Check out another awesome current game system, the Nintendo Wii
The Xbox 360 is not the only hot game system going around you know! Learn everything you need to know about one of Microsoft's top competitors: Nintendo. Get a complete and unbiased review about this formidable game system here
Going slightly off topic for this page, I am going to share with you everything you need to know about the Nintendo Wii. Besides the Xbox 360, I also happen to have a N
intendo Wii and have enough experience to share with you everything you need to know about this game system. By the way, I haven't played the Play Station 3 yet, so I can't share anything about that system at this time.
Watch the Nintendo Wii in Action with this featured trailer of the upcoming Zelda game, Skyward Sword (which is expected to come out sometime this year, if it hasn't already).
Overview of the Wii
The Nintendo Wii is Nintendo's answer to the Xbox 360 and the Sony Play Station 3, and is their official successor to the Game Cube. The Nintendo Wii took gaming to a whole new level with the Wii remote. Unlike the Xbox 360 and Play Station 3 (prior to the Xbox Kinect and the Sony Playstation Move), the Wii remote and nunchuck controller functions as a motion sensor controller and has alot more functions than a standard controller does. Wii sports is a good example of the revolutionary style of the Wii Remote. When you play tennis, you can "swing" the remote like a tennis racket and "hit" the ball over the net towards either another player or the computer. In Wii Baseball, one person "throws" throws the remote (acting as the pitcher), while the other person swings the remote like a bat (literally). In Wii golf, the remote becomes more like a "golf club". This list goes on, but you probably get the picture. Some games also make use of the nunchuck add on, which give you more functions (such as moving your characters around, using extra powers, etc). Also, profiles come in the form of Miis, which are simulated versions of you (kind of like how it is in the sims), and you can interact with other Miis, either in games like Wii Sports, Sims Wii, and even on various features on the Wii Network (btw, I don't have a Wii network account at this time due to money restraints). On games like, the Metrod Prime trillogy, you can even hold the remote like a "gun" (with the Z button as the trigger for your "gun) and move Samus with the nunchuck controller.
Like the Xbox 360, the Wii has stunning graphics in most of its games, its' own version of the Xbox live (the Wii Network), where you can also play games on multiplayer, download stuff, as well as other stuff. Nintendo also brings back its signature games too, like Zelda Twilight Princes, the Metroid Prime Trillogy, the New Super Mario Bros (which is pretty much a cross between smb 1, super mario 3, and super mario world, with a next gen twist to it, being a 2.5d game).
Things I liked about the Wii
Image caption: a screen shot of one of the levels in New Super Mario Bros for the Wii. As you can see, up to 4 players can play at a time, and is popular for parties and similar events.
The Wii Remote makes the games a little funner and more interesting - In fact, I just finished Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and it definitely makes the game much more interactive than a typical first person shooter you might find on the Xbox 360, and gives it much more of a virtual reality feel to it. The wii remote functions as a "gun" (though it does have other features too, such as shooting missiles, aiming, accessing the map screen and options menu, changing the visor type, scanning objects, etc) and you can look around by twisting the remote left or right, fire samus's weapons by sweezing the trigger on the remote, move samus around by using the nunchuck add on, changing to the ball mode and moving around samus in a ball form using the thumb stick (you can also make the ball move faster by using the trigger button while in ball form). MP3 even has you activating doors, interacting with objects in creative ways (such as twisting the remote and "pulling out" energy cells, shaking the controller when an enemy grips you, as well as other functions). In the New Super Mario Bros game for the wii, not only do you hold the remote like the controller for the regular nintendo, but you can shake the remote to make mario do his spinning jump, fly (when he has his helicopter hat on), as well as picking up objects (and team mates). In Zelda Twilight princess (as well as the new Zelda game), you can swing the remote like a sword, and Link will whack his foes with it (you can also use it like a rod go "fishing" with it in some parts of the game). This list goes on, but, you would have to play the wii to see for yourself how powerful and interactive the wii remotes are.
Great for parties and gatherings. In fact, when I went on a cruise to Alaska last summer (August 2010), they had a wii bowling tournament in one of the lounges on the ship, and people would "bowl" using the Wii Remote on Wii Sports. The game is pretty popular in gatherings. Also, in New Super Mario Bros, the game does have a 4 player mode, where up to 4 players can play simultaneously and work together as they play through all 8 worlds in the game. Of course, the 4 player mode is alot tougher than single player (in my experience of course) since you do have to work as a team on each level, and naturally some players will be better than others (expect to die alot too on 4 player). I remember the first time I played the Wii, I was at a bible study group somewhere in the Kirkland area, and at the end of the bible study meeting, we did a round of tennis on wii sports.
More Kid Friendly than the Xbox 360 - you get more games geared for the kids. Not that the Xbox 360 doesn't have any kid friendly games, but with games like, Mario, Kirby, Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and similar games, the Wii is geared a little more towards the kids than the Xbox 360 games (on the Xbox 360, popular games includes: the Halo Series, Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto 4, Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect, and many similar games, and many of them are geared towards an older crowd (say 13+). The Wii also comes with more educational games (like the ones listed on the Nintendo Wii website, including Reader Rabbit, Story Work Shop, Puzzle games, and several others).
Very backwards compatible (more so than the Xbox 360). The wii plays both game cube and nintendo wii games. The Xbox 360 does have a backwards compatibility feature too, though on a limited basis (not all games are backwards compatible on the 360, in fact the Xbox 360 developers do have a full list of original Xbox games you can play on the 360, and if the game is not on that list, it probably won't work on the 360, which can be frustrating if you have games from the original Xbox you want to play on the 360, but can't). Of course, some of the gamecube games do have updated versions for the wii (fully converted to wii format), including Metroid Primes 1 and 2 (especially under the Metroid Prime Trillogy) as well as Zelda Twilight Princess.
(more aspects will be added over time)
Negative aspects about the Wii
The Wii Remote can take some getting used to. It works pretty well with games like Metroid Prime Trillogy, Wii Sports, and many other games, but can you imagine using it for games like Metal Slug Anthology, Mega Mans 9 and 10, and several other games where the remote can make things a little tricky? Also, some games are better played when standing (especially Wii sports), so if you don't like standing while playing, the Wii might not be the best choice for you.
The Wii remotes do tend to drain batteries rather quickly, especially on games that utilize the nunchuk capabilities, and can be particularly annoying when playing longer games (such as the Metroid Prime Trillogy) as you will likely find yourself changing the batteries often. If you can afford one, you might want to consider getting the Nintendo's Recharge Station if you don't want to have to buy new batteries often.
(more negative aspect will be added over time)
Overall, the Wii does make a formidable competitor to the Xbox 360, and does have both its advanges over the 360, as well as disadvantages. The Wii is definately more kid friendly than the 360, and does have other uses as well (such as educational games, applications, such as virtual cookbooks, fitness themed games, and other non-game related content). If you like first person shooters and more mature games, the Xbox 360 is probably more up your alley.
Here is a custom search widget from Amazon in case if you are shopping for the Wii or related stuff. You can also use it to compare the Wii with other game systems too, like the xbox 360 and the PS3.
The Nintendo Wii in light of the Xbox 360 Kinect and PS Move
||
Prior to 2010, the Nintendo Wii was the first of its kind, a next generation game system that offers motion sensor controllers for more interactivity (namely the Wii remote and all). Of course, I had a feeling that it was only going to be a matter of time before Sony and Microsoft develop systems that rival the Wii (namely the Xbox 360 Kinect and the PS Move). By the way, this was not the first time one company creates its own version inspired by another company's technology. For example, I remember when game systems went from using cartraiges to using cds and later dvds. The first time I played a cd/dvd based game system was when the Sega CD came out and I remember that was pretty nifty game system add on, especially with games like Tom Cat Alley and Sewer Shark, where the graphics are a bit more advanced, have more movie-like themes to them (such as all of the clip scenes and voice acting), as well as the new format for games. Of course, not too long after that, you got the Sega Saturn, the Sony Playstation, the Sega Dreamcast, and by now, all of the game systems use the cd/dvd format (with the last new console I am aware of that uses carts being the Nintendo 64). Anyways, you are starting to see a similar pattern now. First, Nintendo created a game system that uses motion-sensor controllers, and now Microsoft and Sony have jumped on the same bandwagon too. Microsoft even takes things one step further by eliminating the controller all together with the Kinect, and instead making YOU the controller. When choosing options, you simply point at the option you want on the screen. If you want your character to jump, you jump (literally), and you can get a work out playing many of the Xbox 360 Kinect games. By the way, I haven't played the PS Move yet, so I wouldn't know too much about that system at this time, though it does seem to be quite similar to the wii (instead of the wii remote, you have these wands to use when playing). Interestingly too, both the Kinect and the PS Move have their "versions" of Wii Sports, including the Kinect Sports (they even add some events that are nowhere to be found on Wii Sports, including Track & Field, Soccer, and table tennis) and the PS Move Sports. It will be interesting to see how things play out between the 3 companies as things unfold in the current generation.
Advantages of the Wii over the Kinect
You do have a controller for the games. It seems like the controller less approach that Microsoft takes could limit the types of games available for the Kinect. For example, how would you do first person shooters on the Kinect. Also, how about the 2d platformers (like Mega Man 10 or Sonic 4)? Though the other types are usually sold exclusively for the Xbox 360.
Not all games require you to stand while playing
You can "whack" stuff with the wii remote. For example, on Zelda, you can swing the remote like a sword (with the kinect, you would just be swatting with your hands instead).
The Kinect is really an add on for the Xbox 360, and so you would have to buy it seperately (though I have seen bundles that come with both the 360 and the kinect), though if you already have an Xbox 360, you would have to get a kinect seperately. On the Wii, you don't have to get any add ons to to take advantage of the motion sensored controllers (and the Wii remotes do come with the Wii when you get a Wii).
(more will be added over time)
Disadvantages of the Wii over the Kinect
Image Caption: on Kinectimals for the Kinect, you get to interact with exotic pets, including baby Tigers, Leopards, Loions, Panthers, and Jaguars and utilizes the Kinect's technology to the max (you don't get this exact same level of interactivity on the Wii as far as I can tell. By the way, this is the closest you get to owning a tiger (or silar big cat) without getting one in real life (which does have its drawbacks of course, such as the dangers involved of raising these kinds of cats).
The Kinect can be better for getting exercise (getting exercise can be somewhat fun with the interactivity of the kinect)
The Wii remote does have its limitations. For example, you can't "jump" with the wii remote (instead you press a button to jump).
The controllerless approach that the Kinect offers utilizes your body movements more. For example, on Kinectimals, you can "throw objects", issue voice commands to your virtual pet, "pet" your kinectimal, have the cats mimick your body movements (for example, if you play "dead", the cat will do the same), kick stuff, as well as plenty of other movements and they don't require a controller.
(more will be added over time)
So, what do you think about the Kinect, PS3 Move, and the Wii? Feel free to share your experiences by emailing me at ryansjones@xboxfreak.ws, and I will post your comment here.
What other people are saying:
(nothing posted yet)
Have any questions, comments or concerns about the Wii? Feel free to let me know. By the way, if you have played the PS 3 or PS 3 move and want to share your experiences, feel free to email me and I will share it here.
