Well this post is only five days late but I have been busy with other things, namely uni work and playing the Wii.

After hearing the words "sell out" I began to wonder how safe my pre-order was, I pre-ordered with GAME and just to make sure did so as soon as they were taking pre-orders, this was around September. Well five days ago on the 8th, at 7am (the earliest time GAME opened) I finally got my hands on the Wii. Getting up at 6 is an experience I would rather forget, or at least had forgotten since the start of my second year of Uni that has no early morning lectures. It really took the life out of me, I was a walking zombie, but not a flesh craved one, I was after the Wii. I managed to sleepwalk down to the bus stop and catch a ride into town.

How many people were crazy enough to be there at 7am? Around thirty, which considering I live in a small-ish town is quite a lot, at least at lot more than I expected as I only imagined a few to be there. I should mention now that this is the first and perhaps only time I have been there on the launch day to pick up a console, why? Well this wasn't just new game X or better graphics on game Y, this was a new way to play and I couldn't wait to try it

I arrived around five minutes early, I had to stand there in the twilight peering into the shop where GAME staff were readying Wii's. After two lifetimes the flood gates open and we, the queuers, flowed in. It took me about 15 mins of queueing before I got my Wii and with it I bought, Twilight Princess, Red Steel, Wii Play (+ Controller), another Nunchuck and 2000 Wii points.

A bit of rushing and fifteen minutes later I was setting the Wii up at home. Frantically ripping out Gamecube cables and replacing them with fresh new Wii ones. Then I powered it up... The first verdict? Quite simply, was "Wow". A cursor on a console, and not only a cursor but one that works so well (a relief as I was doubting how well the cursor would work). The movement was fluid, responsive and accurate. Most impressive. The Wii's menu system is simplicity itself, very easy to use, very nice looking.

A few menu features are not online yet such as the news channel and weather channel. The message board has been fun, I was surprised to learn you can send emails back and forth to any email address. Sending messages/photos between Wii's is rather fun, my Wii is on 24/7 to access WiiConnect24, and a pulsing blue light on the front of my Wii always lets me know when I have a message. This is much faster than checking emails as I don't have to wait for my computer to boot.

The games, well there are plenty are reviews of WiiSports, WiiPlay, Zelda and Red Steel so I wont go into detail. WiiSports is very fun and highlights some of the Wii's capabilities with it's new controller system, this game comes into it's own when played with others, the same is true of WiiPlay as both these games are essentially party games. Red Steel, perhaps not deserving of all the hype it has gained, it's a fun game, but is no more than a straight forward FPS. Reminds me of Max Payne but with a shallower plot and sward fighting has replaced the "wow" of bullet time. Zelda, well, as you may have guessed is simply amazing, I have played for around eight hours so far and at the moment it's looking like it has a good chance of beating Ocarina of Time. It contains all the classic elements you've come to expect plus some new surprises all wrapped up in a most different storyline. Excellent sums it up, if you have a Wii but not Zelda, get it, enough said.

So, the disappointments? Well the only disappointment so far is the lack of RGB Scart cables for the Wii, I have to play in composite which is unbearable when you are used to RGB. It's most noticeable when you stick a Gamecube game into the Wii that your used to seeing on your own TV using RGB. Ouch, it's not pretty. When are these cables coming out? No idea since there are so many dates. Anyway my overall thoughts about the Wii are still "wow". The Wiimote/Nunchuck not only works well but feels really comfortable, it's great not to have your two hands tied into one position all time and the motion sensing capabilities help add a new level of interaction along with a more natural control scheme e.g swinging the Wiimote = swinging a sword.

It will be most interesting to see the new games, concepts and whatever else Nintendo or third party dev's have planned for this console

2 Comments

Dugahole Location: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Joined: 27/03/05	Gday Chris, long time no blog visit. But I am here now. Glad you enjoy the Wii and I looking foward to when I have enough money to get one of my own. I have just ordered a few more Ubuntu CDs and I am looking foward to using Linux on my Uni PC next year. Glad to see you are well.

Chris Location: West Midlands, UK Joined: 24/03/05	Hi Dug, nice to hear from you. Make sure to let me know when you get a Wii, so I can add you to my Wii Address Book, maybe I'll be able to challenge you to a few on-line games (if any are out by then)? I have been playing Twilight Princess for around 18 hours now and I have to say it's the best yet!

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