Nintendo Wii review - Post Nintendo Wii release review

Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 might have all the bells and whistles, but Nintendo’s Wii game console has something the two gaming giants desire: Enjoyment from all walks of gamers.

Consider the Nintendo Wii a larger version of Nintendo’s hand-held DS system. The graphics are not as refined and awe-inspiring as those on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but the games are fun to play nonetheless.

The Wii’s remote-control wand is the trick. It turns the casual gamer into one who can play into the “Wii” hours of the morning.

Gamers can swing the wand like a baseball bat and connect for a home run. In the game “Excite Truck,” the gamer can twist the wand side to side like a steering wheel.

Exclusive to Nintendo’s Wii is “Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam.” In “Jam,” the gamer can shake the wand while skating to get a boost of speed. The game can ride on rails by see-sawing the wand.

Children will be thoroughly amused by the wand in “SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab.” The wand is used as a steering wheel and other wand movements can help bonk virtual people on the head.

The bottom line is while some gamers gasp at the graphics and multimedia functions of Xbox 360 and PS3, others giggle over what Nintendo’s Wii has to offer. On a scale of 1 to 10, the fun meter for the Wii is a strong 10 for the most entertaining.

Of course, spending less money for a console is always fun. The Wii, released Nov. 19 in North America, has a retail value of $249.99. The Xbox 360 system costs $399.99 and the basic PS3 costs $499.99.

The Nintendo Wii does have some shortcomings, namely the execution of “Call of Duty 3.” While highly entertaining on the PS3 and Xbox 360, “Call of Duty 3” on the Wii does not make the grade. The shooting and walking is sloppy. Furthermore, gamers can’t play it on online, unlike the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Swinging a sword and gun-pointing with the wand is ineffective in the game “Red Steel.” The wand should act as the perfect tool for a sword, but the Wii does not deliver in that regard.

In technical terms, the Wii is not capable of high-definition video output like the Xbox 360 and PS3. But while it does not pack as much of a punch as its competitors, the Nintendo Wii is still impressive. It has a tailor-made PowerPC processor (developed along with IBM), 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, built in Wi-Fi, two USB ports, an SD memory card slot and a bespoke graphics chip from ATI.

The Wii is also fully compatible with Gamecube games, and a Virtual Console system allows users to access a library of downloadable games originally released for the old NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Megadrive consoles.

The wand, an accessory that costs $39.99 is wireless through Bluetooth technology. A secondary controller, called the Nunchuk ($19.99), can be plugged into the Wii Remote wand and held in the other hand. The Nunchuk has a motion sensor as well as an analogue thumb stick and a pair of trigger buttons.

Use of the wand and Nunchuk allows the gamer to play fighting or boxing games with a virtual feel. People who try the Wii will be won over by the remote control capabilities of the wand and Nanchuk.

In summary, Nintendo’s Wii is proving to be a less-expensive and thrilling alternative to the Xbox 360 and PS3. If high-definition is more to your liking, try the PS3 or Xbox 360. But if having fun is more of a priority, experience what the Nintendo Wii has to offer.

Thank you to Javier Morales for this Nintendo Wii review

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