Pros: Fun, variety, technology
Cons: Price, availability
The bottom line: Gets your kids active, great game selection, fun for all
With Christmas peeking right around the corner, I know what it feels like to stand in line for an hour to get one of these hard to find consoles. Last year, I missed my chance, but earlier this year, I was able to get a Nintendo Wii, the hardest to find, most expensive investment in my child's entertainment! This year I stood in line for another item, which is another review all together! I wish you luck, and in case you are in Console Limbo, and want to know if it is even worth the time and money, I hope to lead you to the conclusion that it is.

I was able to pick mine up by chance, so I had to charge it on my already overloaded credit card. But after not getting one last Christmas, I figured that it was now or never. And I was right! When you open the box you will find the Wii console, which is a slim, upstanding console as opposed to other systems like xbox, playstation and sega. It is a space saver! You also get a wireless remote controller, another 'nan chuck 'controller for the hand you aren't dominating with, the sensor bar which sits on top of your television that can sense the Wii controllers you are using as you play, a stand for your console to sit on, a power adaptor, instruction manuals for the remotes and system, av cables, batteries and a generic game. It is 1 3/4" W, 6 1/4" H, 8 1/2" D. Slender and vertical, very attractive compared to it's ancestors.


ALL SYSTEMS GO

The Wii comes with the basics, in which you can buy further accessories as you go along, which I will mention in a moment. The system sits apart from the controller, and the nan chuck controller, unlike many systems out there that have wires all over the place. You do have to stay in range of the sensor bar that is slim and rests upon your tv, but as soon as you get used to dealing with "putting yourself in the game", you will have a lot of fun, and exercise!!

It comes with 512 MB of storage already built in for memory, and you can also buy storage cards in which the system comes with a slot. Interestingly enough, if you have a Game Cube from days past, you can play the disks, and hook the controllers up to the Wii. While we never had that system, I found myself looking over the summer at yard sales so that the option would be there, with much better graphics! There are slots if you you happen to have memory cards as well. You can also download old games if you choose the internet option.

If you have a bluetooth or WiFi connection, it is compatible with those services as well. We have not hooked our Wii up with any of these services up as of yet, just because there is so much that we get with the system already that it is not something we even need or think about at this time.

It also has several "channels" that you can play with that allow you to choose Gamecube or Wii choices, to create a creative and one of a kind computerized version of yourself to play in the games that can also be stored in the controller, called a "Mii" and is much like a Meez character, a photo channel that allows you to store, crop, share your digital pictures and share them on a WiFi connection as well as play MP3 downloads. You have to put your memory card in the slot and choose all of your options from the Main Menu on your remote. You can connect to the internet and get news channels, weather channels, and various others. We have two computers in the house, so we have not used this feature as of yet. You can shop online and earn points to spend at local retailers, download games, and you can also set up a message center for other Wii users in the Wii community.


COME PLAY AT MY HOUSE!

After having pretty much every system from Nintendo 64 all the way through Xbox 360, this by far is a family-friendly system, and completely unique! Just with the wireless, handheld WiiMote that has inner sensors, speakers and power packed when you can feel what you are playing, to the selections of games, the extras and graphics are beyond futuristic!

We have this in our family room, because my boys already have other systems set up in their rooms and in the media room. In addition to that, we have a huge tv in the family room, surround sound and lots of room for them to jump around. Actually, room for my husband to jump around and not break anything! My youngest son is on the autism spectrum, and has gross and fine motor problems, so the Wii was a very important addition to our home, because he has always struggled with the other controllers whereas this one is fun and easy for him!

I, on the other hand, will never seem to master the game world. As hard as I try, my hand/eye coordination is not great. But at least with the Wii you can laugh at yourself! You can buy additional controllers for up to four people (as long as the game you are playing has that option, most are 2 player games). Basically, the sensors work to move the characters in the game in the way that you physically move them. If you do not move, neither do they.

On the remote there are A and B buttons, 1 and 2 buttons, a home spot, a plus and minus and options for how many players. It comes with a wrist strap because you can get so wild playing this, that you can accidentally hurt yourself, someone else, or break a window! Most games you find yourself using both hands, your arms, even your legs! It is good that no two players stand too close to one another.

I am not an expert at graphics, but for the most part, they are pretty realistic looking and the best I have seen, next to Playstation 3. It literally keeps you on your toes! While most of the games in our home are still "in the middle of the game" so to speak, no one has become bored. Unlike the Playstation 2 and original Xbox that barely gets touched since the Wii moved in. What mom likes best is that they have a parental control unlike other systems that allow you to choose the "highest" rating allowed before your personalized 4 digit PIN is required! With a 13 year old in the home, I need all of the protection I can get. Even though we control what we have in our home, it is better to be safe than sorry.


LET THE GAMES BEGIN

We only started with a few games that were easy to begin with, and have since graduated! Some of the many games we have, and Wii has so many in variety that there is something for everyone and every age, are:

* Mario Party 8 * The Simpsons Game * Lego Star Wars * Brunswick Pro Bowling * The Bee Movie * Spiderman 3 * Shrek the Third * Resident Evil 4 * Happy Feet * Fantastic 4 - Return of the Silver Surfer * Rampage Total Destruction * Surf's Up * MySims

The kids have many other games they want, including the "M&M Kart Racing" that is coming out the 10th of December, "Boogie" and "TMNT". The games are very challenging, so odds of you mastering them right away, especially getting used to playing in a physical manner, are slim! Take your time and have fun!! Along with all of the perks that the Wii gives you to start with, you may find yourself investing in other accessories like the Wii Cooler (a fan to protect from overheating), the Racing Wheel and the Charge station. Most games are $19.99 and up (mostly 'UP'), and the additions in the same price range. You can spend a small fortune.

This is probably the best investment in gaming you will make in this day and age, unless something bends over backwards to upscale this. Fun for the whole family, the whole neighborhood, and most important, YOU!

Now, who is ready to play???