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December 11, 2006

Wishlist

Here's my Nintendo Wii review for those who didn't see it in Saturday's paper:

By ANDREW RAVENS
Sun Staff
Nintendo’s Wii is the best video game console to come online since Sony introduced the second PlayStation in 2000.
Hyperbole? No-tendo way, dude.
The Japanese gaming giant last week loaned me a Wii for a week to review and I’m having a very hard time saying good-bye. Reluctantly, I boxed up the tiny console (which is no bigger than a stack of three DVDs) and sent it back on its way to a PR firm in Los Angeles. Sayonara, Wii.
My little friend, which resembles a large iPod, arrived in The Sun lobby just as I was on my way home. Thankfully, a fellow scribe called and I immediately reversed my course back to 15 Kearney Square — I had been waiting a while to try it out.
It took only minutes to plug Wii into my television and about a half hour to learn how to play Wii Sports, the game that comes with the $249 console.
Players use the wireless Wii controller — which resembles a TV remote — to play Wii Sports’ boxing, tennis, baseball, bowling and golf. Gamers wildly swing the controller (which is strapped to your wrist) through the air, because it acts as a punching glove, tennis racquet, baseball bat, bowling arm and golf club.
Before every game is loaded, players are warned to stay clear of surrounding objects and people: Please take the advice. I initially did not and came close to smashing my wife across the chest while hitting a thunderous backhand in tennis. “You almost hit me!� she screamed. Phew, that was close!
Thanks to the revolutionary Wii wireless controller, Nintendo accomplished its goal of creating a system that caters to both casual and hard-core gamers.
You don’t need a subscription to Nintendo Power magazine, or the finger coordination of a college freshman to enjoy Wii. For the most part, play is simple and fun.
After a few exhausting tennis matches (your arm will tire), we tried bowling, which was equally entertaining.
Simply line up your player, which you can personally create to resemble your sex, hair color and physique, and start bowling like you would in real life. Play is incredibly realistic. Toss the ball too hard and you’ll likely end up nailing about one pin. Keep your stroke even and steady and a spare or strike is in your future.
Boxing was up next and so came the introduction to Wii’s other wireless remote, aptly named “nunchuck.�
With the nunchuck in my left hand and the TV remote shaped controller in the other, I threw a series of jabs and upper cuts at the screen as I demolished opponent after opponent. If I had played longer, the difficulty level would have increased, but I was too tempted to play a little baseball.
Holding the Wii like a real bat on my shoulder, it took me a while to hone my timing. I had some unpleasant Little League flashbacks. Eventually, I started cranking out some singles and a few doubles. Pitching was a bit harder, but there were plenty of weapons to choose from — fastball, slider and curveball.
Last up was golf, a game that I never really caught onto (although I only had a week). I’d still rank Tiger Woods PGA Tour over this one, but that’s like comparing apples, to well, you know …
I didn’t connect the Wii to the Internet, but I’m told for $5 to $10 you can download old-school games from previous Nintendo systems. This especially intrigues me, because I am a big fan of the original Super Mario Bros. and Super Tecmo Bowl — still the best football video game ever created. Here’s hoping Nintendo will expand the library of downloadable games available from the original Nintendo and Super Nintendo eras.
Some have criticized the Wii because it doesn’t sport high-definition graphics like its expensive competition, Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Rather than create the best graphics, Nintendo opted for creativity and attempted to change the way video games are played. Mission accomplished.
Be sure to check out The Sun’s entertainment blog at TheSunBlog.com/entertainment.
Andrew Ravens’ e-mail address is aravens@lowellsun.com.

Posted by Andy Ravens at December 11, 2006 12:08 PM

Comments

Posted by: Kevin Hakansson at December 17, 2006 5:29 PM

Posted by: Andy at December 17, 2006 10:31 PM

Posted by: Alex Woonit at May 1, 2007 7:41 AM

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