Look at the console system parket today. Its thriving 10x more then the last gen consoles could have ever hoped. But one console stands out the most. The Nintendo WII. This thing is basically just printing money for Nintendo. I woulnt be suprised if Nintendo was sitting on over a dozen games at the moment. Just waiting to release them when and if the insanity that is the Wii slows down.

With the release of the Nintendo WII in 2006, the console market has been revolutionized. Not only did it prove you dont need HD graphics to make a system, it sold more units in the first half of 2007 then the 360 and PS3 combined! “But James, this is old news, the darn system has been out for 2 years. Why bother writing about it now?” Well the answer is simple, I finally got one last week! I went to the dark side… Wait scratch that, the PS3 is the dark side. I went to the smaller side of the force and I haven’t looked back yet. And from the looks of things, I wont be looking back for a while. Lets take a look at what this system has to offer.

FIrst off the graphics arent the insane PS3 and 360 ones we are used to seeing when we play a video game. But honestly that doesnt matter at all. Most of the wii games have graphics comparable to the others anyway. They may not be as crisp, but they are darn close enough. Plus those games that you are used to seeing on the other consoles that need the insane graphics, wont be comming to the WII.

Secondly, the controllers. These allow you to play games in ways that you would have never been able to with the other systems. From playing coop House of the Dead (or just using both remotes to go and be awesome) to using the WII wheel to play Mario Kart (my favorite game by far. Its amazing, and the online ability is so cool), to Wii Sports. The controllers are the bread and butter of this system. They make the gameplay so diverse and interactive that you cant ever put it down. The only thing that I am a little bummed about is the lack of use of the nunchuck. I just dont see that many games that use it. Oh well.

The built in WI-FI is so sweet. As a testament to the lack of research I did on the system, I had no idea it had a built in 802.11 g wireless modem. Sure if you dont have a wireless router in your house, then you are SOL on this one. But you can buy a usb to ethernet attachment if you want to shell out $30.

Since I am on the topic of attachements; another thing that really impresses me about the system is the lack useless things you need to purchase for the system. FIrst off the wifi that i already covered, that costs almost $100 for the darn xbox wireless adaptor. Then you have the stands and such for the other 2 systems. The Wii has one in the box. For the 360 and PS3, you have to shell out another $20-$30 for one. And then we have the aftermarket fan systems. The Wii doesnt need one. The PS3 could benifit from it, and the 360 is almost crippled without it. I had to purchase a whole new fan and temp control system for my 360! I gottta say though, I love the Wii Blaster and the sports pack. Sure they arent needed, but they add to the overall fun of the system and enjoyment of the games.

Lastly are the games. Freaking Mario Kart Wii is insane! I bought it and instantly fell in love. The Wii wheel makes it so much fun and adds that depth I have always wanted in a console game. Sure you can buy those wheels that attach to the table, but this is a whole $15 if you buy it seperatly. Super Maria Galaxy is nuts, both visually and in game play. The house of the dead ports and the coolest thing and let you experience that arcade feel at home. Metroid Prime 3 is just so darn cool. Zelda Twilight Princess is so much fun your arms will hurt for days, and it uses the Nunchuck to its fullest. Not to mention its fully backwards compatable with every GameCube game! Only problem is that all the game stores are charging insane prices for gamecube games. Oh well.

Overall I had no buyers remorse when I picked up the system. It came home, I smiled, and I havent put it down since. If you havent gotten one yet, I suggest picking it up. For $250 you cant go wrong. Think of it this way. System $250, a game $50, Wii play with second controller $59.99, Nunchuck for second controller $19.99, that totals $379.98! STILL CHEAPER THEN A 360 or PS3! And those dont include games!