Wii : Finally, a game system that is fun again.

I'll start this review off with a controversial statement:

Finding the Wii was incredibly easy.

Before i incur the wrath of crazy holiday shoppers and video game nerds everywhere who have staged in-store and out-of-store sleepovers just to get their hands on the newest Nintendo product, let me qualify my comment:

Finding the Wii was incredibly easy...if you're willing to spend just a little effort.

I was not able to get one on opening day, because I was not willing to stand in ridiculous lines when I knew, at worst, I could get my hands on a Wii in January, if not immediately after Christmas.

However, as a week passed, I found myself wrapped up in the frenzy surrounding the Wii. I had to have one.
When my search on November 26th was unfruitful, I was in desperation mode. I was beginning to plan a sleepover of my own outside Best Buy or Walmart the following weekend.

I began calling the electronics stores in the area every day from Monday the 27th until Thursday the 30th: once in the morning on my way to work, and once during my lunch break. By Thursday, I was pretty despondent, as no one I called seemed to have a clue when the next shipment of Wiis were due in. I was convinced I was being lied to by greedy employees.

On Thursday, I decided to call the Circuit City near my apartment as a last ditch effort to appease my determined heart. I was shocked when the employee said calmly: "Yeah, we got some in." It was then only a matter of driving to the store and waiting in line at the cash register before I was able to take home a Wii, a mere eleven days after its release.

Installation is a breeze. Rather than bore you with those details, I'd like to talk about the features that make the Wii the best next generation console.

1. Playability

Whether you're a hardcore gamer or a Grandma, the Wii is extremely easy to learn, thanks to the remarkable Wii Remote. Most of the games for Wii Sports, which is included with the Wii, only require you to swing the Wii Remote to or fro. You don't even need to read the instructions to know how to serve a tennis ball or swing a baseball bat. Just be sure to hang on to that Wii-mote!

2. Possibilities

OK, so Wii Sports isn't graphically impressive, but it is a lot more fun than it looks. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is amazing. But perhaps the most attractive aspect of the Wii is not what is currently available, but the reality that this is only the beginning. Not only are there going to be around 30 retro games (from NES, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, TurboGraphix16 and N64) available before Christmas from the Wii Virtual Console, but the second wave of games to follow promise to be unbelievable. For example, can you imagine wielding your Wii-mote like a light saber in a Star Wars game?

3. Pleasure

Yeah, so your PS3 can play Blu-Ray DVDs. So the X-Box 360's version of Shaquille O'Neal's face is impeccable. If you don't have 600 bucks and an HD-TV, is it worth it?

Now I know there are people who, unlike myself, are not crazy about the Nintendo world. I, for one, have an obsession with anything Mario-related, especially Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, and Super Smash Brothers. So obviously the idea of downloading old NES games and the inevitable release of future Nintendo titles is appeasing to me.

However, during the last couple of weeks I've seen people playing both the Wii and the (extremely bulky) PS3 in video game stores. While the PS3 is visually stunning, those playing the Wii just seem to be having more fun. And isn't that what is really important?

In the end, it really depends on what you are looking for in a game system that would draw you towards or away from the Wii. If it turns you off to think that your little sister might beat you in a game of bowling, then maybe you should save (a lot of) your money and wait for the PS3s to be more available. If fun is your main objective while playing games, than the true value lies with the Wii.