Time To Admit It, Wii Is Actually Pretty Awesome

If there has ever been an scapegoat in any gaming generation it's the wii. Poked prodded and ridiculed it has been the butt of jokes since it came out. Years and years of whining later I think peoples attitude to the modest gaming console is much more tainted then it deserves.

Why exactly do people hate this system so much? It it borderline insane. Yeah it doesn't support 1080p super hd video games. But when it comes to actually playing games this system delivers like nothing else this generation. The games are delightfully varied and has turned the wii into a veritable gaming museum when used to it's full capability.

It's time we gamers stopped kicking the wii for no other reason then it is not hd and is successful. Let's take the time to get over ourselves for a second. Let's look at the wii through some sober eyes and give it the credit that it's due.

-It proved that motion controls are a bit more then a fad.

Yeah, I said it! Motion controls, like it or not, Are the logical direction the gaming industry needed to take. Don't hate nintendo for realizing it first. If it wasn't true then why would sony essentially be doing a st straight knockoff of the idea while Microsoft is attempting a pie in the sky upgrade to the concept.

It's because expanding upon gaming interactivity is what the industry has needed for quite some time. The nintendo wii did it right. Taking a bit of old ideas and a bit of new ideas they have most likely given all of gaming the standard that all motion controllers are likely to be judged from here on out.

For making a firm place in history in a creative way Sony and Microsoft only wished their consoles could ever achieve the wii definitely deserves some respect weather you like it or not.

-Yes, Viginia, There is plenty of games for it.

Let's put this misconception to rest. In fact you have 140 games that have scored over 75 or higher on meta critic these days. A respectable number especially considering how game reviewers love to penalty wii games up to 10 points for no other reason then it's on wii.

These are insanely varied games as well encompassing amazing and experimental varieties of titles that wouldn't be able to be enjoyed on the HD boys because of those consoles having aversions to the simple and fun gameplay that made gaming popular to begin with.

On top of the great titles you can buy right now we have a huge list of coming games as well. More exclusives then any year prior. Challenging Sony's claim to most AAA exclusives this year and leaving Microsoft twiddling it's thumbs and counting on third parties.

- Yes, Virginia, Wiiware and VC Kicks ass as well.

Don't forget, wii has games on it's wiiware/vc service that deserve every bit of respect that any commercial release does. World of goo, Rage of the gladiator, Cave Story, Castlevania Adventure: rebirth, shadowplay, megaman 9 and 10.

The little simple service that debuted in 2007 has exploded to a massive collection of cheap and unique games.

On top of that VC has also come of age giving wii owners access to a catalog of practically every notable game you should know. Games that can now be played on your big screen tv again complete with the classic controller... potentially the greatest controller setup ever made.

No other console this gen offers galaga, bomberman, sonic, mario, pracitcally every castlevania, final fantasy, Link, alex kidd, earthworm jim, gunstar heroes, sin and punishment, punchout, metroid, commodore 64, pacman, and splatterhouse all in one service.

C'mon that alone deserves all the respect in the world. Yet we're not done.

-Homebrew is the Icing on the cake.

VC missing something. Tired of waiting for earthbound 3? How about you wanna boot up an original Mame rom. Maybe you just want to watch your mpegs on your tv or design your own software for the lil white box. Well... HOMEBREW HAS YOUR BACK!

Get off the fence already. Homebrew gives you all the functionality you ever wanted with the wii. While it's not exactly legit in the eyes of nintendo it is pretty darn safe. The community at wiibrew.org have got you covered! Why not take the risk? It's so worth it!!!!

Your computers rom collection will never play better, the movies your previewing off the torrents play nicer, and some of those homebrew programmer games are pretty sweet too. They have made it so easy to make your wii twice as awesome that it simply can't be passed up.

I could write a whole blog on my love of homebrew alone but i'll skip that. Lets just say it's another reason why wii is awesome.

- Most reliable console of this gen.

Just needs to be noted.

Now that we've covered the bases let's just realize that maybe the wii does deserve a little of it's fame this gen. All I know is if you told my 6 year old self all the things I would be doing with my wii these days I probably would have crapped my pants! Pointing at a screen to choose where I shoot, playing full movies on homebrew, playing all my NES games and then some then switching to an n64 title.

Though most of us are apathetic to nintendo... even hate it for reasons such as fear that playing them means you are still a child at heart. Games don't have to be mature... remember, their primary purpose is they are fun and if you ask me... no system has ever been fun the way the Nintendo wii has been fun this gen, and that's why I say it's pretty awesome. Deal with it.

[toaster]

Good read. I love my Wii. There are games like SSB: Brawl that leave fighting games on the other 2 consoles on their knees because of the fun value and jawdropping amount of game content. And then there are games that are using the motion control to push the envelope of how we plag and interact in a video game. THOSE are the games that make the Wii valuable.

[Godmars290]

The systems gotten a number of people into console gaming who otherwise wouldn't be, but its not the recognized leading platform of its generation. Not when its failing to deliver games *gamers* are asking at the quality they're for.

Its not ridiculing or belittling it, like the negative effects DDV9 on the 360 are having towards HD gaming, its just the truth.

Wii defenders need to stop equating such ridiculing, the inability of 3rd party devs to figure out what to do with it, with hate towards the console.

[Shnazzyone]

Third parties have been delivering in spades lately. That's not a good reason to snuff the system anymore since there is alot to miss now.

[Cajun Chicken]

I'm getting the point I'm tempted to CFW my Wii just so I can play Zangeki no Reginleiv if it isn't announced to be localised for EU at E3.

[Trroy]

The Wii is a great system... however I don't think it will ever attract the traditional demographic like the X360 and PS3 do. It doesn't need to, to survive, or to do fantastically well, as a console (obviously) -- and for that same reason, it never will.

It most certainly fills a gap that needed filling, however. Haters need to appreciate it for what it is, rather than expecting it to compete directly with the HD consoles in their "home" demographic space. HD, and many types of "traditional" demographic-type games are just not necessary for the Wii to thrive.

[booni3]

I like the wii and think it excels at what it set out to do.

[Jacobite]

Never been bothered with the Wii, but I do see the attraction as a fun console : )