REVIEWS Review Archive Ratings System Garbage Games SITE INFORMATION About Us The Staff Message Board Our Blog Contact Us
								ccc Originally written 4/22/2007 by Squall A new system, a new design. A new way to play. Simply a way to summarize the Nintendo Wii. Now will it be a system you will scream “whee!” about, or systems that will make you want to take a “wee” on it; read below.   For $249, you get a Wii console, a copy of wii sports, a wii-mote with nun chuck attachment, a sensor bar with stand, a stand in case you don’t want your system to be stored horizontal, a/v cables, a/c adapter, and the manual(s).   Granted it’s a cheap system to buy out the box, it does have its drawbacks. To play some virtual console games (which is available to download; however to get that far you must either purchase a separate LAN adaptor, or use built in wi-fi as well as purchase “points” to spend on the games), you need to buy a “Wii Classic Controller” which looks like the bastard stepchild of a Playstation and Super NES controller.   Wii sports, the wow factor instantly took me over being able to use the wii mote to play wii sports.  The ability to use the wii-mote as a bat did make baseball seem fun. Same with using it as a club for golf. After a while it can be said that one could just barely flick the wrist from an armchair to achieve the same results. Same can be said about other games that require you to use the Wii-mote to achieve certain feats.   The wii-mote’s design does have a drawback; when holding vertical; all the buttons are placed downward (except for that middle row of 3 buttons); though held horizontal it does work like a NES control. An issue is that most remotes aren’t designed to be held longer than an hour because of the fact it does put a strain on your hand; this is no exception.   The nun chuck add on just has an analog stick on it which plugs into the wii mote technically not making it a ‘wireless controller’ even though the wii-mote communicates to the Wii using infrared and short range Bluetooth.     To put it through a real test about controlling, I went and acquired a copy of Twilight Princess for the Wii and see how it plays versus the Gamecube version... The Gamecube version had that typical Zelda feel/control to it (if you’ve played either Windwaker,  Majora’s Mask (N64 version released on cube as part of a Zelda collectors disc) or Ocarina of Time (released on same Zelda collectors disc that has Majora's mask) controlling was easy and simple.   Using the wii-mote was different as the right stick controlled moving; and you had to primarily rely on using the wii-mote for aiming, attacking and such forth. Though it can make some basic tasks extremely difficult because it requires you to do something and the amount of pressure/force applied can determine if you will succeed or failed.   ----   Good things about the Wii: *Motion sensor Wii-mote to add a new angle to how to play most games. *Includes a Free Game to see what the Wii is really about. *Cheapest system in terms of the next generation console wars *its size being so compact *Built in Wi-Fi * Backwards compatible with the Nintendo Gamecube Bad things about the Wii: *the controller isn't truly wireless as stated because you have to plug in the nun chuck attachment which is wired. *The wii-mote is uncomfortable to hold due to its size and button positioning *Lack of a built in DVD player, since the systems’ games are stored on DVD disc *Lack of LAN adapter which means you have to spend an extra $30 to be connected to the Internet (if you don’t have wi-fi) *Design could discourage third party developers from making games/accessories. Also the ability to ‘port’ could be a downfall. The Wii is an innovative system trying to take gaming to a place that it’s rarely been in terms of the home console era.  The ability to play things different can easily bring a lot of new consumers to the Wii and can actually be considered “Family Friendly Gaming” with games like Wii sports that are just basic sports games played with a new twist but the design of the system, accessories, and games could possibly scare off third party development. Overall, most people will like it, though it might take an extra investment to get the full potential of the Wii. It’s not a bad system, just a couple of minor issues that hold it back.