Nintendo Wii

The best family gaming console

The best-selling Nintendo Wii (*Est. $200) is still going strong several years after its launch. In line with other console manufacturers, Nintendo dropped the price of the Wii from $250 to $200 at the end of September. While the Wii used to be the cheapest of the three major consoles, recent price drops at Microsoft put the entry-level Xbox 360 Arcade (discussed below) in the same price range.

For the Wii, Nintendo took a completely different direction from Microsoft and Sony. Rather than spending development dollars on hyper-realistic graphics, Nintendo invested resources into developing its wireless, motion-sensitive controller, which is described as revolutionary by some reviewers. While it may not have the most realistic graphics, experts say the Nintendo Wii is a great choice for kids and families.

In the past, testers have noted that the Nintendo Wii controller is fun to use but not very accurate. Slate.com's Erik Sofge is the Wii's harshest critic. Sofge, a self-confessed die-hard gamer, is frustrated that the controller isn't that nuanced -- it doesn't demand a lot of finesse from the user. In response to complaints like these, Nintendo introduced the Wii MotionPlus (*Est. $20) accessory, which uses gyroscopic sensors to provide more realistic motion controls. The MotionPlus attaches to the original Wii remote, but only a few games are compatible with the new technology so far. Initial reviews are positive, with most experts saying the Wii MotionPlus is highly accurate and provides instantaneous on-screen motion. While most say the Wii MotionPlus works well, many reviewers complain that this technology should be included in the Wii remote to begin with. In mid-November, a new black Wii remote (*Est. $50) will be available that comes bundled with the Wii MotionPlus.

Most reviewers agree that the Wii isn't the best choice for serious gamers. For these users, the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 is often called a better choice. These video game consoles have more realistic graphics and a better selection of adult-friendly titles. But reviewers counter that the Wii isn't meant to be a high-end gaming system -- it's meant to be fun to play for adults and kids alike. In this respect, testers say the Wii is entirely successful -- games are simply fun to play. PCMag.com's Jim Louderback echoes most reviewers when he writes that although graphics look "terrible" compared to the Xbox and PS3, playing games on the Nintendo Wii is "maddeningly addictive" and "intuitive." The console also gets extremely high marks from users, who say the Wii is fun, easy to use and a great value.

For 2009, the Nintendo Wii ships with Wii Sports, a collection of five sports games, including golf, tennis and baseball. The Wii includes two USB ports and an SD card slot to view photos on your TV. It also connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi to download updates, and users can get weather and news directly from their console. The Wii doesn't play CDs or DVDs, and most sources say the Wii's online gaming setup is awkward at best. A composite video cable is also included for connecting to a standard TV or HDTV.

Nintendo has over 800 games available right now for the Wii, and some of the best-rated on Amazon.com include Wii Fit (*Est. $85), Mario Kart Wii (*Est. $45) and My Fitness Coach (*Est. $20). Even though it has a reputation for being family-friendly, the Nintendo Wii does include more adult games than it has in the past. Sega's MadWorld (*Est. $20) attracted the ire of parental groups when it was released in March. Created exclusively for the Wii, "MadWorld" is a bloody slasher game where players act out stabbings, beatings and other violent acts using the Wii controller. As of November 2009, there are over 30 Wii-compatible games on the Nintendo website that are rated Mature (17+).