Nintendo Wii White Console (NTSC)

The Nintendo Wii took gaming to the next level; at least the controller did. When it first launch, it was on everyone's Christmas list. It was sold-out at every department store for an entire year! I wondered what all the craze was about, the motion controls? the excellent launch price? I knew it couldn't be the games because based off the Gamecube, there wasn't much to brag about.

I bought one and...yep, it was the motion controls. Never had I experienced anything like it in gaming history. In my history. Of course, after you get over the "wow" factor of the controls, it goes downhill from there.

There is really nothing this system offers in terms of power. I mean there is no DVD player, no HD output, heck, even the hard drive is laughable, or flash drive I should say. It's about 2GB or 2.5GB, whatever it is, it's not enough to store a lot of downloadable games.

The graphics for the Wii look like an original Xbox game. It's okay, but looks dated for the most part.

The software or games are limited. I say limited because they can't hold as much content as an Xbox game or a PS3 game. It feels as if the games are under 20 hours long. And there are no downloadable content for any games to extend gameplay, except Rock Band 2 of course.

And when you do come across a game with loaded content, the Wii overworks itself just to try and play it. The Sims 3 for the Wii is an excellent example of this. Every time I play this game, my Wii sounds like it's choking and makes this really loud annoying sound. When this happens, I don't know whether I should turn it off or give it the Heimlich maneuver.

There are no patches for games, so if you spot a glitch in a game, expect no patch for it. And if there are overwhelming number of glitches, like the Sims 3 for example (again), then you're screwed.

The online multiplayer is a joke. It's free, but you'll be lucky to find anyone to play with. And when you do find someone, the system boots you out.

As for the arcade games, well, there are some excellent classic NES, SNES, N64, Sega, just to name a few. They are the exact same port as the original cartridges with no graphical update or achievement points added.

Which brings me to my last point, where are the trophies or achievement points? The other game consoles have this and they make the gaming experience more enjoyable. Even the arcade games for those consoles have updated graphics WITH achievement points/trophies.

Bottom line, the Nintendo Wii is a limited gaming system that is only good for the casual gamer. In other words, if you like to play less difficult/less content games then this system is for you. If you like to play hunting games and exercise a lot then this game system is for you. If you like motion controls and good motion control games then this system is for you. If you like family-oriented games then this Wii is for you. Otherwise, if you are a hardcore gamer that is into 'the complete gaming experience' and first person shooters, look elsewhere.

I'm a diehard Nintendo fan, I grew up with them. And to me, the company has always been about innovation - creating new fun game experiences not possible theretofore. In that regard, the Wii does not disappoint.

The first time I popped in Wii Sports (bundled with the system) and played with the unusual remote, I was in awe and knew the potential this system could have. It feels so satisfying and natural to use the remote as an extension of your body. If you want to hit the ball in tennis, you simply snap your arm as if you're actually holding a racket. Very simple, very fun.

If the Wii will be remembered for one thing, I think it'll be the unique gameplay experiences it brought to the table. And that it brought people together like never before in gaming. It brought families together instead of the increasingly tendency of people to play games by themselves. And it also introduced a myriad of non-gamers to the gaming universe. Wii is very much a social machine. Not to say there aren't titles that are good for solo play; there are. It's a system for everybody.

The graphics on the Wii are not state-of-the-art, but they are certainly capable enough to produce stunning visuals. Just gander at a game like Super Mario Galaxy or Zelda: Skyward Sword - both beautiful games. And in a way, some power limitations can motivate the developers to be more creative and make the graphics uniquely suited to fit the system. In the end, Wii's crown is its unique gameplay experiences.

As the old saying goes, any console is only as good as its games. And the Wii has had some utterly remarkable games. Like: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, Metroid Prime Corruption, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby's Epic Yarn and New Super Mario Bros. Wii and World of Goo just to name a few. Some of these games will be remembered as some of the very best in history.

Wii does have a few flaws, of course. Although the graphical capabilities are certainly adequate, they could be improved. The online capabilities are nice but not deep enough, and some games can be prone to lag ... but there is a cool Wii Shop channel where you can download retro games from past systems and also new WiiWare games. And I'm not sure if the Wii's unique controller was utilized to the fullest as much as it should have been.

But all things considered, anyone can have great fun for years on end with Wii. And that's what video games are all about at their core: fun! And thankfully, Wii is very reasonably priced and is a great value. You can even play all your GameCube games on it too!

The motion sensitivity is mostly a gimmick and this console does provide quick bursts of entertainment, but normally nothing too enthralling. It is meant to be overtly simple, and is generally considered a party/family system, that just happens to support Netflix. It's game selection mainly consist of children's games, but it also has some more mature games as well, such as No More Heros, and a few Call of Duty games.

Also if you buy this console prepared to get nickle and dimed. There are so many accessories and add-ons with this console it's not even funny. Most of the things you don't really need to play most games, but sometimes you're forced too. Online play is ok, depending on a few things, your internet speed, the person your playing with's internet speed, and the specific game. It's normally better to have a hard wired connection in almost all cases, but like I said earlier, you'll going to be nickle and dimed. The console only comes with Wi-FI, and required an extra USB adapter to plug in a hard wired Ethernet connection. Despite all of this, the controls are odd, but still solid, game library is large, but it really only has a handful of ACTUALLY good games.

The Wii is often considered too "casual" or too "kiddy" for those that consider themselves "hardcore gamers". But from my experience the Wii has brought back similar feelings to those I had back in 1988 when I first saw, and later bought my NES.

Yes, there are an almost overwhelming number of lower-quality/budget games but, just like every single generation of gaming system from Nintendo - the exclusives / first-party offerings compete just fine with those so-called hardcore games.

Whether you're a Nintendo fan or not, you have to admit the company is good at coming up with something remarkable enough that the competition can't do anything but 'reverse engineer' their own version of it - specifically in this generation - the Kinect and the Move. Had Nintendo not come out with their motion-sensing play-style that was innovative enough to bring in people who weren't exactly 'gamers' - both Sony and Microsoft wouldn't have bothered.

To sum it up, every generation of gaming system has had at least 1 game worth buying the system for, and even if the Wii isn't the first choice when looking into getting a new system, it will make a nice secondary/complimentary one to any you might already own. Interesting that last-gen's GameCube was in a similar situation and it seemed to do just fine where it was. The fact that the Wii is compatible with almost all the games and accessories from that system is just a nice bonus.

It will be interesting to see how the "Wii 2/Project Cafe" turns out.

Priced at about $80 on average through ebay, the Nintendo Wii is a steal!! Its a great system for those who appreciate Nintendo franchised games as well as those who are just getting into the Nintendo conglomerate for the first time.

I'll be upfront with you, if your only looking for a system with the "best" graphics or a ton of FPS games, read no more and look else where. The Wii encompasses more than just that, with games like Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Legend of Zelda and Metroid Prime you have games that have 100s of hours or replayability! With the added motion aspect of the Wii, you can purchase Wii fit and workout while playing a video game..burning fat has never been so fun!

The biggest deal breaker for me is how all of my roommates can easily pick up a controller and start playing, even them technologically impaired folk can experience joy and happiness from this little box. This system is made for the multiplayer experience! With online and offline multiplayer accessibility, playing alone in a dark room with only a box of oreos is a ting of the past....you can do it with your friends!! Once you turn it on and hear that soothing chime of the Wii, a flock of people eager to play are at your disposal. With games like Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Kart people who are accustomed to their old Gamecube controllers can plug in and play!

The systems backwards compatibility towards Gamecube games and Gamecube controllers shows that Nintendo isn't trying to take away our beloved memories of playing our favorite old school games. But instead encourage our addictions for classics like Sonic the Hedge Hog, Mega Man, and Donkey Kong 64. With the new addition of the Wii store and "Classic" controller you can download and play all your favorite NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 games while playing them on borderline replica of that systems controller.

All in all the Wii is a great purchase that can bring any gamer comfort in knowing that for less than the price of 2 PS3 or Xbox 360 games you, the people of the world can own a Nintendo Wii!!