"Why Shouldn't You Buy One?"

Why are there so many people bashing this system? Since when did graphics make a game good? These are questions that plagued me when going through these reviews. I feel that I should add my own point of view. In the last generation of consoles, I was a die hard Sony fan so don't think that this is coming from someone who is a Nintendo fanboy.

Graphics:
When did graphics become the thing by which you measure how fun a system is? True, PS3 and Xbox 360 have about ten times the processing power of Wii, but this means nothing. PSP has much more to offer than DS in processing power and graphics, yet DS is more successful. It baffles me how these hardcore gamers concern themselves so much with graphics. They're nothing more than something pretty to look at. I'd prefer mediocre graphics and amazing gameplay than amazing graphics and mediocre gameplay. After all, aren't we supposed to have fun with the game more than be dazzled by graphics? Graphics should be an added plus and not the reason you buy a system. Now, the graphics on the Wii aren't anything impressive. They're a small step up from the Gamecube. If you look close enough, you can see that they're a bit cleaner than GCN. I'm sure that they'll get better as new games come out though. I don't think the potential of the Wii has really been tapped yet.

Gameplay:
The Wiimote was a brilliant idea in my opinion. These launch games don't appropriately showcase it's true potential though. The only one that I can say truly showed me how great it can be is Dragonball Z Tenkaichi Budokai 2 as embarassed as I am to say that I actually played it. The Wiimote is easy to use and really lets you jump into a game fast. I found with XBox that I got lost with all the buttons, and I consider myself an avid gamer. The gameplay for this system is very user friendly and allows for anyone to jump in quickly. My girlfriend, who isn't that great at video games, actually jumped in and won a game of tennis without any prior experience with the system. When more games are released, I think we'll see the controller do some amazing things.

Sound:
I saw nothing wrong with the sound. I found the speaker in the controller a very nice touch. Overall, the sound matches most the other systems. Playing on surround sound at my friend's house was amazing.

Controller:
This is the hot topic when it comes to the Wii. People seem to either love it or hate it. I personally love it. The speaker inside was a nice touch, and it's incredibly easy to use as I've already said. Many of the games are as easy as pointing and pressing a button or simply swinging the Wiimote. This controller holds a lot of potential for future games. I'm incredibly excited to see how game designers will use it in the future. No, I've not experienced my strap breaking. I'm not that overzealous when I play.

Design:
The system has a very nice design. It's light and compact which makes it extremely easy to transport. I find myself carrying it to and from my friends' houses with ease. The Wiimote fits into the hand nicely in my opinion. A few of my friends complained about it at first but said it just took some time to get comfortable with in the end. They had no problems with the feel of the nunchuk though. The light around the disc slot is mesmerizing. I put my Wii to sleep and find myself staring into it. White is one of my favorite colors so the color doesn't bother me in the least. Knowing Nintendo, they'll probably release Wiis in different colors sometime next year to get more people to buy them. Overall, the design is nice and works.

Wii Channels:
These are fun for a bit. Channels are basically different things that your Wii can do. There's a Disc Channel where you access your games. The Weather Channel allows you to connect to the internet and find the internet for many major cities around the world. You use an interactive globe which you can grab and turn to select the different countries. Not only do you see the weather, but you get a bit of a geography lesson. The News Channel hasn't gone live yet, but, by the name, I think you can guess what you'll be able to access through it. The Wii Shop Channel allows you to purchase games such as Street Fighter II to play on your Wii. These games are not free. Most cost about $5-$10 and are bought using Wii points. You can buy 1000 Wii Points for $10 at a store by buying a Wii Points Card similar to an iTunes card or by using your credit card while in the shop by pressing "Add Points". Keep in mind that every time you download something it takes up blocks, and you only have so many(about 2000). You can delete channels but be aware that you might want something that's added in the future. There's also the recent addition of the Internet Channel which allows you to surf the web from your Wii. It's convenient if you don't feel like getting up to get on the computer. It's powered by Opera. Right now, it's only a trial though. I use it to get on various forums when I wake up instead of climbing out of bed to turn on my laptop. It's easier to grab my Wiimote of my nightstand then get up and grab my laptop and wait for it to turn on as it's a bit slow. Typing involves pointing and clicking though which can be slow. The channels are fun to play with.

Overall:
The Wii has just released a little while ago, and, as such, I have not had much time to see all this system has to offer. So far, I have been amazed by it. I find myself messing with the Weather Channel for hours just checking the weather of different cities around the world. It's got something for everyone. When the News Channel finally goes live, it'll have one more thing for adults. The games such as Zelda and Red Steel keep teenagers such as myself amused. This system is truly a system focused towards families and everyone. Nintendo did a good job at developing a system that accommodates everyone and is easy to pick up and use immediately. It's a great system so far with a lot of potential. I'm eager to see future updates and games.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/02/07