i explain this better . the Wii is mario party to the extreme . every game on the wii , because of the controller , feels like a fun goofy game . the more i play it the more i feel it was built for mario tennis . this is the ultimate get your friends togther . girls and guys . and goof off over a few drinks .
this system succeeded in every way possible at accomplishing what it was meant to do . which is be a fun , easy to use , addictive system . but it is not trying to , nor can it ever , replace an xbox 360 for a hard core gamer . once again . . they are apples and oranges .
. . . but to be honest . . . at risk of negating everything i just said . . . if i had to pick . . i would go with the Wii
109 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Instead of buying our system first , all I could find after Sunday was accessories at a few retailers . I picked up the accessories I knew that we would need , and then started asking everyone ' Do you have a Wii ? ' , and ' When do you expect them ? ' . Only one local game store knew that they were expecting a handful in the next day and told me to come back then .
Before Wii , I had 3 remotes , 1 nunchuk , 3 gloves , $20 Wii points card , Wii softside shoulder sling ( bag ) , Zelda , Avatar , and , Game accessory pack ( extended base + glove + 512 MB ) . This cost about $400 , but with a family of 4 , I knew that we'd need the three extra remotes ( color coded with the gloves for each member ) to keep the peace in our home . The Zelda game is for my adventure seeking teenage son , and the Avatar game is for our pre-teen daughter .
Then the big day arrived - the Wii came home . I bought it along with the Zelda guidebook and MonkeyBall ( after reading about how Monkey ball is a BUNCH of minigames . . . we've barely scratched the surface with this one - this is a great party / family game ) .
After it was all said and done , I increased the GDP by about $750 for the entire system , 3 games , and accessories .
Now - was it worth it ?
ABSOLUTELY . I'd score this 10 stars if that was possible !
I predict that the Wii is going to be this Christmas Season's Elmo . . . but on steroids . Crowds may have been gentle , and considerate for the Wii when compared to the PS3 , but I'll guarantee you this . . . when your ' Johnny ' gets a chance to play the Wii at his friend's home , he's going to be begging you for one - and I doubt crowds will be as cordial if a shortage of Wii's occur .
Our gamecube burned out this summer after 2 + years of loyal service . Our large gamecube game collection sat collecting dust , and the news about the Revolution / Wii hit the streets about the same time . We waited and waited for months , playing XBox and PS2 for a while - but no longer .
To say that the Wii is fun is an understatement . I don't think we've had this much fun ' at home ' in a long time . It's so much fun , I had to sneak in a few minutes of bowling before running off to work this morning ( while the kids were still sleeping ) .
Wii Sports - absolutely fun ! We're big bowlers - and this was almost like playing at the real bowling alley - except my arm doesn't get sore heaving the ball down the alley . Otherwise , it senses how quickly you release and if you add a little bit of rotation , it will cause the ball to spin to the ' inside ' ( to the left if you are right handed . . . and it doesn't seem to matter which way you rotate your hand ) .
For those that have frustrations that you need to vent on another family member , check out Boxing ! I never thought I'd get into this , but it was alot of fun !
I can't comment on the other parts of Wii Sports yet - we've not tried them all yet ! I'll fill in the blanks as time allows . For now , I'll have to let the kids play while I look forward to playing all weekend long ( 4 - day Thanksgiving weekend ) !
Warning :
Please - if you're reading this and you haven't figured this out yet - use the wrist straps provided with the Wii ( and not the colorful ones that come with the gloves ) . You can cinch up the grey wrist straps . Wearing the wrist straps is MANDATORY , especially if you have anything that is valuable and fragile in the same area where you are playing . We haven't broken anything ( yet ) , but there's already stories online about a player busting a laptop screen because they didn't use the wrist strap .
110 4 Instead of buying our system first , all I could find after Sunday was accessories at a few retailers . I picked up the accessories I knew that we would need , and then started asking everyone ' Do you have a Wii ? ' , and ' When do you expect them ? ' . Only one local game store knew that they were expecting a handful in the next day and told me to come back then .
Before Wii , I had 3 remotes , 1 nunchuk , 3 gloves , $20 Wii points card , Wii softside shoulder sling ( bag ) , Zelda , Avatar , and , Game accessory pack ( extended base + glove + 512 MB ) . This cost about $400 , but with a family of 4 , I knew that we'd need the three extra remotes ( color coded with the gloves for each member ) to keep the peace in our home . The Zelda game is for my adventure seeking teenage son , and the Avatar game is for our pre-teen daughter .
Then the big day arrived - the Wii came home . I bought it along with the Zelda guidebook and MonkeyBall ( after reading about how Monkey ball is a BUNCH of minigames . . . we've barely scratched the surface with this one - this is a great party / family game ) .
After it was all said and done , I increased the GDP by about $750 for the entire system , 3 games , and accessories .
Now - was it worth it ?
ABSOLUTELY . I'd score this 10 stars if that was possible !
I predict that the Wii is going to be this Christmas Season's Elmo . . . but on steroids . Crowds may have been gentle , and considerate for the Wii when compared to the PS3 , but I'll guarantee you this . . . when your ' Johnny ' gets a chance to play the Wii at his friend's home , he's going to be begging you for one - and I doubt crowds will be as cordial if a shortage of Wii's occur .
Our gamecube burned out this summer after 2 + years of loyal service . Our large gamecube game collection sat collecting dust , and the news about the Revolution / Wii hit the streets about the same time . We waited and waited for months , playing XBox and PS2 for a while - but no longer .
To say that the Wii is fun is an understatement . I don't think we've had this much fun ' at home ' in a long time . It's so much fun , I had to sneak in a few minutes of bowling before running off to work this morning ( while the kids were still sleeping ) .
Wii Sports - absolutely fun ! We're big bowlers - and this was almost like playing at the real bowling alley - except my arm doesn't get sore heaving the ball down the alley . Otherwise , it senses how quickly you release and if you add a little bit of rotation , it will cause the ball to spin to the ' inside ' ( to the left if you are right handed . . . and it doesn't seem to matter which way you rotate your hand ) .
For those that have frustrations that you need to vent on another family member , check out Boxing ! I never thought I'd get into this , but it was alot of fun !
I can't comment on the other parts of Wii Sports yet - we've not tried them all yet ! I'll fill in the blanks as time allows . For now , I'll have to let the kids play while I look forward to playing all weekend long ( 4 - day Thanksgiving weekend ) !
Warning :
Please - if you're reading this and you haven't figured this out yet - use the wrist straps provided with the Wii ( and not the colorful ones that come with the gloves ) . You can cinch up the grey wrist straps . Wearing the wrist straps is MANDATORY , especially if you have anything that is valuable and fragile in the same area where you are playing . We haven't broken anything ( yet ) , but there's already stories online about a player busting a laptop screen because they didn't use the wrist strap .
111 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
If you have a kid who sits in front of the computer or with videogames all the time , and you wish he / she would get some exercise , the Wii is an easy answer . To play the sports games that come with the Wii , my child has been performing all the physical moves required for batting , serving , putting , bowling , etc . , until he was too tired to move . I * like * the Wii !
112 4 If you have a kid who sits in front of the computer or with videogames all the time , and you wish he / she would get some exercise , the Wii is an easy answer . To play the sports games that come with the Wii , my child has been performing all the physical moves required for batting , serving , putting , bowling , etc . , until he was too tired to move . I * like * the Wii !
113 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Nintendo Wii is by far the most fun I've ever had playing video games at home .
To elaborate : I go back as far as the Atari 2600 , and my first home-owned system was a Colecovision . Decades later , I got a Sega Genesis , and years after that I got a PC . Around the year 2003 , I got an Xbox system from my wife for Christmas ( thanks honey ! ) .
From the first time I plunked quarters into Quicksilver pinball or Space Wars ( and eventually onto Defender / Stargate ) , I loved video games . However , I always found the home units to be frustrating because the controls were never as intuitive / easy as an arcade machine . I tried SNIN and the Atari Jaguar also . PC games were where I stayed for a while because PC / RTS games inherently are a different form from arcade-style play ; I could stay on a Defender / Stargate machine for hours on one quarter , but to play Starcraft or Warcraft for hours on end with a group of friends is a different ( although enlivening ) kind of rush . Web comics like Penny Arcade used to ` cover ' the differences between PC / MAC gamers and console gamers to good effect , and reading such things lead me to believe that an Xbox would be a neat idea .
Unfortunately , no . I had gotten rid of my Sega Genesis for the same reasons that I ultimately released my Xbox ; the controllers were too frustrating . Kids can say I just didn't put in the practice time , whereas I say , I already did - decades ago . There just wasn't the same amount of fun as standing at an arcade machine and gripping palm-sized joysticks and punching quarter-sized buttons . Yes , I could have bought the ` arcade ' board adapter for the Xbox , but I didn't want a rehash of games I had played . I wanted new games with an easier way of playing them , and / or an innovative way of playing the current generation of home console games .
So my wife and I bought a Wii recently . We played it for hours , laughing the entire time . She was also a veteran of arcade halls , and we both agreed that playing Wii sports and Wii play was the most fun either of us had had with home console units . The fact that Wii Sports can be played predominantly with only the remote helped . Playing a leisure activity like bowling on a home console by actually moving your body in a similar manner to the real thing is a godsend ! Boxing ( which requires the nunchuk ) provides a great aerobic workout , along with tons of fun . The other games are amusing , and don't forget to explore the Mii sections .
As for the ` hard-core ' gamers out there , by all means go get an Xbox 360 ; the graphics don't compare to the Wii , but that's not the point of the Wii . It's been a long time since a home console could be handed around to different members of a family , but this console has the distinction of being the first mainstream console PARTY unit for adults . Parents , grandparents , and their friends can gather around a Wii on a weekend with four controllers and have fun for hours .
I foresee a period when Sony and Microsoft change the way they design their systems and games due to the unforeseen explosion of popularity of the Wii . As of this writing , it's been about five months since the Wii debuted in the States , and I had to wait in line in the cold rain here in Central Jersey for two hours before I could get a TICKET that allowed me to get a Wii .
My only misgiving is the Wii's physical longevity . If my wife and I can squeeze five years of fun out of this console without a breakdown or trip to the manufacturer , this will have been money very well spent .
114 4 The Nintendo Wii is by far the most fun I've ever had playing video games at home .
To elaborate : I go back as far as the Atari 2600 , and my first home-owned system was a Colecovision . Decades later , I got a Sega Genesis , and years after that I got a PC . Around the year 2003 , I got an Xbox system from my wife for Christmas ( thanks honey ! ) .
From the first time I plunked quarters into Quicksilver pinball or Space Wars ( and eventually onto Defender / Stargate ) , I loved video games . However , I always found the home units to be frustrating because the controls were never as intuitive / easy as an arcade machine . I tried SNIN and the Atari Jaguar also . PC games were where I stayed for a while because PC / RTS games inherently are a different form from arcade-style play ; I could stay on a Defender / Stargate machine for hours on one quarter , but to play Starcraft or Warcraft for hours on end with a group of friends is a different ( although enlivening ) kind of rush . Web comics like Penny Arcade used to ` cover ' the differences between PC / MAC gamers and console gamers to good effect , and reading such things lead me to believe that an Xbox would be a neat idea .
Unfortunately , no . I had gotten rid of my Sega Genesis for the same reasons that I ultimately released my Xbox ; the controllers were too frustrating . Kids can say I just didn't put in the practice time , whereas I say , I already did - decades ago . There just wasn't the same amount of fun as standing at an arcade machine and gripping palm-sized joysticks and punching quarter-sized buttons . Yes , I could have bought the ` arcade ' board adapter for the Xbox , but I didn't want a rehash of games I had played . I wanted new games with an easier way of playing them , and / or an innovative way of playing the current generation of home console games .
So my wife and I bought a Wii recently . We played it for hours , laughing the entire time . She was also a veteran of arcade halls , and we both agreed that playing Wii sports and Wii play was the most fun either of us had had with home console units . The fact that Wii Sports can be played predominantly with only the remote helped . Playing a leisure activity like bowling on a home console by actually moving your body in a similar manner to the real thing is a godsend ! Boxing ( which requires the nunchuk ) provides a great aerobic workout , along with tons of fun . The other games are amusing , and don't forget to explore the Mii sections .
As for the ` hard-core ' gamers out there , by all means go get an Xbox 360 ; the graphics don't compare to the Wii , but that's not the point of the Wii . It's been a long time since a home console could be handed around to different members of a family , but this console has the distinction of being the first mainstream console PARTY unit for adults . Parents , grandparents , and their friends can gather around a Wii on a weekend with four controllers and have fun for hours .
I foresee a period when Sony and Microsoft change the way they design their systems and games due to the unforeseen explosion of popularity of the Wii . As of this writing , it's been about five months since the Wii debuted in the States , and I had to wait in line in the cold rain here in Central Jersey for two hours before I could get a TICKET that allowed me to get a Wii .
My only misgiving is the Wii's physical longevity . If my wife and I can squeeze five years of fun out of this console without a breakdown or trip to the manufacturer , this will have been money very well spent .
115 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Update 15 December 2007 : I still agree with everything said below but now , with a caveat based on a year's experience . The Wii is a great game system but the games for it are not . Even more than a year after it's release , most of the games available for Wii are cheap ports of games originally developed for PS2 or Xbox 360 . That's a real tragedy because the Wii is a very solid piece of hardware that has a lot of capabilities that are just not present , as of today , on the other platforms . In particular , the Wii has 3 - axis motion-sensitive wireless controllers , individual sound channels for every controller , Wi-Fi connectivity , and powerful multi-threaded processing capability . These hardware capabilities are standard on every Wii and yet most of the current Wii games barely use them . Some examples of what I'm talking about : with its amazing controllers , the Wii should have the best , by far , first-person shooter games on any platform , and yet , most of the FPS games on Wii , with the exception of Metroid Prime 3 Corruption and Medal of Honor Heroes 2 , don't begin to use the Wii FPS capabilities . The Wii should have the best multi-player games of any system because it is , by its very nature , an awesome multi-player system and yet most of the games for Wii are single-player . Even games that are multi-player on other consoles , such as Call of Duty 3 , are single-player on Wii . With its built-in internet capabilities , the Wii should have a lot of online games but the reality is that only a very few Wii games , such as Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and Guitar Hero 3 , have online play . The bottom line a year after its release is that the few big game manufacturers have mostly trashed the Wii platform with their crappy Wii game implementations . It's not surprising , then , the best Wii games , such as Super Mario Galaxy and Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess are from . . . Nintendo .
Original Review :
Nintendo has redefined video games with the Wii and created a new game experience that makes earlier consoles seem dated . The Wii is this slim little box with an optical drive and a bunch of cable ports . The controller is a little boxy thing called a wiimote . There is a joystick kind of thing called a numchuk that can optionally plug into the wiimote for some games . The first thing you do when you start playing the wii is create a character for yourself called a mii . There are a lot of options for skin , hair , nose , height , etc that allow you to make your mii look like a faithful caricature of yourself . Just creating a mii is fun . When you've created a mii , you can save it on your controller to use for future games . Once you have a mii , you start with a game . wii comes with wii sports that includes tennis , golf , bowling , baseball , and boxing . All of these games are fun but also give a taste of what future more sophisticated versions of these games will be able to do . The wii controller is very intuitive to use and amazingly precise and sensitive . ( I wish there was one of these to replace the mouse on my pc . ) The wiimote is very easy to use and is just a lot of fun to play any of the games with . The only negative is that we wish we could buy a couple more of the wiimotes for multiplayer but no doubt these will be available soon .
The wii was simple to set up and turn on . It comes with a built-in wireless card that easily connected to our secure wireless router after asking us to enter our encryption key . Once online , it downloaded updates automatically and gave access to a lot of other wii stuff . The wii has been in nearly nonstop use since it was taken out of the box . The hardware seems very solid and sturdy , unlike our earlier Sony PS2 which suffered from ' disk read error ' problems that led to its untimely demise . I will never spend another dollar on Sony game stuff !
We have gotten three additional wii games so far including Zelda and they have all been very good . The wii has created an entire new game platform that will last for many years and will forever divide games into ' before wii ' and ' after wii . '
116 4 Update 15 December 2007 : I still agree with everything said below but now , with a caveat based on a year's experience . The Wii is a great game system but the games for it are not . Even more than a year after it's release , most of the games available for Wii are cheap ports of games originally developed for PS2 or Xbox 360 . That's a real tragedy because the Wii is a very solid piece of hardware that has a lot of capabilities that are just not present , as of today , on the other platforms . In particular , the Wii has 3 - axis motion-sensitive wireless controllers , individual sound channels for every controller , Wi-Fi connectivity , and powerful multi-threaded processing capability . These hardware capabilities are standard on every Wii and yet most of the current Wii games barely use them . Some examples of what I'm talking about : with its amazing controllers , the Wii should have the best , by far , first-person shooter games on any platform , and yet , most of the FPS games on Wii , with the exception of Metroid Prime 3 Corruption and Medal of Honor Heroes 2 , don't begin to use the Wii FPS capabilities . The Wii should have the best multi-player games of any system because it is , by its very nature , an awesome multi-player system and yet most of the games for Wii are single-player . Even games that are multi-player on other consoles , such as Call of Duty 3 , are single-player on Wii . With its built-in internet capabilities , the Wii should have a lot of online games but the reality is that only a very few Wii games , such as Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and Guitar Hero 3 , have online play . The bottom line a year after its release is that the few big game manufacturers have mostly trashed the Wii platform with their crappy Wii game implementations . It's not surprising , then , the best Wii games , such as Super Mario Galaxy and Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess are from . . . Nintendo .
Original Review :
Nintendo has redefined video games with the Wii and created a new game experience that makes earlier consoles seem dated . The Wii is this slim little box with an optical drive and a bunch of cable ports . The controller is a little boxy thing called a wiimote . There is a joystick kind of thing called a numchuk that can optionally plug into the wiimote for some games . The first thing you do when you start playing the wii is create a character for yourself called a mii . There are a lot of options for skin , hair , nose , height , etc that allow you to make your mii look like a faithful caricature of yourself . Just creating a mii is fun . When you've created a mii , you can save it on your controller to use for future games . Once you have a mii , you start with a game . wii comes with wii sports that includes tennis , golf , bowling , baseball , and boxing . All of these games are fun but also give a taste of what future more sophisticated versions of these games will be able to do . The wii controller is very intuitive to use and amazingly precise and sensitive . ( I wish there was one of these to replace the mouse on my pc . ) The wiimote is very easy to use and is just a lot of fun to play any of the games with . The only negative is that we wish we could buy a couple more of the wiimotes for multiplayer but no doubt these will be available soon .
The wii was simple to set up and turn on . It comes with a built-in wireless card that easily connected to our secure wireless router after asking us to enter our encryption key . Once online , it downloaded updates automatically and gave access to a lot of other wii stuff . The wii has been in nearly nonstop use since it was taken out of the box . The hardware seems very solid and sturdy , unlike our earlier Sony PS2 which suffered from ' disk read error ' problems that led to its untimely demise . I will never spend another dollar on Sony game stuff !
We have gotten three additional wii games so far including Zelda and they have all been very good . The wii has created an entire new game platform that will last for many years and will forever divide games into ' before wii ' and ' after wii . '
117 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I stood in line at GameStop starting at 4 : 30 am ( I was third in line ) to get this today . This is the third line I've stood in since launch and it was so worth it . If you have young kids ( mine are 7 and 8 ) this is the system for you . We've been enjoying playing the Wii Sports all morning and my kids picked up on how to use the Wiimote pretty fast . I heard stories of people dropping / throwing the Wiimote on accident but so far we have had no problems . I think my kids favorite is Rayman Raving Rabbids and mine is either Zelda or Avatar . If you can't get a Wii right away and want one . . . just wait it out for restocking at stores . Don't buy the auctions , etc . with the high prices . Eventually you will be able to get one at regular price if you are patient .
118 4 I stood in line at GameStop starting at 4 : 30 am ( I was third in line ) to get this today . This is the third line I've stood in since launch and it was so worth it . If you have young kids ( mine are 7 and 8 ) this is the system for you . We've been enjoying playing the Wii Sports all morning and my kids picked up on how to use the Wiimote pretty fast . I heard stories of people dropping / throwing the Wiimote on accident but so far we have had no problems . I think my kids favorite is Rayman Raving Rabbids and mine is either Zelda or Avatar . If you can't get a Wii right away and want one . . . just wait it out for restocking at stores . Don't buy the auctions , etc . with the high prices . Eventually you will be able to get one at regular price if you are patient .
119 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My family has always been into the new electronics , like PS2 , the DS and PSP , GBA SP when that came out . . . We go the Wii this Christmas and have played it for like . . . 6 hours a day since then . . . . Nintendo has brought gaming to a whole new level , the Wii brings you into the game , whether its bowling , fighting , running , or whatever else you have to do , you are required to interact , say as , swing the Wii remote or swaw the Nunchuck and Wii remote to move . I would recommend it to anyone , it bring you into the game , no more couch potatoes : )
120 4 My family has always been into the new electronics , like PS2 , the DS and PSP , GBA SP when that came out . . . We go the Wii this Christmas and have played it for like . . . 6 hours a day since then . . . . Nintendo has brought gaming to a whole new level , the Wii brings you into the game , whether its bowling , fighting , running , or whatever else you have to do , you are required to interact , say as , swing the Wii remote or swaw the Nunchuck and Wii remote to move . I would recommend it to anyone , it bring you into the game , no more couch potatoes : )
121 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Wii is as great as I was hoping it would be . And the remote / nunchuck controllers are not nearly as unwieldy as I had read in reviews ( Safety First ! Always remember to attach the controllers to your arm unless you want to throw your remote out the window or through your television ) . Once you get past being self-conscious about how ridiculous you probably look bowling / golfing / fishing in your living room , it's really a lot of fun ( and at least a little more exercise than I was getting playing games where I just sat on my bottom for several hours ) . The biggest drawback I have found to the whole thing is that once you buy one , you suddenly have a long laundry list of items you need to get to go with it . Aside from any Wii branded games you may want to acquire you will also need several other not initially obvious items to go with it to make it live up to it's potential .
For example to use the internet feature : your best bet is to have a wireless internet router , this obviously also requires you to have some sort of high-speed internet connection . They also have an option to hook it up via a Wi-Fi USB cable , and are eventually supposed to be coming out with a LAN adapter , but since my Wii and my computer are on different floors these last two solutions really aren't an option without some fancy wiring . Once you purchase your modem , don't forget to password protect , or every other Wii in your neighborhood ( and possibly someone's laptop computer ) will be hijacking your connection as well !
So I finally get online , and there aren't quite as many of the old school games as I was hoping available for download , but I hold out the hope that the selection will expand in time as more people are able to purchase this system . In order to buy these games you first need Wii points . Wii points can be purchased via a physical giftcard you buy at most electronics stores or of course you can virtually buy points via the console using a credit card ( however if giving this as a gift you definitely want to consider at least the 2000 point gift card as the later generation games cost about 500 points each ) .
The only games that can be played with the Wii remote seem to be NES and some Sega Genesis games ( basically not anything requiring more than 2 or 3 buttons ) . All the other games later than that ( other than Wii branded titles ) require you to use either a Nintendo Gamecube controller or the Wii Classic Controller . But wait , there's more !
It also plays Gamecube games , right ? Yes , but you need to save your Gamecube games on a Gamecube memory card , not the memory that comes in the Wii . Also you again can only use a Gamecube controller to play these . My advice unless it really bothers you to play SNES and / or N64 games on the Gamecube controller is to bypass purchasing a Wii Classic Controller altogether , and instead get a decent ( preferably wireless ) Gamecube controller so you have all your old catalog games covered . Personally I found using the Wii remote to play NES games gave me bad cramps in my left hand , so I will probably use the Gamecube control for everything except the Wii branded games ( holding it the normal way doesn't hurt at all ) .
Lastly , pretty much any game on this system ( as with all systems ) , if you want to play anything with more than one person at a time you will need to buy a second ( or third or however many more people you want playing at one time , unless of course you expect your friends and family to BYOC ) set of controllers ( there is space on the console for up to 4 Gamecube controllers , and I believe the sensor can be synced for up to four Wii remote / nunchuck combos ) .
Despite all this , it really is a nice system . I would not recommend it as a substitute for someone who really wants a PS3 and / or Xbox360 as this will never be as powerful . Only as an addition to one of those consoles or for families with children who do not play hardware intensive games ( like the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII ) . If you or your family will be content playing movie and television show spinoffs or Zelda / Mario / Starfox / Metroid / Sonic the Hedgehog games then by all means this can be your only system .
My main goal here was hopefully to take out some of the confusion in purchasing this system and making it as enjoyable as possible out of the box . Since I was not aware when I sold my Gamecube that it would have been helpful to keep my accessory package , and now of course have to repurchase all these things over again , I was hoping to assist someone else in learning from my mistake . Hope it was helpful !
122 4 The Wii is as great as I was hoping it would be . And the remote / nunchuck controllers are not nearly as unwieldy as I had read in reviews ( Safety First ! Always remember to attach the controllers to your arm unless you want to throw your remote out the window or through your television ) . Once you get past being self-conscious about how ridiculous you probably look bowling / golfing / fishing in your living room , it's really a lot of fun ( and at least a little more exercise than I was getting playing games where I just sat on my bottom for several hours ) . The biggest drawback I have found to the whole thing is that once you buy one , you suddenly have a long laundry list of items you need to get to go with it . Aside from any Wii branded games you may want to acquire you will also need several other not initially obvious items to go with it to make it live up to it's potential .
For example to use the internet feature : your best bet is to have a wireless internet router , this obviously also requires you to have some sort of high-speed internet connection . They also have an option to hook it up via a Wi-Fi USB cable , and are eventually supposed to be coming out with a LAN adapter , but since my Wii and my computer are on different floors these last two solutions really aren't an option without some fancy wiring . Once you purchase your modem , don't forget to password protect , or every other Wii in your neighborhood ( and possibly someone's laptop computer ) will be hijacking your connection as well !
So I finally get online , and there aren't quite as many of the old school games as I was hoping available for download , but I hold out the hope that the selection will expand in time as more people are able to purchase this system . In order to buy these games you first need Wii points . Wii points can be purchased via a physical giftcard you buy at most electronics stores or of course you can virtually buy points via the console using a credit card ( however if giving this as a gift you definitely want to consider at least the 2000 point gift card as the later generation games cost about 500 points each ) .
The only games that can be played with the Wii remote seem to be NES and some Sega Genesis games ( basically not anything requiring more than 2 or 3 buttons ) . All the other games later than that ( other than Wii branded titles ) require you to use either a Nintendo Gamecube controller or the Wii Classic Controller . But wait , there's more !
It also plays Gamecube games , right ? Yes , but you need to save your Gamecube games on a Gamecube memory card , not the memory that comes in the Wii . Also you again can only use a Gamecube controller to play these . My advice unless it really bothers you to play SNES and / or N64 games on the Gamecube controller is to bypass purchasing a Wii Classic Controller altogether , and instead get a decent ( preferably wireless ) Gamecube controller so you have all your old catalog games covered . Personally I found using the Wii remote to play NES games gave me bad cramps in my left hand , so I will probably use the Gamecube control for everything except the Wii branded games ( holding it the normal way doesn't hurt at all ) .
Lastly , pretty much any game on this system ( as with all systems ) , if you want to play anything with more than one person at a time you will need to buy a second ( or third or however many more people you want playing at one time , unless of course you expect your friends and family to BYOC ) set of controllers ( there is space on the console for up to 4 Gamecube controllers , and I believe the sensor can be synced for up to four Wii remote / nunchuck combos ) .
Despite all this , it really is a nice system . I would not recommend it as a substitute for someone who really wants a PS3 and / or Xbox360 as this will never be as powerful . Only as an addition to one of those consoles or for families with children who do not play hardware intensive games ( like the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII ) . If you or your family will be content playing movie and television show spinoffs or Zelda / Mario / Starfox / Metroid / Sonic the Hedgehog games then by all means this can be your only system .
My main goal here was hopefully to take out some of the confusion in purchasing this system and making it as enjoyable as possible out of the box . Since I was not aware when I sold my Gamecube that it would have been helpful to keep my accessory package , and now of course have to repurchase all these things over again , I was hoping to assist someone else in learning from my mistake . Hope it was helpful !
125 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I owned a Wii for approximately half a year . Ultimately , I sold it . This review is written from the perspective of a long-time gamer . I currently own a Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 . If you are new to video games , a casual gamer , or are hopping on the latest fad this may not apply to you .
What's Right :
The control scheme is a breath of fresh air . It does allow new ways to affect gameplay . The controller itself is the star , with many unique features such as : Bluetooth connectivity , on-board memory ( allows you to take saved Miis with you ) , and on-board speaker . The console itself is compact . It won't eat up much room around your television .
What's Wrong :
The control scheme works great - for a while . Eventually you notice that every game uses the same handful of movements over and over again . This leads to tedious gameplay . The new control scheme and Wii demographic has pulled unknown developers out of the woodwork looking to make a quick buck . This has led to a large library of rather poor games . The system is littered with titles which are mostly a grouping of mini-games . They tend to be very shallow because of this . Any deep game will force you to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuck in tandem to simulate a conventional controller in many ways . You might swing or aim the controller every once and while , but ultimately , any full-featured game will rely upon a rather conventional control scheme . Unfortunately , it seems that almost all decent titles for the system were created by Nintendo themselves . Historically , Nintendo doesn't create new and exciting franchises . This leads to more of the same games you've seen rehashed generation after generation . Yes , you be playing even more Mario , Metriod , Zelda , etc . Nintendo's online play is all but nil at this point . Only a couple of games support online multiplayer and its implementation is extremely poor .
This leads me to the hardware . There are a few trouble areas . When the Wii is left in a low-power state for 24 hour internet connectivity ( WiiConnect24 ) the unit itself gets extremely warm . The sensor bar used to determine the location of the television relative to the Wii Remote can be problematic at times . It is susceptible to interference and its range can be rather limited - a concern when used with a larger television set . Additionally , the calibration options for the on-screen cursor are limited to Above TV and Below TV . Neither one seems right and a nicer tweaking system would be much appreciated . The graphics are poor . Hooking the console up to a nice new HDTV is a giant let-down . Nintendo's inclusion of composite cables seems antiquated . Be prepared to purchase additional output cables if you have a new television or you will suffer degraded image quality .
The Bottom Line :
This system was designed for non-gamers and children . This shows in the lack of processing power , simplified setup options , lack of useful accessories , and limited game library . While the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 feel like powerful home media centers with feature-rich , deep , and stunning games , the Wii seems like a gimmicky toy . Perhaps that is its appeal . It is easily approachable . Unfortunately , this leads to the fun ending quickly as you realize you've already experienced everything the system is capable of .
126 4 I owned a Wii for approximately half a year . Ultimately , I sold it . This review is written from the perspective of a long-time gamer . I currently own a Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 . If you are new to video games , a casual gamer , or are hopping on the latest fad this may not apply to you .
What's Right :
The control scheme is a breath of fresh air . It does allow new ways to affect gameplay . The controller itself is the star , with many unique features such as : Bluetooth connectivity , on-board memory ( allows you to take saved Miis with you ) , and on-board speaker . The console itself is compact . It won't eat up much room around your television .
What's Wrong :
The control scheme works great - for a while . Eventually you notice that every game uses the same handful of movements over and over again . This leads to tedious gameplay . The new control scheme and Wii demographic has pulled unknown developers out of the woodwork looking to make a quick buck . This has led to a large library of rather poor games . The system is littered with titles which are mostly a grouping of mini-games . They tend to be very shallow because of this . Any deep game will force you to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuck in tandem to simulate a conventional controller in many ways . You might swing or aim the controller every once and while , but ultimately , any full-featured game will rely upon a rather conventional control scheme . Unfortunately , it seems that almost all decent titles for the system were created by Nintendo themselves . Historically , Nintendo doesn't create new and exciting franchises . This leads to more of the same games you've seen rehashed generation after generation . Yes , you be playing even more Mario , Metriod , Zelda , etc . Nintendo's online play is all but nil at this point . Only a couple of games support online multiplayer and its implementation is extremely poor .
This leads me to the hardware . There are a few trouble areas . When the Wii is left in a low-power state for 24 hour internet connectivity ( WiiConnect24 ) the unit itself gets extremely warm . The sensor bar used to determine the location of the television relative to the Wii Remote can be problematic at times . It is susceptible to interference and its range can be rather limited - a concern when used with a larger television set . Additionally , the calibration options for the on-screen cursor are limited to Above TV and Below TV . Neither one seems right and a nicer tweaking system would be much appreciated . The graphics are poor . Hooking the console up to a nice new HDTV is a giant let-down . Nintendo's inclusion of composite cables seems antiquated . Be prepared to purchase additional output cables if you have a new television or you will suffer degraded image quality .
The Bottom Line :
This system was designed for non-gamers and children . This shows in the lack of processing power , simplified setup options , lack of useful accessories , and limited game library . While the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 feel like powerful home media centers with feature-rich , deep , and stunning games , the Wii seems like a gimmicky toy . Perhaps that is its appeal . It is easily approachable . Unfortunately , this leads to the fun ending quickly as you realize you've already experienced everything the system is capable of .
127 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Please understand going into this review that I am not a fanboy of any one system . I owned a ps2 before this and intended on getting a ps3 . I still might . I picked this up because I liked Nintendo's strategy of going into this next generation purely focusing on gameplay . I have not been had this much fun playing games since the early days of the Commodore . The controls are intuitive and for once it is a game system designed for the entire family . The graphics are not on the level of other sytems , but frankly who cares . I'm interested in gameplay and if that's what your looking for that's what this system delivers . Just try playing a friends system , you'll want to buy it . The system comes with a game ( a novel concept that for some reason died with the SNES ) that really begins to show the potential of what this system is capable of . I am really looking forward to future games for this system . It's only going to get better .
128 4 Please understand going into this review that I am not a fanboy of any one system . I owned a ps2 before this and intended on getting a ps3 . I still might . I picked this up because I liked Nintendo's strategy of going into this next generation purely focusing on gameplay . I have not been had this much fun playing games since the early days of the Commodore . The controls are intuitive and for once it is a game system designed for the entire family . The graphics are not on the level of other sytems , but frankly who cares . I'm interested in gameplay and if that's what your looking for that's what this system delivers . Just try playing a friends system , you'll want to buy it . The system comes with a game ( a novel concept that for some reason died with the SNES ) that really begins to show the potential of what this system is capable of . I am really looking forward to future games for this system . It's only going to get better .
129 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'm not a big gamer , never have been . Many years ago I enjoyed video games , but got away from it . This year for Christmas I thought it would be fun to give it a try again . A few days after Christmas I first picked up the PS3 - someone was just returning it . The graphics were incredible and it held a lot of promise . However , it seemed that it was geared more for serious gamers . After a few weeks I returned it .
I then decided to try the Wii . It was hard to get - I had to wait in line before the store opened - I felt weird having to do this . I purchased the Wii and went home to set it up .
Boy was I surprised . I was blown away . What a fantastic idea . The Wii Sports was terrific . I played for several hours and was in amazement . The graphics are not as good as the PS3 , but while you're playing it doesn't matter ( if you have an HD TV get a component ? / composite ? ( whichever the better one is ) cable for a much improved picture ) . The whole experience is very immersive .
I haven't played many games , but the ones I have so far have been great . The ability to browse the internet , get weather , and get news are a nice bonus . I look forward to future offerings .
I am very happy with my decision . Be sure to pick up an extra remote or two because playing with other people is a blast . Nintendo has a huge hit on its hands with the Wii . For about $250 it is very reasonable and a great way to add some fun into your life . Everyone is busy and this a great way to take some time to have fun alone or with others . I don't think it will get old as new and more imagine games come along .
130 4 I'm not a big gamer , never have been . Many years ago I enjoyed video games , but got away from it . This year for Christmas I thought it would be fun to give it a try again . A few days after Christmas I first picked up the PS3 - someone was just returning it . The graphics were incredible and it held a lot of promise . However , it seemed that it was geared more for serious gamers . After a few weeks I returned it .
I then decided to try the Wii . It was hard to get - I had to wait in line before the store opened - I felt weird having to do this . I purchased the Wii and went home to set it up .
Boy was I surprised . I was blown away . What a fantastic idea . The Wii Sports was terrific . I played for several hours and was in amazement . The graphics are not as good as the PS3 , but while you're playing it doesn't matter ( if you have an HD TV get a component ? / composite ? ( whichever the better one is ) cable for a much improved picture ) . The whole experience is very immersive .
I haven't played many games , but the ones I have so far have been great . The ability to browse the internet , get weather , and get news are a nice bonus . I look forward to future offerings .
I am very happy with my decision . Be sure to pick up an extra remote or two because playing with other people is a blast . Nintendo has a huge hit on its hands with the Wii . For about $250 it is very reasonable and a great way to add some fun into your life . Everyone is busy and this a great way to take some time to have fun alone or with others . I don't think it will get old as new and more imagine games come along .
131 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We were talking about the Wii at Thanksgiving dinner and I ended up waking up this morning and going over to the GameStop by our house , and lo and behold almost an hour after they opened they still had some Wiis left . So naturally I got one . I have to say my wife and I are extremely impressed . We are both 25 years old and neither really played anything beyond the classic Nintendo , Super Nintendo , or Sega Genesis . The sports pack that comes with the Wii is just a lot of fun - and decent exercise as far as being in front of the TV is concerned , especially the boxing and to some extent the tennis if you play quickly . Best of all , it's an ageless system . I'm sure come Christmastime we will have everyone from my 14 - year-old nephew to my 67 - year-old father-in-law playing . If you are a serious gamer , you wouldn't even consider the Wii because you'd be concerned about the graphics or lack of specialty games but to the majority of us the Wii has enough to keep you entertained and at a major discount to the other next gen systems out there . If you are seriously interested , try to refrain from paying twice the price and go by your local GameStop or EBGames and if they don't have any , ask the manager on duty when the next shipment is set to come in . They are much more knowledgeable and likely to know than the associate at Best Buy or one of the other big box stores . Also check out dealnews.com for the latest postings ( usually bundles for an extra $100 - 200 but includes extra Wii Motes , Nunchucks , chargers and games , so a good deal ) , if you own a Mac you can also subscribe to dealnews as an RSS feed and have quicker access when a new Wii deal is posted . Good luck !
132 4 We were talking about the Wii at Thanksgiving dinner and I ended up waking up this morning and going over to the GameStop by our house , and lo and behold almost an hour after they opened they still had some Wiis left . So naturally I got one . I have to say my wife and I are extremely impressed . We are both 25 years old and neither really played anything beyond the classic Nintendo , Super Nintendo , or Sega Genesis . The sports pack that comes with the Wii is just a lot of fun - and decent exercise as far as being in front of the TV is concerned , especially the boxing and to some extent the tennis if you play quickly . Best of all , it's an ageless system . I'm sure come Christmastime we will have everyone from my 14 - year-old nephew to my 67 - year-old father-in-law playing . If you are a serious gamer , you wouldn't even consider the Wii because you'd be concerned about the graphics or lack of specialty games but to the majority of us the Wii has enough to keep you entertained and at a major discount to the other next gen systems out there . If you are seriously interested , try to refrain from paying twice the price and go by your local GameStop or EBGames and if they don't have any , ask the manager on duty when the next shipment is set to come in . They are much more knowledgeable and likely to know than the associate at Best Buy or one of the other big box stores . Also check out dealnews.com for the latest postings ( usually bundles for an extra $100 - 200 but includes extra Wii Motes , Nunchucks , chargers and games , so a good deal ) , if you own a Mac you can also subscribe to dealnews as an RSS feed and have quicker access when a new Wii deal is posted . Good luck !
133 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I've had the Nintendo Wii since the US launch day on November 19th and I am completely in love . I've been anticipating this console ever since what seems like ages ago when I'd first heard of its development . Immediately upon getting it home , I didn't rush to unwrap Zelda : Twilight Princess ( a game I'd had on pre-order as a Gamecube title almost for 2 years ! ) or Trauma Center - - I set out to check out what online capabilities my new Wii had .
Unfortunately , a lot of the online features will not be available until late December / early January , but I knew this prior to launch day , so it wasn't that big of a disappointment . The Opera browser isn't yet available , but when it is , it will be free until June 2007 in the Shopping Channel , which is found within the Wii's main menu . Also in the Shopping Channel is Virtual Console . Through Virtual Console , the Wii-user may purchase Wii Points ( 1USD = 100 points ) , which is the currency used to purchase classic games of Sega Genesis , NES , SNES , N64 and TurboGrafx16 fame . Currently , Nintendo has only been releasing a few of these at a time every Monday , and there weren't very many out to start on launch day . What games are available , however , are great titles . I've personally been taking advantage of the available TG16 titles such as Super Star Soldier since I'd never had the console .
The Weather and News Channels also are not up yet and will not be until late December / early January . Through the Photo Channel , you can store and edit ( to some extent ) photos on your Wii . You can also send photos to other Wii-friends . I've also found that your Wii is given an e-mail address ( w + wiicode @ wii.com ) , which you can send photos to if you do not have an sd-card . However , you must use an sd card for mp3s and movs ( the only audio and video formats I believe work on the Wii ) as there are size limitations and file restrictions . The Mii Channel is a fun way to create characters that resemble yourself or others . You can send your Mii to your friends , and you can set your Miis to mingle , which will enable all Miis on your Mii Plaza ( including those sent to you ) to be sent to everyone on your friends list to a place called the Mii Parade in which they can choose to keep them or dispose of them ( sad . )
Of the Wiimote , I've found it to be completely intuitive and not in the least intimidating or difficult to control . Wii Sports is a great introduction to using the Wii-mote , but it definitely just isn't a demonstration of how to use it . I still avidly play Wii Sports by myself and with others and I forsee myself continuing to do so for a very long time . I've barely started Zelda : Twilight Princess because of finals , but , what I've played of it is completely and literally awesome . I still plan on picking up my Gamecube version of the title , but the Wii controls are perfect for this title . There's one major difference between the Wii and Gamecuve versions : Link is now right-handed , for the first time ever in the Wii version . This change was , of course , made because most people are right-handed and the controls rely on the Wii-mote . Although I am right-handed , I kind of wish they hadn't made this change or , at least , made a left or right handed preference choice like in Wii Sports . For those of you familiar with the DS title Trauma Center , I recommend picking it up for the Wii . It's the same story-line but with a few differences and some bonus levels added in . The controls are more forgiving than in the DS version , but overall , it's actually a bit harder .
I don't know how to end this review , but I should really get back to studying for finals so that I may fully deserve my Zelda-fest come next week ! For all of you who don't have such obligations , go play Wii !
134 4 I've had the Nintendo Wii since the US launch day on November 19th and I am completely in love . I've been anticipating this console ever since what seems like ages ago when I'd first heard of its development . Immediately upon getting it home , I didn't rush to unwrap Zelda : Twilight Princess ( a game I'd had on pre-order as a Gamecube title almost for 2 years ! ) or Trauma Center - - I set out to check out what online capabilities my new Wii had .
Unfortunately , a lot of the online features will not be available until late December / early January , but I knew this prior to launch day , so it wasn't that big of a disappointment . The Opera browser isn't yet available , but when it is , it will be free until June 2007 in the Shopping Channel , which is found within the Wii's main menu . Also in the Shopping Channel is Virtual Console . Through Virtual Console , the Wii-user may purchase Wii Points ( 1USD = 100 points ) , which is the currency used to purchase classic games of Sega Genesis , NES , SNES , N64 and TurboGrafx16 fame . Currently , Nintendo has only been releasing a few of these at a time every Monday , and there weren't very many out to start on launch day . What games are available , however , are great titles . I've personally been taking advantage of the available TG16 titles such as Super Star Soldier since I'd never had the console .
The Weather and News Channels also are not up yet and will not be until late December / early January . Through the Photo Channel , you can store and edit ( to some extent ) photos on your Wii . You can also send photos to other Wii-friends . I've also found that your Wii is given an e-mail address ( w + wiicode @ wii.com ) , which you can send photos to if you do not have an sd-card . However , you must use an sd card for mp3s and movs ( the only audio and video formats I believe work on the Wii ) as there are size limitations and file restrictions . The Mii Channel is a fun way to create characters that resemble yourself or others . You can send your Mii to your friends , and you can set your Miis to mingle , which will enable all Miis on your Mii Plaza ( including those sent to you ) to be sent to everyone on your friends list to a place called the Mii Parade in which they can choose to keep them or dispose of them ( sad . )
Of the Wiimote , I've found it to be completely intuitive and not in the least intimidating or difficult to control . Wii Sports is a great introduction to using the Wii-mote , but it definitely just isn't a demonstration of how to use it . I still avidly play Wii Sports by myself and with others and I forsee myself continuing to do so for a very long time . I've barely started Zelda : Twilight Princess because of finals , but , what I've played of it is completely and literally awesome . I still plan on picking up my Gamecube version of the title , but the Wii controls are perfect for this title . There's one major difference between the Wii and Gamecuve versions : Link is now right-handed , for the first time ever in the Wii version . This change was , of course , made because most people are right-handed and the controls rely on the Wii-mote . Although I am right-handed , I kind of wish they hadn't made this change or , at least , made a left or right handed preference choice like in Wii Sports . For those of you familiar with the DS title Trauma Center , I recommend picking it up for the Wii . It's the same story-line but with a few differences and some bonus levels added in . The controls are more forgiving than in the DS version , but overall , it's actually a bit harder .
I don't know how to end this review , but I should really get back to studying for finals so that I may fully deserve my Zelda-fest come next week ! For all of you who don't have such obligations , go play Wii !
135 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Nintendo Wii is the cheapest of all the new gaming systems and it's basically a turbo charged Gamecube . This time around Nintendo decided to bow out of the graphics war and focus on creating good , fun games and innovative ways to play them . This decision originally raised some eyebrows but by the time the system made it's public debut at the E3 game show , jaws were dropping . The most unique feature of the Wii is it's new controller design . The controller has been split into two components , both of which are motion sensitive . This allows for some very immersive gameplay . Imagine being able to cast a fishing line by actually mimicing the motion of flicking a fishpole . Likewise , you can hit a golfball by gripping the controller as though it were a golf club and swinging it like the real thing . This feature really takes gaming to the next level and makes it a much more interactive and physical experience . So , what else can the little white box do ? How does connecting to the internet sound ? I was impressed by easily you can set up the Wii to connect to the internet , assuming you have a wireless network in your home . This allows you the ability to play games against other people all over the world as well as download classic Nintendo games from the older systems ( NES , SNES , N64 and Sega Genesis games ) which expands the versatility of the Wii and gives you access to literally hundreds of games . You can also surf the web , email , check the latest news or check your local weather . The Wii remains connected to the internet even when the system is off . This allows the Wii to get new updates and retrieve email etc . It also allows your friends to ring your Wii to let you know they're online , ready to challenge you to a game . If you own the original Gamecube you'll be happy to know the Wii is backwards compatible and is capable of playing all your Gamecube games . It even has 4 slots for your original Gamecube controllers . Fianlly , as if all this isn't enough , the Wii can read SD cards from your digital camera . Just pop the card into the Wii and you can preview your photos on your TV . Bottom line , a great family system that will guarantee hours of family fun . If you're looking for the next step in game graphics , purchase an Xbox 360 or PS3 , if you're looking for innovative gameplay and family friendly games , go for the Wii .
136 4 The Nintendo Wii is the cheapest of all the new gaming systems and it's basically a turbo charged Gamecube . This time around Nintendo decided to bow out of the graphics war and focus on creating good , fun games and innovative ways to play them . This decision originally raised some eyebrows but by the time the system made it's public debut at the E3 game show , jaws were dropping . The most unique feature of the Wii is it's new controller design . The controller has been split into two components , both of which are motion sensitive . This allows for some very immersive gameplay . Imagine being able to cast a fishing line by actually mimicing the motion of flicking a fishpole . Likewise , you can hit a golfball by gripping the controller as though it were a golf club and swinging it like the real thing . This feature really takes gaming to the next level and makes it a much more interactive and physical experience . So , what else can the little white box do ? How does connecting to the internet sound ? I was impressed by easily you can set up the Wii to connect to the internet , assuming you have a wireless network in your home . This allows you the ability to play games against other people all over the world as well as download classic Nintendo games from the older systems ( NES , SNES , N64 and Sega Genesis games ) which expands the versatility of the Wii and gives you access to literally hundreds of games . You can also surf the web , email , check the latest news or check your local weather . The Wii remains connected to the internet even when the system is off . This allows the Wii to get new updates and retrieve email etc . It also allows your friends to ring your Wii to let you know they're online , ready to challenge you to a game . If you own the original Gamecube you'll be happy to know the Wii is backwards compatible and is capable of playing all your Gamecube games . It even has 4 slots for your original Gamecube controllers . Fianlly , as if all this isn't enough , the Wii can read SD cards from your digital camera . Just pop the card into the Wii and you can preview your photos on your TV . Bottom line , a great family system that will guarantee hours of family fun . If you're looking for the next step in game graphics , purchase an Xbox 360 or PS3 , if you're looking for innovative gameplay and family friendly games , go for the Wii .
137 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'm a fan of all games and systems , and the Wii is a must-have for the game play experience alone .
The graphics are on par with Xbox and PS2 , but the game play and wireless experience is absolutely revolutionary . If you have a wireless broadband connection in your home , it will connect to Nintendo's online feature where you have access to updates , news , weather and can play any of the older game titles online . I can see that expansion in this is in the works as well .
If you enjoy gaming and don't pick this up ( when it's soon available ) you're only cheating yourself .
Even my wife who loathes video gaming thinks it's cool , especially the free Sports game that comes bundled with the Wii .
And as Bob Barker says , The price is right ! See you online ! : )
138 4 I'm a fan of all games and systems , and the Wii is a must-have for the game play experience alone .
The graphics are on par with Xbox and PS2 , but the game play and wireless experience is absolutely revolutionary . If you have a wireless broadband connection in your home , it will connect to Nintendo's online feature where you have access to updates , news , weather and can play any of the older game titles online . I can see that expansion in this is in the works as well .
If you enjoy gaming and don't pick this up ( when it's soon available ) you're only cheating yourself .
Even my wife who loathes video gaming thinks it's cool , especially the free Sports game that comes bundled with the Wii .
And as Bob Barker says , The price is right ! See you online ! : )
139 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I got today my Wii , and the controls are really amazing . Easy to use , and let you inmerse in the game in a new way . That is all what you need in a next Gen console . . . SOMETHING NEW , and is a good bet from Nintendo . This is my first Nintendo ( except from a Gameboy ) . I do not have a xbox 360 or a PS3 ( I have a xbox with more that 100 games and a Hi tec PC with similar number of games ) , but the other consoels is just better graphics . The Wii will have in short time , better and better new way of playing games , the future in gamming is comming , and it will be more near to a Wii , than near to the other systems . The wii come with other nice features like the Miis and the picture editor / visor .
140 4 I got today my Wii , and the controls are really amazing . Easy to use , and let you inmerse in the game in a new way . That is all what you need in a next Gen console . . . SOMETHING NEW , and is a good bet from Nintendo . This is my first Nintendo ( except from a Gameboy ) . I do not have a xbox 360 or a PS3 ( I have a xbox with more that 100 games and a Hi tec PC with similar number of games ) , but the other consoels is just better graphics . The Wii will have in short time , better and better new way of playing games , the future in gamming is comming , and it will be more near to a Wii , than near to the other systems . The wii come with other nice features like the Miis and the picture editor / visor .
141 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I used to like playing video games . . . Atari , Coleco , the original NES , Genesis , Super NES , and TG16 .
Then , I have to admit , games stopped being fun . They were work with 50 buttons and combos to memorize . All this work for something that is supposed to be relaxing after a hard day at the office ?
My parents asked me if I wanted a WII for Christmas . At first I told them no . That was until I played it . My Uncle got one and I loved it . The game play was incredible - natural movements with an occasional one or two buttons . I had to have one and joined the rat race to get one for Christmas . I couldn't find one but the manager at EB came through for me on the day after . I was so excited .
When I got it home and hooked it up , everyone was immediately impressed with how easy and fun it is . I can't tell you the number of Christmas , New Years , and January WII parties I've had . One of the best features is the Virtual Console that lets you download classic games by using WII points . Nintendo releases 4 games every Monday with games from the original NES , SNES , N64 , Genesis , and the TurboGraphix 16 . I've downloaded a few but so far my favorite is Bomberman ' 93 for the TurboGraphix 16 .
Pros : great price , built in WiFi , comfortable controllers , downwards compatible with Game Cube games , controllers , and accessories , Virtual Console allows you to play the classics
Cons : virtual console games are too expensive ( $ [ . . . ] for a NES game you can get at Martha's garage sale down the street for [ . . . ] ¢ ) , only comes with one controller / numchuck combo ( an extra $ [ . . . ] for the controller and $ [ . . . ] for the numchuck )
142 4 I used to like playing video games . . . Atari , Coleco , the original NES , Genesis , Super NES , and TG16 .
Then , I have to admit , games stopped being fun . They were work with 50 buttons and combos to memorize . All this work for something that is supposed to be relaxing after a hard day at the office ?
My parents asked me if I wanted a WII for Christmas . At first I told them no . That was until I played it . My Uncle got one and I loved it . The game play was incredible - natural movements with an occasional one or two buttons . I had to have one and joined the rat race to get one for Christmas . I couldn't find one but the manager at EB came through for me on the day after . I was so excited .
When I got it home and hooked it up , everyone was immediately impressed with how easy and fun it is . I can't tell you the number of Christmas , New Years , and January WII parties I've had . One of the best features is the Virtual Console that lets you download classic games by using WII points . Nintendo releases 4 games every Monday with games from the original NES , SNES , N64 , Genesis , and the TurboGraphix 16 . I've downloaded a few but so far my favorite is Bomberman ' 93 for the TurboGraphix 16 .
Pros : great price , built in WiFi , comfortable controllers , downwards compatible with Game Cube games , controllers , and accessories , Virtual Console allows you to play the classics
Cons : virtual console games are too expensive ( $ [ . . . ] for a NES game you can get at Martha's garage sale down the street for [ . . . ] ¢ ) , only comes with one controller / numchuck combo ( an extra $ [ . . . ] for the controller and $ [ . . . ] for the numchuck )
143 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I've read through all the bad reviews here and actually agree with some of their points . If you are a gamer that enjoys FPS's , get an Xbox 360 or a PS3 . If you're a big RPG guy , consider another option like an online PC game . If you want to have fun for hours and hours with friends and family , consider a Wii .
I got one for Christmas . It is now about 10 days later , and no one in my family can put it down . Every day they come over to do their Wii fitness age for the day in Wii Sports . My brother , dad , wife , and son can't get off of Excite Truck and various Wii Sports games . My mom wants to bowl all the time . A good friend is constantly playing tennis and Zelda .
This is the most fun I've ever had with a console . My brother's 360 has sat dormant since Christmas . . . even the two new games he got for it have hardly been played .
The Wii is for old and young alike . It is not for the hardcore gamer that wants realistic blood & gore . It is a system for families and friends to play and laugh together .
I got Zelda for the Wii . It's fun . But I agree that the Wiimote's capabilities don't add a lot to this game . Maybe in a future version it will . Right now , many of these games were made for the Gamecube and have simply been adjusted to work with the Wiimote . The games such as Wii Sports & Excite Truck were specifically made for the Wii and really show off how the controller can enhance gameplay . Soon , more game developers will begin to understand how to best utilize the Wiimote's abilities . A year down the road we'll start to see FPSs and RPGs that will compete with the 360 and PS3 for gameplay .
Until then , hardcore gamers stick with those systems and the rest of us will have a blast playing this totally new type of gaming console . This is not the next generation of the same old console . The Wii is a whole new category of gaming console . Not necessarily better , but altogether different .
144 4 I've read through all the bad reviews here and actually agree with some of their points . If you are a gamer that enjoys FPS's , get an Xbox 360 or a PS3 . If you're a big RPG guy , consider another option like an online PC game . If you want to have fun for hours and hours with friends and family , consider a Wii .
I got one for Christmas . It is now about 10 days later , and no one in my family can put it down . Every day they come over to do their Wii fitness age for the day in Wii Sports . My brother , dad , wife , and son can't get off of Excite Truck and various Wii Sports games . My mom wants to bowl all the time . A good friend is constantly playing tennis and Zelda .
This is the most fun I've ever had with a console . My brother's 360 has sat dormant since Christmas . . . even the two new games he got for it have hardly been played .
The Wii is for old and young alike . It is not for the hardcore gamer that wants realistic blood & gore . It is a system for families and friends to play and laugh together .
I got Zelda for the Wii . It's fun . But I agree that the Wiimote's capabilities don't add a lot to this game . Maybe in a future version it will . Right now , many of these games were made for the Gamecube and have simply been adjusted to work with the Wiimote . The games such as Wii Sports & Excite Truck were specifically made for the Wii and really show off how the controller can enhance gameplay . Soon , more game developers will begin to understand how to best utilize the Wiimote's abilities . A year down the road we'll start to see FPSs and RPGs that will compete with the 360 and PS3 for gameplay .
Until then , hardcore gamers stick with those systems and the rest of us will have a blast playing this totally new type of gaming console . This is not the next generation of the same old console . The Wii is a whole new category of gaming console . Not necessarily better , but altogether different .
145 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Let me just start off by saying that the wii is totally different . as i make my review im going to cover some more technical observations a little further down . as someone who has at least tried all the major systems out there , you just cant compare it to the ps3 or the xbox 360 because its not trying to do the same thing . Whereas the ps3 and 360 are trying to make supercomputers affordable ( $300 - 600 and $80 a game just isnt affordable enough for me ) , and focusing on multi-media functions and extra features , the wii's focus is making an incredible , intuitive , inexpensive , inclusive , and fun gaming experience . I am a technicly minded person , and it takes alot to suprise me or impress me when it comes to technology . . . and althogh the wii's core isnt more then a beefed up gamecube , i was impressed .
when you take the wii out of the box , the first thing that i noticed is the quality of the packaging and the neat and tidy organization of the parts in the box . The unit itself is suprisingly small and thats important because i dont think its very practical to lug around a 10lb box everytime i want to play a video game at a friends house . Although i only had the basic composite video cables , the video quality was quite good and depends alot on the tv you are using . I have a 63 samsung dlp tv and the video through the basic cables is perfectly clear and crisp , however on a more inexpensive tv , you are reminded that your only using composite cables . The unit itself is physicly more solid then any game console i have every used , including sturdy hinges on all doors . from when you put the bateries in the controller , and when you easily set up the system , and when you realise the wiimote strap comes pre attached , and the sensor bar already has sticky pads on it , or when you plug in a connectors on the back , you can tell that nintendo tought about lots of details . I just cant stress enough how solid the unit is and you can really tell that its a quality product .
The controller is the most incredible i have ever seen or used . It exceded my expectations as far as responsiveness also because the motion tracking has no delay . the sensor bar is just two sets of flashing infrared led's that the wiimote uses to understand the location and distance of your tv for pointing . When you use the wii sensitivity adjustment tool , you can auctually see what the wiimote is seeing on your tv and it becomes clear that the wiimote auctually has a camera sensor in the front for picking up these signals , as you aim the wiimote at any ifrared emmiting device like a lightbulb or candle the wiimoe auctually sees the signals as if it were looking around . overall the remote has far more advanced triangulation then i originaly thought . The accelerometer's in the wiimote also use the constant force of gravity to know how your holding the wiimote , so that the wii can triangulate exactly how its being held and moved on every possible axis . The pointing relys only on the accelerometers percieved motion of the wiimote and the sensor bar location so that having a different kind or size of tv doesent effect the speed or sensitivity of the wiimotes pointing functions , thats important because it really eliminates alot of possible bugs with the whole system although you wont always physicly be pointing exactly at what you trying to point at on the screen . The bluetooth has given me no trouble and you dont have to worry about waking the wiimote up because the wii itself will wake up the controler or prompt you to push a button that may confirm something on the screen and at the same time wake up the wiimote without you knowing . The wii can tell you the battery life of the remotes and can adjust the volume out of the speaker . The rumble function makes using the remote more tactile and the feedback is important to make the wii easier to use because the feedback during pointing is helpfull to be more accurate . Although the wiimote's little speaker wont blow you away with quality or loudness , the sounds are not distorted at full volume and it adds an unexpected level of immersion and detail to the wii experience . hearing the racket hit the ball ( the sounds are well timed and mix well with the sound from your speakers ) and feeling the rumble in the controller just ads another level to the wii experience and makes the games just that much more fun . the nunchuck has the same motion sensing capabilities as the wiimote itself and plugs into the bottom of the wiimote without having to do anything other the plug it in when you want to use it and unplug it when you dont . No other action is required . its all very simple to understand for anyone . Another thing that i never knew but is a greatly appriciated feature is that you never have to reset the system when you want to play a different game or return to the main menu .
Im basing most of my review off of my experience playing wii sports , and an important thing to note is that there is a high level of accuracy in the motion tracking for these games , although golf is probably the least detailed in picking up your motions . when playing bowling , the straightness and twist on your throw all comes into play . When your playing baseball the position of the bat that your charecter is holding is representative of how your auctually holding the wiimote in the air and you can move it freely . in boxing , the motion of your body is sensed when you lean and also the tilt of your hands so that you can punch high , low , swing around , jab , undercut , whatever you do it will be ( mostly ) acuratly sensed and translated into player motion very responsivly .
Many people have written about the other features of the system and i have written about what impressed me most . The gameplay is so wonderfull that me and just about every one of my friends are playing competitivly for the first time in ages . My friends who have never played a video games before are suddenly immersed and because your not wasting time learning button combinations , you can improve your technique by auctually making a better golf swing , or dodging punches faster , or using your backhand swing in tennis at the right time . And as you get better ( and each friend can track there own progress with there own mii charecters ) the charecters you play against get more challenging . The gaming experience is so much more intuitive that i can say that anyone who doesent mind standing will enjoy at least one game on the wii to the point that they will want one themselfs . this system is everything i had waited for and far exceded my expectations in every aspect possible .
nintendo has a real winner on there hands .
146 4 Let me just start off by saying that the wii is totally different . as i make my review im going to cover some more technical observations a little further down . as someone who has at least tried all the major systems out there , you just cant compare it to the ps3 or the xbox 360 because its not trying to do the same thing . Whereas the ps3 and 360 are trying to make supercomputers affordable ( $300 - 600 and $80 a game just isnt affordable enough for me ) , and focusing on multi-media functions and extra features , the wii's focus is making an incredible , intuitive , inexpensive , inclusive , and fun gaming experience . I am a technicly minded person , and it takes alot to suprise me or impress me when it comes to technology . . . and althogh the wii's core isnt more then a beefed up gamecube , i was impressed .
when you take the wii out of the box , the first thing that i noticed is the quality of the packaging and the neat and tidy organization of the parts in the box . The unit itself is suprisingly small and thats important because i dont think its very practical to lug around a 10lb box everytime i want to play a video game at a friends house . Although i only had the basic composite video cables , the video quality was quite good and depends alot on the tv you are using . I have a 63 samsung dlp tv and the video through the basic cables is perfectly clear and crisp , however on a more inexpensive tv , you are reminded that your only using composite cables . The unit itself is physicly more solid then any game console i have every used , including sturdy hinges on all doors . from when you put the bateries in the controller , and when you easily set up the system , and when you realise the wiimote strap comes pre attached , and the sensor bar already has sticky pads on it , or when you plug in a connectors on the back , you can tell that nintendo tought about lots of details . I just cant stress enough how solid the unit is and you can really tell that its a quality product .
The controller is the most incredible i have ever seen or used . It exceded my expectations as far as responsiveness also because the motion tracking has no delay . the sensor bar is just two sets of flashing infrared led's that the wiimote uses to understand the location and distance of your tv for pointing . When you use the wii sensitivity adjustment tool , you can auctually see what the wiimote is seeing on your tv and it becomes clear that the wiimote auctually has a camera sensor in the front for picking up these signals , as you aim the wiimote at any ifrared emmiting device like a lightbulb or candle the wiimoe auctually sees the signals as if it were looking around . overall the remote has far more advanced triangulation then i originaly thought . The accelerometer's in the wiimote also use the constant force of gravity to know how your holding the wiimote , so that the wii can triangulate exactly how its being held and moved on every possible axis . The pointing relys only on the accelerometers percieved motion of the wiimote and the sensor bar location so that having a different kind or size of tv doesent effect the speed or sensitivity of the wiimotes pointing functions , thats important because it really eliminates alot of possible bugs with the whole system although you wont always physicly be pointing exactly at what you trying to point at on the screen . The bluetooth has given me no trouble and you dont have to worry about waking the wiimote up because the wii itself will wake up the controler or prompt you to push a button that may confirm something on the screen and at the same time wake up the wiimote without you knowing . The wii can tell you the battery life of the remotes and can adjust the volume out of the speaker . The rumble function makes using the remote more tactile and the feedback is important to make the wii easier to use because the feedback during pointing is helpfull to be more accurate . Although the wiimote's little speaker wont blow you away with quality or loudness , the sounds are not distorted at full volume and it adds an unexpected level of immersion and detail to the wii experience . hearing the racket hit the ball ( the sounds are well timed and mix well with the sound from your speakers ) and feeling the rumble in the controller just ads another level to the wii experience and makes the games just that much more fun . the nunchuck has the same motion sensing capabilities as the wiimote itself and plugs into the bottom of the wiimote without having to do anything other the plug it in when you want to use it and unplug it when you dont . No other action is required . its all very simple to understand for anyone . Another thing that i never knew but is a greatly appriciated feature is that you never have to reset the system when you want to play a different game or return to the main menu .
Im basing most of my review off of my experience playing wii sports , and an important thing to note is that there is a high level of accuracy in the motion tracking for these games , although golf is probably the least detailed in picking up your motions . when playing bowling , the straightness and twist on your throw all comes into play . When your playing baseball the position of the bat that your charecter is holding is representative of how your auctually holding the wiimote in the air and you can move it freely . in boxing , the motion of your body is sensed when you lean and also the tilt of your hands so that you can punch high , low , swing around , jab , undercut , whatever you do it will be ( mostly ) acuratly sensed and translated into player motion very responsivly .
Many people have written about the other features of the system and i have written about what impressed me most . The gameplay is so wonderfull that me and just about every one of my friends are playing competitivly for the first time in ages . My friends who have never played a video games before are suddenly immersed and because your not wasting time learning button combinations , you can improve your technique by auctually making a better golf swing , or dodging punches faster , or using your backhand swing in tennis at the right time . And as you get better ( and each friend can track there own progress with there own mii charecters ) the charecters you play against get more challenging . The gaming experience is so much more intuitive that i can say that anyone who doesent mind standing will enjoy at least one game on the wii to the point that they will want one themselfs . this system is everything i had waited for and far exceded my expectations in every aspect possible .
nintendo has a real winner on there hands .
147 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I originally ( and selfishly ) bought this system just for the new Zelda game . I quickly realized that here was a console I could let my kids loose on and they'd get plenty of exercise with the included Wii Sports . The entire family bowls , golfs and plays tennis together . It's a hoot .
You can also play your Gamecube games on this system and , surprisingly , the graphics are much better and you can use your Gamecube controllers and memory cards .
I've recommended the Wii to numerous parents at my child's school for the exercise and coordination benefits . There's no feeling guilty about letting your kids play the Wii . I've even gotten some badly needed exercise from it .
148 4 I originally ( and selfishly ) bought this system just for the new Zelda game . I quickly realized that here was a console I could let my kids loose on and they'd get plenty of exercise with the included Wii Sports . The entire family bowls , golfs and plays tennis together . It's a hoot .
You can also play your Gamecube games on this system and , surprisingly , the graphics are much better and you can use your Gamecube controllers and memory cards .
I've recommended the Wii to numerous parents at my child's school for the exercise and coordination benefits . There's no feeling guilty about letting your kids play the Wii . I've even gotten some badly needed exercise from it .
151 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
First off , if you guys havn't played a Wii , I'm going to ask you not to rate it , your uneducated reviews only get in the way , secondly , this trually does look like a great system .
The biggest argument against the Wii is bad graphics , they certainly aren't bad , and seriously , if I'm playing Call of Duty with my friends , I'm not gunna sit there noticing how beautiful that bush is thanks to my PS3 ' s graphics , no , I'm gunna be trying to blow some Nazis into next week , If I'm playing maddan , I'm not gunna care that I can see some linebackers sweat drip off his face , I'll be too busy trying not to get squished by him . The point is , when your really into a game and playing it the way it was meant to be , you really could care less about graphics , you'll be more concerned on how fun it is , and in my opinion , graphics are a very small part of that fun equation , its all about the gameplay . And in my opinion , the Wii has the best gameplay , the fealling of hitting a tennis ball is a lot more enjoyable if I am actually swinging the racket instead of just pushing a button , and boxing is a lot more enjoyable when I'm the one actually throwing the knock out punch . If your debating getting a Wii , my answer would as followed , get one . Especially if its over a PS3 .
152 4 First off , if you guys havn't played a Wii , I'm going to ask you not to rate it , your uneducated reviews only get in the way , secondly , this trually does look like a great system .
The biggest argument against the Wii is bad graphics , they certainly aren't bad , and seriously , if I'm playing Call of Duty with my friends , I'm not gunna sit there noticing how beautiful that bush is thanks to my PS3 ' s graphics , no , I'm gunna be trying to blow some Nazis into next week , If I'm playing maddan , I'm not gunna care that I can see some linebackers sweat drip off his face , I'll be too busy trying not to get squished by him . The point is , when your really into a game and playing it the way it was meant to be , you really could care less about graphics , you'll be more concerned on how fun it is , and in my opinion , graphics are a very small part of that fun equation , its all about the gameplay . And in my opinion , the Wii has the best gameplay , the fealling of hitting a tennis ball is a lot more enjoyable if I am actually swinging the racket instead of just pushing a button , and boxing is a lot more enjoyable when I'm the one actually throwing the knock out punch . If your debating getting a Wii , my answer would as followed , get one . Especially if its over a PS3 .
153 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'm the mom of 3 and we have a die hard pc gamer in the family ( 16 yo male ) who couldn't fathom owning a console . Last console we purchased was a PS1 and it's been collecting dust for years . Him and his PC , Nvidia 7900 , and BF2 and all that . . . no way a console would ever measure up .
So , I bought this for a wedding anniversary present for me and hubby but let me tell you , the whole family has had a lot of fun with this . It has something for everyone . My daughter plays old skool Sonic the Hedgehog ( we had a Sega prior to the PS1 ) and my son loves the bundled Sports that came with the console . He's had his friends come over for the day and they have a blast with it - bowling and baseball is extremely popular . Tennis can be quite a workout . I just downloaded Galaga - thanks to the ability to purchase wii points and d / l games thru the console . Galaga is a game I played as a teen . We have a wifi router so connecting to the internet using the builtin wifi was easy . You can check your email and view YouTube among other things .
If you are not sure you'd use this or like it , I suggest you buy the console and included Sports game only . That's what I did . I used one of the many in-stock notifiers on the internet and picked one up from Amazon when it came in stock . I didn't want to pay the mega bucks that certain retailers wanted for the mega-bundles . If you end up not enjoying it , you won't have a problem reselling . But if you do love it , it's easy to add the games and accessories you really want . I purchased an extra wii remote ( the one that came bundled with the wii play disc ) and classic controller - although in retrospect , I didn't really need a classic controller for the games I downloaded ( galaga , and sonic , so far ) . I also recycled an old 512mb SD card that so far has fit my needs well for the wii .
What can I say . . . this thing is just plain fun for all ages and not a serious outlay of cash like the PS3 and Xbox . My son and I have an ongoing duel in bowling and I plan to bring it to another adult couple's house for gaming fun .
Note : We have only a 27in TV so more than one player in games like tennis is challenging !
154 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'm the mom of 3 and we have a die hard pc gamer in the family ( 16 yo male ) who couldn't fathom owning a console . Last console we purchased was a PS1 and it's been collecting dust for years . Him and his PC , Nvidia 7900 , and BF2 and all that . . . no way a console would ever measure up .
So , I bought this for a wedding anniversary present for me and hubby but let me tell you , the whole family has had a lot of fun with this . It has something for everyone . My daughter plays old skool Sonic the Hedgehog ( we had a Sega prior to the PS1 ) and my son loves the bundled Sports that came with the console . He's had his friends come over for the day and they have a blast with it - bowling and baseball is extremely popular . Tennis can be quite a workout . I just downloaded Galaga - thanks to the ability to purchase wii points and d / l games thru the console . Galaga is a game I played as a teen . We have a wifi router so connecting to the internet using the builtin wifi was easy . You can check your email and view YouTube among other things .
If you are not sure you'd use this or like it , I suggest you buy the console and included Sports game only . That's what I did . I used one of the many in-stock notifiers on the internet and picked one up from Amazon when it came in stock . I didn't want to pay the mega bucks that certain retailers wanted for the mega-bundles . If you end up not enjoying it , you won't have a problem reselling . But if you do love it , it's easy to add the games and accessories you really want . I purchased an extra wii remote ( the one that came bundled with the wii play disc ) and classic controller - although in retrospect , I didn't really need a classic controller for the games I downloaded ( galaga , and sonic , so far ) . I also recycled an old 512mb SD card that so far has fit my needs well for the wii .
What can I say . . . this thing is just plain fun for all ages and not a serious outlay of cash like the PS3 and Xbox . My son and I have an ongoing duel in bowling and I plan to bring it to another adult couple's house for gaming fun .
Note : We have only a 27in TV so more than one player in games like tennis is challenging !
155 4 I'm the mom of 3 and we have a die hard pc gamer in the family ( 16 yo male ) who couldn't fathom owning a console . Last console we purchased was a PS1 and it's been collecting dust for years . Him and his PC , Nvidia 7900 , and BF2 and all that . . . no way a console would ever measure up .
So , I bought this for a wedding anniversary present for me and hubby but let me tell you , the whole family has had a lot of fun with this . It has something for everyone . My daughter plays old skool Sonic the Hedgehog ( we had a Sega prior to the PS1 ) and my son loves the bundled Sports that came with the console . He's had his friends come over for the day and they have a blast with it - bowling and baseball is extremely popular . Tennis can be quite a workout . I just downloaded Galaga - thanks to the ability to purchase wii points and d / l games thru the console . Galaga is a game I played as a teen . We have a wifi router so connecting to the internet using the builtin wifi was easy . You can check your email and view YouTube among other things .
If you are not sure you'd use this or like it , I suggest you buy the console and included Sports game only . That's what I did . I used one of the many in-stock notifiers on the internet and picked one up from Amazon when it came in stock . I didn't want to pay the mega bucks that certain retailers wanted for the mega-bundles . If you end up not enjoying it , you won't have a problem reselling . But if you do love it , it's easy to add the games and accessories you really want . I purchased an extra wii remote ( the one that came bundled with the wii play disc ) and classic controller - although in retrospect , I didn't really need a classic controller for the games I downloaded ( galaga , and sonic , so far ) . I also recycled an old 512mb SD card that so far has fit my needs well for the wii .
What can I say . . . this thing is just plain fun for all ages and not a serious outlay of cash like the PS3 and Xbox . My son and I have an ongoing duel in bowling and I plan to bring it to another adult couple's house for gaming fun .
Note : We have only a 27in TV so more than one player in games like tennis is challenging !
158 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My husband and I just picked this up with the Sports game included . I had heard that some fitness gyms have started to include the Wii Sports , so I thought that maybe we should give it a try . We are 50 + couch potatoes that really need to start getting into some activity . My husband can't get enough of the bowling and golf and I love the boxing . I'm sure neither one of us will be able to move tomorrow , but it will be Sat . and we'll have some time to recover by Mon . I really think that we'll be able to keep this up . It is so much fun .
159 4 My husband and I just picked this up with the Sports game included . I had heard that some fitness gyms have started to include the Wii Sports , so I thought that maybe we should give it a try . We are 50 + couch potatoes that really need to start getting into some activity . My husband can't get enough of the bowling and golf and I love the boxing . I'm sure neither one of us will be able to move tomorrow , but it will be Sat . and we'll have some time to recover by Mon . I really think that we'll be able to keep this up . It is so much fun .
160 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
As always , nintendo may not be doing the whole package such as HD dvd or Blue ray , or monster HD graphics , but The 480P , wireless network , unique controlers , and low price tag make this unit a very formitable competition for the X box 360 and PS3 . One thing nintendo has never left out is the whole family . This unit may not have all of the violent and top selling games at the other two units , but it has plenty of games that are fun , and allowable for 5 - 8 year olds to play with . This is worth checking out . I'm sure you will not be dissappointed .
161 4 As always , nintendo may not be doing the whole package such as HD dvd or Blue ray , or monster HD graphics , but The 480P , wireless network , unique controlers , and low price tag make this unit a very formitable competition for the X box 360 and PS3 . One thing nintendo has never left out is the whole family . This unit may not have all of the violent and top selling games at the other two units , but it has plenty of games that are fun , and allowable for 5 - 8 year olds to play with . This is worth checking out . I'm sure you will not be dissappointed .
162 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Nintendo Wii , which was released back in 2006 , is a fun and unique gaming console . It is much like other video game systems in that you just need a TV and a power outlet to hook it up and play . What sets this console apart from the others , however , is the motion sensing controller ( aka wii remote or wiimote ) . Along with the controller , the Nintendo Wii is also relatively cheap . Actually , this is not entire true as throughout its history , the Wii has been in short supply . This means that finding one may cost you more than Nintendo wants retailers to charge ( sometimes a lot more ) .
As said before , the biggest thing the Wii has going for it is the controller . The wii remote has all kinds of fancy parts which allows people to control some games , simply through movement . A good example of a game like this is actually the one that comes with the console : Wii Sports . It's fun , simple , entertaining and is a great example of what the wii remote can do .
Wii Sports is a decent game and most people will enjoy it , however , the fact that it is the most well known game on the system is a bad sign . Actually it's more than a sign and there is a reason the system does not have many well known games which is simply because it has hardly any half decent games at all ! It doesn't matter if you are into action games , sports games , puzzle games , role playing games , racing games , simulation type games , strategy games , fighting games , adventure games , or even educational games ; the Wii just does not have a good software selection .
The lack of any good games is a huge problem for the Wii . Untill the Wii can get some good software it is just barely worth buying at this point . There's potential here , but that is all , just potential .
Pros :
- The size of the console itself is very small and is nice to look at .
- The innovative controller can be fun and simple to use .
- In theory the system is cheap .
- Wii Sports is a great party game .
Cons :
- Wii Remotes are expensive . ( $40 for the remote and 20 $ for the nun chuck . Since you will need 3 more of each to play four player games , this will add up quickly .
- Nintendo has not kept up with demand , thus causing market prices to increase .
- The number of good games can be counted on one hand , and of those games many may not even be the type that you like .
* EDIT 7 / 11 / 09 *
Nintendo , thankfully has gotten a good number of wiis in stores ( finally ) so finding one is no longer difficult . Prices are now going to be consistent which is great for any potential buyer . Seriously , if cost was a problem before it shouldn't be anymore since you will no longer be paying more than MSRP .
That said , there is one new problem that I found which wasn't mentioned in the original review ; that being the battery life of the wii remotes . It seems like I'm replacing those two AA batteries very often . I'm gonna give a ballpark estimate of about 30 hours of use but don't take that number too seriously . Also , they seem to drain even when not in us , though at a MUCH slower rate .
I still think the wii is a wonderful piece of hardware that Nintendo did a fantastic job creating . However , I also still think the system has way too few good games on it .
163 4 The Nintendo Wii , which was released back in 2006 , is a fun and unique gaming console . It is much like other video game systems in that you just need a TV and a power outlet to hook it up and play . What sets this console apart from the others , however , is the motion sensing controller ( aka wii remote or wiimote ) . Along with the controller , the Nintendo Wii is also relatively cheap . Actually , this is not entire true as throughout its history , the Wii has been in short supply . This means that finding one may cost you more than Nintendo wants retailers to charge ( sometimes a lot more ) .
As said before , the biggest thing the Wii has going for it is the controller . The wii remote has all kinds of fancy parts which allows people to control some games , simply through movement . A good example of a game like this is actually the one that comes with the console : Wii Sports . It's fun , simple , entertaining and is a great example of what the wii remote can do .
Wii Sports is a decent game and most people will enjoy it , however , the fact that it is the most well known game on the system is a bad sign . Actually it's more than a sign and there is a reason the system does not have many well known games which is simply because it has hardly any half decent games at all ! It doesn't matter if you are into action games , sports games , puzzle games , role playing games , racing games , simulation type games , strategy games , fighting games , adventure games , or even educational games ; the Wii just does not have a good software selection .
The lack of any good games is a huge problem for the Wii . Untill the Wii can get some good software it is just barely worth buying at this point . There's potential here , but that is all , just potential .
Pros :
- The size of the console itself is very small and is nice to look at .
- The innovative controller can be fun and simple to use .
- In theory the system is cheap .
- Wii Sports is a great party game .
Cons :
- Wii Remotes are expensive . ( $40 for the remote and 20 $ for the nun chuck . Since you will need 3 more of each to play four player games , this will add up quickly .
- Nintendo has not kept up with demand , thus causing market prices to increase .
- The number of good games can be counted on one hand , and of those games many may not even be the type that you like .
* EDIT 7 / 11 / 09 *
Nintendo , thankfully has gotten a good number of wiis in stores ( finally ) so finding one is no longer difficult . Prices are now going to be consistent which is great for any potential buyer . Seriously , if cost was a problem before it shouldn't be anymore since you will no longer be paying more than MSRP .
That said , there is one new problem that I found which wasn't mentioned in the original review ; that being the battery life of the wii remotes . It seems like I'm replacing those two AA batteries very often . I'm gonna give a ballpark estimate of about 30 hours of use but don't take that number too seriously . Also , they seem to drain even when not in us , though at a MUCH slower rate .
I still think the wii is a wonderful piece of hardware that Nintendo did a fantastic job creating . However , I also still think the system has way too few good games on it .
164 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Wii is currently the best selling console of this generation , easily besting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 by at least 20 million units in sales . Now , aren't the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 much more powerful systems ? Yes , Microsoft and Sony's console offerings are about four to five times more powerful than the Wii . The main reason behind the Wii is that it is targeted towards a much broader audience . Honestly , no matter who you are , there is at least ONE game you will enjoy on this system . Now , if spending the now $200 is worth just playing ONE game , that is entirely your choice . Of course , you never know , that ONE game may turn into MANY games in the near future .
I am a hardcore gamer who loved the Gamecube and hated the Wii . The key term here is hated , past tense . Not until I began to find some games that actually appealed to me did I begin to enjoy the system . Currently , my favorite game on the system is MadWorld , and believe me , there is no other game out there like it , which becomes one incentive to buy the system , for me at least . Now , by the time this game came out I had already owned the system for nearly two years and rarely ever played it . My suggestion to all potential buyers is this , unless you hope to stimulate the economy by purchasing a Wii , do some research first . Check out some of the games on the system and see if they appeal to your tastes . If you can find around three-five games that look great , buy the system and you will have a blast . If you can find only ONE , maybe hold off until another one comes out .
In closing , the Wii has at least ONE game for everybody , no matter who you are . Games make or break a system , so if the games available or to be released soon make it a good purchase for you , go right on ahead . If you can't find enough value in the system , there is always Microsoft and Sony that could use some of your lovin ' .
165 4 The Wii is currently the best selling console of this generation , easily besting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 by at least 20 million units in sales . Now , aren't the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 much more powerful systems ? Yes , Microsoft and Sony's console offerings are about four to five times more powerful than the Wii . The main reason behind the Wii is that it is targeted towards a much broader audience . Honestly , no matter who you are , there is at least ONE game you will enjoy on this system . Now , if spending the now $200 is worth just playing ONE game , that is entirely your choice . Of course , you never know , that ONE game may turn into MANY games in the near future .
I am a hardcore gamer who loved the Gamecube and hated the Wii . The key term here is hated , past tense . Not until I began to find some games that actually appealed to me did I begin to enjoy the system . Currently , my favorite game on the system is MadWorld , and believe me , there is no other game out there like it , which becomes one incentive to buy the system , for me at least . Now , by the time this game came out I had already owned the system for nearly two years and rarely ever played it . My suggestion to all potential buyers is this , unless you hope to stimulate the economy by purchasing a Wii , do some research first . Check out some of the games on the system and see if they appeal to your tastes . If you can find around three-five games that look great , buy the system and you will have a blast . If you can find only ONE , maybe hold off until another one comes out .
In closing , the Wii has at least ONE game for everybody , no matter who you are . Games make or break a system , so if the games available or to be released soon make it a good purchase for you , go right on ahead . If you can't find enough value in the system , there is always Microsoft and Sony that could use some of your lovin ' .
166 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Please wait another week . Nintendo is going to drop $50 off the Wii's price on September 27th . Yeah !
167 4 Please wait another week . Nintendo is going to drop $50 off the Wii's price on September 27th . Yeah !
168 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This product exceeded our expectations . We are senior citizens , and had heard that the Wii was a good exercise platform . We have mastered the bowling ; are working on Golf ; and Tennis comes next . The game does what it advertises and gets you up and moving . We bought a used one , and the seller was terrific , everything was as promised , and we saved a lot of money . We have now purchased the Balance Board , and this too has exceeded our expectations , we can set goals , and can keep track of our progress . I do not like to read instructions , and found the game to be sufficiently intuitive that I was able to set it up and use it with only minor consultation with the instruction manual . If you are thinking about buying one go for it , you wont regret the decision , especially if you can find a good used one .
169 4 This product exceeded our expectations . We are senior citizens , and had heard that the Wii was a good exercise platform . We have mastered the bowling ; are working on Golf ; and Tennis comes next . The game does what it advertises and gets you up and moving . We bought a used one , and the seller was terrific , everything was as promised , and we saved a lot of money . We have now purchased the Balance Board , and this too has exceeded our expectations , we can set goals , and can keep track of our progress . I do not like to read instructions , and found the game to be sufficiently intuitive that I was able to set it up and use it with only minor consultation with the instruction manual . If you are thinking about buying one go for it , you wont regret the decision , especially if you can find a good used one .
170 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I had read a review when purchasing about what was included with the wii . They said that the nunchuck was not included just a controller . I just recieved the console today from Amazon and there is a nunchuck included .
171 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I had read a review when purchasing about what was included with the wii . They said that the nunchuck was not included just a controller . I just recieved the console today from Amazon and there is a nunchuck included .
172 4 I had read a review when purchasing about what was included with the wii . They said that the nunchuck was not included just a controller . I just recieved the console today from Amazon and there is a nunchuck included .
173 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Wii is great for couch potatoes or wheelchair spuds . I am 52 years old and have used a manual chair for 26 years . If you are quick with math , that's almost half my life . : - )
I enjoy the activities with Wii Sports and Wii Play . I like the competition with my able-bodied family members as we each tabulate our Wii Age each day .
It even has a sense of humor . It calculated my Wii Age at 20 years ( the best score possible ) and I hooted so loudly . But , then there was movement on the screen and I noticed that my age was rocking back and forth . Then it fell off and I was really just 35 years old . This game console was trash-talking me ! I will get there . Just wait and see .
174 4 The Wii is great for couch potatoes or wheelchair spuds . I am 52 years old and have used a manual chair for 26 years . If you are quick with math , that's almost half my life . : - )
I enjoy the activities with Wii Sports and Wii Play . I like the competition with my able-bodied family members as we each tabulate our Wii Age each day .
It even has a sense of humor . It calculated my Wii Age at 20 years ( the best score possible ) and I hooted so loudly . But , then there was movement on the screen and I noticed that my age was rocking back and forth . Then it fell off and I was really just 35 years old . This game console was trash-talking me ! I will get there . Just wait and see .
175 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My husband and daughters play this all the time . It's a party every time they play this together . I'd happily spend the money again . Great investment if you're going to buy a console .
176 4 My husband and daughters play this all the time . It's a party every time they play this together . I'd happily spend the money again . Great investment if you're going to buy a console .
177 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Wii plays and feels great ! I have been nothing but thrilled with my system and it's been great to play with different types of people .
For gamers , this system offers excellent games that allow you to play in an innovative way . What's better than actually aiming to shoot something ? Duck hunt anyone ? This would be enough of a reason to get it , especially considering the price compared with the Playstation 3 and X-box 360 . Zelda : Twilight Princess , Metroid Prime 3 : Corruption , Super Paper Mario and Super Mario Galaxy ( and more ) rival the best games on any system . In addition to these new games you can get Super Nintendo classics for $5 a piece and Nintendo 64 classics for $10 on Virtual Console . Super Mario World , Super Mario 3 , Donkey King Country , Mario 64 , Zelda : Ocarina of Time , etc . Are you kidding me ? These are some of the best games ever made ! And you no longer have to break out your old system and spend 20 minutes blowing the dust out and tweaking the cartridges to get them to turn on . When you look at the other systems , their games always have a bunch of hype and then , with the exception of a handful , the games are disappointing . You read those reviews and they all have the same continuing theme : the graphics are great but the game isn't very innovative or it's so big that it gets redundant . The Wii keeps bringing out high quality games with variety . Also , more and more developers are concentrating on the Wii because of its popularity and the creative opportunities , so the games will keep on coming .
This system has really been marketed for non-gamers and for good reason . My Dad actually played tennis and had a good time . He's never gone near a video game in his life . My non-gamer friends also love coming over and playing . I must admit , although I've been an avid nintendo fan since the days of the original nintendo , these casual get togethers are by far my favorite type of gaming . The Wii offers a ton of games for getting groups together : Mario Party 8 , Wii Sports , Mario and Sonic Olympic Games , Smarty Pants .
It should be noted for those who haven't owned a video game system before ( who are good candidates for the Wii ) that it only comes with one complete controller ( remote and nunchuck ) and the rest have to be purchased separately . At $40 per remote and $20 per nunchuck , it adds up . With any system , you have to buy extra controllers , but a complete Wii controller is slightly more expensive than controllers for other systems since it has the complete motion sensitivity . Unlike other systems , there is enough in the box to start playing right away for one person at a time . If you are planning on taking advantage of the virtual console games ( and you should ) they may require a $20 classic controller as well .
Another thing worth mentioning is that the motion-sensor bar simply consists of a couple of infra-red points ( read : heat ) . It basically would work the same of you put two candles in the same location ( which has been tested by people successfully ) . Therefore any other concentrated points of heat are going to interfere with the motion control including candles , and in the case of my apartment , the heat being on ( the radiator is only a few feet from where I sit to play ) . This is something that has only recently became frustrating as it's gotten colder . I imagine that for many , this wouldn't be an issue , but something like a space heater will likely be a problem .
Overall , it's the best system ( and best value ) out there for anyone except perhaps for the gamers who just wants the same old games with better graphics .
178 4 The Wii plays and feels great ! I have been nothing but thrilled with my system and it's been great to play with different types of people .
For gamers , this system offers excellent games that allow you to play in an innovative way . What's better than actually aiming to shoot something ? Duck hunt anyone ? This would be enough of a reason to get it , especially considering the price compared with the Playstation 3 and X-box 360 . Zelda : Twilight Princess , Metroid Prime 3 : Corruption , Super Paper Mario and Super Mario Galaxy ( and more ) rival the best games on any system . In addition to these new games you can get Super Nintendo classics for $5 a piece and Nintendo 64 classics for $10 on Virtual Console . Super Mario World , Super Mario 3 , Donkey King Country , Mario 64 , Zelda : Ocarina of Time , etc . Are you kidding me ? These are some of the best games ever made ! And you no longer have to break out your old system and spend 20 minutes blowing the dust out and tweaking the cartridges to get them to turn on . When you look at the other systems , their games always have a bunch of hype and then , with the exception of a handful , the games are disappointing . You read those reviews and they all have the same continuing theme : the graphics are great but the game isn't very innovative or it's so big that it gets redundant . The Wii keeps bringing out high quality games with variety . Also , more and more developers are concentrating on the Wii because of its popularity and the creative opportunities , so the games will keep on coming .
This system has really been marketed for non-gamers and for good reason . My Dad actually played tennis and had a good time . He's never gone near a video game in his life . My non-gamer friends also love coming over and playing . I must admit , although I've been an avid nintendo fan since the days of the original nintendo , these casual get togethers are by far my favorite type of gaming . The Wii offers a ton of games for getting groups together : Mario Party 8 , Wii Sports , Mario and Sonic Olympic Games , Smarty Pants .
It should be noted for those who haven't owned a video game system before ( who are good candidates for the Wii ) that it only comes with one complete controller ( remote and nunchuck ) and the rest have to be purchased separately . At $40 per remote and $20 per nunchuck , it adds up . With any system , you have to buy extra controllers , but a complete Wii controller is slightly more expensive than controllers for other systems since it has the complete motion sensitivity . Unlike other systems , there is enough in the box to start playing right away for one person at a time . If you are planning on taking advantage of the virtual console games ( and you should ) they may require a $20 classic controller as well .
Another thing worth mentioning is that the motion-sensor bar simply consists of a couple of infra-red points ( read : heat ) . It basically would work the same of you put two candles in the same location ( which has been tested by people successfully ) . Therefore any other concentrated points of heat are going to interfere with the motion control including candles , and in the case of my apartment , the heat being on ( the radiator is only a few feet from where I sit to play ) . This is something that has only recently became frustrating as it's gotten colder . I imagine that for many , this wouldn't be an issue , but something like a space heater will likely be a problem .
Overall , it's the best system ( and best value ) out there for anyone except perhaps for the gamers who just wants the same old games with better graphics .
179 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I am a 14 - year-old casual gamer and i love this wii . my whole family plays it on almost a daily basis . It's by far the best value out of all the game consoles for its bundled game and replay worth . It's a great way to get some exercise on a gloomy or cold day and it keeps me fit . My family spends more time in front of the Wii than in front of the dinner table . For the more hard-core gamers - the Wii does offer some great gaming experiences like metroid and zelda with many more to come in the future . The online capabilities of the wii are phenomenal . I love playing mario strikers online and look forward to rocking out on guitar hero 3 against others from around the world . If you are looking for a game system that's for the whole family , a good value , got great gameplay , and keeps you in shape , then the nintendo Wii is for you
180 4 I am a 14 - year-old casual gamer and i love this wii . my whole family plays it on almost a daily basis . It's by far the best value out of all the game consoles for its bundled game and replay worth . It's a great way to get some exercise on a gloomy or cold day and it keeps me fit . My family spends more time in front of the Wii than in front of the dinner table . For the more hard-core gamers - the Wii does offer some great gaming experiences like metroid and zelda with many more to come in the future . The online capabilities of the wii are phenomenal . I love playing mario strikers online and look forward to rocking out on guitar hero 3 against others from around the world . If you are looking for a game system that's for the whole family , a good value , got great gameplay , and keeps you in shape , then the nintendo Wii is for you
181 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Nintendo comes into the 5th generation of gaming with the Nintendo Wii , despite the name ( wii , haha ) , the wii is a home gaming consol that is created by the godfathers of gaming , Nintendo .
The one big thing about the Wii is what everyone knows about , the Wii-mote . The Wii-mote is a new twist on a game controller that makes the system more normal to the world . It looks , and functions like a remote control . Instead of moving an anolog stick up , down , and sideways , you just point the ' mote at the screen , and it moves there . Nintendo uses that function in all their games ; example , in zelda , you move the ' mote to swipe your sword , or in a shooter , the ' mote moves the gun cross hairs . If the remote still isen't getting you all giddy and mabey not want to use it , fine , some games are gonna use the Gamecube's controller ( Smash Bros . Brawl )
Next to that , another cool feature is the vitual consol . Virt . console allows you to download any game Nintendo has made ( with a internet conection ) on a home system , not handheld . The prices are more than stuff from other platforms , like Xbox arcade and whatever Playstation calls their stuff , but it still isen't expensive , the max price is $8 . The Wii allows you to play ' cube games , but you can't download it , just stick ' em in . With an internet conection , you can download diffrent channels ; theres an weather channel , it gives a 5 day forecast of most cites . Theres a news channel that gives any type of news , from international new to sports and to tech . Theres a photo channel where you can take pics from a digi cam or cell phone and email it .
Last of all is the Mii's and the free game , Wii Sports . Wii Sports is a free game that comes with the system , it has 5 diffrent sports ( bowling , boxing , tennis , baseball , and golf ) to play , most of them are gimmicky and not deep at all , but there great to play with parents or grandparents . The Mii's are avatars ( or caracatures ) that you get to play in Wii Sports and other titles ( not all ) , there fun to make and you can get ' em to resemble celebs .
The Wii's the hot new thing these days , if you liked , do like , or never played videogames , buy this , there are developers that are making fun games for the hardcore to the never owed a system .
182 4 Nintendo comes into the 5th generation of gaming with the Nintendo Wii , despite the name ( wii , haha ) , the wii is a home gaming consol that is created by the godfathers of gaming , Nintendo .
The one big thing about the Wii is what everyone knows about , the Wii-mote . The Wii-mote is a new twist on a game controller that makes the system more normal to the world . It looks , and functions like a remote control . Instead of moving an anolog stick up , down , and sideways , you just point the ' mote at the screen , and it moves there . Nintendo uses that function in all their games ; example , in zelda , you move the ' mote to swipe your sword , or in a shooter , the ' mote moves the gun cross hairs . If the remote still isen't getting you all giddy and mabey not want to use it , fine , some games are gonna use the Gamecube's controller ( Smash Bros . Brawl )
Next to that , another cool feature is the vitual consol . Virt . console allows you to download any game Nintendo has made ( with a internet conection ) on a home system , not handheld . The prices are more than stuff from other platforms , like Xbox arcade and whatever Playstation calls their stuff , but it still isen't expensive , the max price is $8 . The Wii allows you to play ' cube games , but you can't download it , just stick ' em in . With an internet conection , you can download diffrent channels ; theres an weather channel , it gives a 5 day forecast of most cites . Theres a news channel that gives any type of news , from international new to sports and to tech . Theres a photo channel where you can take pics from a digi cam or cell phone and email it .
Last of all is the Mii's and the free game , Wii Sports . Wii Sports is a free game that comes with the system , it has 5 diffrent sports ( bowling , boxing , tennis , baseball , and golf ) to play , most of them are gimmicky and not deep at all , but there great to play with parents or grandparents . The Mii's are avatars ( or caracatures ) that you get to play in Wii Sports and other titles ( not all ) , there fun to make and you can get ' em to resemble celebs .
The Wii's the hot new thing these days , if you liked , do like , or never played videogames , buy this , there are developers that are making fun games for the hardcore to the never owed a system .
185 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I've spent a week with my Wii and can honestly say it is fantastic . The controller is not a novelty , it's just a new way to interact with your game . If we had all started out with a Wii-mote instead of pushing buttons , we would be thinking the idea of going to a non-motion sensing controller was idiotic . The Wii-mote does take getting used to but it is a lot more fun than pushing buttons . The biggest difference is that the Wii-mote can tell how hard you want to steer a car or fling a ball , a button can't do this as well . Anyone waiting to buy a Wii with the idea that they're concerned it's a novelty , don't wait any longer . I would recommend just buying the Nintendo-written games for now ( no third parties ) like Excite Truck and Zelda since I don't think the third party games take full advantage of the Wii-mote just yet , especially the sports games .
186 4 I've spent a week with my Wii and can honestly say it is fantastic . The controller is not a novelty , it's just a new way to interact with your game . If we had all started out with a Wii-mote instead of pushing buttons , we would be thinking the idea of going to a non-motion sensing controller was idiotic . The Wii-mote does take getting used to but it is a lot more fun than pushing buttons . The biggest difference is that the Wii-mote can tell how hard you want to steer a car or fling a ball , a button can't do this as well . Anyone waiting to buy a Wii with the idea that they're concerned it's a novelty , don't wait any longer . I would recommend just buying the Nintendo-written games for now ( no third parties ) like Excite Truck and Zelda since I don't think the third party games take full advantage of the Wii-mote just yet , especially the sports games .
187 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This is only the 2nd review I've ever written on Amazon , but I just had to say a few things about the Wii . It's great . It only took 15 minutes to setup and then I was playing tennis , boxing , bowling , and finally the Marvel Ultimate Alliance game . This game is great for two big reasons . First , I actually got tired boxing and got a little winded playing tennis . That is great for the kids . They won't just sit there and push buttons . The 2nd great thing is the numchuck . I have never been good at figuring out the combiantions of buttons to press , and the numchuck minizmizes the need for that skill . The only negative are the graphics , but for $250 they are fine . I just started playing today , so I will probably update this later .
188 4 This is only the 2nd review I've ever written on Amazon , but I just had to say a few things about the Wii . It's great . It only took 15 minutes to setup and then I was playing tennis , boxing , bowling , and finally the Marvel Ultimate Alliance game . This game is great for two big reasons . First , I actually got tired boxing and got a little winded playing tennis . That is great for the kids . They won't just sit there and push buttons . The 2nd great thing is the numchuck . I have never been good at figuring out the combiantions of buttons to press , and the numchuck minizmizes the need for that skill . The only negative are the graphics , but for $250 they are fine . I just started playing today , so I will probably update this later .
189 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Okay , I'm not a game reviewer or even your toughest critic just so you know . I'm a mom with a 4 year old . This was the simplest thing to hook up and get playing . Every thing that needed to be plugged in to the back of the console has a different size or shape so even those who are prone to not reading anything that comes in the package could set it up . The only thing that I did read was for the sensor that goes on top of the tv and which way the disk went in . It walks you through setting the date and time and then your good to go ! My 4 year old is bowling as I am sitting here writing this and he's not doing to bad - for a 4 year old . Since a lot of the games are for multiple people on the sports disk that comes with the console , you'll want multiple controllers so that everyone can play ! Read the other gals review for more technical or gamer perspective . Great price for everything . By the way , it detected our wireless without a problem , I don't know our settings to actually set it up but it walked me through that also until I couldn't go any further .
190 4 Okay , I'm not a game reviewer or even your toughest critic just so you know . I'm a mom with a 4 year old . This was the simplest thing to hook up and get playing . Every thing that needed to be plugged in to the back of the console has a different size or shape so even those who are prone to not reading anything that comes in the package could set it up . The only thing that I did read was for the sensor that goes on top of the tv and which way the disk went in . It walks you through setting the date and time and then your good to go ! My 4 year old is bowling as I am sitting here writing this and he's not doing to bad - for a 4 year old . Since a lot of the games are for multiple people on the sports disk that comes with the console , you'll want multiple controllers so that everyone can play ! Read the other gals review for more technical or gamer perspective . Great price for everything . By the way , it detected our wireless without a problem , I don't know our settings to actually set it up but it walked me through that also until I couldn't go any further .
191 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'm one of those lucky ones who managed to nab one of these Wiis from Amazon during the minute it was available . It arrived yesterday , and I have to say that I'm very impressed just like everyone else seems to be .
I just wanted to point out 2 little things about the system that aren't a big deal , but are a little annoying .
1 . There's a sensor bar that senses the movements of your remote / nunchuck . You have to attach it to the top of your tv or in front of the tv . Makes the system hard to move from room to room , which my kids like to do .
2 . The remote / nunchuck makes noises during gameplay . And there's no way to turn the sound down . At least as far as I know . A problem when your kid wants to play till 3am and everyone else wants to go to bed !
Like I said , those are just small little things . The system is just great , and I'm sure we'll be getting more games and controllers soon .
192 4 I'm one of those lucky ones who managed to nab one of these Wiis from Amazon during the minute it was available . It arrived yesterday , and I have to say that I'm very impressed just like everyone else seems to be .
I just wanted to point out 2 little things about the system that aren't a big deal , but are a little annoying .
1 . There's a sensor bar that senses the movements of your remote / nunchuck . You have to attach it to the top of your tv or in front of the tv . Makes the system hard to move from room to room , which my kids like to do .
2 . The remote / nunchuck makes noises during gameplay . And there's no way to turn the sound down . At least as far as I know . A problem when your kid wants to play till 3am and everyone else wants to go to bed !
Like I said , those are just small little things . The system is just great , and I'm sure we'll be getting more games and controllers soon .
194 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I camped outside of a store for 8 hours in 36 degree weather for this console , and it was so totally worth it . If you can get your hands on one , do it .
Pros :
- This system encourages everyone to play because it is fun and easy to pick up , even for non-gamers . The games are catchy and entertaining for everyone . If you are a parent ( I'm not , I'm a college student ) most of the games are appropriate for children . Nintendo games are generally much more kid-friendly if you're worried about ESRB ratings . This doesn't apply to all of them ( I wouldn't recommend Red Steel for a 5 - year-old ) , so just check the ratings . However , you will find that many of the games are rated E .
- It comes with a game already , and it is a darn fun one . Wii Sports is worth playing for hours and hours and is a fun party game . It isn't just some throw-in to try to make the console look more appealing . You do need a nunchuck for Boxing , so if you want 2 - player boxing you have to buy another nunchuck and controller . However , the rest of the Wii Sports games just use the wii-mote .
- Each person can make a Mii on their console - A little character that you can make to look just like you ! It appears that you can create unlimited Miis and mark one as the favorite . You use your Mii in Wii Sports , and according to the directions your Mii may appear online and in other games as well . They are very detailed and fun to make .
- There are great online functions , like being able to play games with others online , having a Mii Parade , and even checking the weather !
- You can store pictures on your Wii with an SD memory card .
- The Wii has slots for gamecube games , 4 controllers , and 2 gamecube memory cards on a covered panel on the top of the console , so you can play gamecube games .
- The games are priced at $50 on release , unlike the $60 Xbox 360 and PS3 games . The console is also value priced much lower than these other consoles and is in much better supply ( although since it just came out , you will have trouble finding one initially ) .
- The current games are great , and there is an awesome list of games coming out . Notable current ones include The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess ( also on Gamecube ) , Wii Sports , Trauma Center : Second Opinion , Super Monkey Ball : Banana Blitz , and Red Steel . There are also some sports and first-person shooter games for it , mostly interactive . Some notable games coming out later are Elebits ( 12 / 15 / 06 ) , Wario Ware : Smooth Moves ( 1 / 15 / 07 ) , Smash Bros . Brawl ( spring 2007 , but will probably be pushed way back ) , and Mario Galaxy .
- The controllers are responsive and accurate , so you needn't worry about them spazzing out on you or not working properly . There are no wires to get in your way and you can place the sensor bar above or below your TV screen .
- Nintendo values their customers , and if you have a problem with your console ( which you probably won't because they only release quality merchandise , unlike Sony ) they will send you a shipping label and fix it right away if it's within warranty . I have had experience with this and trust me , it is very good . I had my DS back with a new screen in 3 days last January ; it was amazing . You also get an 90 - day extension on your warranty just for registering your Wii online .
Cons :
- As far as extra controllers go , you have to buy each wii-mote and nunchuck extension separately . Right now the wii-mote costs $40 and the nunchuck ( sold separately ) is $20 , and one of each comes with the console already , so if you want 4 full controllers total you have to pay an extra $180 ! However , you do not need the nunchuck for every game ( you do need it for Wii Sports boxing , fyi ) , and the console does come with one . I sprung for the extra $40 and just bought another wii-mote without an extra nunchuck , and it's still good for a lot of multiplayer action .
- The controllers take 2 AA batteries each , and are rumored not to last too long ( maybe 20 or 30 hours at best ) . I haven't had mine long enough to verify this , but since all the controllers take batteries I would recommend buying a rechargeable battery unit .
195 4 I camped outside of a store for 8 hours in 36 degree weather for this console , and it was so totally worth it . If you can get your hands on one , do it .
Pros :
- This system encourages everyone to play because it is fun and easy to pick up , even for non-gamers . The games are catchy and entertaining for everyone . If you are a parent ( I'm not , I'm a college student ) most of the games are appropriate for children . Nintendo games are generally much more kid-friendly if you're worried about ESRB ratings . This doesn't apply to all of them ( I wouldn't recommend Red Steel for a 5 - year-old ) , so just check the ratings . However , you will find that many of the games are rated E .
- It comes with a game already , and it is a darn fun one . Wii Sports is worth playing for hours and hours and is a fun party game . It isn't just some throw-in to try to make the console look more appealing . You do need a nunchuck for Boxing , so if you want 2 - player boxing you have to buy another nunchuck and controller . However , the rest of the Wii Sports games just use the wii-mote .
- Each person can make a Mii on their console - A little character that you can make to look just like you ! It appears that you can create unlimited Miis and mark one as the favorite . You use your Mii in Wii Sports , and according to the directions your Mii may appear online and in other games as well . They are very detailed and fun to make .
- There are great online functions , like being able to play games with others online , having a Mii Parade , and even checking the weather !
- You can store pictures on your Wii with an SD memory card .
- The Wii has slots for gamecube games , 4 controllers , and 2 gamecube memory cards on a covered panel on the top of the console , so you can play gamecube games .
- The games are priced at $50 on release , unlike the $60 Xbox 360 and PS3 games . The console is also value priced much lower than these other consoles and is in much better supply ( although since it just came out , you will have trouble finding one initially ) .
- The current games are great , and there is an awesome list of games coming out . Notable current ones include The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess ( also on Gamecube ) , Wii Sports , Trauma Center : Second Opinion , Super Monkey Ball : Banana Blitz , and Red Steel . There are also some sports and first-person shooter games for it , mostly interactive . Some notable games coming out later are Elebits ( 12 / 15 / 06 ) , Wario Ware : Smooth Moves ( 1 / 15 / 07 ) , Smash Bros . Brawl ( spring 2007 , but will probably be pushed way back ) , and Mario Galaxy .
- The controllers are responsive and accurate , so you needn't worry about them spazzing out on you or not working properly . There are no wires to get in your way and you can place the sensor bar above or below your TV screen .
- Nintendo values their customers , and if you have a problem with your console ( which you probably won't because they only release quality merchandise , unlike Sony ) they will send you a shipping label and fix it right away if it's within warranty . I have had experience with this and trust me , it is very good . I had my DS back with a new screen in 3 days last January ; it was amazing . You also get an 90 - day extension on your warranty just for registering your Wii online .
Cons :
- As far as extra controllers go , you have to buy each wii-mote and nunchuck extension separately . Right now the wii-mote costs $40 and the nunchuck ( sold separately ) is $20 , and one of each comes with the console already , so if you want 4 full controllers total you have to pay an extra $180 ! However , you do not need the nunchuck for every game ( you do need it for Wii Sports boxing , fyi ) , and the console does come with one . I sprung for the extra $40 and just bought another wii-mote without an extra nunchuck , and it's still good for a lot of multiplayer action .
- The controllers take 2 AA batteries each , and are rumored not to last too long ( maybe 20 or 30 hours at best ) . I haven't had mine long enough to verify this , but since all the controllers take batteries I would recommend buying a rechargeable battery unit .
196 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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What's this ?
)
This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I bought this for my 4 - yr and 6 - yr old nieces . They enjoy playing it and they are happy . $200 well spent .
197 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I bought this for my 4 - yr and 6 - yr old nieces . They enjoy playing it and they are happy . $200 well spent .
198 4 I bought this for my 4 - yr and 6 - yr old nieces . They enjoy playing it and they are happy . $200 well spent .
199 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
First of all , I took off a star because the Wii has some cons , but only a couple of them annoying ; still , they warranted the loss of a star . Now to my reviews . . .
BASIC REVIEW :
This console is so fun , entertaining , and versatile I would be willing to pay twice as much money for it . The backward-compatibility with GameCube games & controllers plus the ability to download classic SNES , N64 , etc . games makes this the only Nintendo console you need . Additionally , the News , Weather , Everybody Votes Channel , Internet Channel , Photo Channel , and many others will serve your needs beautifully . It's very easy to use this device ten hours a day , seven days a week and not get bored of it .
DETAILED REVIEW :
In addition to what I said in my basic review , the Wii has the following :
Pros :
- Small , stylish form factor and the ability to rest horizontally or vertically make the Wii a great accent to any room .
- Motion sensor completely revolutionizes gameplay . It feels very natural to point at what you want or to turn the controller when steering a virtual vehicle . That's right .
Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel
takes advantage of this new technology to bring gamers what they've been instinctively been trying to do for years : steer by twisting the controller .
- The simple Wii remote is so easy and intuitive to use you quickly forget about it and get immersed in the game .
- Remember not being able to pause your games ? Not any more . By pressing the Home button on the Wii-mote , as I like to call it , you can instantly freeze the game . On that menu one can check the battery levels in all four controllers , go directly to the home menu , get help ( when using a channel ) , or rearrange the order of Wii-motes ( 1st player becomes 3rd player , for example . )
- The wireless Internet connection allows for easy software updates , game / channel downloads , and Internet viewing .
- Parental Controls can restrict children from viewing inappropriate material on the Internet , changing Wii settings , or spending money on the Wii Store .
- Portability : the Wii is the lightest full-featured console on the market and the smallest , which makes it a breeze to carry it in a case . I recommend the
Wii G-pak Console Organizer Case - Black
; I've been using it for months . It performed admirably during my two transcontinental flights and the Wii & accessories all came out without a scratch .
Cons :
- Motion sensor doesn't work if the Wii remote isn't aligned in front of the TV or with an unblocked line of vision to the Sensor Bar . For four people to play at once you need to sit side-by-side .
- Using a wireless router with a password more complex than a WPA password won't work with the Wii . Also , you have to type the password on the screen - not good if other people are there .
- The Parental Controls are dumb , in my opinion . By dumb I do not mean useless , I mean stupid . Instead of categorically blocking content , they can only block the entire channel . For instance , to block pornography on the Internet Channel you must restrict the whole thing , same with the Wii Shop Channel and Wii Settings . Your four-digit password is required to access them at all .
- The Wii needs an adaptor to connect using Ethernet .
- The Internet loader is pretty slow - you'll want to stick to a computer .
- When downloading items from the Wii Shop Channel , an annoying Mario runs across the screen collecting coins and occasionally hitting one of the three overhead blocks . The noise is supremely irritating ; I recommend muting the TV .
- The Wii uses a moderate graphics processor - no high definition gaming like in the XBox 360 or PlayStation 3 .
- It's easy to accidentally move a character on the screen when simply reaching for something in the real world - the Wii-mote's motion sensors see to that .
Overall , the cons are pretty easy to tolerate - I barely notice them . I only listed the cons so you'd have a thorough understanding of what you're going to get . The reason I brought my Wii on two transcontinental flights was because I had so much fun without it , I couldn't bare going a whole month without playing my Wii .
You might say the Wii is expensive . Two hundred fifty dollars could buy you about 50 meals . However , when compared with the XBox 360 and PlayStation 3 , the Wii is much more fun ( I own all three consoles and have used them extensively ; the Wii reigns supreme ) and cheaper . If you're thinking about getting a new game console , get a Wii . Besides , why do you think it's still sold out after a year and a half of being out ? It's a wonderful device . Trust me , you'll be glad you spent the money for it .
200 4 First of all , I took off a star because the Wii has some cons , but only a couple of them annoying ; still , they warranted the loss of a star . Now to my reviews . . .
BASIC REVIEW :
This console is so fun , entertaining , and versatile I would be willing to pay twice as much money for it . The backward-compatibility with GameCube games & controllers plus the ability to download classic SNES , N64 , etc . games makes this the only Nintendo console you need . Additionally , the News , Weather , Everybody Votes Channel , Internet Channel , Photo Channel , and many others will serve your needs beautifully . It's very easy to use this device ten hours a day , seven days a week and not get bored of it .
DETAILED REVIEW :
In addition to what I said in my basic review , the Wii has the following :
Pros :
- Small , stylish form factor and the ability to rest horizontally or vertically make the Wii a great accent to any room .
- Motion sensor completely revolutionizes gameplay . It feels very natural to point at what you want or to turn the controller when steering a virtual vehicle . That's right .
Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel
takes advantage of this new technology to bring gamers what they've been instinctively been trying to do for years : steer by twisting the controller .
- The simple Wii remote is so easy and intuitive to use you quickly forget about it and get immersed in the game .
- Remember not being able to pause your games ? Not any more . By pressing the Home button on the Wii-mote , as I like to call it , you can instantly freeze the game . On that menu one can check the battery levels in all four controllers , go directly to the home menu , get help ( when using a channel ) , or rearrange the order of Wii-motes ( 1st player becomes 3rd player , for example . )
- The wireless Internet connection allows for easy software updates , game / channel downloads , and Internet viewing .
- Parental Controls can restrict children from viewing inappropriate material on the Internet , changing Wii settings , or spending money on the Wii Store .
- Portability : the Wii is the lightest full-featured console on the market and the smallest , which makes it a breeze to carry it in a case . I recommend the
Wii G-pak Console Organizer Case - Black
; I've been using it for months . It performed admirably during my two transcontinental flights and the Wii & accessories all came out without a scratch .
Cons :
- Motion sensor doesn't work if the Wii remote isn't aligned in front of the TV or with an unblocked line of vision to the Sensor Bar . For four people to play at once you need to sit side-by-side .
- Using a wireless router with a password more complex than a WPA password won't work with the Wii . Also , you have to type the password on the screen - not good if other people are there .
- The Parental Controls are dumb , in my opinion . By dumb I do not mean useless , I mean stupid . Instead of categorically blocking content , they can only block the entire channel . For instance , to block pornography on the Internet Channel you must restrict the whole thing , same with the Wii Shop Channel and Wii Settings . Your four-digit password is required to access them at all .
- The Wii needs an adaptor to connect using Ethernet .
- The Internet loader is pretty slow - you'll want to stick to a computer .
- When downloading items from the Wii Shop Channel , an annoying Mario runs across the screen collecting coins and occasionally hitting one of the three overhead blocks . The noise is supremely irritating ; I recommend muting the TV .
- The Wii uses a moderate graphics processor - no high definition gaming like in the XBox 360 or PlayStation 3 .
- It's easy to accidentally move a character on the screen when simply reaching for something in the real world - the Wii-mote's motion sensors see to that .
Overall , the cons are pretty easy to tolerate - I barely notice them . I only listed the cons so you'd have a thorough understanding of what you're going to get . The reason I brought my Wii on two transcontinental flights was because I had so much fun without it , I couldn't bare going a whole month without playing my Wii .
You might say the Wii is expensive . Two hundred fifty dollars could buy you about 50 meals . However , when compared with the XBox 360 and PlayStation 3 , the Wii is much more fun ( I own all three consoles and have used them extensively ; the Wii reigns supreme ) and cheaper . If you're thinking about getting a new game console , get a Wii . Besides , why do you think it's still sold out after a year and a half of being out ? It's a wonderful device . Trust me , you'll be glad you spent the money for it .
203 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The consule wars are upon us once again . While PS3 and 360 compete for graphical superiority , the Nintendo Wii aims for something else . . . fun . The graphics on the Wii are barely next-gen at best ; however , playing the Wii makes up for every bit of graphical inferiority it may have . The Wii remote and nunchuck combo make for a fun-filled romp that takes you out of your seat and into the game . With the Wii having motion sensing capability the game becomes an extension of the player , you're truly in the game . Moreover , the Wii games are classic Nintendo fun . All the greats will , eventually , make an appearance . . . Mario , Luigi , Link , Zelda , etc . And if you can't wait for the next game to come out , you can download classic Nintendo titles like Super Mario 64 , Super Mario Brothers , Zelda , Metroid , etc . If you're looking for graphic amazement you may want to look elsewhere , but for pure and cheap ( $250 ) fun grab a Wii .
204 4 The consule wars are upon us once again . While PS3 and 360 compete for graphical superiority , the Nintendo Wii aims for something else . . . fun . The graphics on the Wii are barely next-gen at best ; however , playing the Wii makes up for every bit of graphical inferiority it may have . The Wii remote and nunchuck combo make for a fun-filled romp that takes you out of your seat and into the game . With the Wii having motion sensing capability the game becomes an extension of the player , you're truly in the game . Moreover , the Wii games are classic Nintendo fun . All the greats will , eventually , make an appearance . . . Mario , Luigi , Link , Zelda , etc . And if you can't wait for the next game to come out , you can download classic Nintendo titles like Super Mario 64 , Super Mario Brothers , Zelda , Metroid , etc . If you're looking for graphic amazement you may want to look elsewhere , but for pure and cheap ( $250 ) fun grab a Wii .
205 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This review is focused on the quality of customer service that you can expect from Nintendo . Let me digress a moment just to say that the Wii was a great purchase for my family . It provides something a little different for everyone who plays it , all of us finding something in particular that we can gravitate toward . ( Personally , though I really enjoy the movement sensitive controllers , the real joy for me has been discovering Gamecube titles like Residet Evil 0 - 1 , and the Metroid games . )
Since few things are indestructable , however , what happens if your Wii goes kablam and gives up the ghost ? Recently , one of our remote controllers stopped functioning . It continued to work on some movements , but was non-responsive on others , primarily swinging . After replacing the batteries , and doing all of the basic diagnostic things you do when a piece of hardware is being stubborn , I took a visit to the Nintendo website to find out more . The problem was documented there , and it did seem to point to a failure with the remote . I visited some other websites and got the same feedback . All that swinging around and shaking of the remote , can , in some cases , result in a damaged controller . It's not common , but it can happen . I went back to Nintendo.com and followed the links to the customer service section . After filling out a brief form ( which doesn't ask for any product info other than what's wrong with the device and the month / year it was purchased ) I was told to wait for my UPS label to arrive within 4 - 6 days . In three business days the label arrived , along with a statment saying that there would be no charge for the repair . The device was mailed off and I am currently waiting for it to be returned . The wait time is guaranteed not to exceed 4 to 6 weeks . That may seem like a long time to do without a controller , but I'm a pretty cheap person , and I would gladly wait that long for a free repair . Not to mention free shipping & handling .
Good customer service ( or , great customer service in this case ) goes a long way with me . I can forgive a lot of things except for companies who refuse to stand behind their products . In this case , I have to say that Nintendo just made me a lot happier with my Wii investment .
In short , if you do happen to buy a Wii - which , for my money , is undeniably the best system available - and you encounter a malfunction ( other than throwing your remote through the television ) rest assured that Nintendo will make the replacement a painless , albeit inexpensive , experience .
206 4 This review is focused on the quality of customer service that you can expect from Nintendo . Let me digress a moment just to say that the Wii was a great purchase for my family . It provides something a little different for everyone who plays it , all of us finding something in particular that we can gravitate toward . ( Personally , though I really enjoy the movement sensitive controllers , the real joy for me has been discovering Gamecube titles like Residet Evil 0 - 1 , and the Metroid games . )
Since few things are indestructable , however , what happens if your Wii goes kablam and gives up the ghost ? Recently , one of our remote controllers stopped functioning . It continued to work on some movements , but was non-responsive on others , primarily swinging . After replacing the batteries , and doing all of the basic diagnostic things you do when a piece of hardware is being stubborn , I took a visit to the Nintendo website to find out more . The problem was documented there , and it did seem to point to a failure with the remote . I visited some other websites and got the same feedback . All that swinging around and shaking of the remote , can , in some cases , result in a damaged controller . It's not common , but it can happen . I went back to Nintendo.com and followed the links to the customer service section . After filling out a brief form ( which doesn't ask for any product info other than what's wrong with the device and the month / year it was purchased ) I was told to wait for my UPS label to arrive within 4 - 6 days . In three business days the label arrived , along with a statment saying that there would be no charge for the repair . The device was mailed off and I am currently waiting for it to be returned . The wait time is guaranteed not to exceed 4 to 6 weeks . That may seem like a long time to do without a controller , but I'm a pretty cheap person , and I would gladly wait that long for a free repair . Not to mention free shipping & handling .
Good customer service ( or , great customer service in this case ) goes a long way with me . I can forgive a lot of things except for companies who refuse to stand behind their products . In this case , I have to say that Nintendo just made me a lot happier with my Wii investment .
In short , if you do happen to buy a Wii - which , for my money , is undeniably the best system available - and you encounter a malfunction ( other than throwing your remote through the television ) rest assured that Nintendo will make the replacement a painless , albeit inexpensive , experience .
207 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I bought a Wii roughly 1 - 2 months ago . Although I don't have many games , I am completely enthralled with this system and it truly has brought a ton of entertainment to my friends and family .
Let's first go over what comes with this system . First , we have the actual Wii system . The system is so small compared to other video game systems ( it's almost the same size as a slim PS2 only it's wider ) . You can set it up vertically or horizontally . I personally use it horizontally because you also get a stand which works superbly . The buttons on the front of the system are the power button , the reset button , an opening for your games , and an eject button . To insert a disk , you simply slide it into the system ( this system doesn't have a tray to place the disk in ) and it slides right back out when you hit the eject button . On the back of the system you have your slots for plugging in the adapter , the audio / video cable , the sensor bar , and other cables . On the top of the system is a slot for memory cards and wired controllers .
From there we go to the controllers . You get one Wii remote and one nunchuck . The Wii remote is almost like a real remote in that to play , you must point the remote to the screen and press buttons on the remote . It's also wireless so you're not tied down like wired controllers are . Most buttons are used for game play but you also have a home button which acts as a Start button when comparing it to other video game systems that pauses the game and can take you back to the main screen . The bottom of the remote lights up and if you're using more than one remote , each remote will light up different squares to show you which player you are . For example , if the second square is lit on your remote , you would know that you're player 2 . There's also a strap that you place on your wrist so that you don't accidentally throw the remote across the room while your playing . I've personally never used the nunchuck but it basically connects to the Wii remote for certain games and it contains one button as well as a joystick .
You then have your typical cables ( your adapter and your audio / video cable ) but you also have a sensor bar . The sensor bar is placed preferably on top of your tv or directly below it . The bar is needed for your Wii remote to work as it acts as a sensor .
You also get manuals and other papers with this system . Along with two main manuals ( one for system setup and one for channels and settings ) you get a paper that explains how to register your Wii to extend your warranty , an ad for a Wii magazine , the usual disclaimer , as well as a quick setup manual .
Finally , you get the Wii Sports game as your first starter game . The Wii sports game contains a few sports games that allow you to practice using your remote . The games are bowling , boxing , golf , tennis , and baseball . These games are multiplayer and you can choose different skills if you'd like . The tennis game has you serving and stroking . The baseball game has you batting and pitching . The bowling game has you aiming the ball and throwing it . The golf game has you swinging and hitting the ball . And the boxing game has you punching , blocking , and shifting your position ( you need the nunchuck to play this game ) . These games aren't anything special but they help you understand the different ways to use the Wii remote . This is a pretty good starter game that all types of people will enjoy although you'll probably ditch it once you buy other games . One thing I'd like to point out is that you play using your Mii . Which leads me to another tidbit . . .
A Mii is a character you create ( you can pick what they look like , they're favorite color , etc ) that you use everytime you play . There's no limit to the amount of Miis you can have which means that every family member can have one . The Miis can gain skill points when they play certain games so whenever you turn on your Wii , be sure to play using your own Mii so that you can build points . When you turn on your Wii , the main screen shows the game that is currently in your system as well as Wii options . You can add different programs to the main screen but the Wii comes with a few programs to start you out . They are the disc channel , the Mii channel , the Photo channel ( you can upload pictures from your SD memory cards ) , the Wii Shop channel , the Forecast channel , and the News channel ( these last three require an internet connection ) . You can also communicate using the Wii message board but this also requires an internet connection . There are a ton of options within these channels and you can change programs and add more although I won't comment on these because I haven't used them .
Another great thing about the Wii is that it plays Gamecube games . What is especially great about this is that some games are only available for the Gamecube , and not the Wii , so you're able to get these games without having to use two different systems .
When it comes to accessories , there are quite a few things to choose from . If you plan on having more than one person play , I suggest getting an extra remote as well as a nunchuck ( I personally recommend getting the Wii Play which comes with an extra remote as well as a few extra games ) . You may also need a memory card somewhere down the line if you plan on using your Wii often and if you plan on taking advantage of the Wii's great selection of extra features . If you have children who have trouble using the Wii remote , you also have the option of buying a Wii controller which works much like every other video game controller . Among these things , you can get a remote stand ( which allows you to display your remotes ) , cases that will hold your Wii and accessories , sling backpacks to bring your Wii to a friend's house , skins ( which are basically colorful covers for your Wii remotes ) , and much more .
Gamewise , this system has quite a few games to choose from ( with a ton more in the works ) that'll satisfy everyone , young and old . I only have two other games besides the Wii Sports game ( I have Wii Play and Mario Party 8 ) . You have your typical shooting games ( like Call of Duty ) , your typical kids movie games ( like Ice Age ) , you also have games that mom will enjoy ( like Cooking Mama ) . These games can be expensive ( the majority of them are around $50 ) but they are worth it and most of them provide even more entertainment than the same titles from different video game systems .
When it comes to price , the Wii is by far cheaper than the newer video game systems that have recently been released . The Wii is a new kind of video game system and you can't beat the price for the amount of entertainment that this system will bring . I've played with 7 year olds , I've played with 21 year olds , and I've played with 53 year olds and they all love this system . When it comes to video game systems , NOTHING compares to the Wii .
209 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Sunday morning I camped out at Target and got the 15th ( out of 15 ) Wiis . I was so pumped and i got home and hooked it up . It was so sweat . Wii sports is suprisingly a very fun game ! Bowling and tennis are the best , but all the games are good . Heres some pros and cons .
Pros :
- Motion controller is the greatest thing ever
- cheap and comes with a good game
- a couple solid release titles like madden and zelda
- suprisingly small and compact hardware
- doesn't overheat ( xbox 360 ! )
- game prices aren't bumped up $10
- ther's a feature where you can make a Mii ( no typo ) that you can use in some games , one being wii sports . you can make 100 + . it's pretty cool .
- games are revolutionary on wii because of innovative controller .
Cons :
- Graphics are good , but no where close to ps3 and xbox 360
- controller is very occasionally oversensitive
- can't do much else besides games , but the games are dang sweat so it doesn't matter . besides , this is a ' game console '
- very hard to find , right now ( we arrived at 4 AM )
Overall the best on the market because besides graphics and bluray ( in ps3 ' s case ) , there's not anything new on the 360 and ps3 that's worth spendind all of that money on . i'm no fanboy , btw . I have a gamecube , psp , and xbox ( best of the 3 ) , which reminds me ; the wii can use gamecube memory cards and controllers for the gamecube games . You can sell your gamecube and still use your saved files on the Wii ! I don't know if the wii will win the console war , but i love it and highly recommend it if you can get your hands on it . My friend has an xbox 360 and when he came over he had the time of his life ( he refused to let me play ) , yet he said he thought his 360 was ' way ever ' . yeah , until it overheats and blows up ( exageration ) . i could tell he was jealous . 360 is fun but this is just so amazing . i don't know much about the ps3 , so i can give no comparison .
This is the cheapest and best system and my opinion . I also think the virtual console thing will be cool . One more thing , out of sony , microsoft and nintendo , i trust nintendo the most .
Well , now my xbox is my backup system like my ( awesome ! ) gamecube was .
PS , target was really goo with their launch thing . They told us there were 15 wiis 2 hours prior to its opening , handed out the tickets and told us to come back at opening to pick up our wii . They're so much better than those crooks at best buy who had my mom waiting in line for hours and the manager comes out at opening and says they have no wiis like it's funny .
Best ( or Worst ) Buy : F -
Target : A + +
210 4 Sunday morning I camped out at Target and got the 15th ( out of 15 ) Wiis . I was so pumped and i got home and hooked it up . It was so sweat . Wii sports is suprisingly a very fun game ! Bowling and tennis are the best , but all the games are good . Heres some pros and cons .
Pros :
- Motion controller is the greatest thing ever
- cheap and comes with a good game
- a couple solid release titles like madden and zelda
- suprisingly small and compact hardware
- doesn't overheat ( xbox 360 ! )
- game prices aren't bumped up $10
- ther's a feature where you can make a Mii ( no typo ) that you can use in some games , one being wii sports . you can make 100 + . it's pretty cool .
- games are revolutionary on wii because of innovative controller .
Cons :
- Graphics are good , but no where close to ps3 and xbox 360
- controller is very occasionally oversensitive
- can't do much else besides games , but the games are dang sweat so it doesn't matter . besides , this is a ' game console '
- very hard to find , right now ( we arrived at 4 AM )
Overall the best on the market because besides graphics and bluray ( in ps3 ' s case ) , there's not anything new on the 360 and ps3 that's worth spendind all of that money on . i'm no fanboy , btw . I have a gamecube , psp , and xbox ( best of the 3 ) , which reminds me ; the wii can use gamecube memory cards and controllers for the gamecube games . You can sell your gamecube and still use your saved files on the Wii ! I don't know if the wii will win the console war , but i love it and highly recommend it if you can get your hands on it . My friend has an xbox 360 and when he came over he had the time of his life ( he refused to let me play ) , yet he said he thought his 360 was ' way ever ' . yeah , until it overheats and blows up ( exageration ) . i could tell he was jealous . 360 is fun but this is just so amazing . i don't know much about the ps3 , so i can give no comparison .
This is the cheapest and best system and my opinion . I also think the virtual console thing will be cool . One more thing , out of sony , microsoft and nintendo , i trust nintendo the most .
Well , now my xbox is my backup system like my ( awesome ! ) gamecube was .
PS , target was really goo with their launch thing . They told us there were 15 wiis 2 hours prior to its opening , handed out the tickets and told us to come back at opening to pick up our wii . They're so much better than those crooks at best buy who had my mom waiting in line for hours and the manager comes out at opening and says they have no wiis like it's funny .
Best ( or Worst ) Buy : F -
Target : A + +
215 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I love it . We played it as soon as the boys got home . It is worth every penny . It was easy to set up and we had no problems with setting up the sensor bar . Batteries did come with the remote , but I would buy new ones . The Wii Sports game is very cool . The remote felt a little weird , but we worked it out . I loved the fact that you can do so many different moves with your body to accomodiate the characters on the screen . I do not agree with this being a one star item , but hey I'm just a big kid anyway what do I know . If you have kids well , trust me when I say that they will love it . [ . . . ]
216 4 I love it . We played it as soon as the boys got home . It is worth every penny . It was easy to set up and we had no problems with setting up the sensor bar . Batteries did come with the remote , but I would buy new ones . The Wii Sports game is very cool . The remote felt a little weird , but we worked it out . I loved the fact that you can do so many different moves with your body to accomodiate the characters on the screen . I do not agree with this being a one star item , but hey I'm just a big kid anyway what do I know . If you have kids well , trust me when I say that they will love it . [ . . . ]
217 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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Wii ( Video Game )
I ordered the Wii , Wii Fit Plus with balance board , an extra nunchuck , and extra controller on Monday Nov . 16th . The Wii Fit came on Wed . Nov . 18th , and the rest on Thurs Nov 19th ! Talk about FAST shipping ! ! I was very satisfied with my purchase and also took advantage of the free Amazon.com $50 gift card offer , since I was already planning on buying both the Wii & Wii Fit Plus anyway . Another perk ! Overall , very very satisfied with Amazon.com !
The Wii itself is very fun , and definitely a family gaming system . It gets you off the couch , and even people who have never used video games will find it easy to use after a short while . It's not really for a serious gamer , as there aren't many action / fantasy games out there for Wii . This is perfect for everyone else . I bought the WiiFit Plus for my mom and I to use and we just started , but already love it ! Very cool stuff . . . I can't wait to use more of it !
Side note : My boyfriend just bought the game Punch Out for Wii , and it's quite fun and a work-out as well . Good game for everyone !
218 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I ordered the Wii , Wii Fit Plus with balance board , an extra nunchuck , and extra controller on Monday Nov . 16th . The Wii Fit came on Wed . Nov . 18th , and the rest on Thurs Nov 19th ! Talk about FAST shipping ! ! I was very satisfied with my purchase and also took advantage of the free Amazon.com $50 gift card offer , since I was already planning on buying both the Wii & Wii Fit Plus anyway . Another perk ! Overall , very very satisfied with Amazon.com !
The Wii itself is very fun , and definitely a family gaming system . It gets you off the couch , and even people who have never used video games will find it easy to use after a short while . It's not really for a serious gamer , as there aren't many action / fantasy games out there for Wii . This is perfect for everyone else . I bought the WiiFit Plus for my mom and I to use and we just started , but already love it ! Very cool stuff . . . I can't wait to use more of it !
Side note : My boyfriend just bought the game Punch Out for Wii , and it's quite fun and a work-out as well . Good game for everyone !
219 4 I ordered the Wii , Wii Fit Plus with balance board , an extra nunchuck , and extra controller on Monday Nov . 16th . The Wii Fit came on Wed . Nov . 18th , and the rest on Thurs Nov 19th ! Talk about FAST shipping ! ! I was very satisfied with my purchase and also took advantage of the free Amazon.com $50 gift card offer , since I was already planning on buying both the Wii & Wii Fit Plus anyway . Another perk ! Overall , very very satisfied with Amazon.com !
The Wii itself is very fun , and definitely a family gaming system . It gets you off the couch , and even people who have never used video games will find it easy to use after a short while . It's not really for a serious gamer , as there aren't many action / fantasy games out there for Wii . This is perfect for everyone else . I bought the WiiFit Plus for my mom and I to use and we just started , but already love it ! Very cool stuff . . . I can't wait to use more of it !
Side note : My boyfriend just bought the game Punch Out for Wii , and it's quite fun and a work-out as well . Good game for everyone !
220 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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What's this ?
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This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Let me start out by saying I have owned all three current gen systems . With the recent price drops I think now is a good time to do a simple comparison so I'll do my best . I'm actually on my second wii , i bought one in 2006 at the launch and after 3 years it stopped reading discs . I think my issue was pretty isolated , but honestly I can't complain I got plenty of entertainment value out of it for the price in my honest opinion . The only other hardware issue I have had is the lights on the remotes , they seem to burn out very quickly for me , but it doesn't ruin the function of the remote .
So how does the wii stack up against the ps3 and the xbox ? Quite honestly it really only beats the others in two departments and with the recent price drop it's more like one , but it's a biggie ! The wii is FUN , it's fun for a group of people , it's fun for people who don't play video games on a regular basis and for ones that do . My wife and I play the wii together quite a bit , we always play it when friends visit and it's a lot of fun . It doesn't have the graphics of the ps3 or the xbox 360 , it isn't the media hub that the other two are , for the most part what the games lack in graphics they make up for easily in fun .
The controllers are innovative , the game play is innovative and prior to the price drop of the xbox and ps3 I would have said if you only buy one system the wii is definitely worth considering . With the price drops of all of the systems the choice is not so easy now . My recommendation , i guess would be this : If you plan on playing a lot with friends and family when the visit and not so much by yourself or online then the wii is a solid choice . If you plan on playing online games and playing a lot of solo games then I've got to recommend the PS3 or even the Xbox ( you can see my ps3 vs xbox review for my conclusion on the winner there ) .
Hopefully this review will be helpful to someone doing their xmas shopping this year .
221 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Let me start out by saying I have owned all three current gen systems . With the recent price drops I think now is a good time to do a simple comparison so I'll do my best . I'm actually on my second wii , i bought one in 2006 at the launch and after 3 years it stopped reading discs . I think my issue was pretty isolated , but honestly I can't complain I got plenty of entertainment value out of it for the price in my honest opinion . The only other hardware issue I have had is the lights on the remotes , they seem to burn out very quickly for me , but it doesn't ruin the function of the remote .
So how does the wii stack up against the ps3 and the xbox ? Quite honestly it really only beats the others in two departments and with the recent price drop it's more like one , but it's a biggie ! The wii is FUN , it's fun for a group of people , it's fun for people who don't play video games on a regular basis and for ones that do . My wife and I play the wii together quite a bit , we always play it when friends visit and it's a lot of fun . It doesn't have the graphics of the ps3 or the xbox 360 , it isn't the media hub that the other two are , for the most part what the games lack in graphics they make up for easily in fun .
The controllers are innovative , the game play is innovative and prior to the price drop of the xbox and ps3 I would have said if you only buy one system the wii is definitely worth considering . With the price drops of all of the systems the choice is not so easy now . My recommendation , i guess would be this : If you plan on playing a lot with friends and family when the visit and not so much by yourself or online then the wii is a solid choice . If you plan on playing online games and playing a lot of solo games then I've got to recommend the PS3 or even the Xbox ( you can see my ps3 vs xbox review for my conclusion on the winner there ) .
Hopefully this review will be helpful to someone doing their xmas shopping this year .
222 4 Let me start out by saying I have owned all three current gen systems . With the recent price drops I think now is a good time to do a simple comparison so I'll do my best . I'm actually on my second wii , i bought one in 2006 at the launch and after 3 years it stopped reading discs . I think my issue was pretty isolated , but honestly I can't complain I got plenty of entertainment value out of it for the price in my honest opinion . The only other hardware issue I have had is the lights on the remotes , they seem to burn out very quickly for me , but it doesn't ruin the function of the remote .
So how does the wii stack up against the ps3 and the xbox ? Quite honestly it really only beats the others in two departments and with the recent price drop it's more like one , but it's a biggie ! The wii is FUN , it's fun for a group of people , it's fun for people who don't play video games on a regular basis and for ones that do . My wife and I play the wii together quite a bit , we always play it when friends visit and it's a lot of fun . It doesn't have the graphics of the ps3 or the xbox 360 , it isn't the media hub that the other two are , for the most part what the games lack in graphics they make up for easily in fun .
The controllers are innovative , the game play is innovative and prior to the price drop of the xbox and ps3 I would have said if you only buy one system the wii is definitely worth considering . With the price drops of all of the systems the choice is not so easy now . My recommendation , i guess would be this : If you plan on playing a lot with friends and family when the visit and not so much by yourself or online then the wii is a solid choice . If you plan on playing online games and playing a lot of solo games then I've got to recommend the PS3 or even the Xbox ( you can see my ps3 vs xbox review for my conclusion on the winner there ) .
Hopefully this review will be helpful to someone doing their xmas shopping this year .
223 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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)
This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I just purchased a Wii directly from Amazon for $250 . I managed this by subscribing to wiialerts.com . I got a text message that alerted me to an email with the message that one was in stock . The link in the email brought me to amazon and I purchased it right away . You have to act fast because they were sold out again in less than 10 minutes ! I also got signed up with nowinstock.com who also sent me an email that amazon had them in stock . I received that email about 2 minutes later than the one from wiialerts . Good Luck . I will update this review when we actually play it . I just wanted to help those of you still on your quest .
224 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I just purchased a Wii directly from Amazon for $250 . I managed this by subscribing to wiialerts.com . I got a text message that alerted me to an email with the message that one was in stock . The link in the email brought me to amazon and I purchased it right away . You have to act fast because they were sold out again in less than 10 minutes ! I also got signed up with nowinstock.com who also sent me an email that amazon had them in stock . I received that email about 2 minutes later than the one from wiialerts . Good Luck . I will update this review when we actually play it . I just wanted to help those of you still on your quest .
225 4 I just purchased a Wii directly from Amazon for $250 . I managed this by subscribing to wiialerts.com . I got a text message that alerted me to an email with the message that one was in stock . The link in the email brought me to amazon and I purchased it right away . You have to act fast because they were sold out again in less than 10 minutes ! I also got signed up with nowinstock.com who also sent me an email that amazon had them in stock . I received that email about 2 minutes later than the one from wiialerts . Good Luck . I will update this review when we actually play it . I just wanted to help those of you still on your quest .
226 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I was a PS2 guy all the way and when the new generation of consoles started coming out I sold the PS2 fully expecting to get a PS3 . Well the more I waited ( saving money for the Ps3 ) the more I heard and read about how great the Wii expereince is . My brother bought me the Wii as a wedding gift and my idea of what gaming is changed for good . I used to play video games by my self , every now and then a friend would come over to play but that was rare . Since getting the Wii I have played on my own twice . The beautiful bride can't wait to play and we have Wii parties with friends . We load our profiles into the Wiimote and go to a friends house where everyone participates . It really is a gaming experience completely different than any other . I can now tell you that I will not be getting a Ps3 or 360 because I don't want to end up the loner on the couch . Party at my house bring your Wiimote ! !
227 4 I was a PS2 guy all the way and when the new generation of consoles started coming out I sold the PS2 fully expecting to get a PS3 . Well the more I waited ( saving money for the Ps3 ) the more I heard and read about how great the Wii expereince is . My brother bought me the Wii as a wedding gift and my idea of what gaming is changed for good . I used to play video games by my self , every now and then a friend would come over to play but that was rare . Since getting the Wii I have played on my own twice . The beautiful bride can't wait to play and we have Wii parties with friends . We load our profiles into the Wiimote and go to a friends house where everyone participates . It really is a gaming experience completely different than any other . I can now tell you that I will not be getting a Ps3 or 360 because I don't want to end up the loner on the couch . Party at my house bring your Wiimote ! !
228 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Great for my kids who are 8 and 10 . They sweat from all the jumping around during game play . Graphics not near the xbox or ps3 , but you are uying it to experience the game play , not just sit there . I highly recommend this - but do keep in mind . . . there will be less family battles and injury if your room is big enough for the players to stand at arm lenght from each other . Yes , we have had a few knocks to the head and each others arms during a fantastic game of tennis ( with four players ) . Buy it well before any big holiday - cause it will sell out . Have fun .
229 4 Great for my kids who are 8 and 10 . They sweat from all the jumping around during game play . Graphics not near the xbox or ps3 , but you are uying it to experience the game play , not just sit there . I highly recommend this - but do keep in mind . . . there will be less family battles and injury if your room is big enough for the players to stand at arm lenght from each other . Yes , we have had a few knocks to the head and each others arms during a fantastic game of tennis ( with four players ) . Buy it well before any big holiday - cause it will sell out . Have fun .
230 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We are loving our new Nintendo Wii . In fact , we had a Wii party when we bought our Wii . It comes with the sports package which allows you to play five games including golf , boxing , and bowling . My favorite game is the tennis game . You can burn calories playing these games instead of sitting down and stuffing your face . I highly recommend the Nintendo Wii because it is user friendly . Unlike other more expensive video consoles , the Wii provides real family entertainment for everyone !
231 4 We are loving our new Nintendo Wii . In fact , we had a Wii party when we bought our Wii . It comes with the sports package which allows you to play five games including golf , boxing , and bowling . My favorite game is the tennis game . You can burn calories playing these games instead of sitting down and stuffing your face . I highly recommend the Nintendo Wii because it is user friendly . Unlike other more expensive video consoles , the Wii provides real family entertainment for everyone !
232 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I've never been a big console fan , but the Wii has won me over . The interactive nature of the Wii controllers makes this a truly unique platform . My five and seven-year-old both love the Wii sports package . Even though the graphics are not comparable to the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 , it has not been an issue in game play . I've worked with game developers in the past , and the adage in the game industry is that it's the game play that's the most important ingredient to a successful game . Certainly holds true for this platform . We've particularly enjoyed Rayman's Rabbids , Super Monkeyball , and Elebits . Other games have been more awkward ( Cars , Spongebob ) . This is a platform that will REALLY favor mini-games . Even traditional games like Madden benefit from the new controllers . My seven-year old has enjoyed the Opera browser to cruise the internet as well . Browser does not have all the bells and whistles as in IE or Firefox , but it does a solid job for a beta version . Works well viewing YouTube and there are some fairly entertaining flash games online that work well with the Wii-mote . My wife has especially fallen in love with the console and we've spent quite a bit of family time playing the Wii-sports package together . Finally , the access to the library of older Nintendo games has been quite enjoyable as it's allowed me to go back and play games from my college days , so don't forget to purchase a classic controller as well .
233 4 I've never been a big console fan , but the Wii has won me over . The interactive nature of the Wii controllers makes this a truly unique platform . My five and seven-year-old both love the Wii sports package . Even though the graphics are not comparable to the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 , it has not been an issue in game play . I've worked with game developers in the past , and the adage in the game industry is that it's the game play that's the most important ingredient to a successful game . Certainly holds true for this platform . We've particularly enjoyed Rayman's Rabbids , Super Monkeyball , and Elebits . Other games have been more awkward ( Cars , Spongebob ) . This is a platform that will REALLY favor mini-games . Even traditional games like Madden benefit from the new controllers . My seven-year old has enjoyed the Opera browser to cruise the internet as well . Browser does not have all the bells and whistles as in IE or Firefox , but it does a solid job for a beta version . Works well viewing YouTube and there are some fairly entertaining flash games online that work well with the Wii-mote . My wife has especially fallen in love with the console and we've spent quite a bit of family time playing the Wii-sports package together . Finally , the access to the library of older Nintendo games has been quite enjoyable as it's allowed me to go back and play games from my college days , so don't forget to purchase a classic controller as well .
236 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I just got the Wii this morning after waiting only a few hours in line . Thanks to those who post on forums and customer discussion for tips that lead me to getting a Wii ! This is the first time I have got a system directly after launch . I just couldn't wait for the Wii ! - - Setup was a breeze and packaging was very efficient . The controls are very nice and feel natural . The Wiimote is very responsive and play is very real . I have only had a few hours with Zelda and Wii Sports but I have no complaints with either one ( I'll keep this to a Wii review ) . Someone complained in another review about the controller being too loud and not being able to adjust the speaker . There is an option to lower the volume . I even had my wife playing the Wii ( and she was kicking butt ) and she was honestly sick of hearing me talk about the Wii so that is saying a lot . After a while we were both laughing and having a great time . I have been grinning ever since the moment they handed me my white box . Don't pay a high price for an auction ! Wait it out and keep hunting . I only looked for 2 days and finally got lucky . Thank you Nintendo , I can't wait to see what can be done with this system . Don't hesitate if you're thinking about the next system you want to purchase . Go for the Wii !
237 4 I just got the Wii this morning after waiting only a few hours in line . Thanks to those who post on forums and customer discussion for tips that lead me to getting a Wii ! This is the first time I have got a system directly after launch . I just couldn't wait for the Wii ! - - Setup was a breeze and packaging was very efficient . The controls are very nice and feel natural . The Wiimote is very responsive and play is very real . I have only had a few hours with Zelda and Wii Sports but I have no complaints with either one ( I'll keep this to a Wii review ) . Someone complained in another review about the controller being too loud and not being able to adjust the speaker . There is an option to lower the volume . I even had my wife playing the Wii ( and she was kicking butt ) and she was honestly sick of hearing me talk about the Wii so that is saying a lot . After a while we were both laughing and having a great time . I have been grinning ever since the moment they handed me my white box . Don't pay a high price for an auction ! Wait it out and keep hunting . I only looked for 2 days and finally got lucky . Thank you Nintendo , I can't wait to see what can be done with this system . Don't hesitate if you're thinking about the next system you want to purchase . Go for the Wii !
238 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I got a Nintendo Wii at launch and I must say that I am in no way dissapointed . While the graphics are in no way to top notch you hrdley notice that when youre battling Shadow Beings in Zelda or chasing Rabbids in Rayman . Only about the size of three Dvds stacked together Nintendos inexpensive Wii delivers a gameing experience that will appeal to both hardcore and non gamers . The great thing is that it is really easy to get into . Sony's Playstation 3 and Mircosofts Xbox 360 may have much sharper grahpics than there predecessors but they only deliver the same experience that you got with the origanals .
239 4 I got a Nintendo Wii at launch and I must say that I am in no way dissapointed . While the graphics are in no way to top notch you hrdley notice that when youre battling Shadow Beings in Zelda or chasing Rabbids in Rayman . Only about the size of three Dvds stacked together Nintendos inexpensive Wii delivers a gameing experience that will appeal to both hardcore and non gamers . The great thing is that it is really easy to get into . Sony's Playstation 3 and Mircosofts Xbox 360 may have much sharper grahpics than there predecessors but they only deliver the same experience that you got with the origanals .
240 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I'll be brief :
- Fun factor : A +
- Graphics ( compared to PS3 / X360 ) : B
- Overall : A
Good points :
- My parents play it and will buy one for themselves .
- Wii Bowling and Wii Tennis are simply amazing . They are the Super Mario Bros equivalent to the original NES that made it such a hit .
- You'll have more fun watching people play Wii Boxing than you playing yourself ( part of the fun ) .
- Everything feels simple and easy to use .
- The controller rocks . I don't want to go back to old controllers . Make sure you get at least 3 extra controllers ( one comes with WiiPlay ) and one extra nunchuck .
- Insert your SD memory card from your camera and watch slideshows of photos and videos . Very nice .
- For those who bought a GameCube , the Wii has inputs for your old controllers ( and memory cards ) and plays all your old games ( Mario Party anyone ? ) .
- Creating a Mii is a lot of fun . A game unto itself .
- The most fun you'll have in a very long time . A great party tool .
Bad points :
- For games like Wii Golf , Wii Sports and Wii Play Pool , the control is not accurate enough . I do not yet know if this is a programming issue or a physical limitation of the controllers . However the good news is that for all other games this issue is non-existent .
- The graphics feel last-gen . About the same as PlayStation 2 and original Xbox , or even worst sometimes . However Nintendo made a great job to create games that look awesome as the cartoonish look of Wii Sports doesn't need great graphics . I guess next year when programmers learn the inners of the Wii they'll come up with games that look better .
- Not much in the internet gaming space . This is needed soon ( can you image playing bowling with your parents over the Internet ? )
- Slow to launch the Internet Channel ( Opera ) , so one just gives up and goes to use the PC instead .
- You need a USA credit card to buy Wii Points , which is a bummer for people living outside the US .
- Virtual Console ( VC ) games are too expensive . A price of $2 to $5 would be acceptable and would probably sell way more titles for Nintendo .
- We should be able to download a demo of the VC games before paying for them to see if we like them .
- When you download stuff , there is no progress bar , only Mario running around , so you don't get a sense of how long things will take to download .
- There is no way to download stuff in the background while you do other things .
- Often times , the Internet connection is lost for no apparent reason .
- You can change the language of the Wii interface , but the games do not . At least Nintendo's own games should detect the current language and show players an experience in that language . To Nintendo's credit however , neither Sony or Microsoft do this .
Bottom line :
With all its minor flaws , this is the most fun my family has had in a very long time . very highly recommended .
241 4 I'll be brief :
- Fun factor : A +
- Graphics ( compared to PS3 / X360 ) : B
- Overall : A
Good points :
- My parents play it and will buy one for themselves .
- Wii Bowling and Wii Tennis are simply amazing . They are the Super Mario Bros equivalent to the original NES that made it such a hit .
- You'll have more fun watching people play Wii Boxing than you playing yourself ( part of the fun ) .
- Everything feels simple and easy to use .
- The controller rocks . I don't want to go back to old controllers . Make sure you get at least 3 extra controllers ( one comes with WiiPlay ) and one extra nunchuck .
- Insert your SD memory card from your camera and watch slideshows of photos and videos . Very nice .
- For those who bought a GameCube , the Wii has inputs for your old controllers ( and memory cards ) and plays all your old games ( Mario Party anyone ? ) .
- Creating a Mii is a lot of fun . A game unto itself .
- The most fun you'll have in a very long time . A great party tool .
Bad points :
- For games like Wii Golf , Wii Sports and Wii Play Pool , the control is not accurate enough . I do not yet know if this is a programming issue or a physical limitation of the controllers . However the good news is that for all other games this issue is non-existent .
- The graphics feel last-gen . About the same as PlayStation 2 and original Xbox , or even worst sometimes . However Nintendo made a great job to create games that look awesome as the cartoonish look of Wii Sports doesn't need great graphics . I guess next year when programmers learn the inners of the Wii they'll come up with games that look better .
- Not much in the internet gaming space . This is needed soon ( can you image playing bowling with your parents over the Internet ? )
- Slow to launch the Internet Channel ( Opera ) , so one just gives up and goes to use the PC instead .
- You need a USA credit card to buy Wii Points , which is a bummer for people living outside the US .
- Virtual Console ( VC ) games are too expensive . A price of $2 to $5 would be acceptable and would probably sell way more titles for Nintendo .
- We should be able to download a demo of the VC games before paying for them to see if we like them .
- When you download stuff , there is no progress bar , only Mario running around , so you don't get a sense of how long things will take to download .
- There is no way to download stuff in the background while you do other things .
- Often times , the Internet connection is lost for no apparent reason .
- You can change the language of the Wii interface , but the games do not . At least Nintendo's own games should detect the current language and show players an experience in that language . To Nintendo's credit however , neither Sony or Microsoft do this .
Bottom line :
With all its minor flaws , this is the most fun my family has had in a very long time . very highly recommended .
242 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We have had our Wii since the release date and have enjoyed it thoroughly ( adults and 3 kids - ages 4 , 9 and 10 ) . Positives :
1 ) Unique gameplay with movement sensitive remotes . Our family room now has a large open area in front of the screen . The couches and chairs have been pushed to the outer parts of the room to allow movement .
1b ) Several adult relatives which would not normally touch a game console have enjoyed spending time with Wii Sports
1c ) Our neighbor kids keep coming over to play .
2 ) Effortless setup for WiFi connection
3 ) The sports game is great for a family fun night . We have often all ran down to the family room and played a quick game .
4 ) The Mii channel is more fun than you would think . Everyone who visits has to first create their own Mii which always results in everyone in the room having a good laugh .
5 ) We also have Excite Truck which is a good game , but most of it is single player . One of the modes does allow you to have two people against eachother . It must be a good game since my brother spend 13 hours one day playing it .
6 ) Many of the controls for the games are simple to figure out but take time to master . Boxing is one example where the exact motion you make and the timing of it takes a while to master .
7 ) The weather channel is nifty . Obviously you only spend about 2 minutes on it at a time , but it is cool to have .
8 ) Posting messages ( also to / from other Wiis and e-mail accounts ) is a neat feature , but we haven't used it other than to try it out .
Here are my gripes :
1 ) It has crashed perhaps 10 times . It has failed to read the sports disk several times as well which had me concerned for future robustness .
2 ) I am using a home cinema projector with a 100 screen . The graphics are not that detailed , but once you start playing the game you don't notice . ( note : I am only running with the composite video connection since I don't have the adaptor for component video yet )
3 ) My game-cube games require a game-cube controller , and mine is corded . I don't have a Wii classic controller so I can't say if these work . This is a pain since my room is now set up for wireless controlls and there is no furniture close to the Wii .
4 ) The WiFi connection seems slow .
5 ) I downloaded the free internet browser . It is about the least efficient method I have found to browse the internet . Obviously not having a keyboard is the major disadvantage . Secondly the resolution isn't very good so you frequently can't read the small text .
Summary is that it is a great family gaming system with a lot of uniqueness and a good price-point . I am looking forward to more games which really use the remote ( Wario Ware , Wii Play , etc ) . I assume that over time the usage of the remote will also improve with newer games . If you are a hard-core gamer who wants ultra realistic video and immersive graphics you probably won't be impressed with a Wii . Then again , you may be willing to pay the extra money for a PS3 .
243 4 We have had our Wii since the release date and have enjoyed it thoroughly ( adults and 3 kids - ages 4 , 9 and 10 ) . Positives :
1 ) Unique gameplay with movement sensitive remotes . Our family room now has a large open area in front of the screen . The couches and chairs have been pushed to the outer parts of the room to allow movement .
1b ) Several adult relatives which would not normally touch a game console have enjoyed spending time with Wii Sports
1c ) Our neighbor kids keep coming over to play .
2 ) Effortless setup for WiFi connection
3 ) The sports game is great for a family fun night . We have often all ran down to the family room and played a quick game .
4 ) The Mii channel is more fun than you would think . Everyone who visits has to first create their own Mii which always results in everyone in the room having a good laugh .
5 ) We also have Excite Truck which is a good game , but most of it is single player . One of the modes does allow you to have two people against eachother . It must be a good game since my brother spend 13 hours one day playing it .
6 ) Many of the controls for the games are simple to figure out but take time to master . Boxing is one example where the exact motion you make and the timing of it takes a while to master .
7 ) The weather channel is nifty . Obviously you only spend about 2 minutes on it at a time , but it is cool to have .
8 ) Posting messages ( also to / from other Wiis and e-mail accounts ) is a neat feature , but we haven't used it other than to try it out .
Here are my gripes :
1 ) It has crashed perhaps 10 times . It has failed to read the sports disk several times as well which had me concerned for future robustness .
2 ) I am using a home cinema projector with a 100 screen . The graphics are not that detailed , but once you start playing the game you don't notice . ( note : I am only running with the composite video connection since I don't have the adaptor for component video yet )
3 ) My game-cube games require a game-cube controller , and mine is corded . I don't have a Wii classic controller so I can't say if these work . This is a pain since my room is now set up for wireless controlls and there is no furniture close to the Wii .
4 ) The WiFi connection seems slow .
5 ) I downloaded the free internet browser . It is about the least efficient method I have found to browse the internet . Obviously not having a keyboard is the major disadvantage . Secondly the resolution isn't very good so you frequently can't read the small text .
Summary is that it is a great family gaming system with a lot of uniqueness and a good price-point . I am looking forward to more games which really use the remote ( Wario Ware , Wii Play , etc ) . I assume that over time the usage of the remote will also improve with newer games . If you are a hard-core gamer who wants ultra realistic video and immersive graphics you probably won't be impressed with a Wii . Then again , you may be willing to pay the extra money for a PS3 .
244 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I purchased the Wii on launch day with Zelda and Super Monkey Ball and have played each extensively [ over 30 hours in on Zelda and 6 hours in on Monkey Ball ] .
The Nintendo Wii , as most everyone knows , is attempting to innovate the gaming industry with its revolutionary motion controller [ the wiimote ] . Most sites general reviews point out the main points of the innovative controller and weaker graphics . However after playing Zelda , a game designed for gamecube , I am not upset with the Wiis power at all . The graphics are amazing , and considering the game is designed on gamecube , it can only get better .
The wiimote is very intuitive on all games I have played , although a few of the Wii Sports had a small learning curve [ I am looking at you Wii Golf ] . After a while of playing it has become second nature and I cant even think of playing a game like Zelda on the gamecube .
This is also the first time I have had my parents play a video game with me . . in . . well , I cant remember the last time my parents played a video game , period . Within the first week i've already had 4 non-gamers play the wii and love it , and I plan on exposing more .
The wii also has several other features including WiiConnect24 which utilizes wifi or wireless internet [ wifi usb adapters can be purchased if you dont have wireless and they work great , I am running one currently ] . This system checks over the internet every 15 - 30 minutes for updates or messages and will alert you with a nifty blue light if you have one . You can be friends with people by exchanging a 16 digit friend code , and then you are connected . Other features inclue the Mii setting in which you make character representations of yourselfs to play in Wii Sports [ hopefully more games coming soon ] . These can also be sent to friends . On top of these , the wii also lets you purchase older nintendo games and sega games from $5 - $10 to save on the console , and is also backwards complatable with the gamecube system and controllers .
Overall the wii is a great and innovative system with many games to come including Smash Brothers online ( which will not utilize the wiimote , sadly ) , Pokemon Online , Mario Galaxies , Metroid , and more !
245 4 I purchased the Wii on launch day with Zelda and Super Monkey Ball and have played each extensively [ over 30 hours in on Zelda and 6 hours in on Monkey Ball ] .
The Nintendo Wii , as most everyone knows , is attempting to innovate the gaming industry with its revolutionary motion controller [ the wiimote ] . Most sites general reviews point out the main points of the innovative controller and weaker graphics . However after playing Zelda , a game designed for gamecube , I am not upset with the Wiis power at all . The graphics are amazing , and considering the game is designed on gamecube , it can only get better .
The wiimote is very intuitive on all games I have played , although a few of the Wii Sports had a small learning curve [ I am looking at you Wii Golf ] . After a while of playing it has become second nature and I cant even think of playing a game like Zelda on the gamecube .
This is also the first time I have had my parents play a video game with me . . in . . well , I cant remember the last time my parents played a video game , period . Within the first week i've already had 4 non-gamers play the wii and love it , and I plan on exposing more .
The wii also has several other features including WiiConnect24 which utilizes wifi or wireless internet [ wifi usb adapters can be purchased if you dont have wireless and they work great , I am running one currently ] . This system checks over the internet every 15 - 30 minutes for updates or messages and will alert you with a nifty blue light if you have one . You can be friends with people by exchanging a 16 digit friend code , and then you are connected . Other features inclue the Mii setting in which you make character representations of yourselfs to play in Wii Sports [ hopefully more games coming soon ] . These can also be sent to friends . On top of these , the wii also lets you purchase older nintendo games and sega games from $5 - $10 to save on the console , and is also backwards complatable with the gamecube system and controllers .
Overall the wii is a great and innovative system with many games to come including Smash Brothers online ( which will not utilize the wiimote , sadly ) , Pokemon Online , Mario Galaxies , Metroid , and more !
246 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The biggest complaint I hear about the Wii is its lack of Mature content . The people who are complaining are totally missing the point . In a nutshell : if you are looking for a system that is Bleed through your eyeballs hardcore , than the Wii is not for you . If you are looking for a system that is simple , fun , and entertaining , than you've come to the right place .
PROS :
- Tons of extra downloadable content including classics from consoles past .
- Some really great games . I suggest :
The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess
and
Super Smash Bros . Brawl
- Detailed interface design . Lots of little touches that show that care and love went into the system .
- Compatible with all of your gamecube games / accessories .
- Fun for everyone , from your creepy Uncle Charlie to your emo nephew .
CONS :
- Library of games is comprised mostly of worthless mini-game collections and other mediocre software .
- As mentioned before , there isn't a whole lot for the hardcore gamer . The only example I can think of offhand is
MadWorld
but it contains enough blood , guts and language to make up for a lifetime of joy , puppies , and rainbows
- Motion control can become menial and tedious in lower-quality games .
- Graphics are lacking compared to other next-gen offerings .
Although it is a departure from the norm , the Wii manages to be is fun and worthwhile . I give it two thumbs up .
247 4 The biggest complaint I hear about the Wii is its lack of Mature content . The people who are complaining are totally missing the point . In a nutshell : if you are looking for a system that is Bleed through your eyeballs hardcore , than the Wii is not for you . If you are looking for a system that is simple , fun , and entertaining , than you've come to the right place .
PROS :
- Tons of extra downloadable content including classics from consoles past .
- Some really great games . I suggest :
The Legend of Zelda : Twilight Princess
and
Super Smash Bros . Brawl
- Detailed interface design . Lots of little touches that show that care and love went into the system .
- Compatible with all of your gamecube games / accessories .
- Fun for everyone , from your creepy Uncle Charlie to your emo nephew .
CONS :
- Library of games is comprised mostly of worthless mini-game collections and other mediocre software .
- As mentioned before , there isn't a whole lot for the hardcore gamer . The only example I can think of offhand is
MadWorld
but it contains enough blood , guts and language to make up for a lifetime of joy , puppies , and rainbows
- Motion control can become menial and tedious in lower-quality games .
- Graphics are lacking compared to other next-gen offerings .
Although it is a departure from the norm , the Wii manages to be is fun and worthwhile . I give it two thumbs up .
248 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Wow , what fun ! It's great to see a product that's so well designed . My 10 year old son is now in love with the Lego Star Wars Game , which has turned into a love for the Star War movies .
249 4 Wow , what fun ! It's great to see a product that's so well designed . My 10 year old son is now in love with the Lego Star Wars Game , which has turned into a love for the Star War movies .
253 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Why can't they ship enough of these so you can actually find one and buy it ! I'm not going to camp out at a wallmart or other store to get one right when the shipment comes in for the week . I'm a very frustrated nintendo fan and wish they would supply enough for the U.S . demand .
254 4 Why can't they ship enough of these so you can actually find one and buy it ! I'm not going to camp out at a wallmart or other store to get one right when the shipment comes in for the week . I'm a very frustrated nintendo fan and wish they would supply enough for the U.S . demand .
255 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Great game for all ages . I am in my 60 ' s and decided I wanted to get away from so much TV and keep my mind fresh . I am not a person who submits to the hype but this is all it is advertised to be . Easy to use , fun games and gets you moving . A great family activity . I even beat my daughter in a few games the first time I tried them ! ! ! Thanks Nintendo and Amazon .
256 4 Great game for all ages . I am in my 60 ' s and decided I wanted to get away from so much TV and keep my mind fresh . I am not a person who submits to the hype but this is all it is advertised to be . Easy to use , fun games and gets you moving . A great family activity . I even beat my daughter in a few games the first time I tried them ! ! ! Thanks Nintendo and Amazon .
257 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I am not a hardcore gamer . Although I have been playing video games since Pong , the Wii is the first game console I have owned . I love video games , but being a mom with three boys I don't have much time to play and when I do I like to do something that involves my family . But I was an arcade junkie in high school and college and I still enjoy blasting aliens and beating up bad guys .
However , the reason I never bought a console before because I didn't really see an advantage over PC gaming . Now , I love detailed graphics ( which is why I preferred computer games for so many years ) but to me that is not all that gaming is about . The PS3 and Xbox360 games look awesome , but when you get down to it , you are still just pressing buttons . And you can punch buttons on a PC just like the consoles . So for me there weren't enough differences between the PC and a game console to justify the extra cost of a dedicated game machine and the more expensive games . Then came the Wii .
Now for all of you that have been gaming for years - - every day of your life , for several hours a day - - I can see why you wouldn't like the Wii . All those years of training your thumbs to move little joysticks and perfecting rapid button pushing skills are mostly useless when you pick up a Wii remote . This is not the console for the hardcore gamer .
But for the rest of us , the Wii is the great equalizer .
I have tried to play video games with my boys in the past but it would take me most of the time I had to play , just to figure out how to get started . My boys were always very patient and helpful , but I'm sure that the only reason they weren't bored out of their minds was just because I was spending time with them . I doubt they got much fun from playing with me . ( Well , other than the entertainment of watching mom's characters kill themselves 30 times in a row because I kept pushing the wrong buttons . ) Now , we can actually have fun playing together . My boys have put in lots more gaming hours than I have , and the first couple of weeks we had the Wii they could beat me at just about everything . Now not only can I play , but I can sometimes obliterate them . Hee-hee .
I love the motion controls . It is not just a gimmick to me . It is much more natural and fun . Yes , playing Lego Star Wars on the PC is fun , but for a lifelong Star Wars fan like myself , getting to swing the Wii-mote around like a light saber in
Lego Star Wars : The Complete Saga
is just about worth the price of the system alone .
I am also very happy with Nintendo itself . After months of heavy use , our Wii developed a disc drive problem one week before Christmas . Now , you could say that this means it is a defective product . But I have had tons of computers and sometimes you just get a bad drive . This is why you have a warranty . Anyway , we had bought games and more Wii-motes and Nunchuks for the kids and it would really wreak our presents if the Wii wasn't there for Christmas . They explained they would do their best but there were no guarantees . To make a long story short , at absolutely no cost to me they shipped it back the repair shop , fixed it , and shipped it overnight so that it arrived on the morning of the 24th . Stuff like that makes me a lifelong fan .
The Wii is really great for wet , cold winter days when it is too miserable to go out and play . When people are sick and we can't go anywhere , we can still go bowling . ( Unfortunately , the Wii controls are very realistic and I am just as bad bowling at the virtual bowling alley as I am at the real one . ) My whole family is having a ton of fun with this . We used to spend evenings sitting watching DVD together - - now we play games together . Now , I've actually seen people complain about the fact that you can't just sit and play , but that's what I like about it the most .
We have a Tigger in our family who can't stay still for more than a few seconds at a time . Getting him to sit down and play a board game is next to impossible . We would have to call him back from across the house every time it was his turn , so having a family game night was pretty much out - - until now . Now we can play
Mario Party 8
,
Godzilla Unleashed
, or whatever and he can have fun and bounce around all he wants . Fun without the stress .
I highly recommend the Wii . You get a whole lot of bang for your buck . For the less than the price of a PS3 , I have bought the console plus 3
Wii Remote Controllers
, 3
Wii Nunchuk Controllers
, and had enough left over to buy several games . But more importantly , it has been a fun addition , beneficial addition to our family . The Wii definitely makes my lifetime list of Best Purchases I Have Ever Made .
258 4 I am not a hardcore gamer . Although I have been playing video games since Pong , the Wii is the first game console I have owned . I love video games , but being a mom with three boys I don't have much time to play and when I do I like to do something that involves my family . But I was an arcade junkie in high school and college and I still enjoy blasting aliens and beating up bad guys .
However , the reason I never bought a console before because I didn't really see an advantage over PC gaming . Now , I love detailed graphics ( which is why I preferred computer games for so many years ) but to me that is not all that gaming is about . The PS3 and Xbox360 games look awesome , but when you get down to it , you are still just pressing buttons . And you can punch buttons on a PC just like the consoles . So for me there weren't enough differences between the PC and a game console to justify the extra cost of a dedicated game machine and the more expensive games . Then came the Wii .
Now for all of you that have been gaming for years - - every day of your life , for several hours a day - - I can see why you wouldn't like the Wii . All those years of training your thumbs to move little joysticks and perfecting rapid button pushing skills are mostly useless when you pick up a Wii remote . This is not the console for the hardcore gamer .
But for the rest of us , the Wii is the great equalizer .
I have tried to play video games with my boys in the past but it would take me most of the time I had to play , just to figure out how to get started . My boys were always very patient and helpful , but I'm sure that the only reason they weren't bored out of their minds was just because I was spending time with them . I doubt they got much fun from playing with me . ( Well , other than the entertainment of watching mom's characters kill themselves 30 times in a row because I kept pushing the wrong buttons . ) Now , we can actually have fun playing together . My boys have put in lots more gaming hours than I have , and the first couple of weeks we had the Wii they could beat me at just about everything . Now not only can I play , but I can sometimes obliterate them . Hee-hee .
I love the motion controls . It is not just a gimmick to me . It is much more natural and fun . Yes , playing Lego Star Wars on the PC is fun , but for a lifelong Star Wars fan like myself , getting to swing the Wii-mote around like a light saber in
Lego Star Wars : The Complete Saga
is just about worth the price of the system alone .
I am also very happy with Nintendo itself . After months of heavy use , our Wii developed a disc drive problem one week before Christmas . Now , you could say that this means it is a defective product . But I have had tons of computers and sometimes you just get a bad drive . This is why you have a warranty . Anyway , we had bought games and more Wii-motes and Nunchuks for the kids and it would really wreak our presents if the Wii wasn't there for Christmas . They explained they would do their best but there were no guarantees . To make a long story short , at absolutely no cost to me they shipped it back the repair shop , fixed it , and shipped it overnight so that it arrived on the morning of the 24th . Stuff like that makes me a lifelong fan .
The Wii is really great for wet , cold winter days when it is too miserable to go out and play . When people are sick and we can't go anywhere , we can still go bowling . ( Unfortunately , the Wii controls are very realistic and I am just as bad bowling at the virtual bowling alley as I am at the real one . ) My whole family is having a ton of fun with this . We used to spend evenings sitting watching DVD together - - now we play games together . Now , I've actually seen people complain about the fact that you can't just sit and play , but that's what I like about it the most .
We have a Tigger in our family who can't stay still for more than a few seconds at a time . Getting him to sit down and play a board game is next to impossible . We would have to call him back from across the house every time it was his turn , so having a family game night was pretty much out - - until now . Now we can play
Mario Party 8
,
Godzilla Unleashed
, or whatever and he can have fun and bounce around all he wants . Fun without the stress .
I highly recommend the Wii . You get a whole lot of bang for your buck . For the less than the price of a PS3 , I have bought the console plus 3
Wii Remote Controllers
, 3
Wii Nunchuk Controllers
, and had enough left over to buy several games . But more importantly , it has been a fun addition , beneficial addition to our family . The Wii definitely makes my lifetime list of Best Purchases I Have Ever Made .
259 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Wii
The idea and execution of the Wii is simply amazing . I never got into video games , because hitting buttons on a controller and just sitting there is boring to me . The Wii solves this for me and is a great way to both get exercise and play a game . Being physically active is a big part of my life , and this is a way to bridge both exercise and fun . Brilliant !
The sports games that come with the Wii are cartoony and get old after a while , but they are meant to show game developers what can be done . For instance , there is a Brunswick bowling game that is more difficult and is photorealistic than the bowling game that comes with the Wii .
I'm just waiting for them to have controllers that you strap to your wrists and ankles . . .
260 4 Wii
The idea and execution of the Wii is simply amazing . I never got into video games , because hitting buttons on a controller and just sitting there is boring to me . The Wii solves this for me and is a great way to both get exercise and play a game . Being physically active is a big part of my life , and this is a way to bridge both exercise and fun . Brilliant !
The sports games that come with the Wii are cartoony and get old after a while , but they are meant to show game developers what can be done . For instance , there is a Brunswick bowling game that is more difficult and is photorealistic than the bowling game that comes with the Wii .
I'm just waiting for them to have controllers that you strap to your wrists and ankles . . .
262 4 This system is really outstanding . By now I'm sure you know that from reading the other reviews , but it's worth reiterating how rawsome it really is . It's accessible and fun for everyone , especially those who've been turned off by regular video gaming in their pasts .
Yay for such features as a remote that ' falls asleep ' when you've stopped playing and wakes up with the press of any button , allowing conservation of battery power when not playing . And for downloadable games from the past . And being able to check the weather and being able to track whose played and for how long . AND BEING ACTIVE ! The best part about this system is the activity level required to play . Instead of sitting and playing ( which is also an option ) , you stand and move and shoot and play guitar and dance on mats and sword fight and behead zombies and drive race cars . Watching is also fun , which makes this a good option for young families . Younger siblings will want to watch older ones .
This is really worth picking up if you are curios . You will find yourself discovering and re-discovering it with every new game you buy , because the Wii remote allows for so many different applications and approaches .
There are games for this system for so many different kinds of players . Even if you are not a traditional ' gamer ' and do not have other systems or been playing anything recently you will have fun with this system . Try it ! Besides , it's the cheapest one out there .
265 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Updated Review : Ended up selling this after 6 months . . . The first 2 months I had it I didn't put the remote down . It got boring really fast and it felt like I was 12 years old when I played it . Lack of games , lack of graphics , the wiimote isn't comfortable at all , overall it's not worth it . I'll be buying a PS3 soon .
266 4 Updated Review : Ended up selling this after 6 months . . . The first 2 months I had it I didn't put the remote down . It got boring really fast and it felt like I was 12 years old when I played it . Lack of games , lack of graphics , the wiimote isn't comfortable at all , overall it's not worth it . I'll be buying a PS3 soon .
267 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I finally got one of these and it was worth the wait . It comes with Wii Sports , which is fantastic because you can instantly see just what the Wii brings to the table as far as an alternative to the XBox 360 and the PS3 . Don't get me wrong , I'm not a Nintendo fanboy , I had a PS2 and an Xbox but no Gamecube , and I think all three of the next-gen systems are great , so I'm not hyping the Wii at the others ' expense , but people who compare it directly to those are missing the point . As far as graphics and processor power and all that , the Wii is behind those . But what Wii offers you is something that those can't . It's like having one of those fancy video game arcades with all the crazy virtual games that cost a buck a minute right in your living room . Heck , Wii Sports is practically like having a bowling alley in your living room . And that's just one of the five sports included ! There are control issues here and there , especially with the boxing game , but most of the problem is realizing what movements the machine is looking for and which ones it interprets as what actions in the game . All in all , I can't believe how much fun it is . I can't wait to try Zelda and to see what other great games come out in the next year . Highly recommended to anyone who likes fun .
268 4 I finally got one of these and it was worth the wait . It comes with Wii Sports , which is fantastic because you can instantly see just what the Wii brings to the table as far as an alternative to the XBox 360 and the PS3 . Don't get me wrong , I'm not a Nintendo fanboy , I had a PS2 and an Xbox but no Gamecube , and I think all three of the next-gen systems are great , so I'm not hyping the Wii at the others ' expense , but people who compare it directly to those are missing the point . As far as graphics and processor power and all that , the Wii is behind those . But what Wii offers you is something that those can't . It's like having one of those fancy video game arcades with all the crazy virtual games that cost a buck a minute right in your living room . Heck , Wii Sports is practically like having a bowling alley in your living room . And that's just one of the five sports included ! There are control issues here and there , especially with the boxing game , but most of the problem is realizing what movements the machine is looking for and which ones it interprets as what actions in the game . All in all , I can't believe how much fun it is . I can't wait to try Zelda and to see what other great games come out in the next year . Highly recommended to anyone who likes fun .
269 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My wife and I won a drawing for the opportunity to purchase the console at our local BX and although she was a little bit skeptical about this system at first , she jumped on the opportunity to purchase this hot item on everyone's Christmas list . Besides , it was all I could talk about since Nintendo first code-named it the Revolution ( which would have been a better name since the game play is so revolutionary compared to other systems ) . The system is extremely easy to setup and connect to the internet . The real simplicity however comes to the controls .
After a brief tutorial , the controller feels very natural and the innovative design truly allows you to feel like you are more in control of what your on-screen character is doing . My wife picked up on it right away as did I and now I don't know who is more addicted , her or I ! ! !
Upon first contact with the system you will notice how small and surprisingly heavy the system is . But after all , they packed a truly remarkable system into a small form factor that takes up very little space and looks very curious compared to other pricier and bulky systems .
The price was great for the system , the games seem very decently priced and of course I am psyched because I got the one thing that I wanted for Christmas already . Now I can drive by and smile at all the little fanboys twiddling their thumbs and waiting impatiently in line for a ridiculously overpriced PS3 which has VERY LITTLE AVAILABILITY and in my non-expert opinion will not likely achieve the ability to compete against the big N's remarkable offering to the current console wars .
Oh yeah , a bit of advice , grab any extra controllers you might find in the stores because we had to search extensively to find an extra controller that wasn't being sold for 3 times the amount you'd expect to pay at a retailer .
One word to sum up the WII : Awesome ! ! !
270 4 My wife and I won a drawing for the opportunity to purchase the console at our local BX and although she was a little bit skeptical about this system at first , she jumped on the opportunity to purchase this hot item on everyone's Christmas list . Besides , it was all I could talk about since Nintendo first code-named it the Revolution ( which would have been a better name since the game play is so revolutionary compared to other systems ) . The system is extremely easy to setup and connect to the internet . The real simplicity however comes to the controls .
After a brief tutorial , the controller feels very natural and the innovative design truly allows you to feel like you are more in control of what your on-screen character is doing . My wife picked up on it right away as did I and now I don't know who is more addicted , her or I ! ! !
Upon first contact with the system you will notice how small and surprisingly heavy the system is . But after all , they packed a truly remarkable system into a small form factor that takes up very little space and looks very curious compared to other pricier and bulky systems .
The price was great for the system , the games seem very decently priced and of course I am psyched because I got the one thing that I wanted for Christmas already . Now I can drive by and smile at all the little fanboys twiddling their thumbs and waiting impatiently in line for a ridiculously overpriced PS3 which has VERY LITTLE AVAILABILITY and in my non-expert opinion will not likely achieve the ability to compete against the big N's remarkable offering to the current console wars .
Oh yeah , a bit of advice , grab any extra controllers you might find in the stores because we had to search extensively to find an extra controller that wasn't being sold for 3 times the amount you'd expect to pay at a retailer .
One word to sum up the WII : Awesome ! ! !
271 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Playing the Wii is a lot of fun . I don't think anyone is going to disagree with that . The great thing is , that it has the potential to be even more fun than it is ! As game makers make games tailored to the new control system , I'm sure it will get even better , although it works really well as it is right now .
The reason I gave an overall rating of 4 stars is because of the graphics . Yes , I knew going in that the graphics wouldn't be all that great , but I was still expecting something more than what I'm getting so far . However , I'm sure that will also improve as time goes on . I guess the first round of games ( or at least the ones I have - Zelda and Tony Hawk ) aren't tailor made for the system ( I know Zelda's graphics supposedly look the same on the Gamecube ) . But as games are made specifically for the Wii , I'm sure they will look better .
Regardless , this is the most fun I've ever had playing video games . Nintendo is really onto something here . And from what I've heard , their next generation system will focus more on graphics than this one . So if you combine fun gameplay with great graphics on the next Nintendo system , you could be looking at the best video game system ever ! I can't wait !
272 4 Playing the Wii is a lot of fun . I don't think anyone is going to disagree with that . The great thing is , that it has the potential to be even more fun than it is ! As game makers make games tailored to the new control system , I'm sure it will get even better , although it works really well as it is right now .
The reason I gave an overall rating of 4 stars is because of the graphics . Yes , I knew going in that the graphics wouldn't be all that great , but I was still expecting something more than what I'm getting so far . However , I'm sure that will also improve as time goes on . I guess the first round of games ( or at least the ones I have - Zelda and Tony Hawk ) aren't tailor made for the system ( I know Zelda's graphics supposedly look the same on the Gamecube ) . But as games are made specifically for the Wii , I'm sure they will look better .
Regardless , this is the most fun I've ever had playing video games . Nintendo is really onto something here . And from what I've heard , their next generation system will focus more on graphics than this one . So if you combine fun gameplay with great graphics on the next Nintendo system , you could be looking at the best video game system ever ! I can't wait !
273 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Love this thing . I am not a video game person , although I do enjoy playing occasionally . Got one of these on a fluke and love it . A totally different experience than playing with the standard joystick found on other systems . A great selection of games you won't find anywhere else , including a catalog you can download from online . Many games also give you the ability to compete online , which adds to the fun . There are also a lot of older games , from other systems , available for just a few bucks .
If you are somebody who is looking for great graphics , this doesn't have the strongest you'll find , but it's hardly poor graphics or anything like you'd see on old school systems like Atari or Coleco Vision .
If you're looking for something different , this is a very fun system .
274 4 Love this thing . I am not a video game person , although I do enjoy playing occasionally . Got one of these on a fluke and love it . A totally different experience than playing with the standard joystick found on other systems . A great selection of games you won't find anywhere else , including a catalog you can download from online . Many games also give you the ability to compete online , which adds to the fun . There are also a lot of older games , from other systems , available for just a few bucks .
If you are somebody who is looking for great graphics , this doesn't have the strongest you'll find , but it's hardly poor graphics or anything like you'd see on old school systems like Atari or Coleco Vision .
If you're looking for something different , this is a very fun system .
275 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
We own the Wii , PS3 , Xbox360 and still play the older PS2 , Gamecube , Xbox , PSP , DS , etc . etc . consoles ( not to mention PC games ) . Since we have paid our dues , we have the right to compare .
The biggest difference of the Wii compared to the PS3 and 360 is that it offers a substantially different approach to gaming . Because the controller is designed to be moved , swung , shaken , jerked ( but not thrown at the TV ) you need to stand up , move around and use your body . That's a far cry from letting your fingers do the gaming ( like you do in a typical PS3 or 360 controller ) .
The PS3 and 360 are more powerful graphics machines . They are designed to take advantage of our new HDTVs and give us amazing graphics . You bet , they really do . Hence you pay a lot more for it . But , the Wii has proven that you really can have fun by allowing more interaction with the game's content , despite using the old ( standard ) definition TV . Critics will go on and on about how great the PS3 and 360 technology is but games are more about having FUN and less about having a romance with technology .
Furthermore , if you are a parent who's paying for your kid's gaming , then you might want to consider BALANCING the kind or themes of games your kid is playing . I have noticed that the PS3 and 360 games my kids buy are tilted towards getting their excitement up with shooting and explosions . With the Wii , the games are more of the jumping up and down , arm swinging , and body movement kind of fun .
This leads to my final observation . All the body movement required to play many ( but not all ) of the Wii games contribute a few points for anti-obesity . I'm shocked at the number of hours my kids could sit down to play games on their consoles , use their PCs , and watch TV when all I could do as a kid back in my time was to ride a bike or play ball .
250 bucks is not too much to pay for the fun the Wii provides . I hope Nintendo has got a lot of imagination up its sleeves because it take a lot of it to make more games that can really use and benefit from the Wii controller and nunchucks .
276 4 We own the Wii , PS3 , Xbox360 and still play the older PS2 , Gamecube , Xbox , PSP , DS , etc . etc . consoles ( not to mention PC games ) . Since we have paid our dues , we have the right to compare .
The biggest difference of the Wii compared to the PS3 and 360 is that it offers a substantially different approach to gaming . Because the controller is designed to be moved , swung , shaken , jerked ( but not thrown at the TV ) you need to stand up , move around and use your body . That's a far cry from letting your fingers do the gaming ( like you do in a typical PS3 or 360 controller ) .
The PS3 and 360 are more powerful graphics machines . They are designed to take advantage of our new HDTVs and give us amazing graphics . You bet , they really do . Hence you pay a lot more for it . But , the Wii has proven that you really can have fun by allowing more interaction with the game's content , despite using the old ( standard ) definition TV . Critics will go on and on about how great the PS3 and 360 technology is but games are more about having FUN and less about having a romance with technology .
Furthermore , if you are a parent who's paying for your kid's gaming , then you might want to consider BALANCING the kind or themes of games your kid is playing . I have noticed that the PS3 and 360 games my kids buy are tilted towards getting their excitement up with shooting and explosions . With the Wii , the games are more of the jumping up and down , arm swinging , and body movement kind of fun .
This leads to my final observation . All the body movement required to play many ( but not all ) of the Wii games contribute a few points for anti-obesity . I'm shocked at the number of hours my kids could sit down to play games on their consoles , use their PCs , and watch TV when all I could do as a kid back in my time was to ride a bike or play ball .
250 bucks is not too much to pay for the fun the Wii provides . I hope Nintendo has got a lot of imagination up its sleeves because it take a lot of it to make more games that can really use and benefit from the Wii controller and nunchucks .
277 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I haven't been terribly impressed by the last few years of gaming machines . In recent times I've asked myself , What ever happened to great videogame consoles like the Sega Saturn and the SNK Neo-Geo ? The last great system in my opinion was the Sega Dreamcast , which I thought was the best system of the last generation . While the PS2 and GameCube had both good libraries ( the XBox was the most overrated console in the universe ) , they didn't strike a chord with me like the machines of yesteryear .
Nintendo understands what direction to take . They know that the future of gaming is about innovative entertainment , NOT processing power . After all , how much more upgrading in hardware specs can we stomach until we finally realize we've been playing the same kind of games for years ? Everything about the Wii is NO JOKE . It's fresh and innovative . It's small . It's light . It's well-priced . It comes bundled with a game . It's accessible to all ages . It's about the fun , the interactivity , and the replay value .
At first , I thought everything about the Wii was all gimmick . I was wrong . Wii Sports , while not the most impressive graphically , has tremendous replay value ( especially with the Mii feature ) . No longer will playing Nintendo , or games in general , be called a lazy couch potato hobby . The Remote , Nunchuk , and overall motion sensor capabilities more than impressed me . I can't imagine Sony even trying to market such hardware with their shoddy parts . As for other games ? For starters , it's backwards compatible with GC games and has the Virtual Console to play classics . It has many exclusives that utilize the controller in unique ways such as Raving Rabbids , Twilight Princess , WarioWare , and Red Steel . Players have other games to look forward to such as Super Mario Galaxy , Resident Evil 4 : Wii Edition , and Super Smash Brothers Brawl .
Nintendo struggled in the late 90 ' s , but has slowly came back with the GC , GBA , DS , and now the Wii . I am downright convinced Nintendo now and will always stay true to real gaming , and am glad they are still around since SNK and Sega have backed out from the console wars years ago . I don't even care if the Wii doesn't win this generation's console wars ( though it deserves it ) . Nintendo still created the best console of them all which I'd find myself still playing with .
278 4 I haven't been terribly impressed by the last few years of gaming machines . In recent times I've asked myself , What ever happened to great videogame consoles like the Sega Saturn and the SNK Neo-Geo ? The last great system in my opinion was the Sega Dreamcast , which I thought was the best system of the last generation . While the PS2 and GameCube had both good libraries ( the XBox was the most overrated console in the universe ) , they didn't strike a chord with me like the machines of yesteryear .
Nintendo understands what direction to take . They know that the future of gaming is about innovative entertainment , NOT processing power . After all , how much more upgrading in hardware specs can we stomach until we finally realize we've been playing the same kind of games for years ? Everything about the Wii is NO JOKE . It's fresh and innovative . It's small . It's light . It's well-priced . It comes bundled with a game . It's accessible to all ages . It's about the fun , the interactivity , and the replay value .
At first , I thought everything about the Wii was all gimmick . I was wrong . Wii Sports , while not the most impressive graphically , has tremendous replay value ( especially with the Mii feature ) . No longer will playing Nintendo , or games in general , be called a lazy couch potato hobby . The Remote , Nunchuk , and overall motion sensor capabilities more than impressed me . I can't imagine Sony even trying to market such hardware with their shoddy parts . As for other games ? For starters , it's backwards compatible with GC games and has the Virtual Console to play classics . It has many exclusives that utilize the controller in unique ways such as Raving Rabbids , Twilight Princess , WarioWare , and Red Steel . Players have other games to look forward to such as Super Mario Galaxy , Resident Evil 4 : Wii Edition , and Super Smash Brothers Brawl .
Nintendo struggled in the late 90 ' s , but has slowly came back with the GC , GBA , DS , and now the Wii . I am downright convinced Nintendo now and will always stay true to real gaming , and am glad they are still around since SNK and Sega have backed out from the console wars years ago . I don't even care if the Wii doesn't win this generation's console wars ( though it deserves it ) . Nintendo still created the best console of them all which I'd find myself still playing with .
Wii ( Video Game )
This system is really outstanding . By now I'm sure you know that from reading the other reviews , but it's worth reiterating how rawsome it really is . It's accessible and fun for everyone , especially those who've been turned off by regular video gaming in their pasts .
Yay for such features as a remote that ' falls asleep ' when you've stopped playing and wakes up with the press of any button , allowing conservation of battery power when not playing . And for downloadable games from the past . And being able to check the weather and being able to track whose played and for how long . AND BEING ACTIVE ! The best part about this system is the activity level required to play . Instead of sitting and playing ( which is also an option ) , you stand and move and shoot and play guitar and dance on mats and sword fight and behead zombies and drive race cars . Watching is also fun , which makes this a good option for young families . Younger siblings will want to watch older ones .
This is really worth picking up if you are curios . You will find yourself discovering and re-discovering it with every new game you buy , because the Wii remote allows for so many different applications and approaches .
There are games for this system for so many different kinds of players . Even if you are not a traditional ' gamer ' and do not have other systems or been playing anything recently you will have fun with this system . Try it ! Besides , it's the cheapest one out there .
156 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
For the first time in my life I played video games for 8 straight hours . I am a puzzle game person . I love Tetris . I loved Dr . Mario . I like Super Mario Bros . I like games that require strategy , timing and reflexes .
I am also a quitter . I was left behind when games went to moving the camera , aiming , AND sneaking / running / walking . . . whew ! I was in the dust . I want to be challenged ; not frustrated . I want to have fun ; I am not romanced by dark shoot - ' em up games . There is also so much to be said for the difference in playing TOGETHER from watching someone else sneak / run / walk / aim / and look for an hour .
The controls are incredibly intuitive . I didn't get frustrated . The sports games are soo much fun . And cute . . . I like cute too . ( Highly recommend Rayman also . )
This is so much more satisfying than what has been left for players like me . . . Bejeweled . . . Mahjong . I was laughing out loud , for hours . I LOVE IT .
. . . also , thank you Toys R Us for handing out tickets to those waiting in line ; this is fair and it also saves those who would not be able to get one from prolonging disappointment .
261 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This system is really outstanding . By now I'm sure you know that from reading the other reviews , but it's worth reiterating how rawsome it really is . It's accessible and fun for everyone , especially those who've been turned off by regular video gaming in their pasts .
Yay for such features as a remote that ' falls asleep ' when you've stopped playing and wakes up with the press of any button , allowing conservation of battery power when not playing . And for downloadable games from the past . And being able to check the weather and being able to track whose played and for how long . AND BEING ACTIVE ! The best part about this system is the activity level required to play . Instead of sitting and playing ( which is also an option ) , you stand and move and shoot and play guitar and dance on mats and sword fight and behead zombies and drive race cars . Watching is also fun , which makes this a good option for young families . Younger siblings will want to watch older ones .
This is really worth picking up if you are curios . You will find yourself discovering and re-discovering it with every new game you buy , because the Wii remote allows for so many different applications and approaches .
There are games for this system for so many different kinds of players . Even if you are not a traditional ' gamer ' and do not have other systems or been playing anything recently you will have fun with this system . Try it ! Besides , it's the cheapest one out there .
263 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
If you want a video game system that will not encourage sitting this is the one . At first the games appeared a bit corny until you play them and realize you can really have fun with this thing and best of all . . YOU HAVE TO MOVE AROUND ! !
This is a system for all ages , young & old , a real family thing to do . Enjoy it , we do !
264 4 If you want a video game system that will not encourage sitting this is the one . At first the games appeared a bit corny until you play them and realize you can really have fun with this thing and best of all . . YOU HAVE TO MOVE AROUND ! !
This is a system for all ages , young & old , a real family thing to do . Enjoy it , we do !
Wii ( Video Game )
This video game system lives up to the hype . My friends and their families really like it , theyre all addicted to it , they all want to get their own now . One of them even wants to get one for their work .
The Wii Sports is what my friends and i play mostly so far . We love bowling and the golf . And tennis is fun too . The boxing game actually put us all in a sweat ! It was so much fun .
Last night we had a party at our friends apartment and everybody wanted to play bowling , it was hilarious , but again , GREAT FUN .
So theres one of the very very strong points about the Nintendo Wii , is that its the best multi-player / party system ever . You actually are physically apart of the game , you use the remote and swing it like a baseball bat and hit a homerun , or knock a golf ball 100 yards away or connect the analog stick nunchuck to the remote and use it to knock someone out in boxing . Its awesome .
It gets everyone involved and its most excitment ive had playing videogames ever , becouse your not just having to sit there twingling your thumbs , mashing on buttons . . . . you actually can get up , hold the remote , bring it back , and follow through like your hold a bowling ball and release the B button ( back TRIGGER ) to let the ball fly down the lane to get another strike !
I even heard theres going to be games where you can use the remote as a SWORD ! that is sweet ! I love that .
The controllers are pretty accurate and precise . And you can even adjust the senistivity of the remote and things .
When i play by myself at home , theres more to love about the Wii becouse i connect to the internet and check the weather and news on the fly . I can even get my 5 day forcast ! You can even buy the Wii Internet Channel , that lets you browse websites , which is very affordable and is a one time price of 5 dollars ( a.k.a : 500 points )
Speaking of the points , if you connect to the internet on your wii , regardless if you have the seperate INTERNET CHANNEL or not . . . Not only can you check your local , national or international weather and news , but you can go on the WII STORE and either purchase of download Wii Ware or go into the Virtual Console section and purchase and download classic beloved games like the original super mario , metroid , contra , ninja gaiden , zelda , donkey kong and much more , even sega games ! and super nintendo and nintendo 64 games !
Every week , they add more games to the catalog of classic games , so it will get even better as time goes on . . . and they add the not-so popular games too , so if you have an old hard to find favorites like Maniac Mansion or Skate Or Die 2 , its possiable those games will one day be released , besides all the popular high demanded games like Double Dragon and Mega Man .
And i must say , the Browser used for surfing the Internet Channel is easy to use , and you can do pretty much anything on your computer besides saving random things , but you can go on myspace and youtune with ease , just as an example . It uses the critically acclaimed OPERA browser and using the remote is pretty user friendly , and easy to use . You can zoom in and out of pages easily . Its a good browser and will probubly become more upgraded with features in the future , like having an equvilent to right clicking and saving images or something . Still , you can go back and forth , save links as favorites and search for stuff effortlessly . Its easy , trust me .
And did i mention the Wii has a photo center ? ? ? Yep , thats correct .
Use an SD memory card , put it into the wii sysytem , and view pictures youve taken . You can even do some basic editing and add a little bit of fun effects to them , or make a puzzle game out of one your photos .
I also found out , the photo center played my video i took at a concert . . . my camera happens to use the AVI video format and i was suprised it playing it . So the wii can play your videos ! I know for certain AVI vids are compatiable , and im sure other ones are to , like WMV probubly as well , or perhaps MPEG or MOV . Though i havent tried to edit the videos , so im not sure if you can edit a video . BUT I DOUBT IT .
The Mii chanel they have is a place where you can create your own little guy that looks like you or others , using various selection of traits , like eyes , hair , skin color , noses , height , weight , and stuff . . . pretty basic but fun , not to mention how you can adjust the size or color of those characteristics , or move them up down or whatever . Pretty customizable . But remeber , they are like cartoon-ish versions of you and others , that you can use as your player selection when you play games like Wii sports or are involved in various wii communites or online play and messaging .
Oh ya , that reminds me , you can add peoples Wii friend codes . Its a 16 digit numeric code that you have for your particular sysyem , and others can add you or you can add them to your friendlist as it were , to communicate or play against in games like madden football or pokemon or whatever other wi-fi / online compatible games .
The online play is absolutly free , but the closer the person lives to you , the better the smoothness of the experience . For example , playing someone from around your state or city has a better online experience sometimes than playing some guy living in Japan or Antartica . . . like if your playing a shooting game or a racing game . So playing people atleast in your own country might be more fluid and have a quicker connection .
But im hoping in the future that nintendo will offer an OPTIONAL premium service for a small montly that lets you have a stronger connection and access to a faster server or what not , with some extra perks , yet still offering the basic free online play . I hope they will think of that to contend with services like Xbox Live .
Remember you can have up to four controllers for the wii , not to mention it has a hidden compartment of sorts for your old gamecube controllers and memory cards , so can still use your gamecube games , like Zelda : The Wind Waker or Super Smash Brothers Mele or Mario Sunshine or whatever .
This is the most back-ward compatiable game sysytem ever , which is great . And the system actually puts you in the game ! You take aim at a the brain washed cult following in Resident Evil 4 , you blow them away with pin point accuracy . You knock the ball out of the park in Wii Sport's baseball , you make a grandslam or strike your friends out throughing a lightning fast pitch .
Speaking of Resident Evil 4 . . . . . its the first game i bought for the wii , and its beatifully dark game , with photo-realistic visuals , and horrifying characters that band together to kill you . Like the psychotic towns people and the guy with a chainsaw . . . its scary and creepy and gave me the chills . Reload your gun with a movement of the remote or swing your knife . You connect the anolog nunchuck thing to the remote and that lets you move around while the remote lets you aim with the cursor . Its awesome . The best Resident Evil game ive ever played , and the Wiis motion sensing controlls make the game so much more fun , you are more involved in blowing a freaks head off . Not to mention the fact that the remote has the the rumble vibration feature and has a small speaker on it , that makes sounds for various moves you make , for various games , like hearing the clang of two swords meeting in battle . Very very cool , talk about your surround sound .
The Wii is the greatest system ever made becouse it gives everyone the chance to have so much fun , and thats what its all about . . . FUN . . . and getting everyone involved . . . your friends and family . It actually makes video games an EVENT , me and my friends are actually excited about video games more than ever now . Parents , bosses , grandparents , kids . . everyone can pick up and play and inevitably love the Wii . Its so inviting and easy to use . Its great . Its the great gameing system ive ever seen , thats very affordable and state of the art at the same time , really revolutionising and changing the way we all look at video games now .
This is TRULY video gameing for the new millinium , for the future , for the 21st century . No more sitting on around pushing on buttons alone . Now when you pick up that sword , bat , or machine gun , that machine gun is in your hands , and what you do with it and how you use it is all up to you . Actually swing that sword , actually smack that ball , actually reload your gun .
Mark my words . . . Wii Will Rock You ! ! ! !
011 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Just picked this up during the midnight launch at Wal-mart , so far it's 3 : 45AM PST and I have to say that I'm totally impressed by Nintendo's latest effort though at first the new control may feel foreign after not more than just a few minutes it feels natural incredibly fun and after a little bit you'll never feel like going back to a regular controller again . I asked my cousin who was w / me during the launch if he'd get a Wii and he said no , but that all changed as we hooked it up and started playing Wii sports . All of a sudden it went from no to what games are there etc . Try this and I guarauntee ( * sp ) that you will be impressed by this revolutionary new system that places gameplay above nice shiny eye candy which unless you've been living under a rock should know by now that that's not what the Wii's all about . I just also wanted to add that I'm not just some Nintendo fanboy trying to butter this system up as I also own a 360 and also plan on owning a PS3 when the right games come out for it , pure and simple I am a gamer and don't care for one particular system over another as long as it has the games to back it up . For those that are skeptical stop doubting this is the real deal and at a price ( $250 ) that can't be beat by any of Nintendo's competitors this is something that will entertain the entire family regardless of age , gender etc . For about $350 I picked up an extra controller set ( wii remote and nunchaku ) and a copy of Zelda ( try getting anywhere near that much w / any other system ) . I'll admit that when Nintendo had finally shared its strategy to the world a while back I was skeptical as well until I saw the videos for it and knew from than on that Nintendo was truly onto something great . Another cool note is that if you have a Gamecube controller lying around you can actually use that for playing the library of old school games that come from the Wii shop ( which can be purchased w / Wii points ) instead having to go out and buy the new Wii retro controller ( nice touch ) some old school games can also simply be played w / the remote . Also unlike the almighty Microsoft point the Wii points are on equal terms w / the dollar so 100 Wii points equals $1 etc . You can purchase those online in the Wii shop by 1000 point increments ( I believe ) up to 5000 points . Prices for NES games are 500 points 800 points for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo games and 1000 points for N64 games . Right now though the library is fairly limited offering no more than a few titles ( no more than 5 ) for each console . The bottomline though is don't miss out on this revolutionary product it is definately worth at least a try before you dismiss it as a clever gimmick and is truly one of the best systems to come out in years ( IMO ) and a breath of fresh air to the staleness which are controllers .
Additional features include Wi-fi for wireless connection , 4 Gamecube control ports , 2 USB ports , 2 Gamecube memory card slots and extra slots for SD flash cards ( doesn't accept anything else like Memorysticks ) so you can view your pictures on the Wii for instance .
012 4 Just picked this up during the midnight launch at Wal-mart , so far it's 3 : 45AM PST and I have to say that I'm totally impressed by Nintendo's latest effort though at first the new control may feel foreign after not more than just a few minutes it feels natural incredibly fun and after a little bit you'll never feel like going back to a regular controller again . I asked my cousin who was w / me during the launch if he'd get a Wii and he said no , but that all changed as we hooked it up and started playing Wii sports . All of a sudden it went from no to what games are there etc . Try this and I guarauntee ( * sp ) that you will be impressed by this revolutionary new system that places gameplay above nice shiny eye candy which unless you've been living under a rock should know by now that that's not what the Wii's all about . I just also wanted to add that I'm not just some Nintendo fanboy trying to butter this system up as I also own a 360 and also plan on owning a PS3 when the right games come out for it , pure and simple I am a gamer and don't care for one particular system over another as long as it has the games to back it up . For those that are skeptical stop doubting this is the real deal and at a price ( $250 ) that can't be beat by any of Nintendo's competitors this is something that will entertain the entire family regardless of age , gender etc . For about $350 I picked up an extra controller set ( wii remote and nunchaku ) and a copy of Zelda ( try getting anywhere near that much w / any other system ) . I'll admit that when Nintendo had finally shared its strategy to the world a while back I was skeptical as well until I saw the videos for it and knew from than on that Nintendo was truly onto something great . Another cool note is that if you have a Gamecube controller lying around you can actually use that for playing the library of old school games that come from the Wii shop ( which can be purchased w / Wii points ) instead having to go out and buy the new Wii retro controller ( nice touch ) some old school games can also simply be played w / the remote . Also unlike the almighty Microsoft point the Wii points are on equal terms w / the dollar so 100 Wii points equals $1 etc . You can purchase those online in the Wii shop by 1000 point increments ( I believe ) up to 5000 points . Prices for NES games are 500 points 800 points for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo games and 1000 points for N64 games . Right now though the library is fairly limited offering no more than a few titles ( no more than 5 ) for each console . The bottomline though is don't miss out on this revolutionary product it is definately worth at least a try before you dismiss it as a clever gimmick and is truly one of the best systems to come out in years ( IMO ) and a breath of fresh air to the staleness which are controllers .
Additional features include Wi-fi for wireless connection , 4 Gamecube control ports , 2 USB ports , 2 Gamecube memory card slots and extra slots for SD flash cards ( doesn't accept anything else like Memorysticks ) so you can view your pictures on the Wii for instance .
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This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I have to say first off that I am professor that teaches digital media at SMWC.edu ( look it up if you want ) , it wasnt going to be long before I had to pick up the next gen consoles and start really looking at them physically for next semesters classes on interactive design . Ive read the stats for months now , know the pros and cons of all of them , can talk long winded hours on each of them . They all have their strengths . However , standing here , in my living room , roughly 3 days after hooking up the wii next to the other two next gens , and watching the reaction it gets from my friends , their kids , even their wives / husbands . . . its really hands down as far as which is getting more traffic .
Now we know the graphics arguement . But you really REALLY have to consider this thought process . . . . what do graphics matter if the game play is no different then it was on the past generation ? If there is no difference in response , in condition , then the development is purely surface . A common theory is that we have entered into a stage of development where we dont create new , we simply improve upon the old .
Wii may be an improvement on old concepts , but it is a new . It is not simply wireless remote with tilt response . it is a vast responsive system . It measures speed , and angle , gyration . its connection to the system is very tight . I had my doubts about how responsive it would be . . I was foolish to doubt .
Going back to graphics and game play . The demo disc ( wii sports ) that was included is a good example of group play . Bowling and golf are very strong titles , offering complex control of your tilt and curve of your remote . In bowling , A friend of mine has a wicked slice and was able to simulate that perfectly by going through the same motions he does when he bowls . Same story with golf .
Tennis and Baseball is about your swing . You dont control the physical movement of your player , done automatically , but it shows the potential . Also your pitch is influence by your throw style as well .
Boxing requires the most response from the control system , and for the most part delivers . In the heat of the fight , you tend to move less controlled , and the remote wont throw a punch unless it is a solid punch / jab , so half-a * * punchs dont always register . . . DONT TAKE THIS the wrong way , its very minor and not often this happens .
Again , the graphics are not PS3 / 360 level . . . but why do they need to be . We arent talking atari 4600 or ps1 level here . We are talking crisp graphics that even the ps2 would have balked at . smooth lines , blurs , clean . Its nice and eye pleasing .
Outside the game , you can make your own avatar ( mii ) for you and your friends , if you have internet , you can set them to wander other systems , and in the end you can even have mii visitors . The virtual console channel ( its all set around channels ) lets you buy new games from older consoles , so if you have the option , buy the classic controller ( it hooks to the remote , so its wireless ) too . cost is no more then [ . . ] per game , so enjoy the potential that is supposed to grow weekly ( wait and see ) . More channels like weather , news , and browser , are to be unlocked through january . . . here's hoping for more .
So , if I didnt own all of them what would I do ? Buy the wii first . BEST all around FUN machine . The graphics are pretty , the game play is tight , and the enjoyment certainly lasted a LOT longer then it did on the others . More then this , it fulfilled its promise , people who arent gamers were playing , laughing , and having fun . And then they did something else , they wanted to come back and play it more .
020 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I have to say first off that I am professor that teaches digital media at SMWC.edu ( look it up if you want ) , it wasnt going to be long before I had to pick up the next gen consoles and start really looking at them physically for next semesters classes on interactive design . Ive read the stats for months now , know the pros and cons of all of them , can talk long winded hours on each of them . They all have their strengths . However , standing here , in my living room , roughly 3 days after hooking up the wii next to the other two next gens , and watching the reaction it gets from my friends , their kids , even their wives / husbands . . . its really hands down as far as which is getting more traffic .
Now we know the graphics arguement . But you really REALLY have to consider this thought process . . . . what do graphics matter if the game play is no different then it was on the past generation ? If there is no difference in response , in condition , then the development is purely surface . A common theory is that we have entered into a stage of development where we dont create new , we simply improve upon the old .
Wii may be an improvement on old concepts , but it is a new . It is not simply wireless remote with tilt response . it is a vast responsive system . It measures speed , and angle , gyration . its connection to the system is very tight . I had my doubts about how responsive it would be . . I was foolish to doubt .
Going back to graphics and game play . The demo disc ( wii sports ) that was included is a good example of group play . Bowling and golf are very strong titles , offering complex control of your tilt and curve of your remote . In bowling , A friend of mine has a wicked slice and was able to simulate that perfectly by going through the same motions he does when he bowls . Same story with golf .
Tennis and Baseball is about your swing . You dont control the physical movement of your player , done automatically , but it shows the potential . Also your pitch is influence by your throw style as well .
Boxing requires the most response from the control system , and for the most part delivers . In the heat of the fight , you tend to move less controlled , and the remote wont throw a punch unless it is a solid punch / jab , so half-a * * punchs dont always register . . . DONT TAKE THIS the wrong way , its very minor and not often this happens .
Again , the graphics are not PS3 / 360 level . . . but why do they need to be . We arent talking atari 4600 or ps1 level here . We are talking crisp graphics that even the ps2 would have balked at . smooth lines , blurs , clean . Its nice and eye pleasing .
Outside the game , you can make your own avatar ( mii ) for you and your friends , if you have internet , you can set them to wander other systems , and in the end you can even have mii visitors . The virtual console channel ( its all set around channels ) lets you buy new games from older consoles , so if you have the option , buy the classic controller ( it hooks to the remote , so its wireless ) too . cost is no more then [ . . ] per game , so enjoy the potential that is supposed to grow weekly ( wait and see ) . More channels like weather , news , and browser , are to be unlocked through january . . . here's hoping for more .
So , if I didnt own all of them what would I do ? Buy the wii first . BEST all around FUN machine . The graphics are pretty , the game play is tight , and the enjoyment certainly lasted a LOT longer then it did on the others . More then this , it fulfilled its promise , people who arent gamers were playing , laughing , and having fun . And then they did something else , they wanted to come back and play it more .
021 4 I have to say first off that I am professor that teaches digital media at SMWC.edu ( look it up if you want ) , it wasnt going to be long before I had to pick up the next gen consoles and start really looking at them physically for next semesters classes on interactive design . Ive read the stats for months now , know the pros and cons of all of them , can talk long winded hours on each of them . They all have their strengths . However , standing here , in my living room , roughly 3 days after hooking up the wii next to the other two next gens , and watching the reaction it gets from my friends , their kids , even their wives / husbands . . . its really hands down as far as which is getting more traffic .
Now we know the graphics arguement . But you really REALLY have to consider this thought process . . . . what do graphics matter if the game play is no different then it was on the past generation ? If there is no difference in response , in condition , then the development is purely surface . A common theory is that we have entered into a stage of development where we dont create new , we simply improve upon the old .
Wii may be an improvement on old concepts , but it is a new . It is not simply wireless remote with tilt response . it is a vast responsive system . It measures speed , and angle , gyration . its connection to the system is very tight . I had my doubts about how responsive it would be . . I was foolish to doubt .
Going back to graphics and game play . The demo disc ( wii sports ) that was included is a good example of group play . Bowling and golf are very strong titles , offering complex control of your tilt and curve of your remote . In bowling , A friend of mine has a wicked slice and was able to simulate that perfectly by going through the same motions he does when he bowls . Same story with golf .
Tennis and Baseball is about your swing . You dont control the physical movement of your player , done automatically , but it shows the potential . Also your pitch is influence by your throw style as well .
Boxing requires the most response from the control system , and for the most part delivers . In the heat of the fight , you tend to move less controlled , and the remote wont throw a punch unless it is a solid punch / jab , so half-a * * punchs dont always register . . . DONT TAKE THIS the wrong way , its very minor and not often this happens .
Again , the graphics are not PS3 / 360 level . . . but why do they need to be . We arent talking atari 4600 or ps1 level here . We are talking crisp graphics that even the ps2 would have balked at . smooth lines , blurs , clean . Its nice and eye pleasing .
Outside the game , you can make your own avatar ( mii ) for you and your friends , if you have internet , you can set them to wander other systems , and in the end you can even have mii visitors . The virtual console channel ( its all set around channels ) lets you buy new games from older consoles , so if you have the option , buy the classic controller ( it hooks to the remote , so its wireless ) too . cost is no more then [ . . ] per game , so enjoy the potential that is supposed to grow weekly ( wait and see ) . More channels like weather , news , and browser , are to be unlocked through january . . . here's hoping for more .
So , if I didnt own all of them what would I do ? Buy the wii first . BEST all around FUN machine . The graphics are pretty , the game play is tight , and the enjoyment certainly lasted a LOT longer then it did on the others . More then this , it fulfilled its promise , people who arent gamers were playing , laughing , and having fun . And then they did something else , they wanted to come back and play it more .
028 4 I figured there's so many people writing BS reviews I'd throw a real review up . I picked mine up at Wal-Mart , and I'm JUST reviewing the system + Wii Sports ( haven't played the other games ) .
What can I say . . . . this is . . GREAT .
But you only gave it 4 Stars ! , you may be saying ( or maybe not ) .
Well , yeah , I did . There are some issues , particularly with the Wiimote . . . it seems a little . . . touchy . And this MAY be user error , or may require another firmware update . Honestly , if I could , I'd give it * * * * 1 / 2 or * * * * 3 / 4 . But without playing any other games , I can't give just the console itself a solid * * * * * rating . . . yet . : - )
One thing I can say regarding the Wiimote and Sensor bar : Experiment . Find what works . I may still have some more playing to do before I can get it just right .
Another minor letdown is the UI . I consider myself fairly intuitive with user interfaces , and there were a few spots that had me scratching my head . Nothing major , but I'd like to see this cleaned up in a later release of the firmware .
The console itself is physically stunning . . . I'm serious . This machine is a beautiful , elegant example of engineering . The Wiimote and Nunchuck are virtually weightless . I barely felt they were there . The console itself is beautiful . Much better looking than the PS3 .
As I said , the only game I've played so far is Wii Sports . . . it's the perfect pack in for the Wii . The only word to describe this game is FUN ! I've played through all the games , and the Tennis and boxing games are my favorites . Bowling's kinda lame , and golf is okay . Baseball is fun too . Overall , a great package . I know they say you can sit on the couch and make small movements , but . . . no . . . GET UP AND MOVE ! : - )
Overall , I'm happy with my purchase , and I highly recommend picking one up . I've also got Zelda , Rayman , Trauma Center , and Super Monkey Ball to go through , and I will review those as well .
033 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I don't think it is fair to compare the Wii to the more pricey Xbox 360 or the PS 3 . There is no question that the graphics in the two latter systems are superior to that of the Wii's . However , what I can tell you from my personal experience of being a Wii owner now for about 36 hours is that after 5 minutes of playing the tennis game that's part of the Wii Sports disc that's included with the console is that THE GRAPHICS REALLY DON'T MATTER ! I have found that this NEW INTERACTIVE style of gaming has gotten me so involved in the game and acquiring the skills to improve my rating that the graphics just aren't a factor . This qaming system gets you involved beyond sitting in a chair holding a controller . In fact , the best way to play this tennis game is to STAND UP and pretend your controller is a tennis racket and swing your forehands and backhands just as you would if you were really playing tennis . Of course if you want to just sit there , you can but I'm telling you this game really promotes involvement and immersement like I never dreamed was possible for a video game .
Nintendo has really created a NEW DIMENSION IN GAMING with this interactive style of play . I tried to get a PS3 on launch day and couldn't . I spoke to my 18 year old son who's an incredible gamer and he told me about what he had heard about the soon-to-be-launched Wii . I am really glad I looked into it and bought . I'm sure the other systems are great and in terms of graphics , are far more advanced than the Wii . However , I am very happy with this and I paid less for the system , extra controllers , and three extra games than I would have paid for the PS3 console alone , had I been able to get one .
If you can , for 5 minutes , look beyond the antiquated graphics and see the Wii for what it really is ; a new INTERACTIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE and appreciate it for this then you'll conclude that Nintendo has really done much more in terms of breakthrough technology than either Sony or Microsoft . Sony and Microsoft created games that access EXISTING HDTV technology . Nintendo has accomplished far more in that they have seemingly INVENTED A NEW TECHNOLOGY or at least created a gaming system that shows that Nintendo's engineers really thought out of the box to bring player involvement in the game to a level never before achieved .
Also , from what I understand this system will play all previouisly released Nintendo games . . . remember Mario Brothers ? I haven't tried it but I think that's par of the claim .
034 4 I don't think it is fair to compare the Wii to the more pricey Xbox 360 or the PS 3 . There is no question that the graphics in the two latter systems are superior to that of the Wii's . However , what I can tell you from my personal experience of being a Wii owner now for about 36 hours is that after 5 minutes of playing the tennis game that's part of the Wii Sports disc that's included with the console is that THE GRAPHICS REALLY DON'T MATTER ! I have found that this NEW INTERACTIVE style of gaming has gotten me so involved in the game and acquiring the skills to improve my rating that the graphics just aren't a factor . This qaming system gets you involved beyond sitting in a chair holding a controller . In fact , the best way to play this tennis game is to STAND UP and pretend your controller is a tennis racket and swing your forehands and backhands just as you would if you were really playing tennis . Of course if you want to just sit there , you can but I'm telling you this game really promotes involvement and immersement like I never dreamed was possible for a video game .
Nintendo has really created a NEW DIMENSION IN GAMING with this interactive style of play . I tried to get a PS3 on launch day and couldn't . I spoke to my 18 year old son who's an incredible gamer and he told me about what he had heard about the soon-to-be-launched Wii . I am really glad I looked into it and bought . I'm sure the other systems are great and in terms of graphics , are far more advanced than the Wii . However , I am very happy with this and I paid less for the system , extra controllers , and three extra games than I would have paid for the PS3 console alone , had I been able to get one .
If you can , for 5 minutes , look beyond the antiquated graphics and see the Wii for what it really is ; a new INTERACTIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE and appreciate it for this then you'll conclude that Nintendo has really done much more in terms of breakthrough technology than either Sony or Microsoft . Sony and Microsoft created games that access EXISTING HDTV technology . Nintendo has accomplished far more in that they have seemingly INVENTED A NEW TECHNOLOGY or at least created a gaming system that shows that Nintendo's engineers really thought out of the box to bring player involvement in the game to a level never before achieved .
Also , from what I understand this system will play all previouisly released Nintendo games . . . remember Mario Brothers ? I haven't tried it but I think that's par of the claim .
055 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Simply blown away . I must admit , I rarely write reviews , but with consoles being so pricey , we all need to hear enough info to make a decision on which one to go for . I picked up a Wii on Launch Day - 11 / 19 along with Zelda Twilight Princess , and here's my take :
This is the MOST sensory encompassing video game experience to date . Pure user interface genious . You WILL feel more like you are in-the-game than EVER before !
- For the novice :
You have to deal with no more than two buttons in each hand ( most of the time ) , one control stick , and a few wrist flicks . While the motion sensitive activies change the range of motion ( sword attacks take different motion swings than shooting an arrow , or fishing ) , the motion is how you would think it would be - - I'm pulling and winding my reel when fishing , and swinging my arm and stabbing when sword fighting . Don't worry , the beginning is basically a tutorial teaching you how to use the controller ( although , the fishing explanation confused me , not having played the last two Zelda games - - if you get stuck , try dropping your rod in the water , waiting for the bobber to go under , then yank the remote back toward you like you're trying to pull in a big fish ) .
- For the hardcore gamer :
You have 4 motion sensing moves across 2 hands , doubled when you have A-button pressed , plus they change for each weapon / item , providing you a wide range of activities to master . Plus the IR sensor provides a target to shoot slingshot bullets and other ranged weapons . Also , there are + / - , 1 , 2 buttons for maps , menu options , and other utility screens .
- For the socialite :
The Wii has a message system , digital avatars which you can share with your friends and parade around , a digital photo sharing system , and soon weather and news headlines across the country .
- Cons :
Message System : Text typing is tedious - - Nintendo needs a word recognition program similar to cell phones .
Remote Control : Recommended distance from the sensor is 2 ' - 8 ' . My couch is ~ 12 ' - 15 ' . The control actually works suitably from that range except for the IR sensor . The screen target , moved by the IR on the front of the remote , jiggles due to the distance .
Weather & News Aren't Available Yet : It says I need to download an update , but when I do , it then says there is none to download . ( I expect Nintendo will fix this soon enough w / a software patch ) .
4 - Player Mayhem : I have yet to test four adults jammed together in the 2 ' - 8 ' fan of controller recognition space while flailing their arms to work the motion sensor and see if it works flawlessly . I'm worried about my 6 ' , 250lb buddies bumping into each other as they use the motion sensors . We'll see . . .
- Overall :
While the graphics pale in comparison to the PS3 , the new user interface makes you feel more into the game than EVER before . You don't get the best of both worlds with the SIXAXIS controller of the PS3 - - it just can't do the motion sensing like two separate controls - remote & nunchuk can provide . This has really rejuvinated my gaming desire more than any other launch system . All these years , we've been getting graphical facelifts , when finally , Nintendo has decided to perform a complete body overhaul . Graphics aren't the only important aspect of gaming - - don't believe me ? Try the Wii .
- Tips :
1 ) Gamecube controllers and memnory cards are ONLY used for GC games . You can't use the Wii controller , nor it's internal 512MB memory .
2 ) Wii Classic controller is used with a remote to wirelessly play the classic games that you download - - Nintendo , SNES , Genesis , Turbographics 16 , N64 . But you can use the gamecube controllers to play the classic games .
3 ) Any SD memory card will work - - you don't need any special Wii only card that costs $ $ $ because it has Wii stamped on the packaging .
4 ) It has plenty of parental controls to make sure your kids are only talking to their friends , and to prevent them from buying every virtual console game listed there without your password .
056 4 Simply blown away . I must admit , I rarely write reviews , but with consoles being so pricey , we all need to hear enough info to make a decision on which one to go for . I picked up a Wii on Launch Day - 11 / 19 along with Zelda Twilight Princess , and here's my take :
This is the MOST sensory encompassing video game experience to date . Pure user interface genious . You WILL feel more like you are in-the-game than EVER before !
- For the novice :
You have to deal with no more than two buttons in each hand ( most of the time ) , one control stick , and a few wrist flicks . While the motion sensitive activies change the range of motion ( sword attacks take different motion swings than shooting an arrow , or fishing ) , the motion is how you would think it would be - - I'm pulling and winding my reel when fishing , and swinging my arm and stabbing when sword fighting . Don't worry , the beginning is basically a tutorial teaching you how to use the controller ( although , the fishing explanation confused me , not having played the last two Zelda games - - if you get stuck , try dropping your rod in the water , waiting for the bobber to go under , then yank the remote back toward you like you're trying to pull in a big fish ) .
- For the hardcore gamer :
You have 4 motion sensing moves across 2 hands , doubled when you have A-button pressed , plus they change for each weapon / item , providing you a wide range of activities to master . Plus the IR sensor provides a target to shoot slingshot bullets and other ranged weapons . Also , there are + / - , 1 , 2 buttons for maps , menu options , and other utility screens .
- For the socialite :
The Wii has a message system , digital avatars which you can share with your friends and parade around , a digital photo sharing system , and soon weather and news headlines across the country .
- Cons :
Message System : Text typing is tedious - - Nintendo needs a word recognition program similar to cell phones .
Remote Control : Recommended distance from the sensor is 2 ' - 8 ' . My couch is ~ 12 ' - 15 ' . The control actually works suitably from that range except for the IR sensor . The screen target , moved by the IR on the front of the remote , jiggles due to the distance .
Weather & News Aren't Available Yet : It says I need to download an update , but when I do , it then says there is none to download . ( I expect Nintendo will fix this soon enough w / a software patch ) .
4 - Player Mayhem : I have yet to test four adults jammed together in the 2 ' - 8 ' fan of controller recognition space while flailing their arms to work the motion sensor and see if it works flawlessly . I'm worried about my 6 ' , 250lb buddies bumping into each other as they use the motion sensors . We'll see . . .
- Overall :
While the graphics pale in comparison to the PS3 , the new user interface makes you feel more into the game than EVER before . You don't get the best of both worlds with the SIXAXIS controller of the PS3 - - it just can't do the motion sensing like two separate controls - remote & nunchuk can provide . This has really rejuvinated my gaming desire more than any other launch system . All these years , we've been getting graphical facelifts , when finally , Nintendo has decided to perform a complete body overhaul . Graphics aren't the only important aspect of gaming - - don't believe me ? Try the Wii .
- Tips :
1 ) Gamecube controllers and memnory cards are ONLY used for GC games . You can't use the Wii controller , nor it's internal 512MB memory .
2 ) Wii Classic controller is used with a remote to wirelessly play the classic games that you download - - Nintendo , SNES , Genesis , Turbographics 16 , N64 . But you can use the gamecube controllers to play the classic games .
3 ) Any SD memory card will work - - you don't need any special Wii only card that costs $ $ $ because it has Wii stamped on the packaging .
4 ) It has plenty of parental controls to make sure your kids are only talking to their friends , and to prevent them from buying every virtual console game listed there without your password .
065 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
MY EXPERIENCE
Console is super easy to use , just piug it in and follow the on-screen instruction . You don't even have to read the manuals . Using the special controller is natural and takes only a few minutes to figure out .
Here are some important tips :
* The Wii Sports pack in allows you to play multiple players off a single remote on Golf and Bowling . For Tennis and Baseball you will need at least two Wii remotes to play multiplayer . Boxing is the only Wii Sports game that requires the add-on numchuck controller so if you can't find an extra numchuck don't let it ruin your day .
* The Wii classic controller is a waste of money . The classic controller seves only one purpose , to work with the virtual console . The virtual console is part of the Wii on-line experiencing where you can pay to purchase classic games like Mario 64 , Donkey Kong , Sonic , Bonk , etc . . . You can not use the classic controller with Gamecube games , however you can use a Gamecube controller in place of the classic controller , so instead of paying all that money for a classic Wii controller , just buy a few Gamecube controllers !
* The Wii store is not very developed yet . The Opera web browser is not available yet ( it's early Dec ) and there are only a couple dozen classic gamnes to pick from at this point to use Wii Points to buy .
TIPS AND BUYING
TARGET , BEST BUY , TOYS R US and CIRCUIT CITY . These retailers accepted Nintendo's charter and sticking to the plan , they are holding Wii systems when they arrive and then making them available to customers at an available upon request available date . Walmart has signs posted in their bigger stores advertising an available date for their next shipment .
All retailers are also helping out their staff , making units available to employees . So if you want one , find out when new stock is arriving and be willing to wait in line . If you can't use EBay and pay out a few extra hundred for someone else's time waiting in line . If that's a problem then accept that you won't get one . Retailers aren't putting them out when stock arrives , so you can't just mozzy into a TARGET after work and expect to maybe find one , by holding the stock back retailers and preventing this from happening .
* The controllers are also hard to find , but retailers are putting them out when they arrive . Often time systems arrive with the controllers , I've noticed a trend , where there are controllers on the shelf often there are Wiis in the back being held for a specific self date . Don't try to haggle for one though , the best you can hope for is to get a date they will make them available for sale .
WILL HISTORY REPEAT ( PS3 to go the way of the 7800 and Neo Geo ? )
When Nintendo introduced the NES back in 1985 the video game industry was a bit like today . Atari was suffering because they had gotten into a rut of producing the same type of games over and over again ( sound familiar Playstation fans ? ) , in their quest to build a better game console Atari engineered the 2600 ' s replacement , the 7800 . It would have awesome graphics , it would target the high end of the market and it would cost a lot . But the 7800 was almost dead on arrival , In the early 80 ' s game market gone stale , Nintendo released the NES , with it's packed in laser light gun and optional robot bundle , it was part gimmick , part innovation , but unquestionably it was 100% fun .
Fast forward twenty years later . Nintendo's lost their dominance , now we have professional gamers and owning the latest console is like having the latest designer sports shoes , it's a cultural thing .
But just like the 80 ' s , gamers are starting to wonder what's next . 3D graphics are now on their third ( or fourth ) generation , we're nearing photo realistic real-time quality . Gamers want something more than a high price tag and flashy graphics . If you would have pulled someone aside in 1984 and told them Atari is going to get their but kicked and their next system is going to flop you would be laughed at . Sony Playstation fans may do the same thing now , but what Nintendo has done with the Wii is amazing . They have turned the clock back and returned the fun to gaming , they've given us something new yet retro enough to be hip at the same time .
Forget the N64 and the Gamecube , let's move back to the dominate days of the SNES , Wii isn't embarssing in the slightest , it remains Nintendo cute , but is carefully designed to be modern . In an age when professional gamers stick to suped up PCs and the consoles are getting old , Nintendo has stepped and as made the console new again .
066 4 MY EXPERIENCE
Console is super easy to use , just piug it in and follow the on-screen instruction . You don't even have to read the manuals . Using the special controller is natural and takes only a few minutes to figure out .
Here are some important tips :
* The Wii Sports pack in allows you to play multiple players off a single remote on Golf and Bowling . For Tennis and Baseball you will need at least two Wii remotes to play multiplayer . Boxing is the only Wii Sports game that requires the add-on numchuck controller so if you can't find an extra numchuck don't let it ruin your day .
* The Wii classic controller is a waste of money . The classic controller seves only one purpose , to work with the virtual console . The virtual console is part of the Wii on-line experiencing where you can pay to purchase classic games like Mario 64 , Donkey Kong , Sonic , Bonk , etc . . . You can not use the classic controller with Gamecube games , however you can use a Gamecube controller in place of the classic controller , so instead of paying all that money for a classic Wii controller , just buy a few Gamecube controllers !
* The Wii store is not very developed yet . The Opera web browser is not available yet ( it's early Dec ) and there are only a couple dozen classic gamnes to pick from at this point to use Wii Points to buy .
TIPS AND BUYING
TARGET , BEST BUY , TOYS R US and CIRCUIT CITY . These retailers accepted Nintendo's charter and sticking to the plan , they are holding Wii systems when they arrive and then making them available to customers at an available upon request available date . Walmart has signs posted in their bigger stores advertising an available date for their next shipment .
All retailers are also helping out their staff , making units available to employees . So if you want one , find out when new stock is arriving and be willing to wait in line . If you can't use EBay and pay out a few extra hundred for someone else's time waiting in line . If that's a problem then accept that you won't get one . Retailers aren't putting them out when stock arrives , so you can't just mozzy into a TARGET after work and expect to maybe find one , by holding the stock back retailers and preventing this from happening .
* The controllers are also hard to find , but retailers are putting them out when they arrive . Often time systems arrive with the controllers , I've noticed a trend , where there are controllers on the shelf often there are Wiis in the back being held for a specific self date . Don't try to haggle for one though , the best you can hope for is to get a date they will make them available for sale .
WILL HISTORY REPEAT ( PS3 to go the way of the 7800 and Neo Geo ? )
When Nintendo introduced the NES back in 1985 the video game industry was a bit like today . Atari was suffering because they had gotten into a rut of producing the same type of games over and over again ( sound familiar Playstation fans ? ) , in their quest to build a better game console Atari engineered the 2600 ' s replacement , the 7800 . It would have awesome graphics , it would target the high end of the market and it would cost a lot . But the 7800 was almost dead on arrival , In the early 80 ' s game market gone stale , Nintendo released the NES , with it's packed in laser light gun and optional robot bundle , it was part gimmick , part innovation , but unquestionably it was 100% fun .
Fast forward twenty years later . Nintendo's lost their dominance , now we have professional gamers and owning the latest console is like having the latest designer sports shoes , it's a cultural thing .
But just like the 80 ' s , gamers are starting to wonder what's next . 3D graphics are now on their third ( or fourth ) generation , we're nearing photo realistic real-time quality . Gamers want something more than a high price tag and flashy graphics . If you would have pulled someone aside in 1984 and told them Atari is going to get their but kicked and their next system is going to flop you would be laughed at . Sony Playstation fans may do the same thing now , but what Nintendo has done with the Wii is amazing . They have turned the clock back and returned the fun to gaming , they've given us something new yet retro enough to be hip at the same time .
Forget the N64 and the Gamecube , let's move back to the dominate days of the SNES , Wii isn't embarssing in the slightest , it remains Nintendo cute , but is carefully designed to be modern . In an age when professional gamers stick to suped up PCs and the consoles are getting old , Nintendo has stepped and as made the console new again .
069 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
My family and their extended relatives came over today for a late New Year's gathering . My mom had just bought the Wii for me a few days ago and wow , I've NEVER seen my entire family playing a videogame together and having so much fun ! It seemed so weird , I know , but it really happened . My great uncle and his siblings were cheering on , shouting , and laughing all while we were playing different games like tennis , boxing ( my chubby uncle was breaking a sweat after that one ) golf , and bowling . For bowling , since we only had one controller at the time , we played 4 players sharing one wiimote and it was a blast !
I understand now what was one of Nintendo's main goal in making this system . They wanted a REVOLUTION , not only in the way games were played , but also regarding WHO would play them : EVERYBODY . They wanted to make something where in everybody , from the 5 year old baby cousin to the 85 year old grandma to play and ENJOY this cool and wonderful system which gives you excercise as well ! It attracts not only hardcore gamers but non gamers as well because when you play you are no longer simply smashing buttons - You are also physically DOING the actions you are perfomring on screen ! So if you're shooting , you are actually aiming the controller on the TV screen and carefully marking your shot , almost like in real life !
Again , I was so amazed as this was my first time seeing my ENTIRE family all in one place playing TOGETHER a videogame . This is a day I will never forget . Just wait untill we get all four wiimotes - WHOA ! What a heck of a fun day THAT would that be !
I highly recommend the Nintendo Wii for all gamers of all degress of all ages ! Even if you already have another new next-gen system , what's another $250 ? Remember now , Wii also let's you download and play games from previous Nintendo systems ( anyone up for Super Mario RPG for SNES or Golden Eye 007 for N64 ) ! Just pick one up this bad baby and you've done yourself a favor . Seriously , people , you just won't believe it untill you play it . I'm sure glad I did !
070 4 My family and their extended relatives came over today for a late New Year's gathering . My mom had just bought the Wii for me a few days ago and wow , I've NEVER seen my entire family playing a videogame together and having so much fun ! It seemed so weird , I know , but it really happened . My great uncle and his siblings were cheering on , shouting , and laughing all while we were playing different games like tennis , boxing ( my chubby uncle was breaking a sweat after that one ) golf , and bowling . For bowling , since we only had one controller at the time , we played 4 players sharing one wiimote and it was a blast !
I understand now what was one of Nintendo's main goal in making this system . They wanted a REVOLUTION , not only in the way games were played , but also regarding WHO would play them : EVERYBODY . They wanted to make something where in everybody , from the 5 year old baby cousin to the 85 year old grandma to play and ENJOY this cool and wonderful system which gives you excercise as well ! It attracts not only hardcore gamers but non gamers as well because when you play you are no longer simply smashing buttons - You are also physically DOING the actions you are perfomring on screen ! So if you're shooting , you are actually aiming the controller on the TV screen and carefully marking your shot , almost like in real life !
Again , I was so amazed as this was my first time seeing my ENTIRE family all in one place playing TOGETHER a videogame . This is a day I will never forget . Just wait untill we get all four wiimotes - WHOA ! What a heck of a fun day THAT would that be !
I highly recommend the Nintendo Wii for all gamers of all degress of all ages ! Even if you already have another new next-gen system , what's another $250 ? Remember now , Wii also let's you download and play games from previous Nintendo systems ( anyone up for Super Mario RPG for SNES or Golden Eye 007 for N64 ) ! Just pick one up this bad baby and you've done yourself a favor . Seriously , people , you just won't believe it untill you play it . I'm sure glad I did !
075 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Like most people who first saw the plans for the Wii , i was mad . I didnt like the idea of this controler that looked like a tv remote with no joystick and some corny motion detection . But , I LOVE zelda . So , like most of you I had to get get a Wii even if it were just for Zelda . Then I started watching the videos on [ . . . ] , and the video about madden . Just watching the people play made me want one . If you think all the motion detection stuff is to good to be true . . . cast them aside because NINTENDO did it . . works pretty much flawless . The remotes also have great range . They also put a power button on the remote so you can turn the system on and off with it . . . simply amazing and for the price . . unbeatable ( the graphics arnt awful either ! )
076 4 Like most people who first saw the plans for the Wii , i was mad . I didnt like the idea of this controler that looked like a tv remote with no joystick and some corny motion detection . But , I LOVE zelda . So , like most of you I had to get get a Wii even if it were just for Zelda . Then I started watching the videos on [ . . . ] , and the video about madden . Just watching the people play made me want one . If you think all the motion detection stuff is to good to be true . . . cast them aside because NINTENDO did it . . works pretty much flawless . The remotes also have great range . They also put a power button on the remote so you can turn the system on and off with it . . . simply amazing and for the price . . unbeatable ( the graphics arnt awful either ! )
079 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Hats off to Nintendo for this jewel . I ordered the Wii recently and it came in yesterday . After less than ten minutes of installation I put Wii Sports in and was immediately pleasantly surprised . I expected simple little games , with a little motion sensing finish , but I didn't expect them to be highly addictive and fun .
Wii Sports is like five games in one . For instance in Boxing you beat your first oponent and the next and they progressively become more difficult , challenging you a little bit more one after the other . I won't spoil anything else for you , but if your into fun , addictive , family games than the Nintendo Wii is for you . On the flipside , you've got the new games coming out , with a much darker finish .
In short , the Wii is a sure-thing to appeal to the hard-core gamer for its innovation , as well as the casual gamer who just wants to sit down every once and a while . ( Like my mother , for instance . She never plays videogames , but there she was whacking those tennis-balls ! )
BUY IT . IT'S REALLY , REALLY GOOD !
And did I mention the price advantage ? It's totally worth it !
080 4 Hats off to Nintendo for this jewel . I ordered the Wii recently and it came in yesterday . After less than ten minutes of installation I put Wii Sports in and was immediately pleasantly surprised . I expected simple little games , with a little motion sensing finish , but I didn't expect them to be highly addictive and fun .
Wii Sports is like five games in one . For instance in Boxing you beat your first oponent and the next and they progressively become more difficult , challenging you a little bit more one after the other . I won't spoil anything else for you , but if your into fun , addictive , family games than the Nintendo Wii is for you . On the flipside , you've got the new games coming out , with a much darker finish .
In short , the Wii is a sure-thing to appeal to the hard-core gamer for its innovation , as well as the casual gamer who just wants to sit down every once and a while . ( Like my mother , for instance . She never plays videogames , but there she was whacking those tennis-balls ! )
BUY IT . IT'S REALLY , REALLY GOOD !
And did I mention the price advantage ? It's totally worth it !
085 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
For the past several years , Nintendo has really been taking a back seat to the video game industry . Boy , how things have changed ! With this Wii ( and the DS Lite ) they really are on top of things now . I dont necessarilly mean the utmost power , but ( I think ) the utmost fun . I just got a Wii yesterday and I have to tell you that the ENTIRE family had a blast all night ! We just played the Wii Sports disc that came with it . . Bowling is a blast , Tennis is great , Golf seemed a little hard ( need practice I guess ) , Baseball isnt bad ( its kinda basic ) Boxing will make you break into a sweat , LOL There are also a couple more things to do on that same disc . The controller works great , it doesnt take long to get used to . The WiFi was easy to set up with my Linksys wireless router . The Weather Channel is SO handy , as is the ability to leave a message for another family member . A calendar is also included in the menu . Each person can set up and personalize his own avatar , which is kinda neat . There are so many different things to do with this ( including surf the internet if you wish ) , I really cant say enough good about it . Nintendo has a winner here ! I also have an Xbox 360 which is great in its own right , but I have to say that this Wii is more FUN to play , so far . . . However , initial set-up took a little while because of a couple of system updates and the Internet Channel download ( free ) This only applies if you hook it up online though . It was all very easy , just a little time consuming : )
086 4 For the past several years , Nintendo has really been taking a back seat to the video game industry . Boy , how things have changed ! With this Wii ( and the DS Lite ) they really are on top of things now . I dont necessarilly mean the utmost power , but ( I think ) the utmost fun . I just got a Wii yesterday and I have to tell you that the ENTIRE family had a blast all night ! We just played the Wii Sports disc that came with it . . Bowling is a blast , Tennis is great , Golf seemed a little hard ( need practice I guess ) , Baseball isnt bad ( its kinda basic ) Boxing will make you break into a sweat , LOL There are also a couple more things to do on that same disc . The controller works great , it doesnt take long to get used to . The WiFi was easy to set up with my Linksys wireless router . The Weather Channel is SO handy , as is the ability to leave a message for another family member . A calendar is also included in the menu . Each person can set up and personalize his own avatar , which is kinda neat . There are so many different things to do with this ( including surf the internet if you wish ) , I really cant say enough good about it . Nintendo has a winner here ! I also have an Xbox 360 which is great in its own right , but I have to say that this Wii is more FUN to play , so far . . . However , initial set-up took a little while because of a couple of system updates and the Internet Channel download ( free ) This only applies if you hook it up online though . It was all very easy , just a little time consuming : )
123 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
Most of you have heard about the crazies waiting in line for days to get the PS3 or the Wii or the hundreds to thousands of dollars people are spending on eBay for something they can easily get in 6 months without the line hastles . But what you are looking at right now is the Wii . Now , I'm sure you've seen the Wii as the number one video on YouTube being smashed to bits by a sledgehammer , but you don't really see how great the system is .
PROS :
- The Controller - The controller is amazing . With very fluid motion , great responde , and full usage in every game , this truly is innovation in the making . Not only does it feature minimal buttons , is wireless , reasonable priced , it also has a speaker on it to get the full surround effect ; it even rumbles .
- The Size - This device is not another box to put on your shelf , this thing is tiny . When first shown at E3 , people were in awe ; and Nintendo one-uped and said that the final one is smaller . I wasn't at E3 , but I can tell you , this thing is SMALL . It is about the size of a Tom Clancy hardback , and probably lighter . The controller is also very light .
- Backwards Compatibility - This thing is very backwards compatible . It accepts both the Wii disks and the Gamecubes in a very clean slot loading drive , very Apple-esque if you ask me . Games on both versions load very quickly , and give you the amazing experience . It would have been awesome if Nintendo made the Nunchuk , but I'm happy using the classic controller .
- Wireless Options - Not only does the Wii have bluetooth ( controllers ) but it also has Wi-Fi , and connects very easily . This is excellent , especially with the Nintendo DS ' wireless options .
- Nintendo Arcade - This is probably Nintendo's biggest advantage over Sony , and even Microsoft . As show with how many people got into the Xbox Live Arcade after the Wii's announcement , this is something to reward Nintendo about . You will , over time at least , be able to play every Super Nintendo , NES , Genesis , Nintendo 64 , or Turbografix - 16 in full . All games at reasonable prices , new and old games can enjoy the experience . This also gives many of the American Wii owners chances to play games that have never been released on this side of the Pacific .
- Design - BEAUTIFUL . With more colors on the way , slot loading drive , and a beautiful finish , this is the best looking out of the three systems by far .
- Price - VERY competitvely priced . You can buy two Wii's , Zelda , a Classic Controller , and a couple of Arcade games for the price of one PS3 . At $249 , this is the same price as a 30GB iPod , and cheaper than a Razr cell phone .
CONS :
- No HD - It runs at standard 480p , but doesn't run up to 1080 ' s like it's rivals . Nintendo is more about the experience than the graphical appeal , which is why it is considered the weakest . Nintendo has claimed that it can run the Unreal 3.0 engine , but that's something we'll have to wait and see . The graphics look about on par , if not a little better than the original Xbox , but if graphics aren't all you're concerned about , than you'll have a blast .
- No Blu-Ray , HD-DVD , DVD , or CD compatibility - This is not a media device ; this is PURE gaming . Nintendo hasn't announced anything , but don't be suprised if extra accessories are on the way .
BOTTOM LINE : This is what Next Generation Gaming is all about . If you are looking for something NEW instead of an improvement on the old formula , than the Wii is your system !
124 4 Most of you have heard about the crazies waiting in line for days to get the PS3 or the Wii or the hundreds to thousands of dollars people are spending on eBay for something they can easily get in 6 months without the line hastles . But what you are looking at right now is the Wii . Now , I'm sure you've seen the Wii as the number one video on YouTube being smashed to bits by a sledgehammer , but you don't really see how great the system is .
PROS :
- The Controller - The controller is amazing . With very fluid motion , great responde , and full usage in every game , this truly is innovation in the making . Not only does it feature minimal buttons , is wireless , reasonable priced , it also has a speaker on it to get the full surround effect ; it even rumbles .
- The Size - This device is not another box to put on your shelf , this thing is tiny . When first shown at E3 , people were in awe ; and Nintendo one-uped and said that the final one is smaller . I wasn't at E3 , but I can tell you , this thing is SMALL . It is about the size of a Tom Clancy hardback , and probably lighter . The controller is also very light .
- Backwards Compatibility - This thing is very backwards compatible . It accepts both the Wii disks and the Gamecubes in a very clean slot loading drive , very Apple-esque if you ask me . Games on both versions load very quickly , and give you the amazing experience . It would have been awesome if Nintendo made the Nunchuk , but I'm happy using the classic controller .
- Wireless Options - Not only does the Wii have bluetooth ( controllers ) but it also has Wi-Fi , and connects very easily . This is excellent , especially with the Nintendo DS ' wireless options .
- Nintendo Arcade - This is probably Nintendo's biggest advantage over Sony , and even Microsoft . As show with how many people got into the Xbox Live Arcade after the Wii's announcement , this is something to reward Nintendo about . You will , over time at least , be able to play every Super Nintendo , NES , Genesis , Nintendo 64 , or Turbografix - 16 in full . All games at reasonable prices , new and old games can enjoy the experience . This also gives many of the American Wii owners chances to play games that have never been released on this side of the Pacific .
- Design - BEAUTIFUL . With more colors on the way , slot loading drive , and a beautiful finish , this is the best looking out of the three systems by far .
- Price - VERY competitvely priced . You can buy two Wii's , Zelda , a Classic Controller , and a couple of Arcade games for the price of one PS3 . At $249 , this is the same price as a 30GB iPod , and cheaper than a Razr cell phone .
CONS :
- No HD - It runs at standard 480p , but doesn't run up to 1080 ' s like it's rivals . Nintendo is more about the experience than the graphical appeal , which is why it is considered the weakest . Nintendo has claimed that it can run the Unreal 3.0 engine , but that's something we'll have to wait and see . The graphics look about on par , if not a little better than the original Xbox , but if graphics aren't all you're concerned about , than you'll have a blast .
- No Blu-Ray , HD-DVD , DVD , or CD compatibility - This is not a media device ; this is PURE gaming . Nintendo hasn't announced anything , but don't be suprised if extra accessories are on the way .
BOTTOM LINE : This is what Next Generation Gaming is all about . If you are looking for something NEW instead of an improvement on the old formula , than the Wii is your system !
149 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
The Wii is amazing . The Wiimote changes the way games are played . Call of Duty 3 on the Wii is GREAT ! It feels like a FPS on the PC with the point and aim style of play . It's way more natural than the double analog stick that Sony and Xbox has .
Zelda is AMAZING ! I just finished the first temple , and its already one of the most challenging and fun Zelda games ever made . Nintendo has succeeded big time this generation . You can't go wrong with the Wii .
150 4 The Wii is amazing . The Wiimote changes the way games are played . Call of Duty 3 on the Wii is GREAT ! It feels like a FPS on the PC with the point and aim style of play . It's way more natural than the double analog stick that Sony and Xbox has .
Zelda is AMAZING ! I just finished the first temple , and its already one of the most challenging and fun Zelda games ever made . Nintendo has succeeded big time this generation . You can't go wrong with the Wii .
157 4 For the first time in my life I played video games for 8 straight hours . I am a puzzle game person . I love Tetris . I loved Dr . Mario . I like Super Mario Bros . I like games that require strategy , timing and reflexes .
I am also a quitter . I was left behind when games went to moving the camera , aiming , AND sneaking / running / walking . . . whew ! I was in the dust . I want to be challenged ; not frustrated . I want to have fun ; I am not romanced by dark shoot - ' em up games . There is also so much to be said for the difference in playing TOGETHER from watching someone else sneak / run / walk / aim / and look for an hour .
The controls are incredibly intuitive . I didn't get frustrated . The sports games are soo much fun . And cute . . . I like cute too . ( Highly recommend Rayman also . )
This is so much more satisfying than what has been left for players like me . . . Bejeweled . . . Mahjong . I was laughing out loud , for hours . I LOVE IT .
. . . also , thank you Toys R Us for handing out tickets to those waiting in line ; this is fair and it also saves those who would not be able to get one from prolonging disappointment .
183 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I have been searching for a Wii since they came out and I saw many times the vendors on here asking 500 to 600 dollars for just the console . If one is patient enough , and calls aorund on different days one can find one . I found one two days ago , all I did was call an E.B . Games around 11 when they get there shipments and found one and for the amount of money being asked here bought 5 other games along with the Wii sports that comes along with the console . DOn't let these greedy vendors try to make money off you just because they have one ready right away , if one tries a little , one can find one and not lose as much money out for the same product .
184 4 I have been searching for a Wii since they came out and I saw many times the vendors on here asking 500 to 600 dollars for just the console . If one is patient enough , and calls aorund on different days one can find one . I found one two days ago , all I did was call an E.B . Games around 11 when they get there shipments and found one and for the amount of money being asked here bought 5 other games along with the Wii sports that comes along with the console . DOn't let these greedy vendors try to make money off you just because they have one ready right away , if one tries a little , one can find one and not lose as much money out for the same product .
193 4 Ok , Where should I start . Nintendo was the one to revolutionize every controller that Xbox and Sony ever picked up . Who had the thumb sticks first ? ? ? ? NINTENDO . So , with that being said . . . . . . . you will more then likely see sony and xbox come out with something very similar to what you get when you buy the Wii .
I stood in line for 16 hours , slept 3 hours of it on a cold concrete walk out front of my local best buy . ( I really wanted to make sure I got a system ) . Came home after buying all the things to get the Wii running and hooked up so the whole family can play . ( ie . Extra remotes , 2gb mem card , and 3 games ) . The wife was not fond of the money that was spent on the system and the games , until she played it for the first time . On the games we have played the remote response has been great , the graphics are good , and the time the family spends together playing it each night is priceless . I give the Wii system 2 thumbs up plus some . I recommend this system to anyone that I talk to . You will get your moneys worth plus out of the system . Who cares if it does not play blu-ray dvd's . Blu-Ray = problems . Nintendo did a great job again on another awesome system . Get this before blowing the money on the PS3 which is going to have nothing but problems , just read the reviews on it .
201 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This video game system lives up to the hype . My friends and their families really like it , theyre all addicted to it , they all want to get their own now . One of them even wants to get one for their work .
The Wii Sports is what my friends and i play mostly so far . We love bowling and the golf . And tennis is fun too . The boxing game actually put us all in a sweat ! It was so much fun .
Last night we had a party at our friends apartment and everybody wanted to play bowling , it was hilarious , but again , GREAT FUN .
So theres one of the very very strong points about the Nintendo Wii , is that its the best multi-player / party system ever . You actually are physically apart of the game , you use the remote and swing it like a baseball bat and hit a homerun , or knock a golf ball 100 yards away or connect the analog stick nunchuck to the remote and use it to knock someone out in boxing . Its awesome .
It gets everyone involved and its most excitment ive had playing videogames ever , becouse your not just having to sit there twingling your thumbs , mashing on buttons . . . . you actually can get up , hold the remote , bring it back , and follow through like your hold a bowling ball and release the B button ( back TRIGGER ) to let the ball fly down the lane to get another strike !
I even heard theres going to be games where you can use the remote as a SWORD ! that is sweet ! I love that .
The controllers are pretty accurate and precise . And you can even adjust the senistivity of the remote and things .
When i play by myself at home , theres more to love about the Wii becouse i connect to the internet and check the weather and news on the fly . I can even get my 5 day forcast ! You can even buy the Wii Internet Channel , that lets you browse websites , which is very affordable and is a one time price of 5 dollars ( a.k.a : 500 points )
Speaking of the points , if you connect to the internet on your wii , regardless if you have the seperate INTERNET CHANNEL or not . . . Not only can you check your local , national or international weather and news , but you can go on the WII STORE and either purchase of download Wii Ware or go into the Virtual Console section and purchase and download classic beloved games like the original super mario , metroid , contra , ninja gaiden , zelda , donkey kong and much more , even sega games ! and super nintendo and nintendo 64 games !
Every week , they add more games to the catalog of classic games , so it will get even better as time goes on . . . and they add the not-so popular games too , so if you have an old hard to find favorites like Maniac Mansion or Skate Or Die 2 , its possiable those games will one day be released , besides all the popular high demanded games like Double Dragon and Mega Man .
And i must say , the Browser used for surfing the Internet Channel is easy to use , and you can do pretty much anything on your computer besides saving random things , but you can go on myspace and youtune with ease , just as an example . It uses the critically acclaimed OPERA browser and using the remote is pretty user friendly , and easy to use . You can zoom in and out of pages easily . Its a good browser and will probubly become more upgraded with features in the future , like having an equvilent to right clicking and saving images or something . Still , you can go back and forth , save links as favorites and search for stuff effortlessly . Its easy , trust me .
And did i mention the Wii has a photo center ? ? ? Yep , thats correct .
Use an SD memory card , put it into the wii sysytem , and view pictures youve taken . You can even do some basic editing and add a little bit of fun effects to them , or make a puzzle game out of one your photos .
I also found out , the photo center played my video i took at a concert . . . my camera happens to use the AVI video format and i was suprised it playing it . So the wii can play your videos ! I know for certain AVI vids are compatiable , and im sure other ones are to , like WMV probubly as well , or perhaps MPEG or MOV . Though i havent tried to edit the videos , so im not sure if you can edit a video . BUT I DOUBT IT .
The Mii chanel they have is a place where you can create your own little guy that looks like you or others , using various selection of traits , like eyes , hair , skin color , noses , height , weight , and stuff . . . pretty basic but fun , not to mention how you can adjust the size or color of those characteristics , or move them up down or whatever . Pretty customizable . But remeber , they are like cartoon-ish versions of you and others , that you can use as your player selection when you play games like Wii sports or are involved in various wii communites or online play and messaging .
Oh ya , that reminds me , you can add peoples Wii friend codes . Its a 16 digit numeric code that you have for your particular sysyem , and others can add you or you can add them to your friendlist as it were , to communicate or play against in games like madden football or pokemon or whatever other wi-fi / online compatible games .
The online play is absolutly free , but the closer the person lives to you , the better the smoothness of the experience . For example , playing someone from around your state or city has a better online experience sometimes than playing some guy living in Japan or Antartica . . . like if your playing a shooting game or a racing game . So playing people atleast in your own country might be more fluid and have a quicker connection .
But im hoping in the future that nintendo will offer an OPTIONAL premium service for a small montly that lets you have a stronger connection and access to a faster server or what not , with some extra perks , yet still offering the basic free online play . I hope they will think of that to contend with services like Xbox Live .
Remember you can have up to four controllers for the wii , not to mention it has a hidden compartment of sorts for your old gamecube controllers and memory cards , so can still use your gamecube games , like Zelda : The Wind Waker or Super Smash Brothers Mele or Mario Sunshine or whatever .
This is the most back-ward compatiable game sysytem ever , which is great . And the system actually puts you in the game ! You take aim at a the brain washed cult following in Resident Evil 4 , you blow them away with pin point accuracy . You knock the ball out of the park in Wii Sport's baseball , you make a grandslam or strike your friends out throughing a lightning fast pitch .
Speaking of Resident Evil 4 . . . . . its the first game i bought for the wii , and its beatifully dark game , with photo-realistic visuals , and horrifying characters that band together to kill you . Like the psychotic towns people and the guy with a chainsaw . . . its scary and creepy and gave me the chills . Reload your gun with a movement of the remote or swing your knife . You connect the anolog nunchuck thing to the remote and that lets you move around while the remote lets you aim with the cursor . Its awesome . The best Resident Evil game ive ever played , and the Wiis motion sensing controlls make the game so much more fun , you are more involved in blowing a freaks head off . Not to mention the fact that the remote has the the rumble vibration feature and has a small speaker on it , that makes sounds for various moves you make , for various games , like hearing the clang of two swords meeting in battle . Very very cool , talk about your surround sound .
The Wii is the greatest system ever made becouse it gives everyone the chance to have so much fun , and thats what its all about . . . FUN . . . and getting everyone involved . . . your friends and family . It actually makes video games an EVENT , me and my friends are actually excited about video games more than ever now . Parents , bosses , grandparents , kids . . everyone can pick up and play and inevitably love the Wii . Its so inviting and easy to use . Its great . Its the great gameing system ive ever seen , thats very affordable and state of the art at the same time , really revolutionising and changing the way we all look at video games now .
This is TRULY video gameing for the new millinium , for the future , for the 21st century . No more sitting on around pushing on buttons alone . Now when you pick up that sword , bat , or machine gun , that machine gun is in your hands , and what you do with it and how you use it is all up to you . Actually swing that sword , actually smack that ball , actually reload your gun .
Mark my words . . . Wii Will Rock You ! ! ! !
202 4 This video game system lives up to the hype . My friends and their families really like it , theyre all addicted to it , they all want to get their own now . One of them even wants to get one for their work .
The Wii Sports is what my friends and i play mostly so far . We love bowling and the golf . And tennis is fun too . The boxing game actually put us all in a sweat ! It was so much fun .
Last night we had a party at our friends apartment and everybody wanted to play bowling , it was hilarious , but again , GREAT FUN .
So theres one of the very very strong points about the Nintendo Wii , is that its the best multi-player / party system ever . You actually are physically apart of the game , you use the remote and swing it like a baseball bat and hit a homerun , or knock a golf ball 100 yards away or connect the analog stick nunchuck to the remote and use it to knock someone out in boxing . Its awesome .
It gets everyone involved and its most excitment ive had playing videogames ever , becouse your not just having to sit there twingling your thumbs , mashing on buttons . . . . you actually can get up , hold the remote , bring it back , and follow through like your hold a bowling ball and release the B button ( back TRIGGER ) to let the ball fly down the lane to get another strike !
I even heard theres going to be games where you can use the remote as a SWORD ! that is sweet ! I love that .
The controllers are pretty accurate and precise . And you can even adjust the senistivity of the remote and things .
When i play by myself at home , theres more to love about the Wii becouse i connect to the internet and check the weather and news on the fly . I can even get my 5 day forcast ! You can even buy the Wii Internet Channel , that lets you browse websites , which is very affordable and is a one time price of 5 dollars ( a.k.a : 500 points )
Speaking of the points , if you connect to the internet on your wii , regardless if you have the seperate INTERNET CHANNEL or not . . . Not only can you check your local , national or international weather and news , but you can go on the WII STORE and either purchase of download Wii Ware or go into the Virtual Console section and purchase and download classic beloved games like the original super mario , metroid , contra , ninja gaiden , zelda , donkey kong and much more , even sega games ! and super nintendo and nintendo 64 games !
Every week , they add more games to the catalog of classic games , so it will get even better as time goes on . . . and they add the not-so popular games too , so if you have an old hard to find favorites like Maniac Mansion or Skate Or Die 2 , its possiable those games will one day be released , besides all the popular high demanded games like Double Dragon and Mega Man .
And i must say , the Browser used for surfing the Internet Channel is easy to use , and you can do pretty much anything on your computer besides saving random things , but you can go on myspace and youtune with ease , just as an example . It uses the critically acclaimed OPERA browser and using the remote is pretty user friendly , and easy to use . You can zoom in and out of pages easily . Its a good browser and will probubly become more upgraded with features in the future , like having an equvilent to right clicking and saving images or something . Still , you can go back and forth , save links as favorites and search for stuff effortlessly . Its easy , trust me .
And did i mention the Wii has a photo center ? ? ? Yep , thats correct .
Use an SD memory card , put it into the wii sysytem , and view pictures youve taken . You can even do some basic editing and add a little bit of fun effects to them , or make a puzzle game out of one your photos .
I also found out , the photo center played my video i took at a concert . . . my camera happens to use the AVI video format and i was suprised it playing it . So the wii can play your videos ! I know for certain AVI vids are compatiable , and im sure other ones are to , like WMV probubly as well , or perhaps MPEG or MOV . Though i havent tried to edit the videos , so im not sure if you can edit a video . BUT I DOUBT IT .
The Mii chanel they have is a place where you can create your own little guy that looks like you or others , using various selection of traits , like eyes , hair , skin color , noses , height , weight , and stuff . . . pretty basic but fun , not to mention how you can adjust the size or color of those characteristics , or move them up down or whatever . Pretty customizable . But remeber , they are like cartoon-ish versions of you and others , that you can use as your player selection when you play games like Wii sports or are involved in various wii communites or online play and messaging .
Oh ya , that reminds me , you can add peoples Wii friend codes . Its a 16 digit numeric code that you have for your particular sysyem , and others can add you or you can add them to your friendlist as it were , to communicate or play against in games like madden football or pokemon or whatever other wi-fi / online compatible games .
The online play is absolutly free , but the closer the person lives to you , the better the smoothness of the experience . For example , playing someone from around your state or city has a better online experience sometimes than playing some guy living in Japan or Antartica . . . like if your playing a shooting game or a racing game . So playing people atleast in your own country might be more fluid and have a quicker connection .
But im hoping in the future that nintendo will offer an OPTIONAL premium service for a small montly that lets you have a stronger connection and access to a faster server or what not , with some extra perks , yet still offering the basic free online play . I hope they will think of that to contend with services like Xbox Live .
Remember you can have up to four controllers for the wii , not to mention it has a hidden compartment of sorts for your old gamecube controllers and memory cards , so can still use your gamecube games , like Zelda : The Wind Waker or Super Smash Brothers Mele or Mario Sunshine or whatever .
This is the most back-ward compatiable game sysytem ever , which is great . And the system actually puts you in the game ! You take aim at a the brain washed cult following in Resident Evil 4 , you blow them away with pin point accuracy . You knock the ball out of the park in Wii Sport's baseball , you make a grandslam or strike your friends out throughing a lightning fast pitch .
Speaking of Resident Evil 4 . . . . . its the first game i bought for the wii , and its beatifully dark game , with photo-realistic visuals , and horrifying characters that band together to kill you . Like the psychotic towns people and the guy with a chainsaw . . . its scary and creepy and gave me the chills . Reload your gun with a movement of the remote or swing your knife . You connect the anolog nunchuck thing to the remote and that lets you move around while the remote lets you aim with the cursor . Its awesome . The best Resident Evil game ive ever played , and the Wiis motion sensing controlls make the game so much more fun , you are more involved in blowing a freaks head off . Not to mention the fact that the remote has the the rumble vibration feature and has a small speaker on it , that makes sounds for various moves you make , for various games , like hearing the clang of two swords meeting in battle . Very very cool , talk about your surround sound .
The Wii is the greatest system ever made becouse it gives everyone the chance to have so much fun , and thats what its all about . . . FUN . . . and getting everyone involved . . . your friends and family . It actually makes video games an EVENT , me and my friends are actually excited about video games more than ever now . Parents , bosses , grandparents , kids . . everyone can pick up and play and inevitably love the Wii . Its so inviting and easy to use . Its great . Its the great gameing system ive ever seen , thats very affordable and state of the art at the same time , really revolutionising and changing the way we all look at video games now .
This is TRULY video gameing for the new millinium , for the future , for the 21st century . No more sitting on around pushing on buttons alone . Now when you pick up that sword , bat , or machine gun , that machine gun is in your hands , and what you do with it and how you use it is all up to you . Actually swing that sword , actually smack that ball , actually reload your gun .
Mark my words . . . Wii Will Rock You ! ! ! !
211 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I just purchased this unit last night for my wife . The Wii Sports package on 12 / 3 / 09 . We are both loving it . Its fun , entertaining , and you work up a sweat . If you bother to read the 1 stars , they are just idiots . This system was not meant to be put up against X-Box 360 or the PS3 . If they have done their research , they would of known better . I also own the PS3 and strictly use it for blu-ray movies and few games .
As for the Nintendo Wii . It is fun , fun , fun . The package I purchased came with Wii sports which include Tennis , Boxing , Bowling , Golf , Baseball . And Mario Super Sluggers , with an extra controller and nun-chuck .
The resolution on the system is 480i / 480p . ( not a high def unit )
Does not play Blu-Rays nor DVDs . ( again , not going up against X-Box / PS3 )
Unit is very small and comes with a vertical stand .
Small sensor bar that either placed above or below the tv , to read the controllers .
A / V composite cables , ( red , white , yellow )
plug in adapter
My advice , check out the other reviews , and research . This system is meant to have fun . For all ages . My wife has rheumatoid arthritis , and she can use this .
NINTENDO Wii SPECS :
Processors :
CPU : PowerPC-based Broadway processor , made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process , reportedly clocked at 729 MHz [ 103 ]
GPU : ATI Hollywood GPU made with a 90 nm CMOS process , [ 104 ] reportedly clocked at 243 MHz [ 103 ]
Memory :
88 MB main memory ( 24 MB internal 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package , 64 MB external GDDR3 SDRAM ) [ 105 ]
3 MB embedded GPU texture memory and framebuffer .
Ports and peripheral capabilities :
Up to four Wii Remote controllers ( connected wirelessly via Bluetooth )
Nintendo GameCube controller ports ( 4 )
Nintendo GameCube Memory Card slots ( 2 )
SD memory card slot ( supports SDHC cards as of System Menu 4.0 )
USB 2.0 ports ( 2 )
Sensor Bar power port
Accessory port on bottom of Wii Remote
Optional USB keyboard input in message board , Wii Shop Channel , and the Internet Channel ( as of 3.0 and 3.1 firmware update ) [ 106 ]
Mitsumi DWM-W004 WiFi 802.11b / g wireless module [ 107 ]
Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
MultiAV output port for component , composite and S-Video
Built-in content ratings systems :
BBFC , CERO , ESRB , OFLC , OFLC ( NZ ) , PEGI , USK
Storage :
512 MB built-in NAND flash memory
Expanded storage via SD and SDHC card memory ( up to 32 GB )
Nintendo GameCube Memory Card ( required for GameCube game saves )
IBM's Wii Broadway CPU
ATI's Wii Hollywood GPUSlot-loading disc drive compatible with 8 cm Nintendo GameCube Game Disc and 12 cm Wii Optical Disc
Mask ROM by Macronix [ 108 ]
Video :
480p ( PAL / NTSC ) , 480i ( NTSC ) or 576i ( PAL / SECAM ) , standard 4 : 3 and 16 : 9 anamorphic widescreen [ 109 ]
MultiAV multi-output port for component , composite , S-video , [ 110 ] RGB SCART [ 111 ] and VGA [ 112 ]
Audio :
Main : Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable [ 113 ]
Controller : Built-in speaker
Power consumption :
18 watts when switched on [ 114 ]
9.6 watts in standby with WiiConnect24 standby connection [ 114 ]
1.3 watts in standby [ 114 ]
Source : from wikipedia
212 4 I just purchased this unit last night for my wife . The Wii Sports package on 12 / 3 / 09 . We are both loving it . Its fun , entertaining , and you work up a sweat . If you bother to read the 1 stars , they are just idiots . This system was not meant to be put up against X-Box 360 or the PS3 . If they have done their research , they would of known better . I also own the PS3 and strictly use it for blu-ray movies and few games .
As for the Nintendo Wii . It is fun , fun , fun . The package I purchased came with Wii sports which include Tennis , Boxing , Bowling , Golf , Baseball . And Mario Super Sluggers , with an extra controller and nun-chuck .
The resolution on the system is 480i / 480p . ( not a high def unit )
Does not play Blu-Rays nor DVDs . ( again , not going up against X-Box / PS3 )
Unit is very small and comes with a vertical stand .
Small sensor bar that either placed above or below the tv , to read the controllers .
A / V composite cables , ( red , white , yellow )
plug in adapter
My advice , check out the other reviews , and research . This system is meant to have fun . For all ages . My wife has rheumatoid arthritis , and she can use this .
NINTENDO Wii SPECS :
Processors :
CPU : PowerPC-based Broadway processor , made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process , reportedly clocked at 729 MHz [ 103 ]
GPU : ATI Hollywood GPU made with a 90 nm CMOS process , [ 104 ] reportedly clocked at 243 MHz [ 103 ]
Memory :
88 MB main memory ( 24 MB internal 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package , 64 MB external GDDR3 SDRAM ) [ 105 ]
3 MB embedded GPU texture memory and framebuffer .
Ports and peripheral capabilities :
Up to four Wii Remote controllers ( connected wirelessly via Bluetooth )
Nintendo GameCube controller ports ( 4 )
Nintendo GameCube Memory Card slots ( 2 )
SD memory card slot ( supports SDHC cards as of System Menu 4.0 )
USB 2.0 ports ( 2 )
Sensor Bar power port
Accessory port on bottom of Wii Remote
Optional USB keyboard input in message board , Wii Shop Channel , and the Internet Channel ( as of 3.0 and 3.1 firmware update ) [ 106 ]
Mitsumi DWM-W004 WiFi 802.11b / g wireless module [ 107 ]
Compatible with optional USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
MultiAV output port for component , composite and S-Video
Built-in content ratings systems :
BBFC , CERO , ESRB , OFLC , OFLC ( NZ ) , PEGI , USK
Storage :
512 MB built-in NAND flash memory
Expanded storage via SD and SDHC card memory ( up to 32 GB )
Nintendo GameCube Memory Card ( required for GameCube game saves )
IBM's Wii Broadway CPU
ATI's Wii Hollywood GPUSlot-loading disc drive compatible with 8 cm Nintendo GameCube Game Disc and 12 cm Wii Optical Disc
Mask ROM by Macronix [ 108 ]
Video :
480p ( PAL / NTSC ) , 480i ( NTSC ) or 576i ( PAL / SECAM ) , standard 4 : 3 and 16 : 9 anamorphic widescreen [ 109 ]
MultiAV multi-output port for component , composite , S-video , [ 110 ] RGB SCART [ 111 ] and VGA [ 112 ]
Audio :
Main : Stereo - Dolby Pro Logic II-capable [ 113 ]
Controller : Built-in speaker
Power consumption :
18 watts when switched on [ 114 ]
9.6 watts in standby with WiiConnect24 standby connection [ 114 ]
1.3 watts in standby [ 114 ]
Source : from wikipedia
213 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
First - here are a few important notes about the Wii's online capability :
#1 - Getting Connected - In order to get your Wii online you will need either a wireless network , a wired network with an online PC and a Nintendo WiFi dongle , or a Nintendo branded USB ethernet adapter .
- A - Wireless network - no problems - you are all set .
- B - Wired network - There is no ethernet port - only USB . DO NOT think you can just run out and buy an off the shelf USB-Ethernet adapter b / c I tried and it doesn't work - which should have been obvious , but anyway they won't work b / c they don't have built in Nintendo drivers ( remember this isn't a PC ) . Nintendo will be releasing a Nintendo branded USB-Ethernet adapter in the next couple of months or so . If you are like me and simply can't wait to get your mits on some old NES downloads then you can by the Nintendo WiFi dongle . Originally created for use with the Nintendo DS , the dongle connects to a wired PC and piggybacks off of its internet connection which it shares wirelessly with surrounding Nintendo products - DSs and Wiis . Easy to install once you download the latest drivers from Nintendo's website .
#2 - Ok - I'm connected - Let's download .
Well the pitch is that for about $5 - $10 you can download classic NES , Genesis , SNES , and N64 titles of the past . Sounds awesome ( albeit a little expensive ) , but the available titles are still pretty light with ' The Legend of Zelda ' , ' Super Mario 64 ' , ' Sonic the Hedgehog ' , ' ToeJam & Earl ' , and ' Gunstar Heroes ' being the most notable .
#3 - Online gameplay - Xbox Live it isn't .
Apparently the capability of playing other people online exists in the Wii somehow , someday , but . . . . not today . Nintendo's free online gaming network WiiConnect24 is supposed to connect the world of Wiis out there with multiplayer online gaming and traveling Miis ( user profiles in lego form ) . However , there currently are not any games available that use this network , not even Super Swing Golf ( a.k.a Albatross 18 - a free PC game that exists entirely in the multiplayer online world ) and no foreign Miis have yet to visit my Wii . If you want to play others online it appears that Xbox Live is still far ahead of the competition on this front .
I won't labor over the core gameplay too much as anyone reading this probably gets the idea by now - less focus on graphics and more focus on innovative gameplay .
Wii-Mote - Innovative gameplay mechanic or short lived gimic ?
I think the jury is still out on this one . There are some areas where the motion control is awesome and makes gameplay exponentially more fun that the old button pushing in other consoles . Wii Tennis , Super Swing Golf , Trauma Center , Rayman , and Excite Truck show how the motion control for sports games , driving games , and party games works beautifully and succeeds at thrilling non-gamers and gamers alike with fun , lively and engaging gameplay . However , there are other areas where the motion control is rather awkward and is probably not the best mechanic . Fighting games like Dragonball-Z and shooters like Call of Duty 3 show where having an analog stick and some buttons or a keyboard and mouse still feels more natural than swinging the Wii-Mote around .
Graphic-wise the Wii rates higher than current gen system , but far below true next gen systems like 360 . If the 360 ' s graphics are a 10 and Xbox's are a 4 , then the Wii would be about a 6 .
Overall , the Wii serves as a great innovative party platform for gamers and non-gamers , young and old . It is nigh impossible to not have a terrific time with the Wii . It literally puts a smile on your face everytime you play it . With that said , serious gamers who are only getting one next-gen console will likely be better served with an Xbox 360 , as the Wii is somewhat of a novelty that won't provide an all encompassing game experience .
214 4 First - here are a few important notes about the Wii's online capability :
#1 - Getting Connected - In order to get your Wii online you will need either a wireless network , a wired network with an online PC and a Nintendo WiFi dongle , or a Nintendo branded USB ethernet adapter .
- A - Wireless network - no problems - you are all set .
- B - Wired network - There is no ethernet port - only USB . DO NOT think you can just run out and buy an off the shelf USB-Ethernet adapter b / c I tried and it doesn't work - which should have been obvious , but anyway they won't work b / c they don't have built in Nintendo drivers ( remember this isn't a PC ) . Nintendo will be releasing a Nintendo branded USB-Ethernet adapter in the next couple of months or so . If you are like me and simply can't wait to get your mits on some old NES downloads then you can by the Nintendo WiFi dongle . Originally created for use with the Nintendo DS , the dongle connects to a wired PC and piggybacks off of its internet connection which it shares wirelessly with surrounding Nintendo products - DSs and Wiis . Easy to install once you download the latest drivers from Nintendo's website .
#2 - Ok - I'm connected - Let's download .
Well the pitch is that for about $5 - $10 you can download classic NES , Genesis , SNES , and N64 titles of the past . Sounds awesome ( albeit a little expensive ) , but the available titles are still pretty light with ' The Legend of Zelda ' , ' Super Mario 64 ' , ' Sonic the Hedgehog ' , ' ToeJam & Earl ' , and ' Gunstar Heroes ' being the most notable .
#3 - Online gameplay - Xbox Live it isn't .
Apparently the capability of playing other people online exists in the Wii somehow , someday , but . . . . not today . Nintendo's free online gaming network WiiConnect24 is supposed to connect the world of Wiis out there with multiplayer online gaming and traveling Miis ( user profiles in lego form ) . However , there currently are not any games available that use this network , not even Super Swing Golf ( a.k.a Albatross 18 - a free PC game that exists entirely in the multiplayer online world ) and no foreign Miis have yet to visit my Wii . If you want to play others online it appears that Xbox Live is still far ahead of the competition on this front .
I won't labor over the core gameplay too much as anyone reading this probably gets the idea by now - less focus on graphics and more focus on innovative gameplay .
Wii-Mote - Innovative gameplay mechanic or short lived gimic ?
I think the jury is still out on this one . There are some areas where the motion control is awesome and makes gameplay exponentially more fun that the old button pushing in other consoles . Wii Tennis , Super Swing Golf , Trauma Center , Rayman , and Excite Truck show how the motion control for sports games , driving games , and party games works beautifully and succeeds at thrilling non-gamers and gamers alike with fun , lively and engaging gameplay . However , there are other areas where the motion control is rather awkward and is probably not the best mechanic . Fighting games like Dragonball-Z and shooters like Call of Duty 3 show where having an analog stick and some buttons or a keyboard and mouse still feels more natural than swinging the Wii-Mote around .
Graphic-wise the Wii rates higher than current gen system , but far below true next gen systems like 360 . If the 360 ' s graphics are a 10 and Xbox's are a 4 , then the Wii would be about a 6 .
Overall , the Wii serves as a great innovative party platform for gamers and non-gamers , young and old . It is nigh impossible to not have a terrific time with the Wii . It literally puts a smile on your face everytime you play it . With that said , serious gamers who are only getting one next-gen console will likely be better served with an Xbox 360 , as the Wii is somewhat of a novelty that won't provide an all encompassing game experience .
234 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
I have been a Nintendo fan since the original NES launched and have stuck with them through ups and downs ( loosing the FF series hurt ) . The Wii is the perfect living room console system . The last few years my PC has been my primary gaming platform . The console has been there for select games from the Nintendo library like Zelda , Metroid , and Mario games . Most of the play time on my GameCube was for playing MonkeyBall minigames , Mario Party , or some other multiplayer game that anyone can pick up and play . Nintendo was king in that department with the Cube and they will be even better now . My friends who don't play any games have fun with MonkeyBall and Mario Party . They aren't just for kids . Look how popular DDR , eye toy , and guitar hero are . Moving around and getting into the game is fun for everyone .
5 Reasons to buy a Wii .
1 . The Wii is at a good price point to make it reasonable for a secondary gaming system as well as a primary system for casual gamers .
2 . The motion control system and combined with the IR targeting of the remote make this console even more accessible . You don't have to throw the controller as hard as you can . A simple flick or sublte movement is enough . Although , I confess to some aggressive swinging now and then . Many people say Madden 07 for the Wii is the best version yet because of the control ( just needs online play . Maybe in 08 ) . The Wii could revolutionize every genre out there if the software devs are creative enough .
3 . Nintendo will keep their great multiplayer lineup and probably expand on it . The new Rayman game is one of the new titles . Returning we have Monkeyball , Smash Brothers , and many more in the pipeline .
4 . They continue to have the best exclusive lineup in the industry . Zelda , Metroid , and all the Mario games are amazing series that will continue to get better with the new console .
5 . The virtual console is great . They just released the original Ice Hockey . Now , that is a classic game that is still fun .
So , if you are like me and find your console to be used for casual gaming with friends who may not play many games , or if you just like the exclusives that Nintendo has , this is the perfect console . Perhaps you are bored with the existing state of console gaming where the focus has been so much on graphics that only 1 or 2 actually good and original games come out per year . In all honesty , unless you absolutely despise video gaming , there is no reason to not have a Wii . It truly is the perfect console that has something for everyone .
235 4 I have been a Nintendo fan since the original NES launched and have stuck with them through ups and downs ( loosing the FF series hurt ) . The Wii is the perfect living room console system . The last few years my PC has been my primary gaming platform . The console has been there for select games from the Nintendo library like Zelda , Metroid , and Mario games . Most of the play time on my GameCube was for playing MonkeyBall minigames , Mario Party , or some other multiplayer game that anyone can pick up and play . Nintendo was king in that department with the Cube and they will be even better now . My friends who don't play any games have fun with MonkeyBall and Mario Party . They aren't just for kids . Look how popular DDR , eye toy , and guitar hero are . Moving around and getting into the game is fun for everyone .
5 Reasons to buy a Wii .
1 . The Wii is at a good price point to make it reasonable for a secondary gaming system as well as a primary system for casual gamers .
2 . The motion control system and combined with the IR targeting of the remote make this console even more accessible . You don't have to throw the controller as hard as you can . A simple flick or sublte movement is enough . Although , I confess to some aggressive swinging now and then . Many people say Madden 07 for the Wii is the best version yet because of the control ( just needs online play . Maybe in 08 ) . The Wii could revolutionize every genre out there if the software devs are creative enough .
3 . Nintendo will keep their great multiplayer lineup and probably expand on it . The new Rayman game is one of the new titles . Returning we have Monkeyball , Smash Brothers , and many more in the pipeline .
4 . They continue to have the best exclusive lineup in the industry . Zelda , Metroid , and all the Mario games are amazing series that will continue to get better with the new console .
5 . The virtual console is great . They just released the original Ice Hockey . Now , that is a classic game that is still fun .
So , if you are like me and find your console to be used for casual gaming with friends who may not play many games , or if you just like the exclusives that Nintendo has , this is the perfect console . Perhaps you are bored with the existing state of console gaming where the focus has been so much on graphics that only 1 or 2 actually good and original games come out per year . In all honesty , unless you absolutely despise video gaming , there is no reason to not have a Wii . It truly is the perfect console that has something for everyone .
250 4 Amazon Verified Purchase
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What's this ?
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This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This was a gift for our 21 years old daughter who lives in downtown Seattle in a small apt . She LOVES her Wii and is using it all the time . Besides being fun , it also is helping her with balance and skills with her body . She also got the WII Fit and does the Yoga quite often . This WII was hard to find at Christmas but Amazon helped so much and my daughter was delighted and her friends want one too .
251 4 This review is from :
Wii ( Video Game )
This was a gift for our 21 years old daughter who lives in downtown Seattle in a small apt . She LOVES her Wii and is using it all the time . Besides being fun , it also is helping her with balance and skills with her body . She also got the WII Fit and does the Yoga quite often . This WII was hard to find at Christmas but Amazon helped so much and my daughter was delighted and her friends want one too .
