Nintendo Wii

Nintendo Wii:

Introduction:

The Nintendo Wii is a fun new, well it was at the time I got it, games consoles that is small and sleek. It comes with a controller that you wrap round your wrist and wave around in the air. As standard the whole console is white and I think it looks very good, the disc slot flashes a nice subtle and slow blue and it is very quiet during gameplay. Loading time on the consoles are in general very good.
Graphics:

Well this is not the area that Nintendo were aiming for when they released this, they were aiming for fun and activity, still the graphics are not too bad and are only really found lacking when you try to compare it to the more powerful consoles. Mostly the graphics are simple such as those seen when you create your mini mii that participates in a lot of events for you.
Homescreen:

I can't say that this is a feature I use much other than to get to games and occasionally if I feel like it to view the weather but it does have a lot more functionality than that. You can also view news, go on the shopping channel, access photos and messages and lots more than I don't use.
Games:

There is now a very good selection of games for the Wii, most games that come out on say the PS3 or Xbox also comes out on the Wii so I will not cover those, instead I am going to try and talk a little bit about some of the games that you can't get on the other consoles. Wii Sports is a great fun you can play Tennis, Golf, Boxing, Baseball and Bowling. In my opinion, baseball is hard, golf is boring and boxing is just too much like hard work. The tennis however is really good fun when playing against a friend or the Wii itself this is not where the game excels however that most definitely is the bowling. Bowling is great fun for all the family, you can get better and you can become more consistent and it is just great fun.

There are a whole selection of great games but I am reviewing the console not games so I don't want to talk too much about them but what is a console without its games? So here are a few more I have enjoyed playing: Mario Karts (because I am the best ), Mario Galaxy (a challenge but good fun, could be better multiplayer though), Just Dance (gets you active and makes a fool of you), Super Smash Brothers (a good laugh, especially for kids), Lets Tap (great fun) and of course Wii Fit (see later on).
GamePlay:

Now this is where , for a couple of years at least, the Wii has been unique. In order to play the Wii you move the controller around in the air, now this is not always the case you sometimes have to press buttons and sometimes you require the additional controller but in general you have the Wii controller and wave it around. Bowling is a good example of where this works, you do a bowling action and you bowl the ball, in other games you want to shoot someone you point at them and hit and you remember all those times you were getting thrashed at car games because you turned the remote rather than turned the analogue stick well this is your lucky day, you turn the wheel you turn the car.

Addons:
Wii Fit: This is an add on to the Wii that isn't cheap and is only worth it if you are going to stick with it. The Wii Fit is a board that you stand on, it measures your weight and your balance tells you whether you are healthy or not. As standard you can play games like walking a tightrope and steps and running etc etc all things that make you work a little bit. Overall it does make you work but can only really be used to complement a fitness scheme and not be your sole source of exercise. It is also possible to use the board with other games though the only one I have tried is Shaun White Snowboarding, this does work and the game is enhanced by using the Wii Fit board.

Steering Wheel: Sort of an addon, you clip you controller into the wheel and use it to turn, I only mention it as I do find it very useful when playing Mario Karts.

Lets Tap: This is a fun game where you place the controllers on some boxes and tap them, sounds great right? Well surprising it works really well, you make your character run faster depending on how fast you tap, just don't tap too hard. Be careful to make sure you have your box on a hard surface otherwise things become very tricky.

Others Following the Trend:

Clearly the Wii was onto something as Microsoft have now released the Kinect and Sony the Playstation Move, both are trying to emulate the gameplay of the Wii.
Conclusions:

The Wii is great fun and does keep you moving a bit, certainly a good idea for active kids but adults will likely prefer the PS3 (well that is my favourite choice anyway). I have also played on the playstation move and I have to say that it hands down beats the Wii for sensitivity and gameplay the only problem that it is suffering from is a lack of great games to go with it.